Celtic Player Off-Season Spotlight

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-marcus-smart-172000766.html



Celtics player spotlight: How Marcus Smart can thrive on new-look C's



Darren Hartwell
Tue, July 19, 2022 at 1:20 PM



How were the Boston Celtics able to produce the NBA's best starting five last season?

While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown deserve plenty of credit, we need to recognize the guy running the show.

The Celtics made Marcus Smart their full-time starting point guard in 2021-22, and the eight-year veteran rewarded them by averaging a career-high 5.9 assists while playing stellar defense on the other end to become the first guard to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year since Gary Payton in 1996.

Simply put, the C's don't reach the 2022 NBA Finals without Smart's playmaking, leadership and underrated shot-making as the team's third-leading postseason scorer.


Can Smart duplicate that success in 2022-23? It's a question worth asking now that point guard Malcolm Brogdon -- who hasn't come off the bench in a game since 2018 -- is in the fold. Does Brogdon's presence mean a smaller role for Smart? How will the two point guards coexist with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard in Boston's backcourt?

We continue our Celtics player spotlight series by looking back on Smart's accomplishments last season and how he can raise his game entering next season.


Smart's 2021-22 stats
Regular season: 12.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 41.8 percent FG, 33.1 percent 3PT (71 games)

Postseason: 15.4 pgg, 4.5 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 40.5 percent FG, 35.0 percent 3PT (21games)


Smart's contract situation

Smart is set to make $17.2 million in 2022-23 on the first year of a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension he signed with the team last August. Smart is under contract with Boston through the 2025-26 season.


What role will Smart play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Brogdon has insisted he's OK coming off the bench, so Smart still will be the team's starting point guard and the quarterback of the offense ... to start the game, anyway.

Late-game situations will be interesting to watch, as Brogdon is a better offensive player and a more steady ballhandler. So, if Boston needs points in crunch time, it's possible that head coach Ime Udoka turns to Brogdon at point guard while moving Smart to an off-ball role or taking him off the court altogether.

Smart is the Celtics' best defender and emotional leader, so he should be on the court in most (if not all) key moments. But Brogdon's addition will allow Udoka to manage Smart's workload throughout the regular season and weather any injuries Smart sustains as a result of his all-out playing style.


Smart's season will be a success if ...

... He improves his outside shooting.

Smart had his best season as a passer in 2021-22 and his second-best shooting season at 41.8 percent from the field. He still shot just 33.1 percent from 3-point range on 5.1 attempts per game, however, and averaged at least two turnovers per contests for the second consecutive season.


Smart move

Smart's net rating as the Celtics' point guard in 2021-22 (best in NBA)  +13.7


Smart should get plenty of open looks this season, as teams may opt to let him shoot 3-pointers rather than tempt their fate with Tatum, Brown or recently-added sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari. Smart shot 36.4 percent from distance in 2018-19, so there's room for improvement in that category.

If Smart can cut back on the misses -- perhaps by picking his spots more in a deep Boston rotation -- it will make the Celtics' offense that much more dangerous in 2022-23.


Biggest obstacle to Smart's success

Too many cooks in the point guard kitchen.

Smart said all the right things about how he "love(d)" the Brogdon addition and believes the two can work together. But after essentially having full control of the offense last season, Smart will have to make a significant adjustment to accommodate Brogdon, a ball-dominant point guard who was used to running the offense in Indiana and Milwaukee.

An abundance of point guard depth should be a good thing, especially when injuries inevitably crop up. But don't be surprised if there are some rough patches early on, especially if Udoka experiments with playing Smart and Brogdon at the same time.


Projected stats and prediction for Smart's 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 41.0 percent FG, 35.0 percent 3PT (68 games)

Brogdon's addition should help Smart be a more efficient player, even if his production drops a bit. We're forecasting a slight dip in Smart's scoring and assist averages but an improvement in his outside shooting as he gets more quality looks from opponents daring him to shoot.

Smart is a fierce competitor who will win at all costs and has plenty of motivation after the Celtics fell short in the 2022 NBA Finals. If ceding some "floor general" responsibilities to Brogdon will help Boston get back to the Finals, expect Smart to be on board.


Bob


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https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-player-spotlight-can-jayson-tatum-make-championship-level-leap



Celtics player spotlight: Jayson Tatum has one more big leap to make

JUL 7, 2022

BY DARREN HARTWELL
CELTICS

From an individual standpoint, Jayson Tatum checked every box in 2021-22.

He averaged career highs across the board. He landed on the All-NBA First Team for the first time. He finished sixth in the NBA MVP voting and was the clear-cut best player on the best team in the Eastern Conference.

But the one box he didn't check was "NBA champion," as the Boston Celtics star struggled with his shot in an NBA Finals series loss to Stephen Curry and the seasoned Golden State Warriors.

The good news for Boston fans is that Tatum is just 24 years old and now has plenty of motivation entering Year 6.

"We've got to take it up to another level to do what we want to do," Tatum said after Boston's Game 6 loss to the Warriors.

What does "taking it up to another level" entail for the Celtics' brightest star? We continue our player spotlight series by highlighting Tatum's accomplishments -- and his areas of improvement.


Tatum's 2021-22 stats

Regular season: 26.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 45.3 percent FG, 35.3 percent 3PT (76 games)

Postseason: 25.6 pgg, 6.7 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.2 spg, 42.6 percent FG, 39.3 percent 3PT (24 games)


Tatum's contract situation

Tatum is set to make $30.4 million in 2022-23 on the second year of his five-year, $163 million maximum rookie-scale contract extension. He has a player option for the 2025-26 season and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.


What role will Tatum play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Tatum again will be Boston's workhorse -- ideally with slightly less work.

Tatum logged a total of 3,714 minutes between the regular season and playoffs in 2021-22, by far the most in the NBA. That workload appeared to catch up to him in the Finals, where he shot just 36.7 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent on 2-point attempts.


The superstar likely will lead the Celtics in minutes again in 2022-23 as the focal point of their offense and a key cog in their defense. But the offseason additions of Danilo Gallinari and Malcolm Brogdon give Boston an injection of depth that could allow head coach Ime Udoka to manage Tatum's minutes a bit more over 82 games.


Tatum's season will be a success if ...

... The Celtics win a title.

That's what Tatum will tell us, anyway. After earning nearly every individual accomplishment last season -- including the inaugural Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference Finals MVP -- Tatum's primary goal should be leading Boston to a championship.


Helping hand

Celtics' winning percentage when Tatum had 5-plus assists (reg. season)   78.2%


Tatum has a very good chance of accomplishing that goal if he continues to develop as a playmaker: The Celtics won 18 of 23 regular-season games in which Tatum recorded at least six assists and went a perfect 7-0 in the playoffs when he dropped at least eight dimes.

Tatum is one of the NBA's most well-rounded scorers and is an elite defender who earned a handful of All-Defense votes. If he can continue to rack up assists while limiting turnovers, it will be hard to find any faults in his game.


Biggest obstacles to Tatum's success

Fatigue and turnovers.

