Is the Celtics bench as weak as it looks on paper?

Trey24 · Post #1 » by **Trey24** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 2:25 pm

I have been playing 2k20, which I know is not the greatest barometer in the world, but I have noticed that the Celtics bench has virtually no depth, particularly offensively. Where will their bench scoring come from? It has to be concerning for Celtics fans, which I am not one (although I am a Kemba fan so I will be following the Celtics closer than I ever have).

Thoughts?

gabri3l3 · Post #2 » by **gabri3l3** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 2:33 pm

Yeah it's terrible no shot creators whatsoever or rim protection pretending they will be starting Robert Williams and using Kanter as a sixth man. A lot of inexperienced guys too . A lot will fall on how Romeo Langford develops but you cant expect too much from a first year guy.

They will be probably better and more balanced bringing Hayward off the bench and starting Smart.
So Kemba - Smart - Brown - Tatum - Williams I think is their best guess.

LloydFree · Post #3 » by **LloydFree** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 3:08 pm

I don't think their bench is weak at all. I think their projected starting lineup is weak. Starting 3 Small Forwards and either Enes Kanter or Robert Williams at Center is a recipe for disaster, just waiting to happen. Playing a 5'11 Shooting Guard at PG, with no other facilitator on the floor, and playing Jason Tatum at Power forward, is going to be a bigger problem than anyone is talking about.

Curmudgeon · Post #4 » by **Curmudgeon** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 3:13 pm

Well, the Celtics go 7 deep with tested NBA players: Kanter, Hayward, Brown, Tatum, Smart, Walker and Theis. After that they have an excellent defender who hasn't been able to score (Ojeleye), an athletic young center who can block shots but hasn't done much else (Robert Williams), a journeyman veteran guard (Wanamaker) an untested French center (Poirier) and a bunch of rookie question marks (Grant Williams, Carsten Edwards, Romeo Langford, Tacko Fall, Tremont Waters, Javonte Green).

The two leading candidates to provide additional bench scoring are Grant Williams and Carsten Edwards. At least one of those guys will have to step up, unless Ojeleye has discovered his 3 point shot. I don't see Langford contributing until next year. He missed all of Summer league because of his thumb and now he has a groin problem.

CelticsLV · Post #5 » by **CelticsLV** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 3:43 pm

LloydFree wrote:I don't think their bench is weak at all. I think their projected starting lineup is weak. Starting 3 Small Forwards and either Enes Kanter or Robert Williams at Center is a recipe for disaster, just waiting to happen. Playing a 5'11 Shooting Guard at PG, with no other facilitator on the floor, and playing Jason Tatum at Power forward, is going to be a bigger problem than anyone is talking about.

Have you heard about that guy Hayward?

jabron47 · Post #6 » by **jabron47** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 3:50 pm

The bench isn't as bad as it might seem. Depending on who starts, either Marcus Smart or Gordon Hayward will lead the second unit. Let's assume its smart off the bench. The bench lineup would then look like:

PG: Smart
SG: Edwards
SF: Ojeleye/Langford
PF: Theis/Williams
C: Williams/Porier

That's not bad whatsoever. Obviously Brad won't just put the entire bench in at once. Probably will have 2 starters on the floor at all times. I think a lot of the bench's success relies on Carsen Edwards. If he shows that he can score against NBA level defenses, then the bench is not a weakness.

Post #7 » by **Darth Celtic** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 3:53 pm

**** games need to start soon. If I see one more thread about observations on the Celtics teams because of NBA2k franchise mode I'm going to bash my head in on the computer.

Post #8 » by **Darth Celtic** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 3:54 pm

I mean, I'm waiting on a new thread "I was playing 2k the other day and I'm still worried because Embiid still gets tired too fast and I have to take him out" " I wonder if all the conditioning all off season had an impact or not."

Post #9 » by **bisme37** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 4:08 pm

We gots a bunch of rookies and foreign gentleman on our bench this year. I don't see the bench as weak, but there are certainly some guys most people haven't heard of yet.

Of the rookies Carsen Edwards (walking bucket) and Grant Williams (already seems like a vet) absolutely look ready to play right away. And then we have veteran French center Vincent Poirier to help with the big rotation and I think he'll be really good. I'm assuming Kanter will start and then R Williams, Theis, Poirier will be part of the bigs rotation, with Fall in the mix as well.

I'd say our depth is about average. Part of the problem last year was there were too many guys who needed touches and no one ever got in a rhythm. Losing Morris and Rozier should help clear things up for Kemba, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart etc. And the team played really lazy last season so I think the injection of youth is by design. There's been a terrific energy in camp and I think it will be a really fun Celtics season.

