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The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye

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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#21 » by Slartibartfast » Sun Jul 21, 2019 1:57 pm

He's useful as a 3rd stringer. Decent spacing and solid D (and nothing else!) at the 3/4. He can provide a baseline of functionality in case of injury or foul trouble and serves as a veteran alternate for Langford and Grant when they get stuck in rookie dysfunction spirals.

The only downside is Brad relying too much on him and not allowing more talented guys developmental minutes. But Brad hasn't really overused him in the past so I'm not too worried.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#22 » by GoCeltics123 » Sun Jul 21, 2019 2:07 pm

What is with the Semi hate?

He's the only Giannis defender we have, or at least the only one who can kinda slow him down. He got a lot better last year too; he just didn't get to play last year since he was buried on the depth chart.

He's fine. He's probably going to play a lot more this season too, with Morris gone.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#23 » by Froob » Sun Jul 21, 2019 2:12 pm

Semi is a moron if he isn’t shooting 3’s all day every day this summer. He could make a lot of money in this league.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#24 » by Roddy » Sun Jul 21, 2019 2:23 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:What is with the Semi hate?

He's the only Giannis defender we have, or at least the only one who can kinda slow him down. He got a lot better last year too; he just didn't get to play last year since he was buried on the depth chart.

He's fine. He's probably going to play a lot more this season too, with Morris gone.


It's not hate at all.

Semi has build his reputation because he was able to slow down Giannis in a 7 games series in 2018, even though Giannis averaged 25.7pts/9.6rbs/6.3asts and 57%FG.....

He is a bodybuilder who shoots 31% from 3, 61% FT, has no ball handling, below average rebounder and has no vision.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#25 » by 24istheLAW » Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:00 pm

Semi has shot .318 from deep in the NBA. He can't dribble a basketball. He has a lower defensive rebounding rate in the NBA than our starting 2-guard Jaylen Brown. He is REALLY limited.

Yes, there will be matchups where you want to play him. But I'd be surprised if he's in the regular rotation.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#26 » by return2glory » Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:15 pm

Bohemian wrote:
Roddy wrote:Not a good rebounder, bad shooter, overrated defender...

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And overrated by many fans in general. He should be trade ballast, the new Yabusele


I would say he isn’t even rated by fans. Not too many people would consider him even a top 10 rotational guy at this point. That’s why I think this is a make or break it season for him. He needs to show some life. A great athlete, but it hasn’t translated to the NBA.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#27 » by SichtingLives » Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:50 pm

One of many casualties of the poorly planned tenure of Marcus Morris. Instead of getting development minutes last year he had his minutes slashed even further from a season where he didn't play much. Nobody actually knows what hes capable of in a rotation role because in two seasons he's never gotten a shot to show it. Pretty dumb usage of an asset so far because unlike fatbusele Semi has gotten on the floor and actually contributed to winning basketball more times than not. But as it goes, "we'll see"
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#28 » by Bad-Thoma » Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:53 pm

His floor is a solid deep bench guy at vet min cost, can't really complain there. His ceiling remains to be seen, I think he could be a solid small ball 3-4 reserve with a steadier opportunity, Jae Crowder-esque. I'm rooting for him, he works as hard as anybody.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#29 » by OldCeltics » Sun Jul 21, 2019 4:50 pm

24istheLAW wrote:Semi has shot .318 from deep in the NBA. He can't dribble a basketball. He has a lower defensive rebounding rate in the NBA than our starting 2-guard Jaylen Brown. He is REALLY limited.

Yes, there will be matchups where you want to play him. But I'd be surprised if he's in the regular rotation.
exactly, who cares about some 3rd stringer that will get traded or waived

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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#30 » by yeahM8 » Sun Jul 21, 2019 4:57 pm

love me a semi
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#31 » by ParticleMan » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:30 pm

if semi is playing significant minutes this season we have fallen well short of expectations.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#32 » by chakdaddy » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:40 pm

He's semi-forgotten...

Useful as a specialist defender, not much else.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#33 » by TheTruth316 » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:52 pm

I had high hopes for semi. His athletic frame, defense in glimpses. He appears to have good form. I think in another situation he may have done more.

What's up with Beal? Coming to Boston?
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#34 » by CeltsfanSinceBirth » Sun Jul 21, 2019 6:31 pm

Lol. You guys talk about Semi like he was drafted in the 1st round. Wtf were you really expecting from a guy drafted 37th? When you're drafted that late, all you need is 1 elite NBA skill, which Semi has shown us on the defensive end. He is also one of the hardest workers on the team.

Original plan for Ojeleye was to bring him in as a cheap 3D wing after having traded one of Brown/Tatum for AD. As also mentioned, he was a casualty in the rotation last season due to a logjam caused by Morris/Hayward/Tatum/Brown. He's gotten less minutes than Jae Crowder did at the same point in their careers.

For an 11th or 12th man, you can do a lot worse than Semi. If Ainge swings a trade midseason, I've got no worries about Semi stepping up for a larger role.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#35 » by Roddy » Sun Jul 21, 2019 6:52 pm

CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:When you're drafted that late, all you need is 1 elite NBA skill, which Semi has shown us on the defensive end.


He is not an elite defender at all. Probably above average at best.

He is also one of the hardest workers on the team.


And yet hasn't improved that much...