Tatum is getting some well-deserved time off after a 22-month basketball marathon that included a gold medal with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. No team has a shorter offseason than the Celtics, however, and if he continues to log heavy minutes this season, it's possible that fatigue catches up to him in the postseason.

Fatigue sometimes manifests itself in careless turnovers, and that's one area Tatum needs to clean up: He committed an NBA-record 100 turnovers over 24 postseason games. That high number is partially a byproduct of Tatum's high usage rate, but the margin for error is slim at the game's highest level.


Projected stats and prediction for Tatum's 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 26.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 45.5 percent FG, 37.5 percent 3PT (72 games)

With a stronger supporting cast, Tatum should be a more efficient (albeit slightly less productive) scorer in 2022-23. We can also expect a career-high assist total, as Tatum averaged 5.1 assists per game after the All-Star break with Boston's starting five fully intact.

We have little doubt that Tatum can put together another First-Team All-NBA campaign and reinforce his status as one of the league's 10 best players. The true test will come in the postseason, where a gauntlet of talented East opponents will await.

Tatum took some valuable lessons from that Finals loss to the Warriors, however, so we wouldn't be surprised if Boston's best player adds a Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy to his mantle next June.


Bob



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https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-player-spotlight-how-jaylen-brown-can-take-his-game-higher-level?b



Jaylen Brown still has plenty of room for improvement


JUL 12, 2022

BY NICK GOSS
CELTICS


The Boston Celtics came up just two wins short of winning the 2022 NBA Finals. It was a painful end to an otherwise fantastic season.

They wouldn't have come close to that stage of the playoffs without the impressive performance of starting shooting guard Jaylen Brown.

Brown was the Celtics' best player in the Finals, averaging 23.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in six games against the Golden State Warriors. The 24-year-old star did his best to keep Boston's season alive in Game 6 with a 34-point outburst, but it ultimately wasn't enough to prevent the Warriors from winning the title.

Brown made great strides in his game last season, becoming a more complete player and a leader on and off the court. However, there are still many areas of his repertoire in need of improvement.


How can Brown take his skill set to an even higher level (or two)? We continue our player spotlight series by highlighting Brown's accomplishments -- and his areas of improvement.


Brown's 2021-22 stats

Regular season: 23.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 47.3 percent FG, 35.8 percent 3PT (66 games)

Postseason: 23.1 pgg, 6.9 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 47 percent FG, 37.3 percent 3PT (24 games)


Brown's contract situation

Brown is entering the third year of his four-year, $106 million contract that was signed in 2019. His base salary for 2022-23 is $26,669,643 and his salary cap hit is $28,741,071.


Brown is extension eligible this summer, but it makes better financial sense for him to wait because he could make more money closer to when his current deal expires in 2024.


What role will Brown play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Jayson Tatum firmly established himself as the Celtics' No. 1 option with a tremendous 2021-22 season that resulted in an All-NBA first team selection. Brown complimented Tatum extremely well as Boston's No. 2 option.

We should expect Brown to continue filling that role for the foreseeable future. That doesn't mean Brown can't be the No. 1 in many games or take clutch shots late in the fourth quarter. He's shown on numerous occasions that he can hit big shots when it matters or when the C's are struggling.


Off the court, Brown proved quite valuable to the Celtics with his leadership and positivity, specifically during the November and December lows when Boston was outside of the playoff picture and really struggling. His unwavering faith and steadfast belief that this Celtics team could be special was a major catalyst in the remarkable second-half turnaround we all witnessed.


Brown's 2022-23 season will be a success if ...

... The Celtics win a title and Brown returns to All-Star status.

The Celtics finally broke through and reached the NBA Finals after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals three previous times in Brown's career. Now that the C's have experienced what the Finals are like and the heartbreak that comes from losing the series, there should be plenty of motivation for Brown to help Boston get back to that level and finish the job.

Ultimately, that's what the Celtics and Brown will be judged on. The bar has been set, and it's all about Banner 18.

That said, getting back to an All-Star level should be a goal for Brown. He made his first All-Star appearance in 2020-21 as a reserve and was not selected last season. Brown is talented enough to be on that level throughout his prime. Getting to a point where he's consistently a no-brainer All-Star selection should be something the versatile wing can achieve.


USA TODAY Sports


Biggest obstacles to Brown's success

Turnovers.

Too often last season, and especially against physical teams such in the playoffs as the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, Brown would drive to the basket and lose the ball as defenders reached in to disrupt his attack. Brown has to be stronger driving to the basket and not keep the ball down so low where opponents can swipe at it.

The 25-year-old guard is an explosive athlete and finishes really well when he gets to the basket. But there were too many times last season where he failed to get to the rim because defenders forced turnovers during his dribble or after he picked up the ball.

Brown had four or more turnovers in 10 of his 24 playoff games last season.

Fixing this issue will allow Brown to get more high-quality looks at the basket and probably more free throw attempts as well.


Projected stats, prediction for Brown's 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 25.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 48.9 percent FG, 39.3 percent 3PT (74 games)

There's no doubt Brown can take his production to a higher level. He's been knocking on the door of 25 points per game for the last two seasons, and unless injuries are a huge factor for him, he could easily hit that mark next season. An uptick in 3-point shooting percentage would play a huge part in reaching the 25 points per game level. Brown's 3-point shooting dipped to 35.8 percent last season -- his worst rate since 2018-19. Getting that number back into the 38-40 percent range would be huge for Boston's offensive output.

One area where Brown can develop more is as a playmaker. His ability to beat opponents off the dribble with his athleticism should create plenty of opportunities to kick the ball out to the perimeter for open 3-point shots. Making your teammates better is a hallmark of every top-tier star.


Bob


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https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-player-spotlight-how-robert-williams-can-put-it-all-together-year-5?b



How Time Lord can put it all together in Year 5


JUL 14, 2022

BY JUSTIN LEGER
CELTICS

The Boston Celtics boasted the best defense in the NBA as they surged to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and made it all the way to the NBA Finals.

While C's guard Marcus Smart was recognized with the Defensive Player of the Year honor, one could argue Robert Williams was the anchor for Boston's defense as the big man made tremendous strides in Year 4 of his career.


Williams, also known as "Time Lord," was one of the Celtics' most important players throughout the 2021-22 season. The 24-year-old finished ninth in the NBA in blocks (91) and 15th in rebounds per game (9.6) while earning Second-Team All-Defense honors. Before suffering a torn meniscus in March, Williams was right there with Smart as a favorite to win the DPOY award.


A few weeks later, Williams showed his toughness by returning to the Celtics' lineup in the playoffs. He wasn't as explosive on the surgically-repaired left knee, but his presence was a huge factor even with him not being 100 percent.

How can Williams make another leap in 2022-23? We continue our player spotlight series with Time Lord's accomplishments last season and where he can improve in Year 5.


