Yep the play 32 seconds here was so much fun in real time I can’t help but watch it again and again.
Tatum is a straight-up bad passer. His lobs to TL seem almost intentionally terrible, like he's fucking with him.
Tatum’s apg has gone up around 50% each of his four seasons. He’s never going to be a Doncic or LBJ passing-wise, but showing improvement each season is encouraging. A fully developed Tatum should average 6+ apg.
The Tatum attempted lob and the GW attempted lob were probably the two worst attempts I have seen in basketball and that includes college. I mean I've seen lobs that are several feet offline vertically (like over the backboard) but I've never seen one - much less two - that were several feet offline horizontally. I mean Grant almost threw his lob to the FT line.
Just from my eyes, Wood got most of his stats when TL wasn't in the game. He really stung Murder Kornet.
Yup. It was fun to compare him to Capella (and in a lot of ways it's still a good comp), but since his second year Capela has averaged 1.3 assists per 36 with an assist rate of 5.9%. Since the start of last year Rob is at 3.1 assists per 36 with an assist rate of 12.6%, and obviously still improving. There is tremendous value in a big man who not only makes the smart pass quickly and consistently, but also is able to thread the needle with guys cutting to the hoop.
Yeah. I've been saying for awhile he's going to get closer to 4/80-4/100 than 4/40-4/60.
Yup. He was hurt much of his first 2 years and has had to be babied a bit this year. Hopefully they can find a reasonable price and lock in an extension. If not, he has become a legit trade asset.
Celtics are 15-3 in games where they have 25+ assists/gm this season.
As Cesar notes, if he looks likely to get 4/80+, he’s good enough that you pay it. We’re already seeing with Fournier that you can save money other places by getting good wings who aren’t stars, and can do similar at PG going forward.
Yeah, I want him back at almost any price in that range. The real challenge will be dumping Kemba this offseason. I just don’t see many landing spots but you obviously just need 1.
Agreed, his injury history will suppress the size of the contract offer. Since Rob hasn't made big money yet, that may also drive him to take 4yr guaranteed money
It also makes passing on Turner a good decision. Would much rather have Fournier now that we know what TL has become.
It's unrealistic to think TT will become an above-average passer. I just want him to kick the ball out when he grabs an offensive rebound and finds his path to the basket blocked. He's not tall enough or explosive enough to finish in most of those situations.
old dog/new tricks
TT is what he is. He’s a competent backup center, whom a lot of teams would want for that role, who will probably be salary filler.
Yep, hopefully, TL is our starting Center that gets at least 28mpg going forward (in tight games).
TL is turning into our version of Bam (less scoring, more deflections). Granted they are the same age but when players take the leap, they take the leap.
Yeah PP is going to be downgraded by the tools scouts because his physical traits aren't great. His brain and shot seem fine, but crafty only gets you so far at the NBA level. I do think that we're underestimating his ceiling as a group, but he has to build up his strength a lot and improve his first step before he is an impact guy IMO. Some of the guys on this board could back him down now. He's like a fucking scarecrow.
What do you think his upside is? It's not FVV. I still don't see anything more than decent bench player/fringe starter. Maybe on a crappy team he puts up 15 points, 6 assists and 4 boards in 30+ minutes of play.
Are you kidding? I'm pretty sure I saw "HOF" and "Pritchard" in the same sentence in December.
That’s a really interesting comp in terms of high passing ability from the big spot.
It used to be a pretty rare skill but it's becoming more in more common (still relatively rare). It makes sense given how the NBA has evolved. For bigs who can't shoot, TL is ideal offensively for today's Game. He can get the offensive rebound and dunk/tip it in for easy baskets. When the basket isn't easy, he can pass it to a teammate for an open 3. He's also perfect for this team because it struggles with ball movement. The team has missed Al Horford in this regard.
Well, okay. You started it.
Yup, when a young guy really pops, you need to put aside earlier plans and just let it happen.
NBA contract rules always confuse me. So can someone smarter than I explain RW’s contract status from the Celtics POV? Can they sign him at any number up to the Max? Are they constrained by the cap in some form? Do they have matching rights? Bird rights?
He'll be a restricted free agent after next season, meaning they get the right to match any offer he signs with another team. They can pay him up to the max, but that will cause a huge luxury tax bill. The only way they wouldn't be able to match is if they do a sign and trade that season, which puts a hard cap on them.
Williams is signed for one more year before he becomes restricted free agent. The Celtics can negotiate an extension this summer, however. They have Bird rights, so can sign him up to the max.
Do you think the 16/12/6/2.5/1.0 on 70% line over 30 minutes is a 1-5% chance?
What is the timing around when that season begins and ends? I ask because I’m interested to see if TL’s emergence had any impact on utilizing a portion of the Hayward TPE this year. I.e., if they used it in the coming offseason on a sign and trade, would that have hard capped them and prevented them from being to match an offer sheet for TL in the following offseason?
Williams is already under contract for 2021-22. A sign-and-trade utilizing the Hayward TPE that would hard cap the Celtics in 2021-22 season would have no impact on the Celtics being able to re-sign Williams for the 2022-23 season. Any extension would not kick in until 2022, even if done this summer.
It’s also really hard for centers/wings to average high assists—PGs pick up a ton of cheap assists just from being primary ball handlers and passing to a guy who takes a shot, without it being a huge value add.
I think we need to write-off Grant this season. He came in out of shape and he's still waddling around with a Mrs Doubtfire bodysuit underneath his uni. He'll get another chance next year since his 3pt stroke looks legit and he's cheap. BUT the dude needs to drop 20lbs and work on his defensive footwork this summer.
I think for Grant, it was where he was drafted and building an inexpensive high IQ support piece low floor guy. I think Brad/Ainge view Grant a bit higher than most posters here as well.
