Welcome to Boston (and Maine), Amari Williams!

[Shak_Celts]

I know he's not here for his shooting form, but did he grow up watching Michael Kidd-Gilchrist videos?

Just UGH A LEE! Shot could be entered and win best in show for ugliest form! Terrible!! They let him shoot like that and didn’t try and fix it? Traaaaaashhh coaching! No wonder he can’t shoot! He’s 25 and they let him get there with that shot! They let him down!

it's ugly but he doesn't seem to be a bad FT shooter so that's checkpoint #1 for a big.
checkpoint #2 is could he ever become a shooter from the perimeter and I think that's where it's 'with that form? no' but you and I will love and believe in him for other reasons for now.

Yeah, idc how ugly it is, I’m riding for Amari!

[redslastlaugh]

Amari needs big man coaching. The size and processing is there but some of the movement and touch could probably be improved.

We have 2 centers neither have played 1000 career minutes yet in Queta and Luka Garza so there's opportunity for growth but those guys are not that young either. Amari Williams is a rookie and if he can improve in a couple of areas, I bet he can be pretty good.

We have been in "win now" mode for so long, do we have the right coaches presently for big man development? I am not sure we have a big mans coach on the staff? We have had Horford for so long, do we even have a former NBA big on the staff to work with young bigs, like how Clifford Ray worked with Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins?

Amari really needs coaching imo

Just UGH A LEE! Shot could be entered and win best in show for ugliest form! Terrible!! They let him shoot like that and didn’t try and fix it? Traaaaaashhh coaching! No wonder he can’t shoot! He’s 25 and they let him get there with that shot! They let him down!

it's ugly but he doesn't seem to be a bad FT shooter so that's checkpoint #1 for a big.
checkpoint #2 is could he ever become a shooter from the perimeter and I think that's where it's 'with that form? no' but you and I will love and believe in him for other reasons for now.

Yeah, idc how ugly it is, I’m riding for Amari!

[djFan71]

Amari needs big man coaching. The size and processing is there but some of the movement and touch could probably be improved.

We have 2 centers neither have played 1000 career minutes yet in Queta and Luka Garza so there's opportunity for growth but those guys are not that young either. Amari Williams is a rookie and if he can improve in a couple of areas, I bet he can be pretty good.

We have been in "win now" mode for so long, do we have the right coaches presently for big man development? I am not sure we have a big mans coach on the staff? We have had Horford for so long, do we even have a former NBA big on the staff to work with young bigs, like how Clifford Ray worked with Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins?

Amari really needs coaching imo

it's ugly but he doesn't seem to be a bad FT shooter so that's checkpoint #1 for a big.
checkpoint #2 is could he ever become a shooter from the perimeter and I think that's where it's 'with that form? no' but you and I will love and believe in him for other reasons for now.

Yeah, idc how ugly it is, I’m riding for Amari!

Luke and Queta both definitely improved. So, there's gotta be someone teaching them something. Whole staff has their work cut out for them with our frontcourt this year.

[redslastlaugh]

Amari needs big man coaching. The size and processing is there but some of the movement and touch could probably be improved.

Luke and Queta both definitely improved. So, there's gotta be someone teaching them something. Whole staff has their work cut out for them with our frontcourt this year.

lol, definitely going to be a development year. Luke/Queta got better at Mazzulla Ball centering: screening, tapping out offensive rebounds. Amari Williams literally needs to learn how to shoot a baby hook over his left shoulder, and how to control his lower extremities when he jumps. He needs, imo, a much more foundational level of coaching than luke did. And, obviously, Al and KP were fully formed as far as skill development these last couple/three years

[darrendaye]

Amari needs big man coaching. The size and processing is there but some of the movement and touch could probably be improved.

Luke and Queta both definitely improved. So, there's gotta be someone teaching them something. Whole staff has their work cut out for them with our frontcourt this year.

lol, definitely going to be a development year. Luke/Queta got better at Mazzulla Ball centering: screening, tapping out offensive rebounds. Amari Williams literally needs to learn how to shoot a baby hook over his left shoulder, and how to control his lower extremities when he jumps. He needs, imo, a much more foundational level of coaching than luke did. And, obviously, Al and KP were fully formed as far as skill development these last couple/three years

Tony Dobbins, IIRC, is the main big man coach.

[djFan71]

Amari needs big man coaching. The size and processing is there but some of the movement and touch could probably be improved.

Luke and Queta both definitely improved. So, there's gotta be someone teaching them something. Whole staff has their work cut out for them with our frontcourt this year.

lol, definitely going to be a development year. Luke/Queta got better at Mazzulla Ball centering: screening, tapping out offensive rebounds. Amari Williams literally needs to learn how to shoot a baby hook over his left shoulder, and how to control his lower extremities when he jumps. He needs, imo, a much more foundational level of coaching than luke did. And, obviously, Al and KP were fully formed as far as skill development these last couple/three years

yeah, I can't argue with that. He's raw for sure.