Williams' 2021-22 stats

Regular season: 10.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 2.0 apg, 73.6 percent FG (61 games)

Postseason: 7.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 1.0 apg, 67.9 percent FG, (17 games)


Williams' contract situation

The Celtics signed Williams to a four-year, $54 million contract extension, including $48 million guaranteed in August 2021. The deal will keep Williams under contract with Boston through the 2025-26 campaign.


What role will Williams play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Last season marked Williams' first season as a full-time starter and he thrived in the new role. The 6-foot-8, 237-pounder stepped up as the stellar rim protector the Celtics have desperately needed the last few years. His efforts on the defensive end earned him national recognition, and he was no slouch offensively either as he was a constant threat to finish off a lob.

Time Lord should assume the same role again next season and as long as he stays healthy, he should once again be in the DPOY conversation.


Williams' 2022-23 season will be a success if ...

... He can stay on the court and duplicate his 2021-22 efforts.

Williams provided exactly what the Celtics needed during their incredible run last season. Not only was he a threat to block any shot near the rim, he also contested his fair share of shots on the perimeter. His defense is one of the main reasons Boston was able to climb to the top of the East standings and compete for an NBA title.

That said, the best ability of all is availability.

The Celtics will hope Williams' knee issues don't carry over into the new season, but that might be wishful thinking. Williams has struggled to stay on the court so far in his young career, though he took a significant step forward with 61 games played before his meniscus tear.


USA TODAY Sports photo


Biggest obstacles to Williams' success

Health.

Plain and simple, the injury bug has been Williams' No. 1 obstacle. It's hard to imagine that changing, given that he's at his best when he's explosive. That style of play is bound to result in injuries, especially for a player with a history of knee issues.

We probably can rule out Williams playing a full 82-game schedule, but a solid 70 should be the goal for him next season. That would be a pleasant surprise.


Projected stats, prediction for Williams' 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 11.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 2.2 apg, 74 percent FG (65 games)

If healthy, Williams should once again be a force for the Celtics and a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. While our projected stats above are only marginally better than his 2021-22 numbers, we wouldn't be surprised if he reaches another level in his development.

To do that, Williams will need to continue working on his mid-range shot and one-on-one defense in the post. If he enters the 2022-23 campaign with those skills under his belt, he should be an even bigger asset for Ime Udoka moving forward.


Bob


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https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-player-spotlight-can-al-horford-deliver-encore-performance



Can Al Horford do THAT again in 2022-23?


JUL 5, 2022

BY DARREN HARTWELL
CELTICS



A lot of things have to go right for a team to reach the NBA Finals -- especially when said team sits below .500 in late January.

For the 2021-22 Boston Celtics, that included 36-year-old Al Horford playing like a 26-year-old.

The veteran big man, whom Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens brought back last June in the Kemba Walker trade, was a steadying presence in Boston's frontcourt, averaging 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game during the regular season.


But where Horford really shined was the postseason, where he averaged close to a double-double while logging more than 35 minutes per night. Simply put, the Celtics don't reach the NBA Finals without Horford, who exploded for 30 points in a Game 4 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals and dropped 26 on the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Finals.

Can the Celtics expect similar results from Horford in his 16th NBA season? We're kicking off our Celtics offseason player spotlight series with a look at Boston's eldest statesman.


Horford's 2021-22 stats
Regular season: 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.3 bpg, 46.7 percent FG, 33.6 percent 3PT (69 games)

Postseason: 12.0 pgg, 9.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.3 bpg, 52.3 percent FG, 48 percent 3PT (23 games)


Horford's contract situation

Horford is set to make $26.5 million in 2022-23 on the final year of a four-year, $109 million contract. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2023.


What role will Horford play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Horford was part of the best starting five in the NBA during the second half of last season. So, even with Danilo Gallinari and Malcolm Brogdon in the fold, there's a good chance Horford is starting alongside Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams come October.

Horford's greatest strength is his versatility: The veteran big man can space the floor with his 3-point shot, take advantage of mismatches in the post and facilitate on offense while holding his own against wings and bigs alike on defense.

Gallinari's presence means head coach Ime Udoka can manage Horford's minutes throughout the season, so don't be surprised if he takes the occasional game off. But unless injuries crop up, expect Horford to play close to 30 minutes per night as Boston's starting power forward.


Horford's season will be a success if ...

... He keeps drinking from the fountain of youth.

The 36-year-old was a perfect fit for this Celtics team when healthy -- Boston went 46-23 with Horford on the court last season and was 5-8 without him -- so if he can manage his body, there's no reason to think he can't put up numbers similar to what we saw last season.


Mr. Big Shot

Horford's career 3PT percentage in the postseason  42.9%


The Celtics don't need Horford to play 35 minutes per night in the regular season, especially if they bolster their roster with another backup big man. The best case scenario for Boston is having a healthy Horford entering the postseason, where he can make an impact on both ends and perhaps help the Celtics get back to the NBA Finals.


Biggest obstacle to Horford's success

Father Time.

Horford logged nearly 3,000 total minutes last season after appearing in just 27 games for the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020-21. While the five-time All-Star takes great care of his body, there's a real chance he runs out of gas late in the 2022-23 campaign after the shortest offseason of his career.

Fatigue affected Horford's outside shot at times last season, so if his legs can't hold up, his 3-point percentage could dip as well, perhaps leading Udoka to give more minutes to Gallinari when he wants to space the floor.


Projected stats and prediction for Horford's 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 10.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 bpg, 45.0 percent FG, 35.0 percent 3PT (65 games)

It's a bit unrealistic to bank on 70-plus games of strong production out of Horford in his age-36 season, especially after the mileage he put on his body this year. So, expect a slight statistical regression across the board.

Horford is entering a contract year and is chasing his first ring, however, so he has plenty of motivation to prove he can still be a valuable piece on a championship contender.

We expect Horford to do just that by giving Boston 65 games of solid production on both ends of the floor. Gallinari may cut into his minutes when Udoka wants an offensive boost, but Horford should be one of the Celtics' five most important players next season.


Bob


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I am going to lump JB, JT and MS all together. The single biggest improvement needed by all 3 of them is decision making.

For the Jays I think both of them need to be better off the ball offensive players. More movement and less ISO basketball.

Smart needs to take control of the game late when we need for him to create for his teammates. Unlike the Heat game 7 where he single handedly almost blew our trip to the finals.

Rob #1 needs to stay healthy and #2 expand his offensive game.

For Al, you just never know when Father Time will come knocking at your door. The expectation is steady as you go.

Great summation. My biggest fear? Al all of a sudden becoming 36 going on 40. He does a great job of keeping himself in shape, but how long will those legs carry him to the victory he so desires. That is why last year’s results are such a shame. Hey, we can look at Brady, he is still going strong and he is well into his 40’s so I can wishful think

My other worry is Rob’s health. I would love to see this guy play a full year without missing many games. He is such an important player on this team

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-malcolm-brogdon-195000101.html



Celtics player spotlight: How Malcolm Brogdon can maximize Boston's potential


Justin Leger
Thu, July 21, 2022 at 3:50 PM


Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics wasted no time addressing a need this offseason.

