I don't think he particularly did, they did different things well, as expected, but the results were pretty similar. Strus shot 42% from 3 to Green's 27%, Green was the better rebounder, Strus the better passer. Not a major difference in how the offense or defense performed. Javonte had a lot of cool dunks, so you remember his impact more, but they were two pretty similar guys in terms of value. Of course I wouldn't be at all surprised if Green is gone well before the end of the year anyway.
Both played about 14 minutes a game. Green averaged 9.5pts/4/1rbs/1.0 assists, Strus 5.1/2.0/1.5. Green also shot 80% from the field. I'm not sure how you can argue that their value was similar. Watching some of the games gave me a similar impression.
Someone mentioned it up thread. When it comes to the last few roster spots defense becomes more relevant. Strus couldn't really stay in front of anyone in preseason or SL.It’s felt to me like Strus has been hanging around, but only just hanging around.
I guess practices were awesome? Still, even though Strus is younger this seemed to me where things were heading-not that that places me alone on an island with that smoldering take.
SSS and all but the results were not very similar. Green scored more in SL and preseason (in less minutes). In a tight game against Charlotte Green came in and was the difference in winning that game. Strus did zip in that game. Strus showed up when the Celts were ahead by 30 in a blowout against Cleveland. Green has much more professional experience (overseas), so it wasn't really a fair fight. Greens dunks were impressive but that's never going to be a difference-maker for me. My bias is towards better defensive players. Strus is not capable of guarding an NBA wing on the perimeter or down low at the moment. He's a project with no professional experience, and we have plenty of those at the moment.
Because the team production with each on the court was similar and Strus shot 42% from 3. I doubt either is a guy who get real NBA minutes, but a floor stretching player is very important to an offense beyond just the points he scored, they improve the whole offense. Green shot 80% because he almost exclusively dunked the ball, since he doesn't have much of a jumper.
I generally disagree that defense becomes more important for the 15th man, I think having an elite skill is most important. I don't think either of these guys do, but Strus' shooting and Green's athleticism are the closest.
Green had a better RPM in both SL/Pre-season
I don't know how people can say Strus or Green outplayed the other. First, I would guess that 90% of how the Cs evaluate players is what they see in practice, which we can't see. Second, they asked Strus and Green to do completely different things. On defense, Green was at the top; Strus was on the wing. Strus handled and faciliated the ball more (when he wasn't shooting); Green was looking to score.Why would Danny decide to pay more (it cost more to cut Strus then Green), select the older player, and take the one with less important skills? does Danny have a "dunk" bias?
Reason take older player is that Green was probably looking to hook onto another NBA team; Strus might not.
Hopefully, Max will fondly remember his end of Summer days in the Back Bay.
Well sure. If you need Green in an emergency he's much less likely to embarrass you on defense. And with Carsten Edwards the Celtics don't need Strus nearly as much as a designated shooter.
They have different skillsets entirely is generally the point. They took the skillset they preferred for that slot, if they were looking for shooting... well Strus clearly outshot Green. overall, I expect whichever guy they kept is going to get cut mid-season when they either need the slot in a trade or a vet shakes loose. I just think people were putting way too much into Green's performance, he played decent D and had a bunch of dunks.... it wasn't like he was a revelation, if they'd cut both to keep a slot open would anyone have been particularly upset?
No. They came in as first round picks and were basically assured of roster spots. It was the following year that Hunter was cut, after struggling late in the previous year while Rozier had earned some decent playoff minutes.
"Project Strus" is a perfectly defensible position. Heck, I love projects, stories of guys not getting scholarship offers, using vegetable baskets for hoops in the backyard, shooting savants hitting 20 straight 3-pointers on Scal, etc. Put milk on that and I'll have it for breakfast.
It’s possible that Ainge and Stevens don’t view the end of the bench as the optimal spot for player development. That assignment goes to the Red Claws. The deep depth — Poirier, Ojeleye, Green, and Wanamaker — is comprised of physical players with professional experience, capable of filling a role in the case of injury. But more than anything, they are bodies that will allow Brad to push rotation players during practice.
At some point, Brad is going to want part of his 15 man roster in Boston. Langford is already likely to spend significant time in Maine, with Waters and Fall. There is value in having bodies on the deep bench.
James Young was the guy that won the final roster spot over Hunter that year. It didn't mean anything that year either.
Your right the detractors are just changing the narrative. SOP for those on SoSH after their wrong.
You are truly BaynesHogan, they are not! PS - I wish he was one of the top 9-10 this season.
That's about right on average, except you're forgetting Vincent and RWill, who will both likely get some minutes. Night to night it will vary on matchups and injuries. Langford will be getting most of his minutes in Maine would be my guess.
Sure, but less value in deep wings on the Celtics bench. Anyway, it is what it is. I think Strus vs Green is not going to be a high-impact decision in the long run. And Green is fine as a 15th guy.
That sounds about right. I think the other 2 non-bigs who will play in the regular rotation are Grant and Edwards. Wanamaker if Brad plays 8 regular non-bigs.
Ha ha. Aron would be the perfect role player to man the middle (luckily Theis really isn't that huge of a downgrade). Regretfully I have to shove off Baynes Island this season. Mrs. Hogan isn't crawling into to bed to watch late-night Suns games.
Good work. Spot on with the first 5 players. And that's the right rotational groupings
I think Grant will play every day unless Theis pushes his way into minutes at the 4, which I doubt.
Agreed. Theis led the Celtics in fouls per 48 minutes last season, Williams is injury prone and raw, and Kanter's defensive limitations have been well documented. Minutes at the 5 will be entirely matchup based, to my mind. I think Poirier will play pretty regularly, pretty similar to Theis' usage in his rookie season.
I’m also guessing we’ll see Tatum at center a lot against guys who can’t post (think Allen on Brooklyn, etc).
It will be switchy, but if you're deciding between Hayward, Tatum, or Brown as your super small Center I'd lean towards Jaylen, as we saw on Team USA this summer. I know Tatum has him on height but Jaylen seems much stronger and more physical. Jaylen also effectively guarded Blake Griffin last year. Tatum's game just seems more finesse oriented, I want to save him offensively and I'd rather see him on the perimeter challenging 3s then get dragged underneath with a guy like Allen.
So what you’re saying is that playing Tatum at the 5 would wear him down to a nub?
YES! as we know Nubby immediately took his talents elsewhere so he could spend more of his time at his most efficient position, the 4, instead of 93% of his time at the 5.
That's absolutely something I would do if I were that tall - grab a rebound and then jump right into the rim.
Agree here as well, though I think benhogan is right that Jaylen is stronger than Tatum at this point, and I tend to think physical strength is crucial for smaller guys to defend bigger guys, especially in the paint. Given Brad's propensity for smallball, I feel like the Celtics are essentially looking for 38-40 minutes a night from Theis/Kanter/Poirier/Williams, I'm less worried about the position than I was a few weeks ago. If a few things break right for the Celtics (say, Theis learning to defend without fouling as much, or Williams gaining some more mastery of his defensive responsiblities, or Kanter being just not awful as a pick and roll defender), I think those 48-50 win total predictions are probably right on.
Do you expect a Tatum/Hayward/Brown/Smart/PG lineup? Or might we see the former four paired with a power wing like Grant/Semi?
I'm guessing they'll just want their 5 best players on the court whenever there isn't a reason not to.
My guess is these nine play every night
