Romeo Langford - Pick #14

DJnVa

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Langford defended 10 Minnesota players who combined to shoot just 1-for-7 against him, with the lone made basket coming in transition in the first quarter by Malik Beasley, who had a team-high 27 points.
He's getting him ready to play some defense in the postseason.
 

Imbricus

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I got high hopes for this kid.
I was a doubter at first, what with the string of injuries and his questionable shot. But then I saw him play defense, and it was a revelation. Never knew that was part of his game. He'll get suckered by canny veterans into leaving his feet and committing dumb fouls, as we've seen, but he definitely looks like he belongs on an NBA floor, and he's not much past 20.

He drives well too. Just needs to be a little better at finishing and needs to develop a good mid-range jumper, to keep defenders off balance, so they're not sure if he's going to take it to the hoop or shoot.
 

lovegtm

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I was a doubter at first, what with the string of injuries and his questionable shot. But then I saw him play defense, and it was a revelation. Never knew that was part of his game. He'll get suckered by canny veterans into leaving his feet and committing dumb fouls, as we've seen, but he definitely looks like he belongs on an NBA floor, and he's not much past 20.

He drives well too. Just needs to be a little better at finishing and needs to develop a good mid-range jumper, to keep defenders off balance, so they're not sure if he's going to take it to the hoop or shoot.
He's already better at the canny veteran part too. I was shocked how good his individual defense on LeBron was, and I'm a huge Langford guy. Think back to young Tatum and Brown when they tried to guard LBJ--no chance.
 

BigSoxFan

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He's already better at the canny veteran part too. I was shocked how good his individual defense on LeBron was, and I'm a huge Langford guy. Think back to young Tatum and Brown when they tried to guard LBJ--no chance.
In fairness, they were playing like 31/32 year-old James and not the current 35 year-old one who has lost some agility since then. But your larger point remains. Langford’s D is real and it’s spectacular.
 

InstaFace

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I thought he got run over by Lebron several times. Langford's quickness is an asset but it comes at the expense of being able to get backed down or shouldered off his spot. "Wherefore art thine help defense, Romeo", indeed.
 

DJnVa

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I thought he got run over by Lebron several times. Langford's quickness is an asset but it comes at the expense of being able to get backed down or shouldered off his spot. "Wherefore art thine help defense, Romeo", indeed.
Not sure about several times. The NBA.com matchups show Lebron was 1 for 2 with an assist. And on that 1 Romeo actually partially knocked it away, Lebron just corralled it and forced it up and in.

I think the very fact that you can get away with it is what's noteworthy, not that Lebron won't abuse him once in a while. But if you can steal 3-4 minutes in a game with Romeo on him, that's a big help.

https://stats.nba.com/player/1629641/head-to-head/?CF=MATCHUP*E*Lebron&Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular Season
 

JCizzle

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Not sure about several times. The NBA.com matchups show Lebron was 1 for 2 with an assist. And on that 1 Romeo actually partially knocked it away, Lebron just corralled it and forced it up and in.

I think the very fact that you can get away with it is what's noteworthy, not that Lebron won't abuse him once in a while. But if you can steal 3-4 minutes in a game with Romeo on him, that's a big help.

https://stats.nba.com/player/1629641/head-to-head/?CF=MATCHUP*E*Lebron&Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular Season
That was also another missed call (?) as evidenced by the picture below. I'm not quite sure how the rule applies since Romeo forced him to lose possession midair though.

View: https://twitter.com/StoolGreenie/status/1231712478381273089?s=20
 

Euclis20

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It's supposed to be a jump ball, isn't it?
I'm not sure of the specific language on what makes a jump ball, but on a play like that (where the defender has his hands on the ball for just an instant, and for that instant no one has control) it's never ever called.

Yeah, it’s not a travel if the ball gets knocked out like that. Celtics fans need to chill out on the ref shit.
Agreed.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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SSS alert but according to the story below, "With Langford on the floor, the Celtics are allowing just 97.2 points per 100 possessions, the top defensive rating among current rotation players. For comparison’s sake, the Bucks’ 101.7 defensive rating as a team is the best in the NBA" and "Langford has been stout in the fourth quarter, too, with an elite 97.8 defensive rating and a team-leading 16.2 net rating."

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2020/02/22/romeo-langford-starts-getting-looks-stopper/B4oAyCjZwJETYjzEElO4RK/story.html
 

lovegtm

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The best thing I can say about him is that he looks like he's in a trance out there on defense (cue WCT Romeo being perma-high jokes). He just gets in his stance and tries to execute on-ball; off-ball he just does what he's been drilling.
 