On July 1, the C's acquired point guard Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with the Indiana Pacers. They sent five players and their 2023 first-round draft pick to Indiana in an effort to bolster their backcourt depth.


Brogdon is expected to take the sixth-man role while Marcus Smart continues as the team's full-time starting point guard. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard also remain on the depth chart as point guard options off the bench.

It'll be an adjustment for Brogdon, who has started every game he's played in since the 2018-19 campaign. The 29-year-old says he'll embrace the new role, but whether or not he and Smart can coexist is a hot topic heading into his first season with Boston. And that isn't the only question mark that comes along with the Brogdon acquisition.

We continue our Celtics player spotlight series by looking back on Brogdon's accomplishments with the Pacers last season and how he can make Boston a title contender again in 2022-23.


Brogdon's 2021-22 stats
Regular season: 19.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.9 apg, 0.8 spg, 44.8 percent FG, 31.2 percent 3PT (36 games with IND)

Postseason: N/A


Brogdon's contract situation

Brogdon is set to make $22.6 million in 2022-23 after signing a four-year, $85 million contract extension with the Indiana Pacers last October. He is under contract with Boston through the 2024-25 season.


What role will Brogdon play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

For now, the plan is to have Brogdon come off the bench while Smart remains as the starting point guard.

We can expect the Celtics to play that situation by ear as the season goes on. If Smart struggles to duplicate his 2021-22 success, head coach Ime Udoka might be tempted to get Brogdon -- the better offensive player -- into the starting lineup.


Even as the sixth-man, Brogdon should get his fair share of minutes. He'll play a significant part in what the Celtics hope to accomplish offensively. If they need buckets in crunch time, Udoka likely will roll with Brogdon over Smart as the primary ball-handler. If they're trying to hold onto a lead, they'll likely roll with the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year.


Brogdon's season will be a success if ...

... He embraces the sixth-man role.

Brogdon coming off the bench might be best for all parties involved. He's struggled to stay healthy for most of his NBA career, so it makes sense to limit his minutes so he can stay on the court for the entire season, something he hasn't accomplished since his Rookie of the Year campaign.

Getting Brogdon and Smart to complement one another will be key to Boston's success. Things could go sideways in a hurry if either point guard takes issue with their playing time. Fortunately for the Celtics, both players seem open-minded heading into their first year as teammates.


Biggest obstacle to Brogdon's success

Staying healthy.

Brogdon has been unable to stay on the court for five of his six seasons in the league. He played in only 36 games for the Pacers last season due to Achilles and hamstring injuries. He hasn't played more than 60 games in a season since 2018-19 when he played in 64.

In his two seasons with more than 60 games played, Brogdon averaged less than 30 minutes per game. That undoubtedly factored into the Celtics' decision to have him come off the bench.


Projected stats and prediction for Brogdon's 2022-23 season
Projected stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.1 apg, 0.7 spg, 44.5 percent FG, 37 percent 3PT (60 games)

Assuming Brogdon's minutes take a hit with Smart as the starter, so will his numbers. But that doesn't mean Brogdon will fail to make a major impact in his first season with the Celtics. In fact, he might be even more efficient than he was as the starting point guard for Indiana and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Expect Brogdon to provide a significant spark off the bench and when he fills in for Smart in the starting lineup. He's a difference-maker offensively, something the Celtics second-unit desperately needed during its 2022 playoff run. Fans expect Brogdon to be the missing piece of the puzzle, and it isn't difficult to see why.


Bob
MY NOTE:  What isn't mentioned is how many minutes Brogdon played last year, how many he usually plays and how many he should be expected to play this year.  He played 1206 minutes last year, but 1930 the year before that.  He hasn't ever played as many minutes in a season as the Js did last year (2731 for Jayson and 2220 for Jaylen) so we shouldn't expect that or anything near that.  I'm sure, once Brad has filled out the rest of the roster, that we'll have a minutes/player projection thread like DBoss started last year but I think it's crazy to expect Malcolm Brogdon to play more than solid rotation minutes.  25mpg, or less.  Over the course of his 6 year career he has never averaged 25mpg or less regardless of how many games he played.  When Bill Walton came to Boston he couldn't play more than 20mpg, his feet wouldn't let him, but those were great minutes (he averaged 19.2mpg, 1546 minutes total over 80 games).  If Brogdon can give us 1700 high-quality Malcolm Brogdon minutes over 70 games (he played 1836 over 64 games in his last year in Milwaukee in 2018-2019) that's 24.3mpg.  I would be good with that.

Smart played 2296 minutes last year.  White played 2199 minutes last year (1486 for the Spurs and 713 for us).  Skimming some of their minutes off the top and giving them to Brogdon would be easy.  Smart averaged 32.3mpg and White averaged 27.4mpg for us (30+ for Pop).  Taking 3mpg off of each would be good for them, they'll be fresher come playoff time.  There's 6mpg for 97 games (Smart 71 + White 26 for us) for 582 minutes.  We're a third of the way there without even trying.  Nesmith played 574 last season and Brogdon can certainly replace him.  Now we're up to 1156.


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https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-derrick-white-204600887.html



Celtics player spotlight: How Derrick White can maximize his role in Boston


Justin Leger
Tue, July 26, 2022 at 1:46 PM



The Boston Celtics acquiring Derrick White at last year's trade deadline helped to fuel their second-half surge. The 28-year-old will look to add a similar spark in his first full season with Boston.


White will be part of a suddenly-loaded Celtics backcourt that includes Marcus Smart, Payton Pritchard, and the newly-acquired Malcolm Brogdon. He could see a slight dip in playing time as a result, but White still will be leaned on to bring a defensive boost off the bench. Improvement in the shooting department would be icing on the cake.


Here's a look at White's past accomplishments and how the former San Antonio Spurs guard can maximize his role with the Celtics in 2022-23.


White's 2021-22 stats
Regular season: 13.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 42.1 percent FG, 31.2 percent 3PT (49 games with SAS, 26 with BOS)

Postseason: 8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg, 36.4 percent FG, 31.3 percent 3PT


White's contract situation

White is set to make about $16.4 million in 2022-23 after signing a four-year, $70 million contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs in Dec. 2020. He is under contract with Boston through the 2024-25 season.


What role will White play on the 2022-23 Celtics?
Unless White is dealt before the season (perhaps in a package for Kevin Durant?) he once again will be a key contributor off the bench.

This time, however, newly-acquired guard Malcolm Brogdon will steal some of White's minutes. Brogdon will serve as the sixth man while Marcus Smart starts at point guard, at least to begin the 2022-23 campaign.


Even if his playing time takes a hit, White will still play a significant role as a defender. His versatility on the defensive end fit perfectly with the Celtics' identity last season and was a major reason they sailed to the No. 2 seed in the East and made a run at Banner 18.


White's season will be a success if ...
... He carves out a consistent role off the bench.

The Celtics suddenly are loaded with guard depth following the acquisition of Brogdon. Smart and Brogdon are the top two guards in the pecking order, then it's White and Payton Pritchard. White's minutes almost certainly will take a hit as a result.

