Langford or Nesmith: Who will have the most positive impact on the 21-22 season?

Who is more likely to make the most postive contributions to the Celtics coming season?


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bigq

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A variation on a thread that was posted last year. Who will shine the brightest this season for the Celtics? Bonus internet pointz for why.

I'll go first. My money is on Nesmith. He has showed more in his time in green than Romeo and availability is an important ability. Those who know much more than I do about basketball say that Romeo is far better on the defensive side of the ball than Nesmith who appears to be unable to shuffle (or is it slide) his feet. My generally uninformed hot take is that Nesmith is going to have a fantastic sophomore season. He is far better on the offensive side than his young counterpart and he is passable on the defensive side. His slashing drives to the basket combined with his superior game from three is going to be the difference.

What say you sages of the port cellar?
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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how are you measuring "positive contributions"? I'm going to vote AN only because I assume you are measuring on aggregate basis and I'm not going to jinx RL by assuming he plays a full season until he actually plays a full season.

I guess I should add that I think RL will play more per game and add more on a per game basis than AN because his defense is far superior.
 

Cellar-Door

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I voted Romeo.
He's the more versatile player, and I believe (based on his shot form, and his FT%) that some of the 3pt shooting we've seen in SL/PS is for real (not all, some). Also factoring in is that he was trusted more and performed better in the playoffs last year, and Ime has gone to him for more minutes, and more time with the starters than Nesmith this pre-season. I just think Romeo IF he's healthy has an easier path to contribute. You always need a guy who can defend 1-3 off the bench.
 

radsoxfan

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I'm overall lukewarm on both, but I would lean Nesmith if asked to pick. I'll go with the potential for above average shooting and energy/effort D.

Haven't given up on Romeo but his first 2 years have been beyond rough and need some more positive data points before getting too excited.
 

Cellar-Door

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I'm overall lukewarm on both, but I would lean Nesmith if asked to pick. I'll go with the potential for above average shooting and energy/effort D.

Haven't given up on Romeo but his first 2 years have been beyond rough and need some more positive data points before getting too excited.
For all that it has been rough (on offense)... most of the metrics like him better, DARKO and RAPTOR both have him as the better player.
 

Eddie Jurak

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It is a hard question today (Oct 16 2021).

I'd bet on Nesmith being the more likely of the two to become a reilable spot up shooter this year. That alone adds value.

Langford is the better man defender. He adds value that way. Last year, until very late in the year/playoffs, all he did was stand in the corner on offense and occasionally miss a three. But he has the tools to contribute more on that end.

I still see Langford as having higher ceiling (NBA starter) and higher floor (good wing defender), but Nesmith may progress faster and rieach his (lower) ceiling more quickly. I'm torn on this one, but going to go Langford.
 

Jimbodandy

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I hope that it's Nesmith, because that would mean that he shot lights out on volume 3s and held his own on defense. But I voted Langford, because I think that his defense will earn him more minutes. He'll get more opportunities to make an impact.
 

radsoxfan

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For all that it has been rough (on offense)... most of the metrics like him better, DARKO and RAPTOR both have him as the better player.
Is "Him" Romeo?

Seems to me most metrics are not super excited about either of them, but the sample size is still small.

I'd take Nesmith at the moment if forced to pick, but don't feel strongly either way.
 

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Cellar-Door

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Is "Him" Romeo?

Seems to me most metrics are not super excited about either of them, but the sample size is still small.

I'd take Nesmith at the moment if forced to pick, but don't feel strongly either way.
yes Romeo. Both metrics think they both kinda stink, but Romeo stinks a little less. Actually RAPTOR thinks Romeo is really good on D, they just think his O is really bad, where Nesmith's O is regular bad, but his defense is also bad so ROmeo grades out considerably better there, while DARKO has them very close, but Romeo marginally ahead.
 

Jakarta

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We’ve seen a few guys lately take big year 3 leaps (TL, Tatum, Rozier) and it looks like we may be seeing the same from Romeo. If he can stay healthy, I think he ends up assuming the JRich role (first wing off the bench, second/third option when one of the Jays are on the bench) by the end of the year. Romeo realizing his potential gives the team a much higher ceiling than Nesmith, so I think if it’s close between the 2, Romeo will get the benefit of the doubt.
 

Jimbodandy

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We’ve seen a few guys lately take big year 3 leaps (TL, Tatum, Rozier) and it looks like we may be seeing the same from Romeo. If he can stay healthy, I think he ends up assuming the JRich role (first wing off the bench, second/third option when one of the Jays are on the bench) by the end of the year. Romeo realizing his potential gives the team a much higher ceiling than Nesmith, so I think if it’s close between the 2, Romeo will get the benefit of the doubt.
It's Romeo's first healthy offseason really, so it wouldn't be that surprising if he looks really different this year. And it's Nesmith's first full-sized offseason also. Both should be better than last year, as should Grant in some areas.

I'm not trying to hump prospects here. They still have an uphill battle unseating the new vets for minutes. But last offseason was kinda fucked for young guys. Just not the normal window to work on things. And Romeo has been battling stuff since his first semester in college. A healthy, real, full offseason could make a lot of difference.
 

benhogan

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Like both. It's close but took AN. Aaron could end up shooting 40+% from 3 and we only have 3 other players(JT/JB/PP) capable of shooting that well.

Plus we have 2 defense-first wings ahead of Romeo in Smart/JRich

So Nesmith probably can create a greater "positive impact"
 
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billy ashley

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Langford has looked excellent this preseason. and he's already established himself to be a really good defender. I like Nesmith and am optimistic he can have a long NBA career, but Romeo seems like he's going to be getting rotation minutes early in the season.

It's going to be hard to find time for all of Prichard, Romeo, and Nesmith. Right now, I think the best bet is to bet on the player most likely to get minutes, early on.
 

bakahump

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I think the right answer is that both show just enough promise to facilitate a trade for that 3rd star.

While the home grown are fun. (I myself find myself irrationally rooting for both these guys and envisioning them raising a banner with J+J) the reality is that neither is gonna be a player that helps J+J get this team over the top.
 

bigq

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I know it's early in the season but there probably should have been an option for neither. :(