Montana Fan

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How appealing is it that the message to Romeo is that, to get on the floor, you must play D? Outside of Kanter, the first 6 off the Celts' bench, including Romeo, are all very good at defense. Very much like the path he's taking.
 

RetractableRoof

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How appealing is it that the message to Romeo is that, to get on the floor, you must play D? Outside of Kanter, the first 6 off the Celts' bench, including Romeo, are all very good at defense. Very much like the path he's taking.
I love it. Get on w/ defense, and the offense will come.
 

nighthob

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Langford’s handle has improved this year, enough that you can see him sharing the floor with Marcus Smart in the backcourt given the latter’s playmaking. His shotmaking is still spotty and Larranaga clearly has his work cut out for him. But he did a good job of getting downhill against some Toronto defenders today, even if that one pass during garbage time went awry because Sex Pants was sleepwalking.

Between the defense, ballhandling, and passing ability I’m feeling a lot better about the pick these days.
 

benhogan

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Langford’s handle has improved this year, enough that you can see him sharing the floor with Marcus Smart in the backcourt given the latter’s playmaking. His shotmaking is still spotty and Larranaga clearly has his work cut out for him. But he did a good job of getting downhill against some Toronto defenders today, even if that one pass during garbage time went awry because Sex Pants was sleepwalking.

Between the defense, ballhandling, and passing ability I’m feeling a lot better about the pick these days.
He's already guarding 1-5, as is Granite... At the very least they will make excellent role players next to JB/JT in the years to come. BUT expect a lot more from them
 

tbrown_01923

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He's already guarding 1-5, as is Granite... At the very least they will make excellent role players next to JB/JT in the years to come. BUT expect a lot more from them
He looked bigger and stronger than I remeber him being (not that I had been watching him that closely) - but thought he looked long today.
 

128

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He looked bigger and stronger than I remember him being (not that I had been watching him that closely) - but thought he looked long today.
Yeah, he dunked easily from a standing start under the basket. Plenty of length (and bounce).
 

benhogan

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wonder if Danny takes Herro over Langford if Tyler lasts

TH had a great 3pt/FT shooting year for a rookie, he'd be a nice bench piece for future seasons
 

JCizzle

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wonder if Danny takes Herro over Langford if Tyler lasts

TH had a great 3pt/FT shooting year for a rookie, he'd be a nice bench piece for future seasons
Simmons said on a recent podcast that the Celtics were 1000% going to take Herro if he was there based on his team sources. Sucks.
 

128

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yea, I'd like a scorer like that on the bench in coming seasons.

Tatum/Brown/Kemba/Hayward got the offense with the starting unit
Based on his rookie year, I don't expect Herro to be an NBA reserve for many more seasons. His ceiling is much higher than that.
 

Imbricus

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This guy definitely seems injury prone. Judging from the injuries he's racked up so far, I have a feeling he's going to have trouble staying on the court.
 

Koufax

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Yes, but I'm actually relieved that it was something like that, rather than a pulled hammy that made him come out of Miami game 2 after less than 2 minutes. If he blew his chance in a playoff game because of failure to stretch beforehand, that's a character flaw. This is merely an injury that might be a sign of a trend and it might not. With Javonte Green gone we've now lost two players for the season - bit players for sure, but that's two cards fewer that Brad can play in special situations.
 

BigSoxFan

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Yes, but I'm actually relieved that it was something like that, rather than a pulled hammy that made him come out of Miami game 2 after less than 2 minutes. If he blew his chance in a playoff game because of failure to stretch beforehand, that's a character flaw. This is merely an injury that might be a sign of a trend and it might not. With Javonte Green gone we've now lost two players for the season - bit players for sure, but that's two cards fewer that Brad can play in special situations.
Is Carsen Edwards available in the super rare event we need him?
 

ifmanis5

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Is Carsen Edwards available in the super rare event we need him?
Yes, Carsen has dressed for several games and saw some garbage time.
Some players are injury prone early in their career and then stabilize as they grow into their body. He's still only 20.
That said, Herro would have helped us all year and Romeo is still a project.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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With Javonte Green gone we've now lost two players for the season - bit players for sure, but that's two cards fewer that Brad can play in special situations.
I think Javonte is actually back, he was active but DNP-CD last game.
 

128

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Shouldn't he be returning to practice in the near future? I think that's right, but it's been a while since I've seen an update.
 

NomarsFool

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Seems like a lost season for him, unfortunately. Not only the season, but he also lost the offseason (as much as it was) to work on his game.