Sophmores, 2020-21 – Langford, G. Williams, Edwards, Waters, Tacko

[cloverleaf]

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Two months is a decent sample size. If Grant Williams becomes a bona fide 3 and D player with close to this level of 3 point percentage, then that's a very good draft pick.

two 3-4 nights completely skew these numbers. He's been an awful 3 pt shooter. At best he's eventually Jae Crowder who is a a decent role player. Again, Danny takes high floor low ceiling role players instead of someone with potential to develop into more. That's fine when you have a bonafide superstar or a loaded roster but in our market, you can't keep doing this. You have to hit on stars outside of the top 3.

That's not actually how it has gone for the 21yo rook. He was 0 for October and November, at .278 in December and .429 for January and for so far in February. His coach obviously had him keep shooting them from the start and he said everyone was telling him that from how he shot in practice he should be at .400 in the league. It's looking like there's a chance that's where he's headed.

Also, for the team's top 5 players Danny drafted three #3's and signed as FAs two #9s. Among them at least two All-NBAs (Kemba and in the future JT), an All-NBA Defense player and probably 4 ASs, in various years.

[Parliament10]

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[Celtic Esquire]

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This game is being shown on ESPN+ if you have a subscription to it (which you should because you get a ton of content for $5 a month).

Tacko is beasting so far.

[Parliament10]

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This game is being shown on ESPN+ if you have a subscription to it (which you should because you get a ton of content for $5 a month).

Tacko is beasting so far.

Red Claws are beating the piss out of them.

[Parliament10]

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[JmacBronco68]

Tacko had 18 and 16 REB in 23 minutes. 9/10 FG. I wish he could get some or Porrier's minutes.

[Parliament10]

Tacko had 18 and 16 REB in 23 minutes. 9/10 FG. I wish he could get some or Porrier's minutes.

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It would be a good idea for Tacko to fill in now, for the Celtics.
We have 2 Main Centers out. And everybody's banged up.

[31to6]

Tacko had 18 and 16 REB in 23 minutes. 9/10 FG. I wish he could get some or Porrier's minutes.

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It would be a good idea for Tacko to fill in now, for the Celtics.
We have 2 Main Centers out. And everybody's banged up.

Now is Poriers chance to show if he can do anything, and he looks sort of possibly maybe playable lately.

[Kids Are Alright]

Poirier played fine against the Magic

[5InOfLouisville]

puff piece on tacko

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2020/02/07/tacko-fall-celtics-rookie-nba-stats

Spoiler:

he is pleasant and tall

[24istheLAW]

Tacko had 18 and 16 REB in 23 minutes. 9/10 FG. I wish he could get some or Porrier's minutes.

We're 50 games into the season and Poirier has played 99 minutes total. Who cares which fringe NBA player comes in at the end of blowouts?

[Green89]

Tacko looks a bit stronger in the post and more comfortable with each game. He looks more confident on offense, and even in his small stints in Boston, he is moving well on defense. He's looking better than I would have expected at this point into his rookie year. It looks like he's putting in the work and it shows. I'm sure our coaching staff needs some praise too, for helping him along thus far.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[31to6]

When does the Red Claws season end? Before our regular season by a bit? If so I’d imagine that’s when we want Tacko to have days left with us. For now let Vincent show if there’s an NBA player under that fancy coat and sexypants.

[Gant]

Updated Celtics rookie power rankings:

1. ↑ Grant Williams. Grant Williams has been #1 for most of the season based on being the only regular rookie rotation player. Now though, he's made a leap and is actively and regularly contributing to wins with the center corps decimated. He started the year 0-27 from 3. In the two months since then, he's shooting exceptionally well from long range.

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2. ↑ Romeo Langford. Romeo rises. His first go as a starter was highlighted by stellar defense, particularly on Fournier. He made very few mistakes and shot well in his few attempts. He moves well, has good instincts, and plays defense far better than a player with his experience should. His slight frame will fill out over time. If Langford adds an outside shot, he'll be a player.