Still, as we saw last season, White's defensive versatility allows him to be on the floor alongside Smart and we should see him on the floor with Brogdon fairly often. If anything, the addition of Brogdon takes the pressure off White to perform offensively and allows him to focus on his strengths.


Biggest obstacle to White's success
Shooting struggles.

We know what White brings to the table defensively. It's the reason the Celtics were fine with giving up a better shooter -- Josh Richardson -- as part of a package to acquire White at last year's trade deadline. Still, there's no doubt Boston wants to see more offensive consistency from White next season.

White shot 40.9 percent from the floor and 30.6 percent from 3 in his 26 regular-season games with the C's. He posted a 36.4 FG% and 31.3 3P% in the playoffs. The hope is there's a noticeable improvement in his first full season in Boston.


Projected stats and prediction for White's 2022-23 season
Projected stats: 10.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 41.3 percent FG, 31 percent 3PT

As cliche as it may sound, White's impact is felt beyond the box score. His defense is a noticeable difference-maker and outweighs his shortcomings on the offensive side. That said, the Celtics would love to see White take a step forward as a shooter. That was a glaring weakness last season and if he can improve those shooting percentages just a tad, it will go a long way toward bringing a spark off a C's bench that lacked a scoring punch in the 2022 NBA playoffs.


Bob
MY NOTE:  One thing I do not like about these analyses is that they don't give you mpg.  White averaged 27.4mpg for us during the season but only 25.4mpg in the playoffs.  Is that drop off in mpg enough to justify his lower production?  No, but it deserves to be noted.  White shot about 30% from 3 in both the regular and post seasons.  That needs to improve, and by a lot.  If Grant Williams can go from 25% 3pt shooter in year 1, a 37% 3pt shooter in year 2 and a 41% 3pt shooter in year 3 I don't see why Derrick White cannot go from a 30% 3pt shooter to a 36-37% shooter this coming season.   He would still be mediocre from 3 but if we can get that with his good defense and floor generalship then we're ok with him on the floor.


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https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-payton-pritchard-192900815.html



Celtics player spotlight: How Payton Pritchard can carve out a consistent role


Justin Leger

Thu, July 28, 2022 at 3:29 PM



Payton Pritchard knows his role with the Boston Celtics. He'll hope that role is more consistent in Year 3 of his NBA career than it was a season ago.

Boston's 2021 offseason acquisition of Dennis Schroder meant sporadic playing time for Pritchard, who made a name for himself as a sharpshooter off the bench as a rookie. The inconsistent minutes clearly had a negative impact on Pritchard's shooting.


Before Schroder was traded to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 10, Pritchard shot 38.5 percent from the floor while averaging 4.8 points in 12.2 minutes per game. After the Schroder deal, he boosted those numbers to 48.2 percent and 8.6 points in 17.4 minutes per game. The 24-year-old proved that with consistent playing time, he can bring a spark to the Celtics' second unit.

So, how can Pritchard maximize his impact with the C's in 2022-23? Here, we spotlight Fast PP's accomplishments from his first two seasons in the league and discuss how he can improve in Year 3.


Pritchard's 2021-22 stats
Regular season: 6.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.4 spg, 42.9 percent FG, 41.2 percent 3PT (71 games)

Postseason: 4.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.3 spg, 42.2 percent FG, 33.3 percent 3PT


Pritchard's contract situation

Pritchard is entering the third year of his four-year, $10.5 million rookie contract with the Celtics. He has a club option for the 2023-24 season.


What role will Pritchard play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Pritchard again will look to provide a scoring punch off the bench. But just like the first half of last season, finding consistency could prove to be a challenge.

The Celtics added Malcolm Brogdon to a suddenly-loaded backcourt that also includes Marcus Smart and Derrick White. Unless Boston unloads one of those players ahead of the 2022-23 season, Pritchard will be the last guard in the pecking order.


There's also the Danilo Gallinari acquisition, which gives the C's an additional bench scorer. Pritchard still should be a factor with his perimeter shooting, but it's hard to believe he'll see an increase in playing time with this current roster. There simply are too many mouths to feed.


Pritchard's season will be a success if ...

... He improves as an off-ball guard.

Pritchard doesn't need to prove he can shoot the basketball. If the Celtics need a spark off the bench, there's a good chance Pritchard can provide it. But to earn more minutes with the 2022-23 team, he'll need to take a step forward as an off-ball guard.

His improvement in that department last year earned him head coach Ime Udoka's trust, resulting in more minutes off the bench. Continuing to develop into a more complete player will be necessary as he looks to carve out a consistent role with Boston next season.


Biggest obstacle to Pritchard's success

No path to consistent minutes.

It's difficult for any shooter to perform at a high level when playing time is sporadic. Pritchard was a prime example of that last season when Schroder, Josh Richardson, and Romeo Langford were in the mix. If the Celtics enter the 2022-23 season with Brogdon, Smart, and White, Pritchard might find himself in a similar position.


Projected stats and prediction for Pritchard's 2022-23 season
Projected stats: 6.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.5 spg, 43.1 percent FG, 41.7 percent 3PT

Pritchard will resume his role as a bench scorer who averages roughly 15 minutes per game. Without a significant boost in playing time, he'll likely finish with numbers similar to last season. We project a slight increase in his shooting percentages as we're optimistic he'll get off to a better start than he did a year ago.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Pritchard is fine as an off-ball guard now, but as a 6'1" player he needs to be better as a floor general.  He has the ball-handling skills, for sure, but he hasn't used them to create offense for his teammates.  Floor generalship is as much about rhythm as any other basketball skill and rhythm requires predictable, if not consistent, minutes.  This will be his 3rd year, which is the year a lot of young'uns take their step up.  It'll be hard for Pritchard to do that with spotty minutes off the bench.  He is now the 4th guard off the bench.  It was tough for him last year as it is when he had Schroder, and then White, ahead of him and he was 3rd on the depth chart.  


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Pritchard and White

Peyton passes up too many shots.  He cannot be afraid to miss a shot.  He is not a natural playmaking guard but he sure knows how to push the ball up the court.  Peyton is a SG in a PG body.  The Celtics need scoring off the bench.  Ideally I would like to see them have no less than 3 Shooters/scorers on the floor at all times.  

So maybe you play him next to White with White as the primary playmaker and have a combination of 2 other scorers  with them (Grant, Jayson, Malcolm, Jaylen, Gallo)  Peyton is a pure shooter and the Celtics (Ime) needs to find a way to maximize that skill.  You could also pair Peyton with Marcus along with 2 shooters/scorers

Ime has to figure out which combinations of players work best together.  

We do not know what those combinations will look like just yet.

dboss wrote:Pritchard and White

Peyton passes up too many shots.  He cannot be afraid to miss a shot.  He is not a natural playmaking guard but he sure knows how to push the ball up the court.  Peyton is a SG in a PG body.  The Celtics need scoring off the bench.  Ideally I would like to see them have no less than 3 Shooters/scorers on the floor at all times.  

