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Ever because the Malcolm Brogdon commerce that despatched out Daniel Theis, the query of backup middle has been on followers minds. It turned much more vital within the wake of Robert Williams’ surgical procedure. Have the Celtics carried out sufficient to adequately deal with that concern? The CelticsBlog workers weighs in.
Trevor Hass
If Robert Williams is wholesome and searching like himself in a number of months, a core of Williams, Al Horford, Grant Williams and Luke Kornet – with minutes on the 5 for Noah Vonleh, Jayson Tatum, Blake Griffin and Mfiondu Kabengele sprinkled in – ought to theoretically be sufficient. Having stated that, if the Celtics get pummeled on the boards to start out the yr, making a transfer on the commerce deadline could also be obligatory. This appears like a wait-and-see state of affairs, however Kornet is actually the largest X-factor.
Robbie Hodin
Let’s stay awake on Kornet. He’s cellular and versatile defensively and may stretch the ground offensively; I may see him getting 12 minutes a recreation on the 5. I additionally suppose Kebengele and Griffin are each fascinating backups, every including their very own twist to the middle place.
We could need to make a commerce deadline transfer, however from the appears of it, I feel we’ll be fantastic with a wholesome Timelord.
Jack Simone
Sure and no. There was and isn’t any simple technique to substitute Robert Williams. He’s irreplaceable at this level. Nevertheless, they’ll discover inventive methods to repair it with a by-committee method. Luke Kornet, Blake Griffin, and Noah Vonleh (assumedly) are set to be the staff’s backup bigs, and none of them come near changing Williams. Nevertheless, with their collective skillsets, they need to be capable to maintain issues down. Add in the truth that Boston can go small with one massive, play Grant Williams on the 5, and nonetheless have Al Horford round, and they need to be fantastic whereas Williams is out.
Daniel Poarch
The jury’s nonetheless out for me. I feel Blake Griffin makes a variety of sense as a low-risk depth piece (and a top quality locker room presence), and Noah Vonleh and Mfiondu Kabengele have had their flashes in coaching camp and preseason play. The staff clearly thinks at the least one of many latter duo or Luke Kornet can take a step ahead as a contributor this season. That stated, we already know we’re not seeing a full season from Robert Williams III, and Al Horford is now 36 years previous. There’s a major quantity of threat baked into this frontcourt rotation, and I fear that something apart from good luck may result in some difficult stretches for this roster as at the moment constructed. I wouldn’t be stunned if we’re nonetheless speaking about frontcourt depth because the commerce deadline and buyout season get nearer.
Will Bjarnar
This query implies that the staff has addressed it in any respect. As presently constituted, the true bigs on the roster are: Noah Vonleh, who performed extra minutes for the Shanghai Sharks final yr (534) than he has within the NBA since 2019 (388); Blake Griffin, who desires to be PJ Tucker however would severely profit from taking part in a mode extra akin to David Lee or Thaddeus Younger; and Luke Kornet, who serviceable however hardly all-that threatening to opposing offenses. Griffin and Vonleh are engaging additions ought to every little thing development upward with them, however their latest returns don’t encourage confidence. The C’s improved deal this offseason with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon, however I worry that they dropped the ball when it got here to the place they most wanted to bolster.
Drew Doxy
The backup massive dialog was at all times overblown. With the Celtics seemingly going small in Williams’ absence, you actually solely want one backup massive since Grant Williams and Jayson Tatum can cut up time on the 4. Moreover, that backup massive just isn’t going to be an All-Star, and so they don’t even actually must be a tremendous participant. They simply need to be serviceable. Don’t let that gap on the roster distract you from the opposite gamers on the roster. It’s fantastic if the tenth man isn’t all that incredible (Noah Vonleh, Blake Griffin). There isn’t one roster in your entire NBA that doesn’t have some sort of query mark of their high 10 rotation gamers.
