Since hitting his first three (after missing 25 in a row!) Grant has been lighting it up from three. Shooting 44% from deep on 1.5 attempts per game in 15MPG. He's also shooting a dead even 50% from the field. His free throw shooting has been off, but that was really two games (where he shot 0-2 then 2-5 from the line) that did the damage to his FT%. As he was such an elite free throw shooter in college I fully expect a bounce back to 75-80%.
Overall, he looks like quite the good pickup. Sets a mean screen, solid rebounder, good passer, good low-post scorer, can make plays on defence and can hit shots. Look forward to what he can do with us. And despite having such a long college career he only turned 21 on November 30th!
I share your optimism about him, and almost your entire scouting report.
But.
Grant has not been a solid rebounder. The recent uptick in offensive boards is certainly welcome, but production on the defensive board, which this team so badly needs, has stayed stubbornly low. He’s currently at a paltry 11.4%, just behind Tremont Waters.
Dang, I didn’t realise how poor his defensive rebounding had been. I expect it to improve, but you’re totally right. His per 36 rebounding since he hit his last 3 is quite weak.
I have faith!
I do, too. Also have faith that he’ll get the turnovers under control.
I think Grant Williams is a Celtic. I love the ferocious, physical defense - already plays it like a veteran. He’s a born leader, mature at 21. More than just a good passer, he moves the ball where it needs to go. He’s all about the team. He’s a connector, keeps it light in the locker room.
I predict a big step up in year two.
People are underestimating the Boston Celtics’ 2019 draft.
Yeah, 100% agree. He’s one of those guys that I just want to be around forever. He seems to be strong of body and mind.
If one of Romeo or Carsen can prove to be a serviceable guy I think 2019 will be quite a hit. I think Tremont will be a really solid guy too, might only be a career backup but I like what he does.
Romeo is a bust... I will not be posting on Celticsblog anymore if he is still with the team after his rookie contract.
He will take the Terry Rozier route.. That if ever he does make a good account of himself, it will be with another team... So Danny better trade him for Bertans or something.
I see a better future for Tacko tbh.
The only rookie that will stay with these draftees will be Grant but that's because he is a role player.
I’m surprised that you are already calling Romeo a bust. I’d say he’s got star upside. He’s got an excellent first step and burst off the floor, good touch on the jump shot and feel for the game. Good length, has real promise as a defender. Needs a year working on his body, but the elements are in place.
Terry Rozier is not a bust, and I would remind you that Rozier was part of getting Kemba Walker. You’re right to suggest that if Romeo’s game comes together it might not be with the Celtics - not a problem, is it?
Just how young Langford is going to break into the rotation is not at all clear. But a lot can happen over the course of a rookie contract (Hayward is up this off-season, for instance), so in my opinion Boston could do a lot worse than hanging onto him and developing his game.
Few things:
1. Don't be surprised by bopna's "Langford is a bust" hot take. He has been riding that since preseason, I think.
Well,
someone has to do it.
Personally, I don't mind people posting contrary opinions, even provocative ones.
2. I don't think Ainge had to trade Rozier to obtain Kemba. I think the story was Ainge was trying to work a three way sign and trade but the 3rd team(Nets?Sixers?) backed out and Ainge went through with the double sign and trade anyway even though he could have just signed Kemba. Ainge did Rozier and the Hornets a very large favor.
He also cleared out Rozier's potential salary by avoiding paying for it. And if the rumors about Terry complaining about minutes are true, Danny made the locker room a happier place. And, let's face it, Terry getting shots for himself was a strength, but he wasn't doing it very efficiently last year.
3. I think Romeo could get regular rotational minutes as soon as next year if Hayward or Smart are no longer on the team. If Hayward and Smart are on the team, Romeo could still hoover up all of Wanamaker's and Green's minutes, as both may have moved on to other teams next year. That's kinda like inconsistent rotational minutes, which is still a lot of minutes. Romeo should have ample opportunity to grow, develop and play next year and beyond. Ainge has already said he sees Romeo as a future 20 PPG scorer.
No player is untouchable, but losing Marcus Smart would be grievous. I suspect that it would also be unwise trading him. This isn't a Marcus Smart thread (though why not, since we seem to be going everywhere else), but it's worth taking note of at least one big deal improvement in his game this season: a career-low 10.1% turnover rate.
I have no prediction about Gordon Hayward's future with Boston. As players always are reminding one another, "It's a business." Having said that, if the money can be made to work, Boston is better with him. Actually I think that
any team would be; his special talent is providing whatever the team needs when he's on the floor, so he's complementary to anybody - the idea that we've heard floated around is that he's redundant, which is hard to argue; I'm not persuaded at all. In fact, his greatest strength is not his impressive skills, or even the completeness of his game, it's that he adapts to what the team needs.
He's effective off or on the ball, just seems to be in the right place all the time - has a nose for the ball - shoots super-efficiently, can spot up or create a good shot off the dribble, great handles so he's not just a good passer - he moves the ball with the dribble to create a pass. Totally unselfish - to a fault, if you have that rigid system where you have an Alpha, a second banana, and a third guy who's got to sacrifice more and give up touches (Garnett was an exception, an Alpha who gave up touches). Is Hayward a #1? a #3 or even #4? In a way, all of the above.
Good regular-season teams sometimes underperform or founder when the playoffs come. To win in the playoffs, you've got to deal with cranked-up defenses - especially in today's game, guys who can get you a good shot are essential if you're going to advance.
The flurry of "trade Hayward for a Center" posts seems to have died down for the moment, but the nature of his game is that it's a lot of things, and scoring might not be what he's doing a lot of on any one night.
I don't know about Romeo "hoovering up"
all of Wanamaker's and Green's minutes - at least not Wanamaker's, since their roles are a little different. But if Langford really does get rotation minutes next season, those two would be affected.
Romeo has had to deal with lots of circumstances in his rookie season, but that may be all to the good. One of Brad Stevens' unrecognized strengths as a coach is getting court time for the whole roster. Langford looks like he belongs on an NBA court to me.
Topic: Grant Williams(merged threads) (Read 37209 times)