So maybe you play him next to White with White as the primary playmaker and have a combination of 2 other scorers  with them (Grant, Jayson, Malcolm, Jaylen, Gallo)  Peyton is a pure shooter and the Celtics (Ime) needs to find a way to maximize that skill.  You could also pair Peyton with Marcus along with 2 shooters/scorers

Ime has to figure out which combinations of players work best together.  

We do not know what those combinations will look like just yet.

Dboss,

For back court floor generals we have Smart, Brogdon and White.  Pritchard is a very good ball handler but hasn't quite advanced to the "floor general" role yet.  And that doesn't even include Jayson Tatum, whom Ime used as a floor general last year, putting the ball in his hands and drawing double teams that he was expected to pass out of.  Do we really need three back court floor generals?  You can always use an extra shooter, but a ball handler who cannot shoot is limited (think Ben Simmons).

If Pritchard can see the basket he needs to shoot the ball.  He's been around long enough, and has gotten enough playing time, to know how much space he needs to get off a clear shot.  White, on the other hand, needs to do exactly what he himself said he needs to do this off-season.  He needs to practice his shooting.

I've said I think Pritchard will be traded by the deadline, perhaps for a decent but not really good big, because he has value, still has rookie contract left and isn't going to get a ton of minutes here, not enough to really take his game up another step.  On the other hand, as I just suggested, we are perhaps too deep on back court floor generals and that makes Derrick White the 3rd wheel.  Third out of three.


Bob


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dboss you are right, how many times did we watch him get up the floor, have a wide open shot, and pass to JT or JB. He should lean from his other young teammate, Grant Williams, who went on that 25 shot streak of missing 3's to becoming a handy player off the bench in spots And, work last summer to improve his game even more. This is what Peyton should learn from. Come back this year with a new wrinkle in his game and make it harder tp not put him on the floor. Peyton needs to do this too

bobheckler wrote:

dboss wrote:Pritchard and White

Peyton passes up too many shots.  He cannot be afraid to miss a shot.  He is not a natural playmaking guard but he sure knows how to push the ball up the court.  Peyton is a SG in a PG body.  The Celtics need scoring off the bench.  Ideally I would like to see them have no less than 3 Shooters/scorers on the floor at all times.  

So maybe you play him next to White with White as the primary playmaker and have a combination of 2 other scorers  with them (Grant, Jayson, Malcolm, Jaylen, Gallo)  Peyton is a pure shooter and the Celtics (Ime) needs to find a way to maximize that skill.  You could also pair Peyton with Marcus along with 2 shooters/scorers

Ime has to figure out which combinations of players work best together.  

We do not know what those combinations will look like just yet.

Dboss,

For back court floor generals we have Smart, Brogdon and White.  Pritchard is a very good ball handler but hasn't quite advanced to the "floor general" role yet.  And that doesn't even include Jayson Tatum, whom Ime used as a floor general last year, putting the ball in his hands and drawing double teams that he was expected to pass out of.  Do we really need three back court floor generals?  You can always use an extra shooter, but a ball handler who cannot shoot is limited (think Ben Simmons).

If Pritchard can see the basket he needs to shoot the ball.  He's been around long enough, and has gotten enough playing time, to know how much space he needs to get off a clear shot.  White, on the other hand, needs to do exactly what he himself said he needs to do this off-season.  He needs to practice his shooting.

I've said I think Pritchard will be traded by the deadline, perhaps for a decent but not really good big, because he has value, still has rookie contract left and isn't going to get a ton of minutes here, not enough to really take his game up another step.  On the other hand, as I just suggested, we are perhaps too deep on back court floor generals and that makes Derrick White the 3rd wheel.  Third out of three.


Bob


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Bob that is why I suggested that you pair PP with one of the floor generals and let him play off the ball because he is a terrific shooter.

I do not think having 3 capable floor generals is too much simply because 2 of the 3 can play off the ball. That means we can expect to see lineups where we have 2 floor general in the game at the same time and perhaps all 3 under certain situations.

Peyton is not going to get a lot of opportunity to run the offense but he shoots the ball so well you have to find a role for him.

Also keep in mind that Marcus gets injured it seems every year and Malcolm also has an injury history. Having a deep core of 'floor generals' provides more insurance against injury and also open up more options for better play makers. (can make plays for others and for themselves)

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-danilo-gallinari-194000240.html



Celtics player spotlight: Can Danilo Gallinari help put C's over the top?


Darren Hartwell

Tue, August 2, 2022 at 12:40 PM



If Celtics fans want a sense for how Danilo Gallinari can impact winning, they need only re-watch Boston's game against the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 24, 2021.


Gallinari absolutely torched the Celtics that night, hitting 10 of 12 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 38 points in Atlanta's double-digit victory.

While that game was an anomaly, it's an extreme example of what Gallinari can bring to the Celtics in the form of a floor-spacing, 6-foot-10 sharpshooter. ("Bad scouting report," Gallinari quipped to Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens about his 3-point outburst against Boston.)


But where exactly does Gallinari fit in a deep, talented Celtics rotation, and can he help Boston get over the hump? We continue our Celtics player spotlight series by highlighting what Gallinari did in Atlanta last season and how he can maximize his impact with his new team.


Gallinari's 2021-22 stats (with Hawks)

Regular season: 11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 43.4 percent FG, 38.1 percent 3PT (66 games)

Postseason: 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 40.0 percent FG, 26.7 percent 3PT (five games)


Gallinari's contract situation

Gallinari signed a two-year, $13.3 million contract with the Celtics on July 12. He'll make $6.5 million this season and $6.8 million next season if he picks up his player option for 2023-24.


What role will Gallinari play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

The Celtics lacked a reliable veteran scorer off the bench last season. They acquired two this offseason in Gallinari and Malcolm Brogdon. Gallinari's versatility is an asset, as he can spell Jayson Tatum on the wing, Al Horford at the four or Robert Williams at center in small-ball lineups.

Gallinari isn't an elite defender, but the Celtics' team defense should be strong enough to hide his limitations. If head coach Ime Udoka sees his offense getting stagnant, he can turn to Gallinari as an outside shooting threat who can space the floor for Boston's creators -- especially when the C's go "small."


"I think we're better set up to play smaller than we were, just because of the size of [Brogdon and Gallinari] and we've got a lot of different options there," Stevens told reporters last month.

As the Celtics' second-oldest player behind Horford (36), the 33-year-old Gallinari also can provide valuable leadership for a team that looked a little too green against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.


Gallinari's season will be a success if ...

... He flirts with 15 points per game and stays healthy for a playoff run.

The Celtics don't need Gallinari to log 30 minutes per night or carry a significant load on offense. But they do need him to bring a scoring spark to a Celtics team that ranked 26th in the NBA in bench scoring during the regular season and 14th among 16 playoff teams.

The 14-year veteran is certainly capable of providing that spark, averaging 15.1 points over 728 career games. He's also played more than 70 games in a season just twice in his lengthy NBA career, though, so the C's should monitor his minutes to make sure he's well-rested for a deep postseason run.


