Celtics/Sixers First Round Thread

DannyDarwinism

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 7, 2007
4,896
I guess I’m more Thybullish on him than you guys...

(ducks)

I don’t see another Bruce Bowen here but I see a 10 year career as the primary wing defender off the bench. Hopefully we can get lucky with #30 because Edwards looks like a complete waste.

I know you were with me on both the Thybulle and Clarke trains prior to the draft last year (the 2019 Draft thread is a fun read, in hindsight), and as much as I'd like to take a victory lap or two, it's important to remember that those guys are basically Jaylen Brown's age. They should be some of the better rookies! Clarke is nearly two years older than Grant Williams, who came out after his junior year. They're significantly closer to their ceilings than Grant and certainly Romeo, and for a guy like Thybulle, who can't even really put the ball on the floor sufficient to attack a hard close out, or pass on the move, that's a huge limitation that saps a lot of the defensive value he brings.

I also just think a lot of people here tend to give up on young guys too soon. I heard Bill Simmons say something to the effect of "the Celtics got nothing out of this draft", and that drives me nuts. It's such a hard adjustment from college to the NBA. The guys who can actually come in and make a positive impact for a winning team, like Tatum, are usually on a stardom trajectory. For everyone else, there's hopefully some flashes, but typically not much else, especially for a team that's competing night in, night out. Second rounders who don't flash are less likely to stay with the team that drafted them, but even then, guys like Abdel Nader, PJ Dozier and E'Twaun Moore played meaningful minutes for playoff caliber teams this year. Time + effort + opportunity can change a lot of things. Carsen's been terrible and may not be long for green, but his story isn't written yet. I'm still bullish on what Grant can provide for this team, and Romeo's flashes, particularly on defense, have been encouraging.
 

mostman

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2003
18,806
Well, there go the Celtic’s chances. That brings him back sometime around game 6 or 7 of the conference finals.
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,769
That injury probably means GH returns for his final year of that big FA contract, unless he and his agent feel that he has shown enough to get paid big again. The idea of a Hayward is great, but he just can’t stay in the court and play at a high level for long periods of time.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,016
Well, there go the Celtic’s chances. That brings him back sometime around game 6 or 7 of the conference finals.
No it doesn't. You need a new calendar. Four weeks is 9/15. As of now the ECF are slated to start on or about 9/15. With his wife is due in early-mid Sep anyway--chance the final week or of his recovery is about that same time.

If he comes back in 4 weeks, this costs us the remaining Sixers series, and the next round.
 

OurF'ingCity

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 22, 2016
8,469
New York City
That injury probably means GH returns for his final year of that big FA contract, unless he and his agent feel that he has shown enough to get paid big again. The idea of a Hayward is great, but he just can’t stay in the court and play at a high level for long periods of time.
I don't disagree with you, but both of his injuries have been totally freak things. I agree that this makes it much less likely he opts out.

When is his wife due? Wasn't it late September anyway? So combining that with this injury seems like he's done for the year. I don't agree this destroys the Celtics' chances, though - Hayward is a nice piece to have, to be sure, but I think this team is capable of success without him.
 

mostman

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 3, 2003
18,806
No it doesn't. You need a new calendar. Four weeks is 9/15. As of now the ECF are slated to start on or about 9/15. With his wife is due in early-mid Sep anyway--chance the final week or of his recovery is about that same time.

If he comes back in 4 weeks, this costs us the remaining Sixers series, and the next round.
Ok so game 3 or 4 of the conference finals. If he plays at all in the beginning of the round he will be limited.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,016
Ok so game 3 or 4 of the conference finals. If he plays at all in the beginning of the round he will be limited.
Well, I mean, that's different things. All we have now is 4 weeks. That puts him back at start of ECF, not 6 or 7 games in. And were going to lose him for week or so somewhere anyway. No we just have to hope they overlap and he comes back ready.
 

Smokey Joe

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 9, 2001
1,165
For those of you who enjoy schadenfreude, Comments from the Other Side is up on Celticsgreen. Thank you FLCeltsFan.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,702
The starter depth is good: Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Kemba, and Smart are a difficult matchup for many teams. If one of them is hurt or having an off night, the others can often step up. The Celtics don't have the best player on the floor against Philly, but they likely have the 2nd through 5th or 6th best players. I think that is what people mean when they say the C's are deeper than other teams.
The Celtics have the best player on the floor in the Philly series. They'll have the best player on the floor until they reach the ECF.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,069
This news sucks for Hayward and the C's, but time will tell. I don't wish ill on other teams--the Lakers are an exception, obviously--but Hayward may not be the last prominent NBA player sidelined by an injury or for medical reasons during these playoffs. The Sixers lost Simmons before the regular season even ended, which was a major break for the C's.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,292
Santa Monica
Time + effort + opportunity can change a lot of things. Carsen's been terrible and may not be long for green, but his story isn't written yet. I'm still bullish on what Grant can provide for this team, and Romeo's flashes, particularly on defense, have been encouraging.
This is really well put and Grant gave us a couple of good minutes last night as a small-ball 5