[redslastlaugh]

yea, but just for the record, I like the pick. 7 foot, 260 lbs, good rebounder, passing and 7-6 wingspan, I like that we took him. Probably a bumpy road to Amari Williams being good but that's a great swing, imo ... so i don't want to sound like I'm too down on him. Im hopeful and even if it's a swing and a miss, the process is good

lol, definitely going to be a development year. Luke/Queta got better at Mazzulla Ball centering: screening, tapping out offensive rebounds. Amari Williams literally needs to learn how to shoot a baby hook over his left shoulder, and how to control his lower extremities when he jumps. He needs, imo, a much more foundational level of coaching than luke did. And, obviously, Al and KP were fully formed as far as skill development these last couple/three years

yeah, I can't argue with that. He's raw for sure.

[Homerclease]

May want to change the title to welcome to Shanghai

[redslastlaugh]

Shanghai? Maybe, hope not though

Given that we were picking #46 and then #57 ... are there other prospects between 46-56 that you'd have preferred we draft? Because given what was on the board, I like Amari Williams there. I liked Javon Small, Markovic, Lachie, & Toohey in the same tier but position edge goes to Amari -- it's harder to find 7ft, 260 with a 7-6 wngspn, so why not take that swing?

May want to change the title to welcome to Shanghai

[Parliament10]

Shanghai? Maybe, hope not though

Given that we were picking #46 and then #57 ... are there other prospects between 46-56 that you'd have preferred we draft? Because given what was on the board, I like Amari Williams there. I liked Javon Small, Markovic, Lachie, & Toohey in the same tier but position edge goes to Amari -- it's harder to find 7ft, 260 with a 7-6 wngspn, so why not take that swing?

May want to change the title to welcome to Shanghai

I like Amari for Maine. -- A lot of our guys have Played/Started in the G League, and come up.

[Homerclease]

Shanghai? Maybe, hope not though

Given that we were picking #46 and then #57 ... are there other prospects between 46-56 that you'd have preferred we draft? Because given what was on the board, I like Amari Williams there. I liked Javon Small, Markovic, Lachie, & Toohey in the same tier but position edge goes to Amari -- it's harder to find 7ft, 260 with a 7-6 wngspn, so why not take that swing?

May want to change the title to welcome to Shanghai

Not only was he abysmal in summer league, he was flat out lazy. Kid was fighting for a job and didn’t look like he even cared. Hard pass on him entirely.

I would’ve stayed at 32 and taken Reynaud or Kalkbrenner. Or moved up for Fleming since he was our guy

[redslastlaugh]

People have said Brad can't draft. He's had five drafts but only the last two has he really made any calls.

We got to our picks (28, 32) and had Hugo, Fleming, McNeely, Raynaud, Kalkbrenner, etc to choose from and Brad ended up with Hugo, Amari and Shulga (plus 2 future seconds) and so that's what we're gonna judge him on.

I'm just ready for Brad to have an awesome draft and we are looking back in 3-4 years and saying, "Brad nailed those picks"

But yea, people said 2021, 2022, 2023 you can't hold Brad to those results because he was picking so low. But 2024 and 2025 will go a ways towards answering the question if Brad can scout talent BEFORE it has come to the NBA

Shanghai? Maybe, hope not though

Given that we were picking #46 and then #57 ... are there other prospects between 46-56 that you'd have preferred we draft? Because given what was on the board, I like Amari Williams there. I liked Javon Small, Markovic, Lachie, & Toohey in the same tier but position edge goes to Amari -- it's harder to find 7ft, 260 with a 7-6 wngspn, so why not take that swing?

May want to change the title to welcome to Shanghai

Not only was he abysmal in summer league, he was flat out lazy. Kid was fighting for a job and didn’t look like he even cared. Hard pass on him entirely.

I would’ve stayed at 32 and taken Reynaud or Kalkbrenner. Or moved up for Fleming since he was our guy

[Hal14]

Luke and Queta both definitely improved. So, there's gotta be someone teaching them something. Whole staff has their work cut out for them with our frontcourt this year.

lol, definitely going to be a development year. Luke/Queta got better at Mazzulla Ball centering: screening, tapping out offensive rebounds. Amari Williams literally needs to learn how to shoot a baby hook over his left shoulder, and how to control his lower extremities when he jumps. He needs, imo, a much more foundational level of coaching than luke did. And, obviously, Al and KP were fully formed as far as skill development these last couple/three years

Tony Dobbins, IIRC, is the main big man coach.

I think Jermaine Bucknor worked with them a lot when he was here too.

Now I think Dobbins and Amile Jefferson might do their part.

And I think Craig Luschenat heads up player development for the team so I think he has a hand in the development of all our guys, to some extent.

[Hal14]

Good player.

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[cl2117]

I think the kid needs to live in Maine for a full year.

His best attribute offensively seems to be his passing and he'll never get the reps at the NBA level where a coach let's the offense run through him to make the most out of that skillset. Especially not if he's bringing virtually nothing to the table outside of that. Put him in Maine and let him continue to develop that in a meaningful way and then maybe with a proven track record there he might get the opportunity to showcase it with the big boys.