Biggest obstacle to Gallinari's success

Defensive shortcomings.

Gallinari isn't a horrible defender thanks to his 6-foot-10 build. But he'll usually be the worst defender on the floor for Boston, and teams will look to exploit the weak link in an otherwise rock-solid defense by targeting him in pick-and-rolls.

If Gallinari is knocking down outside shots, the Celtics can live with his limitations on the other end. But if they find themselves in a playoff game where his shot isn't falling and a player like Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is repeatedly scoring on him, it will be hard to keep him on the floor.


Projected stats and prediction for Gallinari's 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 44.0 percent FG, 39.5 percent 3PT

Gallinari should see a good amount of quality open looks when he's on the floor with Tatum and/or Brown, so we'll predict a slight bump in his scoring and shooting averages. He immediately makes the Celtics better offensively and gives teams a serious problem to deal with on Boston's second unit.

The biggest question is whether Gallinari can hold up in the postseason, where teams will look to expose him on the defensive end. But if the Italy native (and childhood Celtics fan) has some well-timed 3-point explosions in him, it will go a long way toward Boston raising Banner 18.


Bob
MY NOTE:  As usual they neglect to add mpg to Gallo's numbers so you can have some perspective.  This makes even less sense when they point out that the Celtics don't expect him to play 30mpg.  Ok, so how many do they think he should play and how does that compare to what he played last year for Atlanta?

Regular season: 11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 43.4 percent FG, 38.1 percent 3PT (66 games).  25.3 mpg

Postseason: 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 40.0 percent FG, 26.7 percent 3PT (five games).  22.3 mpg

He played a total of 1672 minutes last year.  

I've never been a big fan of Gallo's before because of his half-hearted defense.  I'm hoping that a combination of Ime's prioritization of defense as part of our DNA, as well as the presence of Smart and RWill, will give him some religion.  Ray Allen never played defense before he came to Boston either.  His job was to score.  If Ray didn't drop 25 they were likely to lose, so that's what he did, but when he came here with our tradition and KG he started playing defense.  Hopefully 34 year old Danilo Gallinari is seeing the light at the end of his tunnel and is ready to up that part of his game.

He had a very good assist-to-turnover ratio last year, 2.5:1 (1.5 assists, .6 turnovers).  That'd be very helpful.  It's hard to judge his defense because Atlanta's defense sucked, so his numbers will reflect that.  

Brogdon is very steady, pretty predictable.  Unexciting but crafty and effective.  Gallinari?  He's a wild card in my mind.  He could be a microwave, he could be a dud.  What scares me is that he could be another Jeff Green and is a microwave and a dud.  He's a microwave for a game or two and then shoots oh-fer the next 2 weeks.  If there's a silver lining there it's that unlike Jeff Green nobody is expecting Gallinari to do anything more than spot starting when there's an injury.  Jeff Green was expected to be 'da man' and he couldn't handle that kind of sustained spotlight.




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https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-grant-williams-162754110.html



Celtics player spotlight: How Grant Williams can build on strong Year 3


Nick Goss
Thu, August 4, 2022 at 12:27 PM



It wasn't long ago that people were debating whether Grant Williams could be a useful player for the Boston Celtics.

The 2019 first-round draft pick had an underwhelming 2020-21 season in which he averaged just 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, along with 58.7 percent free throw shooting.

Williams needed to show meaningful improvement in Year 3, and he more than lived up to the challenge.

He set career highs with 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game, along with a 90.7 percent rate at the free throw line while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range. In addition to his offensive improvement, Williams earned more playing time -- a career-high 24.4 minutes per game and 21 starts -- with his quality defense, including the versatility to guard multiple positions.

Williams carved out an important role for the Celtics as a 3-and-D player off the bench. His role was so critical that he received even more playing time (27.7 minutes per game) in the playoffs en route to Boston's appearance in the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

His best moment of the season came in a key spot -- Game 7 of the second round versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. Williams carried the Celtics to victory with a game-high 27 points, including a 7-for-18 mark on 3-pointers.


We continue our Celtics player spotlight series by highlighting what Williams did last season and how he can maximize his impact as Boston tries to get back to the Finals.


Williams' 2021-22 stats

Regular season: 7.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1 apg, 47.5 percent FG, 41.1 percent 3PT (77 games)

Postseason: 8.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 43.3 percent FG, 39.3 percent 3PT (24 games)


Williams' contract situation

Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract with a 2022-23 salary of $4,306,281, which also is his cap hit for next season.


He is extension-eligible, and the Celtics will have until Oct. 18 to finalize a deal or they'll have to revisit it after the season. An extension in the $10-13 million per season range would be fair for both sides. Williams also could decide to bet on himself and forego an extension until next offseason, essentially hoping he improves even more during 2022-23 and increases his value.


What role will Williams play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Williams should continue to be a valuable 3-and-D player off the bench, with the ability to make spot starts when injuries and load management force other guys out of the lineup.

The 23-year-old forward showed an impressive ability to guard elite perimeter players during the 2022 playoffs. His defense against the likes of Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo played a key factor in the C's winning both of those series. Williams has enough quickness to stay with those players, in addition to the strength required to not get taken advantage of in the low post.

Williams' versatility to play multiple positions (including center in small-ball lineups), his above-average defense and improved 3-point shooting make him among the most important bench players for Boston. He's essentially a smaller version of teammate Al Horford, and that's not a bad guy to model your game after.


Williams' season will be a success if ...

... He continues to hit 40-plus percent from 3-point range with more volume.

Outside shooting is so critical in today's NBA, especially for a team like the Celtics that has two top-tier scorers in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both of whom do a good job attacking the basket, drawing in multiple defenders and kicking out to open shooters on the perimeter.

One of those shooters last season was often Williams, who hit a career-best 41.1 percent of his 3-point field goals. He also attempted a career-high 3.4 3-pointers per game. The goal for Williams next season should be shooting around the 40 percent mark again but with a little more volume -- maybe around 4.5-5 attempts per game.

One of the benefits to Williams' improved outside shooting is defenders have to go out to the perimeter and guard him. He's no longer one of those guys you can give up open looks to on a regular basis. Williams has done a nice job attacking defenders when they close out on the perimeter and driving to the to rim. This is something he should do more of next season, especially if his 3-point shooting is near 40 percent again.


Biggest obstacle to Williams' success

... Consistency.

Williams played in 77 games last season and scored 10-plus points in consecutive games just six times. His longest streak with double-digit points was four games from Feb. 15 through Feb. 26.

The playoffs were a rollercoaster for Williams. As mentioned above, he scored 27 points in a Game 7 win over the Bucks in Round 2. But he also scored just two in Game 6 of that series, zero points in Game 5, and under 10 in Game 1, 3 and 4. He had 21 points in Game 2.

Williams combined to score 14 points in Games 4-6 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Miami Heat. In the NBA Finals against the Warriors, Williams was held scoreless in Game 1 and poured in only three points in each of the final three games (all losses).

