Also a lifelong Cuse fanAs a Syracuse fan, I have seen perhaps too much 2-3 zone. It can be extremely effective when a competent shot blocker is in the middle. Falls 8.2 blocks per 100 possessions (SSS!) makes him much better than merely competent. Syracuse recruits long armed tall players mostly with their zone in mind. The Celtics personnel should work great for a 2-3 with Falls in the middle. If he gets into the rotation, playing 3-4 minutes of zone here and there can get opposing offenses totally out of whack.
Against college players, entire games can go by with opposing offenses stymied and confused, shooting bad threes from too far away and turning it over trying to force the ball into problem areas for the defense... Of course NBA players will figure it out a lot faster, but as a gimmick the 2-3 zone could cause a lot of disruption, both in going into and coming out of the zone. At the least, it would be fun to watch.
Did this scenario play out in the January 8 game against the Wizards when Tacko had 19 minutes of playing time?If the Celtics did a 2-3 for short minutes I'd love to see Tatum and Brown up top (w/Tacko in the middle). Watch JayCrew wreck havoc on the perimeter with Tacko taking care of the rim.
The lede here is Tacko has a great real estate agent. Look at all that headroom above a 7'6" man!
That was my thought too. I remember once on a tour of the TD Garden being taken into the locker room and being amazed at how high the shower heads were.The lede here is Tacko has a great real estate agent. Look at all that headroom above a 7'6" man!
I'm all for experimentation but its not like this is the first time TT has played against Embiid. According to this website - https://www.landofbasketball.com/games_between/joel_embiid_vs_tristan_thompson.htm - TT has faced Embiid 7 other times and the most number of FTs Embiid got was 8. So hopefully last night was an outlier of sorts.Brad should experiment with Tacko in short minutes vs Embiid on Friday night. See if Fall can alter Joels shots without grabbing him because TT/DT defense was getting whistled every trip down the floor
Yup. Bottom line is that Tobias Harris is not a good enough sidekick now that Simmons is basically on the side of a milk carton offensively. Curry and Green will knock down open shots but they're not creators. Embiid basically has to be 1994-1995 Hakeem Olajuwon for this team to win a title. And I don't think he has it in him.I'm not worried at all about Embiid in the playoffs. We have seen this story year after year; he simply doesn't have the conditioning to dominate for 35 minutes over the course of the series. Remember last season? He would start each game with like, a 14 point first quarter and then gas out. He was very good last night when he got the benefit of literally every whistle and was allowed copious amounts of rest while he waited to take his free throws, but that isn't something likely to be repeated, especially over the course of the series.
I've been critical of Tobias Harris and his periodic vanishing act, but he was damn good last nite, especially in the first quarter after the C's bolted to that quick lead. He was quieter later, but mainly because of Embiid's parade to the free-throw line.Yup. Bottom line is that Tobias Harris is not a good enough sidekick now that Simmons is basically on the side of a milk carton offensively. Curry and Green will knock down open shots but they're not creators. Embiid basically has to be 1994-1995 Hakeem Olajuwon for this team to win a title. And I don't think he has it in him.
Yeah, I've seen this movie too many times now to be concerned. Embiid is insanely elite, and maybe getting better, but the Celtics have too many guys who can bother Simmons, and too much offensive talent when Tatum, Walker, and Brown are together.I'm not worried at all about Embiid in the playoffs. We have seen this story year after year; he simply doesn't have the conditioning to dominate for 35 minutes over the course of the series. Remember last season? He would start each game with like, a 14 point first quarter and then gas out. He was very good last night when he got the benefit of literally every whistle and was allowed copious amounts of rest while he waited to take his free throws, but that isn't something likely to be repeated, especially over the course of the series.
Can you imagine Tacko taking a charge? How long would it take for him to Fall?I expect Tacko will just not be strong enough. That said, he sets up a defense where he stands with arms up still and then can flop (loudly) when Embiid drops the shoulder. And if Embiid just does a turnaround, Tacko can likely influence it.