Mike Dynon
It appeared like the reply was sure, for now, however then the Celtics gave up 22 offensive rebounds to Toronto, so possibly not. Signing Blake Griffin helped considerably. He’s not what he was, however is a stable veteran who will contribute so long as he doesn’t shoot too many threes. It’s unclear whether or not or not Luke Kornet could be a dependable rotation participant; if he’s, then Rob Williams can take his time coming again. However although Kornet was accessible whereas the Raptors have been pounding the boards on Friday night time, he by no means obtained off the bench. Noah Vonleh has rebounded nicely and may need moved forward of Kornet on the depth chart. Both approach, when the commerce deadline (February 9) approaches, anticipate the Celtics to make a transfer to accumulate one other backup massive. Ideally, will probably be somebody with playoff expertise; then we gained’t fear concerning the frontline depth because the Celtics go deeper into the postseason.
Tim Sheils
To a level, I say sure. Including Griffin was transfer, and it appears that evidently he’s match so nicely proper off the bat with the locker room. I feel in the event that they signal Vonleh, I’d really feel so much higher shifting ahead with this group. Accidents are sure to occur, however having extra our bodies able to taking part in the 4/5 is so essential to this staff’s general success, particularly with no Gallinari for the foreseeable future and Robert Williams needing time to recuperate from offseason knee surgical procedure. Al Horford isn’t getting any youthful, and you need to think about his well being as nicely, because you need to have him as contemporary as doable heading into the postseason. Whereas I like Luke Kornet, I nonetheless marvel if there’s an alternative choice that they’ll go together with off waivers that may really solidify this rotation even additional, as a result of I’m simply not completely offered on leaning on Kornet for giant minutes (no pun supposed).
Jeff Clark
To place it bluntly, no, I don’t suppose they’ve addressed it sufficient. I’m very involved with the center-by-committee method and I fear concerning the residual impression it may have on the remainder of the roster. If Mazzulla decides to go small, does that put on down guys like Tatum, Brown, and White as a result of they every have to protect up a place? Does it put an excessive amount of strain on Grant Williams to play middle? After all, all this wringing of palms won’t imply a lot in the long term. The Celtics have greater than sufficient expertise to beat dangerous groups early within the yr and possibly issues will fall into place as soon as Robert Williams returns.
Neil Iyer
Quick reply: No. Lengthy reply: They will handle. I feel Kabengele can be a rotation participant by season’s finish. He’s athletic, switchable, has a pleasant taking pictures stroke, and there was a motive he was a primary spherical choose in 2019. He joined a contending Clippers staff that couldn’t give him minutes, then performed nicely in 2021 for a dreadful Cavs staff, however not nicely sufficient for an NBA roster spot. This can be a golden alternative for him to contribute on a successful staff. Vonleh is in fabulous form and I imagine he’ll supplant Griffin within the rotation. Opposing guards will exploit Kornet on the perimeter, however he’ll be fantastic in spot minutes taking part in drop protection. The staff wants 96 minutes massive man play every recreation (till Timelord returns). Let’s say Grant and Horford occupy 60 of them, then let’s assume they go small for 18 minutes with Tatum/Brown/Hauser taking part in the 4. Kabengele, Vonleh, Kornet, and Griffin should present competency for the remaining 18 minutes, which I feel they’ll collectively do.
Keith Smith
Form of? My worries are much less about changing Robert Williams’ manufacturing whereas he’s out, and extra about put on and tear on Al Horford. Horford is well Boston’s most suitable choice on the 5 whereas Williams recovers, however the Celtics can’t overwork him. Grant Williams is terrific as a 3rd massive, however somebody out of the Blake Griffin, Luke Kornet, Noah Vonleh trio has to offer Boston 15-25 minutes an evening whereas Williams is out. They’re all succesful, however will they really do it? I’m not offered. But it surely’s additionally value noting that there aren’t nice choices accessible proper now in free company. That makes it a “what you see, is what you’ve obtained” state of affairs till Timelord is again.
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