3. ↑ Tacko Fall. Tacko is mesmerizing. Last night he finally started for Maine instead of coming off the bench, which may be an indicator of improved conditioning. 18 points on 9-10, plus 16 rebounds in 23 minutes. He has a ways to go, but seems to be progressing in stamina and skill week by week.

He's got a standing reach far above Gobert and Boban. Tacko literally awes everyone who watches him including his fellow players.

4. ↓ Tremont Waters. Waters had a rough couple of moments in the third quarter of the first Atlanta game this week. Other than that, he continues to look like a real find. Players chosen in the 50's in the second round rarely have the promise of this guy. One might ask facetiously- Why can't other GMs find guys in the 50's like this that can play? : )

5. ↓ Javonte Green. Javonte only drops because his play has been off since he landed funny and hurt his knee a few games ago. Still, his D has been good, and he's got that all pro athleticism.

6. ↑ Vincent Poirier. Proclamations of Poirier being hopeless may have been made too quickly. He had a very good short minute stint against Orlando where Boston took control of the game for keeps, and Vincent was a big part of it.

To quote Steve Bulpett:

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7. ↓ Carsen Edwards. Edwards drops in these standing while getting better as a player. He has filled up the stat sheet in Maine his last several games. He has not done it for the big club yet though. At the same time his opportunities to play for the Celtics have been few.

Because of size issues, Carsen's D will never be great and he isn't a true point, so he has to be exceptional from 3 to be an NBA player. So far that hasn't happened.


Still he is improving. All seven rookies are improving.

[5InOfLouisville]

So, i still don't really want to see Tacko do much dribbling in the NBA, and still don't know if he is even destined for the NBA...but he's clearly learning and getting better.

Im still not as high on Tacko's future as others, but almost every time i see him, I keep thinking more and more that I was wrong about him not having at least a chance to make it. And he's such a likeable guy that he makes me want to be wrong about him more than any other player.

Am I crazy, or does he have pretty decent footwork in the paint? I'm going to stop short of saying "quick" in regard to anything about Tacko, but he seems to catch with a plan, execute his move, and go.

[djFan71]

So, i still don't really want to see Tacko do much dribbling in the NBA, and still don't know if he is even destined for the NBA...but he's clearly learning and getting better.

Im still not as high on Tacko's future as others, but almost every time i see him, I keep thinking more and more that I was wrong about him not having at least a chance to make it. And he's such a likeable guy that he makes me want to be wrong about him more than any other player.

Am I crazy, or does he have pretty decent footwork in the paint? I'm going to stop short of saying "quick" in regard to anything about Tacko, but he seems to catch with a plan, execute his move, and go.

I'm in the same boat with you. Good dude, fun story, not expecting a ton of quality NBA minutes. But, you start to talk yourself into it seeing him more. I think he should follow Kanter's approach, actually. He's never going to be fast enough on the perimeter, but obviously much more of a deterrent at the rim. If he can mimic Enes' positioning and activity for offensive boards, he'd be super useful. You can lob it up high to him, or just shoot and let him grab the board. He needs to get stronger still, but that seems doable. A 7'5" Kanter who was 50% of the offensive threat, got you the boards, and was a rim protector could be useful for 10-15 mpg.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[Gant]

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That's a great quote, and might be the reason Carsen Edwards has started slow.

[cloverleaf]

Tacko had 18 and 16 REB in 23 minutes. 9/10 FG. I wish he could get some or Porrier's minutes.

We're 50 games into the season and Poirier has played 99 minutes total. Who cares which fringe NBA player comes in at the end of blowouts?

Totally agree. But...

1) They have built a nice little portfolio with Theis and Wanamaker on the good things that can come with Euro players who join them, so I imagine they want to be respectful and careful with Poirier.

2) They sometimes change their minutes priorities after the trade deadline, when they are no longer concerned with how a lack of minutes can target a marginal asset they may want to package.