Kemba/Smart/JB/JT will have to increase their minutes and we'll see more of Romeo, Semi and Wannamaker depending on match-ups
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,119
The Celtics have the best player on the floor in the Philly series. They'll have the best player on the floor until they reach the ECF.
Yeah, their hopes now revolve around Tatum leaping into a top-10 guy during the playoffs, Brown outplaying Siakam, and Kemba’s knee staying good.

Not a crazy tall order, but not a ton of margin for error.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,702
Tatum's already a top ten guy. The question is how quickly he morphs into a top five one.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,505
The X factor here is actually Stevens. He and his staff will have wrinkles because they always do. As others have noted, their bench depth is crappy (oh, how someone like Alec Burks would be welcome here now) but Stevens approach to roster development is well documented.

Again, I think we see him steal minutes with Javonte Green because of his defense and his ability to get his own shot at the rim. I bet we see him when Embiid is off the floor but as lovetgm notes, his lack of shooting limits his usefulness.

You really can never have too much wing depth...
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,069
The X factor here is actually Stevens. He and his staff will have wrinkles because they always do. As others have noted, their bench depth is crappy (oh, how someone like Alec Burks would be welcome here now) but Stevens' approach to roster development is well documented.

Again, I think we see him steal minutes with Javonte Green because of his defense and his ability to get his own shot at the rim. I bet we see him when Embiid is off the floor but as lovetgm notes, his lack of shooting limits his usefulness.

You really can never have too much wing depth...
Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Burks' shortcomings as a starter were evident last nite, but he's a proven scorer off the bench.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,505
Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Burks' shortcomings as a starter were evident last nite, but he's a proven scorer off the bench.
Yeah Burks' is nothing but bench offense as you note. Romeo is the natural guy to take some Hayward minutes but he is even more of a void on offense than Green before accounting for his wrist.

I like last year's draft selections - I even think Edwards needs more opportunities before you can write him off - but Williams development aside, the Celtics simply aren't getting much out of these guys this season. Its a lot to ask but it would have been nice if any one of these guys already had the ability to reliably hit open looks.
 

JCizzle

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 11, 2006
20,597
Yeah Burks' is nothing but bench offense as you note. Romeo is the natural guy to take some Hayward minutes but he is even more of a void on offense than Green before accounting for his wrist.

I like last year's draft selections - I even think Edwards needs more opportunities before you can write him off - but Williams development aside, the Celtics simply aren't getting much out of these guys this season. Its a lot to ask but it would have been nice if any one of these guys already had the ability to reliably hit open looks.
I was talking with a buddy about this, would you rather have: Semi, a guy who takes shots, but can make them if he's on in a given night OR Romeo, a guy who basically never shoots and keeps the ball moving to superior offensive players or just sits in the corner (not stealing shots). I guess it depends on how the defense is playing them?
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
8,153
Imaginationland
Tatum's already a top ten guy. The question is how quickly he morphs into a top five one.
Yup, since 2/1 (our last regular season game with the Sixers) he's basically been Kevin Durant on offense (27.2 ppg and .614 TS%) and Shawn Marion on defense (borderline 2nd team level, can reasonably slow down almost anyone and is a monster off ball). If he plays like this all next season he's essentially a lock for 2nd team all NBA with a punchers chance of 1st team.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,069
I was talking with a buddy about this, would you rather have: Semi, a guy who takes shots, but can make them if he's on in a given night OR Romeo, a guy who basically never shoots and keeps the ball moving to superior offensive players or just sits in the corner (not stealing shots). I guess it depends on how the defense is playing them?
I would side with Semi. For all his flaws, at least he's played on this stage before, and I don't think he'd suffer from nerves or jitters. He's just so limited.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,119
Semi's problem isn't the shot; he's a decent shooter who doesn't hesitate. It's what happens when you sell out to close him out, and he has to put it on the floor and make decisions.
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
8,153
Imaginationland
I was talking with a buddy about this, would you rather have: Semi, a guy who takes shots, but can make them if he's on in a given night OR Romeo, a guy who basically never shoots and keeps the ball moving to superior offensive players or just sits in the corner (not stealing shots). I guess it depends on how the defense is playing them?
I think they'll give you similar things on offense - Semi might be slightly better at hitting the corner 3 but Romeo is actually capable of driving and making something good happen in the paint. The deciding factor is defense, where both are pretty solid. Romeo is better against guards and Semi is better against big wings, so it's really matchup based. Semi is less likely to make an impact, for good or bad.
 

