Yeah, the Celtics are also getting some lineups out there with more shooting, and it’s causing teams to hug up on shooters, leaving their bigs on an island.It is probably time we noticed he is making midrange jumpers. I thought Doug Christie as color guy for the Clips noted the Celtics bigs complement each other. I have noticed teams have been dropping off the bigs on handoff to understandably cheat on Tatum. Thompson has started bullling his way to the hoop, and TL has made the little jumper. Pretty important development. This has all com,e with Tatum attacking the rim more.
Maybe nobody else is in my time zone to watch last night.
I'm amazed that TL is even taking those. I think he was 2-3 last night: 2 of which were straight on 17 foot jumpers but the icing was the nice little 10 feet shot from the baseline, which you know is not an easy shot. It's great that Brad doesn't pull him when he takes those so I guess they've agreed he can make it.It is probably time we noticed he is making midrange jumpers. I thought Doug Christie as color guy for the Clips noted the Celtics bigs complement each other. I have noticed teams have been dropping off the bigs on handoff to understandably cheat on Tatum. Thompson has started bullling his way to the hoop, and TL has made the little jumper. Pretty important development. This has all com,e with Tatum attacking the rim more.
Maybe nobody else is in my time zone to watch last night.
He has always had that shot, but was looking to screen/roll or swing immediately like 100% of the time. He took a couple 15 foot jumpers before, like literally a couple. Doubt that Brad ever told him not to take that shot if he's totally disregarded. Good to see, since defenses playing 5 on 4 sucks for us.I'm amazed that TL is even taking those. I think he was 2-3 last night: 2 of which were straight on 17 foot jumpers but the icing was the nice little 10 feet shot from the baseline, which you know is not an easy shot. It's great that Brad doesn't pull him when he takes those so I guess they've agreed he can make it.
I said this in the other thread but it seems to me that he stops and watches far too much for a guy with his kind of athletic ability - particularly his quick hands. If this is correct, I would think this annoys Brad way more than the jumpers.
He stripped Trae Young; I can't imagine many guys over 6'8" have been able to do that.For a big man, he gets a freakish number of steals.
Highlights all focus on the double lob after the steal, but I thought the steal was the impressive part. He showed he can really get low and defend.He stripped Trae Young; I can't imagine many guys over 6'8" have been able to do that.
I also liked this play:Highlights all focus on the double lob after the steal, but I thought the steal was the impressive part. He showed he can really get low and defend.
Hakeem did too. One year he had 213 steals and 282 blocks.For a big man, he gets a freakish number of steals.
It's nearly pointless to compare per 36 minute stats when one guy is averaging 12.1 mpg and the other averaged 35.7, but why not: Hakeem averaged 1.8 steals and 3.1 blocks per 36, Williams is averaging 2.0 steals and 3.7 blocks per 36.Hakeem did too. One year he had 213 steals and 282 blocks.
Turns out Brad is acutely aware of TL's minutes (go figure!) and is trying to manage his health, particularly his hip: https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/02/21/brad-stevens-celtics-robert-williams-minutes-restrictionI don't know how much he can play conditioning wise, but what can we do to get this guy some more playing time? He seems to be 3rd on the C depth chart - which seems off to me. I know that he makes mistakes, but I'd rather see him make those mistakes and learn from them than sit on the bench. I'm also not a big fan of the 2 big lineup - and I know that TT has been playing better lately. Do the Celtics need to make a trade to free up the logjam?
To my memory he played all of the ot last night, matched up with Zion.I am firmly driving the RWIII BanDelorean.
I appreciate keeping him healthy but (like yesterday) they need to use him in high lev situations, perhaps against some of the better Frontline players (Like Zion).
TL should start seeing higher leverage minutes (along with Theis) as the season moves along. I'm fine with keeping all 3, depth is good.I don't know how much he can play conditioning wise, but what can we do to get this guy some more playing time? He seems to be 3rd on the C depth chart - which seems off to me. I know that he makes mistakes, but I'd rather see him make those mistakes and learn from them than sit on the bench. I'm also not a big fan of the 2 big lineup - and I know that TT has been playing better lately. Do the Celtics need to make a trade to free up the logjam?
Last night was:To my memory he played all of the ot last night, matched up with Zion.
Yes. They also have smallball 5 GW in a pinch. Heck, he's played his best basketball as a Celtic at that position.BUT If they need to add Tristan as filler to attain a wing, that works since classic/beef centers are the easiest to pick up on the cheap. In a pinch Tacko can be our classic/beef/10min Center anyways.
The C's are small as it is. Having Grant play the 5 makes it worse. Maybe you can steal some minutes in certain matchups but if you have Grant playing minutes at the 5 every night, you have some problems. I would also guess he picks up about 4 fouls in 10 minutes playing the 5, but he does that playing any position.
It might be related to what Stevens said about keeping an eye on his hip.Last night was:
Theis 38:44
Thompson 29:57
Williams 21:07
Without the OT, Williams would have been 16 minutes, which seems about what his usual time has been per game for reasons I don't quite understand. I'd like to see TT and RW switched in terms of minutes.
Watching his health... though also, Thompson earned minutes in that game because he played excellent defense on Zion in the first half.Last night was:
Theis 38:44
Thompson 29:57
Williams 21:07
Without the OT, Williams would have been 16 minutes, which seems about what his usual time has been per game for reasons I don't quite understand. I'd like to see TT and RW switched in terms of minutes.
He’s improving but still so far to go to be trusted in key situations despite the highlight reels. He always out of position on both ends of the floor running around with his head cut off.....sometimes this is good as he can make plays. He’s like a big JR Smith out there right now. Feast or famine but a tough guy to trust.He's still 3rd in minutes behind TT in every single game, I think. Not sure he has ever played more than 20 minutes. Seems like Brad is really handling him with care.