I don't think the pendulum is going to move on his jump shooting. Doesn't look good at all. He's going to need to be elite in terms of hustle plays and either help defense/facilitating on the offensive end. That's a steep hill to climb for a big man, think he needs max reps that are somewhat tailored to him to see if there is any inkling of a diamond in the rough.

Still disappointed we didn't make a priority of getting a better quality big man prospect in the draft. Raynaud would have been a much better fit/option and was there before we traded back and went 4 spots ahead of Amari in the end. I'd much rather just him than the Amart/Shulga combo.

[Homerclease]

People have said Brad can't draft. He's had five drafts but only the last two has he really made any calls.

We got to our picks (28, 32) and had Hugo, Fleming, McNeely, Raynaud, Kalkbrenner, etc to choose from and Brad ended up with Hugo, Amari and Shulga (plus 2 future seconds) and so that's what we're gonna judge him on.

I'm just ready for Brad to have an awesome draft and we are looking back in 3-4 years and saying, "Brad nailed those picks"

But yea, people said 2021, 2022, 2023 you can't hold Brad to those results because he was picking so low. But 2024 and 2025 will go a ways towards answering the question if Brad can scout talent BEFORE it has come to the NBA

Shanghai? Maybe, hope not though

Given that we were picking #46 and then #57 ... are there other prospects between 46-56 that you'd have preferred we draft? Because given what was on the board, I like Amari Williams there. I liked Javon Small, Markovic, Lachie, & Toohey in the same tier but position edge goes to Amari -- it's harder to find 7ft, 260 with a 7-6 wngspn, so why not take that swing?

Not only was he abysmal in summer league, he was flat out lazy. Kid was fighting for a job and didn’t look like he even cared. Hard pass on him entirely.

I would’ve stayed at 32 and taken Reynaud or Kalkbrenner. Or moved up for Fleming since he was our guy

He did what he had to do to dump salary unfortunately. The two second rounders acquired are basically a wash, used to dump Niang. They punted on adding another salary even at the cost of a high second rounder in favor of two 2-way guys. But at least we’re out of cap jail for the moment.

[Gant]

Unfortunately Williams looked slow footed. Maybe indecision magnified that. I haven't seen him enough to know. If he does have slow feet, the team soured quickly on Ante Zizic for that reason.

I think at the time they made that second round trade because they had hopes of re-signing Kornet and Horford, and wanted to save every dollar. Since those guys left, it could end up being a bad deal.

I hope this is wrong, that Williams just hadn't acclimated, and he bounces back in camp.

[Hal14]

I think the kid needs to live in Maine for a full year.

His best attribute offensively seems to be his passing and he'll never get the reps at the NBA level where a coach let's the offense run through him to make the most out of that skillset.

Why not?

If you've got a player who's really good at something, why not use it?

If we develop him and maximize that passing ability, he could be a passing hub up top, hitting cutters, throwing dimes to shooters, getting us quality shots at the basket.

Why wouldn't we do that?

I'm not saying he'd be the starting center or anything..but even if it's as the 3rd big (or maybe eventually as the 2nd big) during the mins he's on the floor, why not leverage that skill he has to generate high quality shots, have good ball movement/player movement and run efficient offense?

Let's think about. When the Celtics have struggled in recent years, it's been when the offense gets too stagnant. When the Jays just play my turn, your turn. When we settle for jumpers. When we rely on jacking up ill advised 3's too much. When we struggle to create easier shots (especially easy shots at the rim) and have to take tough shot instead - when the offense just doesn't run smoothly. If that's been our biggest issue as a team, why not develop Amari and see how much he can alleviate it?

Especially not if he's bringing virtually nothing to the table outside of that.

He's a good rebounder. Led the SEC (the best conference in college basketball) in TRB% and DREB% last season.

He's also a good ball handler, good driver. Decent at finishing around the basket.Can finish out of dunker's spot. Good screener. Decent at catching lobs.

Defensively he can hold his own. Not elite on D but certainly has potential to be neutral on that end, especially with how good Boston is at developing our guys defensively. Cooper Flagg couldn't score on him when Duke played Kentucky..including the last possession in the clutch when Duke needed a bucket, Amari got the stop, defending Flagg. Amari has some flashes of defending the perimeter..and is a decent interior defender as well.

If literally all he could do was pass, we wouldn't have drafted him.

[redslastlaugh]

I think the kid needs to live in Maine for a full year.

His best attribute offensively seems to be his passing and he'll never get the reps at the NBA level where a coach let's the offense run through him to make the most out of that skillset.

It's not that Amari Williams is gonna be running the offense, it's that a big who is that big, can screen JT free by laying the wood on tatum's primary defender, then receive the pass from JT as the defense is scrambling to contain, and then re-hit JT on the move to get him some assisted finishes. It's not Amari running the offenses, it's his instincts in the two man game to pass tatum open.

We haven't really had that since Rob.

[31to6]

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I watched and liked all of them, but this is maybe my favorite. Nothing fancy here, nothing you have to draw up or practice -- just value-added passes that help the team.