oumbi

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2006
4,176
For those of you who enjoy schadenfreude, Comments from the Other Side is up on Celticsgreen. Thank you FLCeltsFan.
Yeah. She is great and she also puts up the game threads for CelticStrong, which are impressive.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
22,045
Pittsburgh, PA
Yup, since 2/1 (our last regular season game with the Sixers) he's basically been Kevin Durant on offense (27.2 ppg and .614 TS%) and Shawn Marion on defense (borderline 2nd team level, can reasonably slow down almost anyone and is a monster off ball). If he plays like this all next season he's essentially a lock for 2nd team all NBA with a punchers chance of 1st team.
So we're locked into the 30% max, pretty much, huh? Like, even if he doesn't make 3rd team this offseason, he'd sign a contract with escalators to get there if it happens in his 4th year?
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,701
Semi's problem isn't the shot; he's a decent shooter who doesn't hesitate. It's what happens when you sell out to close him out, and he has to put it on the floor and make decisions.
I almost threw up in my mouth just reading this sentence, imagining his next "drive" to the basket.
 
Last edited:

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,702
So we're locked into the 30% max, pretty much, huh? Like, even if he doesn't make 3rd team this offseason, he'd sign a contract with escalators to get there if it happens in his 4th year?
Who are the nine better wings? In any event he would sign the Simmons five year extension which would go on the books as a designated rookie deal presuming he met the qualifiers (which he will this season). Given the likely cap implosion, Boston should be praying that Tatum makes it and that they get to lock him in on a 30% deal for less than Denver will be paying Murray.
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,769
I almost threw up in my mouth just reading this sentence, imagining his next "drive" to the basket.
Semi is still one dimensional, but he has shown some signs this season that he can make a successful drive to the hoop.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,119
Semi is still one dimensional, but he has shown some signs this season that he can make a successful drive to the hoop.
Yeah I don't think he's hopeless, and I'm even cautiously optimistic that his 12-20 mins/night through the playoffs will be ok-ish. He definitely needs a lot more reps though; Semi would have had an interesting career arc as a guy who went to play 5 years in Europe, and then came back to the US with confidence in his decision-making with the ball on the deck.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,481
around the way
Semi is still one dimensional, but he has shown some signs this season that he can make a successful drive to the hoop.
He's showing some signs, yeah, but nobody is frightened by it and respects it.

Drivers create an advantage that we cash in when Semi bangs that shot. But Semi gives it back when they sell out on the contest and he takes two dribbles in and swings it. If Semi can learn to pick up more fouls at the rim, it would make a huge difference. Morris and Crowder did kind of.
 
Last edited:

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,119
So do you start Marcus Smart or keep him in his bench role(while still playing 30 plus minutes) and start someone like Ojeleye or even Grant Williams if Horford is still in the starting lineup?
Probably start Marcus, since they’ve done that consistently and it’s the only way you can really get him to 38 minutes or so.

You could start Semi, but spacing will be destroyed if you start Grant next to Theis.
 

slamminsammya

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
9,367
San Francisco
Yeah. I love Grant, but at this stage he really doesn't give you anything that Semi doesn't. And Semi gives you the three. Grants incremental strength and possible minor standing reach upgrades aren't material.
Strongly disagree about the difference. Grant's interior defense and shot contesting abilities are already above average for his size I would say. Semi is historically bad at contesting shots. Like one of the worst ever. They are pretty non-similar styles defensively.
 

DannyDarwinism

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 7, 2007
4,896
Strongly disagree about the difference. Grant's interior defense and shot contesting abilities are already above average for his size I would say. Semi is historically bad at contesting shots. Like one of the worst ever. They are pretty non-similar styles defensively.
Yikes, Grant has nearly triple the career blocks the Semi has (36/13) despite playing about a third of the minutes. Better steal rate, better passer, better on the boards, better screen-setter. But when looking strictly at how they perform in their respective roles, Semi’s probably the choice in most instances. Grant’s a better player when things break down, and I think he’ll be a better player overall soon enough, but Semi is the more reliable piece now.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,481
around the way
In 10 minutes of action in a playoff game, what you'll remember about the A/B test of Grant vs. Semi is that Grant hurts spacing.

They're both useful defenders. And Grant is clearly longer and stronger. But Semi having a 3 ball is a shitload more important right now.