Williams' defense was pretty good through the regular season and the playoffs, but he needs to be a more consistent offensive player to take his game to the next level and earn more playing time. The competition for minutes off the bench should be more intense next season after the C's acquired Malcom Brogdon (via trade) and Danilo Gallinari (free agency).


Projected stats and prediction for Williams' 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 46.4 percent FG, 39.8 percent 3PT

Williams could be playing for a contract extension, depending on whether he and the Celtics and work out something before the October deadline. If no deal is reached prior to that deadline, we should see a motivated Williams throughout the season. Another source of motivation for Williams should be his lackluster performance in the NBA Finals. He made little to no impact offensively in the series, and it hurt the Celtics' scoring depth. Hopefully for the C's, that disappointing finish fueled his offseason work.

Overall, Williams took a massive step forward last season, which was very encouraging for the Celtics. We should expect to see even more progress from him in 2022-23 after he carved out a valuable 3-and-D role.


Bob
MY NOTE:  I assume the 40+% 3pt fg% from last year was not a fluke.   If shooting is a learnable skill then Grant has learned it.  I expect him to deliver on numbers that are close to that this year (39%, at least).  That's the good news.  The bad news is that opposing players will expect that too.  What I would consider a successful season for Grant is if he can put the ball on the floor if they fall off him.  If they don't leave him, because he's now scouted as a very good 3pt shooter, that'd be good too.  It keeps weakside defenders away from the paint and helping on penetrations.   However, if they do fall off him so they can be close enough to collapse on penetrators and then try to recover by running at him to drive him off the arc, I want to see him put the ball on the floor and force the paint defenders to come to him (and then he can dish to a shooter or cutter).  I considered Grant and Semi Ojelaye to be redundant.  In his rookie year he was 2nd fiddle to Semi, who was limited but knew his role and did it pretty well.  Now?  Grant's career high points have already exceeded Semi's.  Semi will probably never be more than a 11th or 12th man, if that.  Grant is a solid NBA rotation player, top 10 or 11 on any roster.  I'm interested in seeing how many minutes Gallinari takes from him.  What Gallo adds in offense he gives up on defense.  That is the mirror image of Grant.


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Gallinari and G. Williams

The addition of Danilo helps to solidify our rotation depth.

He is a shooter.  Last 4 years he shot 43.2, 40.5, 40.6 and 38.1% from behind the arc.  Danilo may be a perfect fit for the Celtics.  The Celtics offense will create significant opportunities for him to take shots off of open looks.  He is also capable of putting the ball on the floor and creating scoring opportunities.  The Celtics did not sign him because they were looking for a 6' 10" defensive stopper.  

Grant had no depth piece pushing him from behind.  He rarely played the 5 and was mainly used on the perimeter to serve as a reliable outlet.  I do not see any significant alteration for him this year but do not be one bit surprised if his 24.4 MPG drops down a bit.

Danilo is just a better offensive player.  It will be very interesting to see if Ime plays the two of them together.  I expect to see Danilo play some small ball 5.

Both of these players should play important roles for the team.

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-player-spotlight-sam-hauser-125500481.html



Celtics player spotlight: How Sam Hauser can develop into a rotation player


Justin Leger

Tue, August 9, 2022 at 8:55 AM


It's shaping up to be an important year for Sam Hauser.

The Virginia product, who went undrafted in 2021, recently earned a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics after serving as a two-way player last season. The new contract shows Brad Stevens and the C's front office believe in Hauser's ability to make an impact off the bench for Boston this season and beyond.


Hauser will look to do so with his 3-point shooting. The 24-year-old averaged 20 points on 46 percent shooting (41 percent from 3) in 13 games with the G-League Celtics. He is 19-for-44 from beyond the arc in 26 NBA games.

So, can Hauser become a consistent contributor for the Celtics in 2022-23? Here's everything you need to know about him heading into the new campaign, plus how he can develop into a rotation player at the NBA level.


Hauser's 2021-22 stats

Regular season: 2.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.4 apg, 46 percent FG, 43.2 percent 3PT (26 games)

Postseason: 0.7 ppg, 0.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 25 percent FG, 33.3 percent 3PT


Hauser's contract situation

Hauser signed a three-year contract worth roughly $6 million with the Celtics this offseason. He played on a two-way deal in 2021-22.


What role will Hauser play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

A 3-point shooting threat off the bench.

Hauser should see an increased workload in 2022-23, though it's unclear just how many more minutes he'll get. Malcolm Brogdon, Danilo Gallinari, Payton Pritchard and Grant Williams all are ahead of Hauser in the second-unit pecking order. That said, Hauser should at least have a chance to work his way into Boston's rotation after being on the end of the bench a season ago.


Hauser's season will be a success if ...

... The 3-point shot is falling.

Hauser will live and die by the three as he looks to carve out a role with the C's next season. His shooting ability is the reason Stevens and Co. confidently inked him to a three-year contract. He'll need to consistently provide scoring off the bench in order to see a significant boost in minutes over last year.


Biggest obstacle to Hauser's success

Competition for minutes.

Gallinari and Grant Williams -- both rock-solid 3-point shooters -- will get most of the minutes off the bench for the Celtics' frontcourt. Hauser likely will be left with the scraps, thus limiting his ability to take a significant step forward in his development next season. A hot start to the 2022-23 campaign would go a long way toward Hauser earning real minutes.


Projected stats and prediction for Hauser's 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 4.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.6 apg, 44.5 percent FG, 41 percent 3PT

It's difficult to predict Hauser's final stat line as it's unclear whether he'll receive consistent playing time off the bench. It's fair to assume his numbers will increase from a season ago as the Celtics committed to him with the three-year contract. He should be given more opportunities to make an impact as a 3-point shooting threat for the second unit.


Bob
MY NOTE: His numbers will go up because he's a regular roster player now and will, therefore, be sent in before the two-way players. Last season he shot 43% from 3 in only 158 minutes, only 44 3pt fgas. Here's where we see if that was a fluke or not. If I was Sam Hauser I'd become a hermit except for when I was with the team or at the Auerbach Center, because his best chances for minutes will come when someone ahead of him on the depth chart is inactive due to COVID-positive or contact tracing and he doesn't want to be one of them. That is especially true if Matt Ryan makes the roster (we have enough open spots for both). 6'8", 215# vs 6'7", 215# and Matt Ryan showed he could shoot the 3-ball in Summer League. If, say, Gallinari is out with COVID, and so is Hauser, then Hauser's opportunity might go to Ryan. That could be Matt Ryan's "Wally Pipp moment", not that Matt Ryan is exactly Lou Gehrig.


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bobheckler wrote:


Hauser's season will be a success if ...

... The 3-point shot is falling.

Hauser will live and die by the three as he looks to carve out a role with the C's next season. His shooting ability is the reason Stevens and Co. confidently inked him to a three-year contract. He'll need to consistently provide scoring off the bench in order to see a significant boost in minutes over last year.


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Hi,
I don't know how Hauser will perform this season. But if his success depends on 3pt shot then he will either live or die by the three - can't do both...
I hope for the former.

AK