Worth a shot---Theis was completely hopeless last night defensively, and while some of that was awful officiating he also was bad.
He’s a solid player but I don’t think he’s good enough to be the Robin to Embiid’s Batman on a title team. Just my opinion.I've been critical of Tobias Harris and his periodic vanishing act, but he was damn good last nite, especially in the first quarter after the C's bolted to that quick lead. He was quieter later, but mainly because of Embiid's parade to the free-throw line.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TBIBwvmHIMCan you imagine Tacko taking a charge? How long would it take for him to Fall?
I think that would depend on how good the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 (and the bench) are. Harris is averaging 19.3 points. 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season, and he's shooting 50 percent from the line, 41 percent on 3-pointers and 50 percent overall. Those are excellent numbers for a Robin, assuming the team gets significant contributions for other players not named Batman.He’s a solid player but I don’t think he’s good enough to be the Robin to Embiid’s Batman on a title team. Just my opinion.
This X10. I'm amazed that a good rebounder has such bad hands. For the first few games I thought it must be an aberration. I no longer believe that.It seemed like Philly was often able to get Teague switched on to Embiid as well. It's almost like there should be a competitive balance rule against that or something
Defense was ineffective, but DT was great on the offensive end. On the flipside, I'm getting really tired of people passing the ball to TT so that it can bounce off his hands and go out of bounds.
Put it this way, Philly got a massive night for Embiid and he shot a million free throws; Boston didn't have Tatum. Celtics still probably win the game if Kemba and Jaylen just hit a few shots they typically make. It's really hard for me to picture a scenario where Philly is able to beat a healthy Boston team four times in a series. Philly need a ton of good fortune to eek out one game last night.Yeah, I've seen this movie too many times now to be concerned. Embiid is insanely elite, and maybe getting better, but the Celtics have too many guys who can bother Simmons, and too much offensive talent when Tatum, Walker, and Brown are together.
In a playoff situation I also expect both better scheming and execution.
Yup, that's fair. Trading Simmons+ for Harden would have made them deadly because Harris would be an elite 3rd option. As a 2nd option, he's solid but not spectacular.I think that would depend on how good the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 (and the bench) are. Harris is averaging 19.3 points. 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season, and he's shooting 50 percent from the line, 41 percent on 3-pointers and 50 percent overall. Those are excellent numbers for a Robin, assuming the team gets significant contributions for other players not named Batman.
Agreed. Simmons, it's becoming apparent, is the bigger issue in Philly.Yup, that's fair. Trading Simmons+ for Harden would have made them deadly because Harris would be an elite 3rd option. As a 2nd option, he's solid but not spectacular.
That's a failed deal that Morey's going to rue.Yup, that's fair. Trading Simmons+ for Harden would have made them deadly because Harris would be an elite 3rd option. As a 2nd option, he's solid but not spectacular.
If Tacko takes a charge, and it's is not called, does he make a sound?Can you imagine Tacko taking a charge? How long would it take for him to Fall?
Think I mentioned it in a game thread but it’s basically Perk all over again. No reason to pass it to him unless he’s wide open under the hoop.Maybe he'll learn, but I'm getting really tired of seeing folks pass the ball to TT. It's like a guaranteed turnover.
Wrong...FIt's still an early sample, but he's shooting about 58% on shots 0-3 feet from the basket (we'll assume those are mostly putbacks and layup attempts) and just 38% on shots 3-10 feet out (the latter also happens to make up 38% of his shot attempts). Unless he's directly under the hoop, he should never be creating his own offense.
.38% is above his career average (.346), he better pick it up defensively or we'll see him battling for minutes with Theis/TLIt's still an early sample, but he's shooting about 58% on shots 0-3 feet from the basket (we'll assume those are mostly putbacks and layup attempts) and just 38% on shots 3-10 feet out (the latter also happens to make up 38% of his shot attempts). Unless he's directly under the hoop, he should never be creating his own offense.
one of the BIGs will get injured, they always doIt's "unfortunate" that there seems to be so little BIG minutes to go around these days. That probably will be "solved" with an injury to someone before too long - as I think it'd be interesting to see Tacko come in the game for a 4 minute stretch in the 1st and 2nd halves just to screw with the other team. He really is an incredible shot blocker that alters players' approach.
