Training Camp Thread, 2019-20 -- Strus, Gates & Maten Waived

[FlatearthZorro]

Posted in the game thread:

Abby Chin posted the game notes:

Starting lineup is Kemba-Jaylen-Hayward-Tatum-Kanter.

Barefoot heights:

Kemba- 6’0
Jaylen- 6’6
Hayward- 6’7
Tatum- 6’8
Kanter- 6’10

Guys are generally taller than I expected. With an extra inch or two added for shoes, we have a pretty tall lineup. Looks like Tatum legitimately grew an inch or so since we drafted him. Jaylen looks to have as well.

Yea Jaylen is legit 6'7 in shoes. Hayward is 6'8. Tatum is 6'9. He does look bigger. And Kanter is 6'11 in shoes. That's decent for the current way the league goes. Wonder is we will be okay on the boards tho. We will see.

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[sam_I_am]

Of all the sort of fringe guys trying to make our roster, I like Bryce Brown the best, because he can really shoot.

I like Tacko, because tall.

I like Javonte Green the best because he was great in SL and is explosive. I hope it’s Tacko- really rooting for him....but honestly think Green is the best. I also hope Max Strus is a diamond in the rough.

Anybody ready to join me on the Javonte Green bandwagon after tonight? I honestly feel conflicted.....I want C’s to keep all of Tacko, Green, Strus and Waters.

[zoyathedestroya]

Banner 18 aside, #ThisIsWhyWePlay.

Read on Twitter

Totally related question: How much of this fun will be reduced if Tacko doesn't make the team?

[LarryBirdsFingr]

I like Tacko, because tall.

I like Javonte Green the best because he was great in SL and is explosive. I hope it’s Tacko- really rooting for him....but honestly think Green is the best. I also hope Max Strus is a diamond in the rough.

Anybody ready to join me on the Javonte Green bandwagon after tonight? I honestly feel conflicted.....I want C’s to keep all of Tacko, Green, Strus and Waters.

Been watching green for years, glad to see him get the opportunity to shine, couldn't be more happy for the kid

[SmartWentCrazy]

Want to see a Kemba-Brown-Tatum-Williams-Kanter lineup next game, especially against a bigger Orlando that can really attack the glass.

[100proof]

Want to see a Kemba-Brown-Tatum-Williams-Kanter lineup next game, especially against a bigger Orlando that can really attack the glass.

This is my preferred lineup based on players currently on the team.

Not completely sold on Kanter as a starter and want to see VP get some more minutes. Kanter is so bad defensively, or maybe continue working with RWill But it was pretty glaring in the game against Charlotte just how much a proper PF is missed out on the court.

[greenroom31]

Seems like as good a place as any to post this -- I went to the open practice for season ticket holders on Saturday and ended up sitting 3 rows back. Unlike last year this was just a regular practice with no big speeches, 3pt shooting contests or anything like that. Not much to note other than:

*Hayward and Tatum were absolutely lighting it up from 3 during a drill
*The overall team mood was very laid back and friendly
*Everyone loves Tacko (duh) -- the guy is like a puppy
*Kara Lawson was super involved in running drills
*Jaylen is acting a lot more like one of the vets/leaders now -- he did the "thanks for coming" speech at the end
*The team is young as hell -- Tremont Waters looks like a high schooler and is tiny, Carsen looks young, GW same deal...
*Hayward dunked a couple of times with more aggressiveness than we saw last year
*Robert Williams had a few hellacious dunks and definitely is the best jumper of the group

Overall seems like a happy but young group that is going to have a ceiling on how far they can go. No major revelations on any fronts.

[jfs1000d]

I gotta rewatch the game, didn't see much of Greene. But, I hope Tacko makes the 15-man roster.

Greene may have inside track if the box score is to be believed. I like Greene's size too.

And, Tacko is a really smart man. He was honors at UCF and went to school for engineering I believe. I know it is weird to see a 7-6 smart dude, but he really is all there in the brains department.

That makes him a lot of fun to be around.

John

[sam_I_am]

I gotta rewatch the game, didn't see much of Greene. But, I hope Tacko makes the 15-man roster.

Greene may have inside track if the box score is to be believed. I like Greene's size too.

And, Tacko is a really smart man. He was honors at UCF and went to school for engineering I believe. I know it is weird to see a 7-6 smart dude, but he really is all there in the brains department.

That makes him a lot of fun to be around.

John

Here are cliff notes for Greene. Pretty awesome game.....game of a lifetime.

https://www.nba.com/video/2019/10/06/0011900010-javonte-green-15-points-highlights-vs-charlotte-hornets

[Gant]

Without making a big deal of it... In this very early contest against Charlotte, the first unit offense was bogged down, with minimum flow and a lot of forced moves as opposed to team play. In contrast, the rookie unit played like they did in summer league, like a team.

If my arithmetic is correct, the starters went 18 for 38 from the field, while all the rookies went 15-30. The nonstarting vets went 7-19.

The D and rebounding from the starters was not good, and not not not good, respectively.

No conclusions can be drawn in the first exhibition, but the first unit coherence is something to watch as the preseason goes on.

[BigTrade92]

Our front court is going to get manhandled against bigger size teams.

Tacko is the secret weapon.

He’s not going anywhere and I’ll be shocked if he isn’t a key contributor in the second half of the season. They won’t have a choice but to play him.

