Celts17Pride wrote:165bows wrote:Celts17Pride wrote:Don't get me wrong, I just posted what I think is going to happen. I believe the Celtics need to add a significant bench piece if they are going to win the championship. The Celtics 3 main bench players are Pritchard, Hauser and Horford. Teams have now began to focus on Pritchard. Pritchard is fining it much harder to get open since teams are focusing on him. Hauser plain and simple has had a down year and Big Al is finally showing some signs of aging. Jrue Holiday and Porzingis so far have had down years in my opinion.
I really believe Brad Stevens needs to add a boost to the bench before the trade deadline. If not then Brad Stevens has to hope that all the players having down years can regain their peak form or the Celtics will be leaving the playoffs early.
I'm always happy with a new shiny bench guy but other than maybe Horford being older, I'd say their bench is better than last year. PP obviously has taken a leap, and Hauser, despite a rough start to the year, wasn't nearly as proven a playoff guy as he is now. Plus he's started to come around quite a bit, at least in terms of shooting. Main thing is to get their healthy so they actually have their bench guys on the bench, not in the starting lineup.
So give me a new better bench guy but it's just really thin out there. Personally I doubt Garrison Matthews does anything better than Hauser or PP. Maybe the SA Champagnie is a better defender than what they have but he's prob not being dealt. Just land Theis (whos' shot well in a limited sample lately) to fill in whatever they wanted Tillman for, who's been a no show this year.
Teams have figured Pritchard out. Pritchard is having a much harder time finding space. Hauser averages 0.93 non three point shots per game and has taken a grand total of 2 free throws the whole year. Hauser is the very definition of a one trick pony and that's fine because he does it well but it makes it very easy to guard. In my opinion OKC exposed the Celtics bench. Big Al, who I love as a player is showing signs of decline. Players consistently attack and take Big Al off the the dribble now.
PP, Hauser and Big Al all they do now is shoot three pointers. Hauser 86% of his shots, Pritchard 76% of his shots and Bi Al 73% of his shots are three pointers. That's 77% of those three shots are three pointers. I think good teams are figuring this out and I believe that OKC exposed the Celtics bench limitations. I think the Celtics need something more and different.
Just my opinion.
I'm tore on this. In one aspect I agree that Pritchard, Hauser and Horford are pretty predictable. However, you most always see them on the floor with Tatum, Brown, White or Holiday, which while being at the three-point line, which is the game plan, opens the middle for drive and kicks while still being able to be a defensive presence on the other end of the floor. I think our top 8 are the top of the league. I DO NOT want to see Walsh, Queta or Baylor moved in any deal. I think all have a chance for a big impact future for the Celtics next season. Kornet is becoming one of the better big men off the bench for his dollar range, which we need to keep.
With that said, I feel Springer and Tillman should be moved for more project players in separate moves of course if possible. Neither are really giving anything to the team at this point and I'm sure there are different players that could bring something to the court in their place in the same of less dollar range. Being the 13th and 14 men on the roster, surely, we can do better. I don't feel the Tillman is a big, just a wall that other players can't push through very easy but is non-existent on the offensive end of the floor. Springer needs to be replaced with an explosive wing to fill to fill 10 minutes a game and garbage time. I'm sure Brad can use Springer's 4 mil contract to get a project under 3 mil to do this. Even our G-league options would bring something different in those slots, but no need to move them up at this time.