Original plan for Ojeleye was to bring him in as a cheap 3D wing


With a 31% 3Pts%, he can't be considered has a 3 and D guy.

I've got no worries about Semi stepping up for a larger role.


That would not be a good sign for our season if Semi has a bigger role...
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#36 » by CeltsfanSinceBirth » Sun Jul 21, 2019 6:58 pm

Roddy wrote:
CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:When you're drafted that late, all you need is 1 elite NBA skill, which Semi has shown us on the defensive end.


He is not an elite defender at all. Probably above average at best.

He is also one of the hardest workers on the team.


And yet hasn't improved that much...

Original plan for Ojeleye was to bring him in as a cheap 3D wing


With a 31% 3Pts%, he can't be considered has a 3 and D guy.

I've got no worries about Semi stepping up for a larger role.


That would not be a good sign for our season if Semi has a bigger role...


Again, you are complaining about a guy that played in 56 games and only got 10mpg. He was 5th in the rotation amongst wings. What were you really expecting from him? Was he supposed to usurp one of Hayward/Tatum/Brown/Morris last season?

If Ojeleye was as worthless as some of you make him out to be, don't you think Ainge would have cut him already when he was trying to carve out cap space? His contract was non-guaranteed if he was waived before July 1st.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#37 » by darrendaye » Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:07 pm

I'm one of the few voices in the wind on the board on the topic. At his likely max, he's a Jae Crowder impact level guy. His work with Hanlen didn't result in improved numbers from 3pt territory. Until he shows results there, he doesn't have a standout skill that will pop in counting stats. But if you watched him last year, he showed very good progress on offense in terms of activity off the ball and awareness to find open gaps or opening passing lanes. He also showed more confidence in handling the ball and more attempts at driving to the rim. He improved to have a positive assist to turnover ratio despite playing fewer minutes and in a season marred by selfish play and team dysfunction.

He doesn't make enough plays on the ball defensively. I would qualify his lateral quickness as elite level for his size. His reaction times aren't on the Marcus Smart level, but he's got a great stance typically and he stays well connected through contact. Not sure what those weighing in negatively about his defense are using as their scale, but he, to me, does a good job of denying guys getting where they want to go with the ball. But from there, his length isn't a significant hindrance if being used as a 3/4 guy and he can be shot over and isn't gifted at taking the ball away, which allows Marcus Smart to at least be a pest with ANY matchup he faces. So I'd say he's a good defender and my guess is the criticism comes from a place of arguing against the idea he is a great defender. He's going to look great playing with guys who are big threats to make plays on the ball like Smart, Rob Williams, Waters, (others?)....but gets scored over enough where he doesn't justify a stopper type reputation.

My bottom line? He went from timid and unsure for much of his rookie year to a more confident player in year two with mostly unnoticed improvements and still lacking in a skill that is likely to be his only chance for a standout offensive attribute. Personally I think he's got a rotation spot secured to start out and they will allow him to get enough of a sample size to make the call going forward.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#38 » by Roddy » Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:17 pm

CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:
Roddy wrote:
CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:When you're drafted that late, all you need is 1 elite NBA skill, which Semi has shown us on the defensive end.


He is not an elite defender at all. Probably above average at best.

He is also one of the hardest workers on the team.


And yet hasn't improved that much...

Original plan for Ojeleye was to bring him in as a cheap 3D wing


With a 31% 3Pts%, he can't be considered has a 3 and D guy.

I've got no worries about Semi stepping up for a larger role.


That would not be a good sign for our season if Semi has a bigger role...


Again, you are complaining about a guy that played in 56 games and only got 10mpg. He was 5th in the rotation amongst wings. What were you really expecting from him? Was he supposed to usurp one of Hayward/Tatum/Brown/Morris last season?

If Ojeleye was as worthless as some of you make him out to be, don't you think Ainge would have cut him already when he was trying to carve out cap space? His contract was non-guaranteed if he was waived before July 1st.


Nobody is complaining. But saying that this guy could have a bigger role and be a 3D player is giving him too much credit.

And who knows what Ainge think, maybe Semi contract will be use in a trade soon.

Once again, if he was an elite defender, Stevens would have give him more than 10mpg.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#39 » by Ernest » Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:22 pm

klemen4 wrote:He was phenomenal defender in 2018 playoffs against Giannis. Brad made mistake not playing him against Bucks in this years playoffs.

He deserves minutes at SF, defend and hit open 3pt...that should be enough.


But Brad sees the players every day and has shown himself to be a pretty good coach. I thought Semi would play more in that series too (Also Baynes but that's a different topic) but if someone's not playing there is a reason.
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Re: The forgotten man-Semi Ojeleye 

Post#40 » by BigRedDog » Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:25 pm

Ernest wrote:
klemen4 wrote:He was phenomenal defender in 2018 playoffs against Giannis. Brad made mistake not playing him against Bucks in this years playoffs.

He deserves minutes at SF, defend and hit open 3pt...that should be enough.


But Brad sees the players every day and has shown himself to be a pretty good coach. I thought Semi would play more in that series too (Also Baynes but that's a different topic) but if someone's not playing there is a reason.



i think baynes shredded his ankle worse than most people realized. that was a big injury, i wagered heavily on MIL to win that series after game 1 and a lot had to do with that

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