Post #10 » by **Sixerscan** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 4:12 pm

Eh it's not awful. Feel like most of the teams with strong benches are fudging it a bit by not starting their best 5 guys. So yeah if they bring Hayward off the bench the bench looks better but it's the same damn guys playing the game either way.

LakersSoul · Post #11 » by **LakersSoul** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 4:13 pm

jabron47 wrote:The bench isn't as bad as it might seem. Depending on who starts, either Marcus Smart or Gordon Hayward will lead the second unit. Let's assume its smart off the bench. The bench lineup would then look like:

PG: Smart
SG: Edwards
SF: Ojeleye/Langford
PF: Theis/Williams
C: Williams/Porier

That's not bad whatsoever. Obviously Brad won't just put the entire bench in at once. Probably will have 2 starters on the floor at all times. I think a lot of the bench's success relies on Carsen Edwards. If he shows that he can score against NBA level defenses, then the bench is not a weakness.

No. That’s poor bench depth. Unless Tatum & Brown make a huge jump, they will struggle breaking into top of the east. 4-6 spot looks right about now.

HoopsterJones · Post #12 » by **HoopsterJones** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 4:22 pm

Some question marks about the bench depth after the top 7 players in the rotation.

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #13 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 5:58 pm

This guy is all we need.

manlisten · Post #14 » by **manlisten** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 6:14 pm

I like Edwards and don't think he should've went as late as he did, but there's a reason he went as late as he did.

Sent from my Pixel XL using RealGM mobile app

jpengland · Post #15 » by **jpengland** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 6:31 pm

jabron47 wrote:The bench isn't as bad as it might seem. Depending on who starts, either Marcus Smart or Gordon Hayward will lead the second unit. Let's assume its smart off the bench. The bench lineup would then look like:

PG: Smart
SG: Edwards
SF: Ojeleye/Langford
PF: Theis/Williams
C: Williams/Porier

That's not bad whatsoever. Obviously Brad won't just put the entire bench in at once. Probably will have 2 starters on the floor at all times. I think a lot of the bench's success relies on Carsen Edwards. If he shows that he can score against NBA level defenses, then the bench is not a weakness.

Its not bad but hinges on a rookie 5'10 shooting guard drafted at 33?

Ok.

DarkAzcura · Post #16 » by **DarkAzcura** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 6:41 pm

They had too many players who needed the ball last season, and now we think they have too little? I’m fine with there being no scorers off the bench. Kemba, Brown, Hayward, and Tatum need as many touches as they can get. And to a lesser extent, Kanter. All offensive minded players who will get plenty of minutes with the bench to balance it out.

It’s not like the bench operates 100% on its own separate from the starters.

MagicBagley18 · Post #17 » by **MagicBagley18** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 7:08 pm

It’s def not deep...but Stevens will stagger lineups always having Hayward kemba as primary ball handlers and scorers and Tatum on the court as well. He’ll get it work during the season.

Post #18 » by **Sixerscan** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 7:12 pm

jpengland wrote:
jabron47 wrote:The bench isn't as bad as it might seem. Depending on who starts, either Marcus Smart or Gordon Hayward will lead the second unit. Let's assume its smart off the bench. The bench lineup would then look like:

PG: Smart
SG: Edwards
SF: Ojeleye/Langford
PF: Theis/Williams
C: Williams/Porier

That's not bad whatsoever. Obviously Brad won't just put the entire bench in at once. Probably will have 2 starters on the floor at all times. I think a lot of the bench's success relies on Carsen Edwards. If he shows that he can score against NBA level defenses, then the bench is not a weakness.

Its not bad but hinges on a rookie 5'10 shooting guard drafted at 33?

Ok.

Especially when your best player is a 5'11" guard?

Crives · Post #19 » by **Crives** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 7:16 pm

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Tiny ball · Post #20 » by **Tiny ball** » Sat Oct 5, 2019 7:20 pm

bisme37 wrote:We gots a bunch of rookies and foreign gentleman on our bench this year. I don't see the bench as weak, but there are certainly some guys most people haven't heard of yet.

Of the rookies Carsen Edwards (walking bucket) and Grant Williams (already seems like a vet) absolutely look ready to play right away. And then we have veteran French center Vincent Poirier to help with the big rotation and I think he'll be really good. I'm assuming Kanter will start and then R Williams, Theis, Poirier will be part of the bigs rotation, with Fall in the mix as well.

I'd say our depth is about average. Part of the problem last year was there were too many guys who needed touches and no one ever got in a rhythm. Losing Morris and Rozier should help clear things up for Kemba, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart etc. And the team played really lazy last season so I think the injection of youth is by design. There's been a terrific energy in camp and I think it will be a really fun Celtics season.

I don't think we need smart shooting more.