[Curmudgeon]

I don't think Tacko is a secret weapon at all. He had a positive impact for a few minutes and then the Hornets adjusted. Tacko has a long, long way to go before becoming a competent NBA player.

They should waive or trade Ojeleye, sign Tremont Waters to a regular NBA deal, sign Javonte Green to a mimimum deal, and get Tacko on a 2-way. Then send him up to Portland and let him play 30-35 minutes a night (or until he fouls out). Tacko needs to play lots of basketball. Sitting on Boston's bench except for occasional 2-3 minute cameos won't help him very much.

[MagicBagley18]

I don't think Tacko is a secret weapon at all. He had a positive impact for a few minutes and then the Hornets adjusted. Tacko has a long, long way to go before becoming a competent NBA player.

They should waive or trade Ojeleye, sign Tremont Waters to a regular NBA deal, sign Javonte Green to a mimimum deal, and get Tacko on a 2-way. Then send him up to Portland and let him play 30-35 minutes a night (or until he fouls out). Tacko needs to play lots of basketball. Sitting on Boston's bench except for occasional 2-3 minute cameos won't help him very much.

I agree with you about tacko. He’s a gimmicky fan favorite -I get it but he’s got a long way to go even if we have issues at the position he’s not the answer.

[BigTrade92]

I don't think Tacko is a secret weapon at all. He had a positive impact for a few minutes and then the Hornets adjusted. Tacko has a long, long way to go before becoming a competent NBA player.

They should waive or trade Ojeleye, sign Tremont Waters to a regular NBA deal, sign Javonte Green to a mimimum deal, and get Tacko on a 2-way. Then send him up to Portland and let him play 30-35 minutes a night (or until he fouls out). Tacko needs to play lots of basketball. Sitting on Boston's bench except for occasional 2-3 minute cameos won't help him very much.

I agree with you about tacko. He’s a gimmicky fan favorite -I get it but he’s got a long way to go even if we have issues at the position he’s not the answer.

That’s nice. When he’s a rotation player at season’s end, I’ll be sure to remind all the Tacko doubters.

[Gant]

I thought Tacko had made visible strides in his mobility and positioning since summer league. That's good progress in very little time. He's working hard.

I wish his one hook shot went down. He worked with Kareem on it. At his size if it drops regularly, that's a weapon.

[MagicBagley18]

I don't think Tacko is a secret weapon at all. He had a positive impact for a few minutes and then the Hornets adjusted. Tacko has a long, long way to go before becoming a competent NBA player.

They should waive or trade Ojeleye, sign Tremont Waters to a regular NBA deal, sign Javonte Green to a mimimum deal, and get Tacko on a 2-way. Then send him up to Portland and let him play 30-35 minutes a night (or until he fouls out). Tacko needs to play lots of basketball. Sitting on Boston's bench except for occasional 2-3 minute cameos won't help him very much.

I agree with you about tacko. He’s a gimmicky fan favorite -I get it but he’s got a long way to go even if we have issues at the position he’s not the answer.

That’s nice. When he’s a rotation player at season’s end, I’ll be sure to remind all the Tacko doubters.

Absolutely and I’ll even buy us red claw tickets so we can go watch him play- on the house, if you provide beverages of course.

[cloverleaf]

Rob and Tacko need more game time, obviously. But I think they'll both contribute this season and should play every game from the start. Yes, it makes sense to push Kanter back with the otherwise very inexperienced bench, while Rob can probably adapt quickest and is most complementary with the starters. That starter mix, like last year, may be an issue. I think Rob and Smart in there on D could fairly quickly make up for Kemba's weakness there. But I don't think Edwards and Jaylen are ready to be a backcourt as a second unit. Maybe Smart and Kemba can start, but mostly be staggered? I also think the second string should be pretty defensive competent--if correctly schemed around Kanter, if/when he's with them. Smart, Semi, Grant, Tacko, Edwards and Green I think will be able to hold their own around Kanter.

[Fencer reregistered]

I gotta rewatch the game, didn't see much of Greene. But, I hope Tacko makes the 15-man roster.

Greene may have inside track if the box score is to be believed. I like Greene's size too.

And, Tacko is a really smart man. He was honors at UCF and went to school for engineering I believe. I know it is weird to see a 7-6 smart dude, but he really is all there in the brains department.

That makes him a lot of fun to be around.

John

Do the Celtics have the automatic right to keep Fall on a two-way? I'm guessing yes, but I'm not sure.

I raise that because Green is reported to be a guy who will be either on the 15-man roster or gone, for reasons related to the size of his guarantee.

[GoGreen]

Without making a big deal of it... In this very early contest against Charlotte, the first unit offense was bogged down, with minimum flow and a lot of forced moves as opposed to team play. In contrast, the rookie unit played like they did in summer league, like a team.

If my arithmetic is correct, the starters went 18 for 38 from the field, while all the rookies went 15-30. The nonstarting vets went 7-19.

The D and rebounding from the starters was not good, and not not not good, respectively.

No conclusions can be drawn in the first exhibition, but the first unit coherence is something to watch as the preseason goes on.

Very much agree with this. However, I'm probably more concerned considering the way the starters played looked a whole lot like it did last year. So, it's not something new, and I am concerned it's a problem that has lingered on :/

That's what really got to me. I hope, hope, hope this isn't some pattern that is going to remain.