I think this reflects that TT is, for better and worse, consistent. He can be counted on usually to be in the right place at the right time. But despite that, his limited athleticism (whether it's rust, age or injury is beside the point right now) cancels that out somewhere between frequently and occasionally (math!). If TL could be 70% as consistent as TT in his "being in the right place," he'd be the obvious all-the-time first choice as between the two. He's improving, though.He’s improving but still so far to go to be trusted in key situations despite the highlight reels. He always out of position on both ends of the floor running around with his head cut off.....sometimes this is good as he can make plays. He’s like a big JR Smith out there right now. Feast or famine but a tough guy to trust.
I think I heard this on the Dunc'd On podcast, but I believe that guys are shooting something like 0-14 against him in isolations this year.Ridiculous highlights in February from the Timelord. He played in 14 of 16 games, including 9 in a row. He’a become quite a weapon as a rim runner in the pick/roll, and should be getting more shots. His team defensive awareness is much improved.
Brad directly said that the primary limiter on his minutes is the health of his hip, and managing that.He’s improving but still so far to go to be trusted in key situations despite the highlight reels. He always out of position on both ends of the floor running around with his head cut off.....sometimes this is good as he can make plays. He’s like a big JR Smith out there right now. Feast or famine but a tough guy to trust.
Seems like coach speak to me based on how Brad utilized him earlier in the season compared to how he is now. As TL improves his awareness and understanding of the game, which I ageee he has, then Brad will begin playing him more 4Q minutes......which he has recently. If it was only the hip management he would have been used more in end of game moments earlier in the season as well. Brad has also used TL more mpg on the 2nd night of B2B than any of 1, 2 and 3 days rest which doesn’t coincide with injury management.Brad directly said that the primary limiter on his minutes is the health of his hip, and managing that.
Would have to look to see how many of these 4Q minutes came during blowouts compared to high leverage. If I had to guess based on observation I’d say he’s getting many more high leverage 4Q min in Feb and more garbage time in Jan.TL played 50 minutes total in the 4Q in 11 games during February. He played 38 total minutes in 9 games in January. He played 15 4Q minutes in 4 games in December. He appears to be getting more minutes in the 4Q as it's reported that Brad said that the Cs "upside is Robert Williams."
As a side note, TL was -37 in the 4Q in January and is so far a -24 in the 4Q in February.
Obviously SSS and all.
This falls in line with what I’ve seen too. I don’t know what it is but he has a few random mental lapses every game that hurt. It’s almost like he loses focus for a couple of seconds and it always bites him in the ass.I have noticed the following several times:
1. TL will do something very good or exciting, and fans/teammates/himself get fired up
2. Next defensive set he will play super-hyped due to adrenaline, and will make a bone-headed play. For example he will overcommit far away from the basket, lose his guy on a screen or doesn't switch when he needs to
3. The other team's offense notices and they get an easy look, if not a bucket
He needs to play more consistently and with a level head at all times.
That was five and a half minutes well spent. In addition to his otherworldly athleticism and leaping ability he has soft hands and a huge catch radius. He is also a very good passer.Ridiculous highlights in February from the Timelord. He played in 14 of 16 games, including 9 in a row. He’a become quite a weapon as a rim runner in the pick/roll, and should be getting more shots. His team defensive awareness is much improved.
View: https://youtu.be/MquLeHYriwA
Yeah and then there was Tatum’s header. He’s like our own little JaVale/JR all wrapped into one.This falls in line with what I’ve seen too. I don’t know what it is but he has a few random mental lapses every game that hurt. It’s almost like he loses focus for a couple of seconds and it always bites him in the ass.
To your point, I remember a game about a week or so ago where he made a tremendous block, tipped the ball to himself...then immediately rifled a chest pass right to an opposing player who got an easy lay up. It felt like the Timelord experience all wrapped up in one single minute
Nobody is denying the positives.....only pointing out the negatives that are still clearly evident on both ends of the floor even if they have decreased from early career Rob. I mean he literally threw the ball off Tatum’s head that led to a layup at the other end. That play was the very definition of boneheaded.I'm reading a lot of 1st year/early 2nd season takes in regards to Rob Williams. There is no way he would be this efficient if he was making as many "boneheaded" plays as there is being propped.
A lot of stuff that looks like errors on his part is Rob helping on defense. He's a legit rim protector and our perimeter defense from the wings/guards has been crappy all season. He can create a lot of issues for opponents that our other Centers aren't capable of.
Cited above how the hip management doesn’t pass the smell test by him playing more mph on second leg of B2B.His steals, blocks, and FG% are extremely high level. He has difference level talent, that would be a great compliment with the Jays during the playoffs. The only thing holding back Rob is the hip/health and Brad's fear that he'll breakdown. It has Zero to do with what's going on between the ears.
I don't think you can look at one game's usage and declare that the hip is not an issue.Cited above how the hip management doesn’t pass the smell test by him playing more mph on second leg of B2B.
If his body let him play 26-30mpg, even with all the boneheaded plays, he could be a top 10 Center in the NBA by next season.Nobody is denying the positives.....only pointing out the negatives that are still clearly evident on both ends of the floor even if they have decreased from early career Rob. I mean he literally threw the ball off Tatum’s head that led to a layup at the other end. That play was the very definition of boneheaded.
Cited above how the hip management doesn’t pass the smell test by him playing more mph on second leg of B2B.
It’s not one game. His mpg, albeit sss, is greater on 0 days rest then on 1, 2 and 3 days. No load mgmt with day off......and even higher min. It doesn’t pass my smell test.I don't think you can look at one game's usage and declare that the hip is not an issue.