The problem isn’t Fall against bigs.....the problem is playing him against veteran guards/wings who understand how to exploit his inability to defend the perimeter by creating switches and/or open looks.one of the BIGs will get injured, they always do
I'm not convinced Tacko is unplayable in small stretches against classic BIGs.
Tre/Carsen are trending more to the unplayable category then TF
yea yea.The problem isn’t Fall against bigs.....the problem is playing him against veteran guards/wings who understand how to exploit his inability to defend the perimeter by creating switches and/or open looks.
Plus they should be playing a lot of zone when he’s in, which should limit his time spent on the perimeter.They obviously aren't shooting over him, and his wingspan is like half the court. I'm not convinced yet he is any worse on the perimeter than Tristan Thompson (could be wrong on that).
You could say that about half the bigs in the league though. Embiid sure as shit doesn't make an effort to defend the perimeter.The problem isn’t Fall against bigs.....the problem is playing him against veteran guards/wings who understand how to exploit his inability to defend the perimeter by creating switches and/or open looks.
It’s about being agile and aware enough to be switchable and every good team can exploit Fall by creating mismatches. We are limited in that we are almost forced to play zone with Fall in the game which is why he’s unplayable against these type teams right now.You could say that about half the bigs in the league though. Embiid sure as shit doesn't make an effort to defend the perimeter.
Oh there’s no doubt he’s improved his agility to be able to compete in some NBA games against certain competition. When I’m thinking good NBA teams with veteran guards/wings exploiting him in PNR I wasn’t exactly referring to the Orlando Magic with Jordan Bone and Khem Birch.He looked OK on this play against the Magic (starts at 0:22 in the video). Looks like his lateral quickness has improved quite a bit since last year. Just one play of course...
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqQjPd87iD4
Yea Tacko in small stretches in certain matchups is what I'm thinking/saying.Oh there’s no doubt he’s improved his agility to be able to compete in some NBA games against certain competition. When I’m thinking good NBA teams with veteran guards/wings exploiting him in PNR I wasn’t exactly referring to the Orlando Magic with Jordan Bone and Khem Birch.
Well he hasn’t played against a lot if veteran guards yet, but garbage time guards have had trouble scoring over him on switches.The problem isn’t Fall against bigs.....the problem is playing him against veteran guards/wings who understand how to exploit his inability to defend the perimeter by creating switches and/or open looks.
How did he do when RWB and Beal were on the floor, did the Wizards torch the Celtics/Fall?Well he hasn’t played against a lot if veteran guards yet, but garbage time guards have had trouble scoring over him on switches.
If he keeps improving his ability to move, we might get a chance to see if Tacko is playable
That’s the ole rookie argument about playing time. There is a good reason why we haven’t seen it.Well he hasn’t played against a lot if veteran guards yet, but garbage time guards have had trouble scoring over him on switches.
If he keeps improving his ability to move, we might get a chance to see if Tacko is playable
Tacko isn’t a typical player, obviously. There are some cases of very tall players, who never did much in college besides play near the hoop, taking time to develop into NBA players.That’s the ole rookie argument about playing time. There is a good reason why we haven’t seen it.
100% agree about bigs being on a different timeline to success. I’m referring to Tacko right now as far as not playing against quality and veteran opposition.Tacko isn’t a typical player, obviously. There are some cases of very tall players, who never did much in college besides play near the hoop, taking time to develop into NBA players.
It is more difficult with todays style of play, and we might never see Tacko in an NBA rotation, but the Celtics see something in him. I’m not going to be surprised when he plays rotation minutes somewhere in the NBA in the next couple of years.