Celtics (27-26) at Nuggets (34-18) Game #54 4/11/21

[Celtics4ever]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

[tstorey_97]

I was praying they would go on a run, but, they looked so hopeless.

We wanted to trade Smart.

We didn't care that Thompson was gone for weeks.

Robert was great but he "fouled out" on Embiid 3 and a half minutes into the first quarter.

Grant was in the dog house for a month.

Smart missed half the season.

I had called the lawyer's office and told him to prepare paperwork for Kemba walker's outright release, just waive the guy who cares about the $65M...get him outta here.

Smart was averaging 8% from three in the 4th quarter.

Pritchard's minutes are down from a month ago and I think that is stupid.At 40.8% Pritchard has the best 3PT percentage on the team. He is 3rd in free throws and does not turn the ball over. No problem with giving Teague minutes over Pritchard, but, Teague plays for another team now.

The J's were great but not great enough.

I guess they've started to play now.

Thompson looks great. He is not amazing, but, he is solid.
Fournier, in his last two games went 11 for 16 from three.

"Smart" Marcus Smart has shown up for the last 5 games 13 for 30 from three. Bad game with Philly, but he's been running the team sort of.

Grant is unable to score, but has been making opposing bigs relatively miserable. His defense is consistent and he is on the floor at the end of games almost every game and I guess we need a "defensive guy who doesn't score much" and that would be Grant.

Bench
Fournier
Thompson
Langford
Pritchard
Grant
Semi

Thompson and Fournier as 6th and 7th men is huge...it is beyond huge. That is the playoff rotation and it is thanks to a trade and to Robert training with Godzilla in the off season and wrenching the starting spot from assorted bigs.

A note on the Nuggets game. Thompson and Robert handled those Nugs...made'em look like a bunch a rocks.

When was the last time the Celtic's frontcourt was a thing? KG and Perk?

On to the next!

[nickagneta]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

[colincb]

More encouraging news for those who haven't jumped off the wagon yet.

Sean Grande@SeanGrandePBP

The Celtics have won three straight, trailing in the 4th quarter in all three.

They arrived in Oklahoma City March 25th ranked 28th in the NBA in the 4th quarter (-6.5 net rating).

They're easily the NBA's best 4th quarter team since, winning it in all 9 games they've played.

[Goldstar88]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Grant Williams is one of the worst defensive PF’s in the league. He can’t stay in front of anyone, it’s laughable. If it wasn’t for his 3pt shooting he wouldn’t play at all.

[liam]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Agreed. He got off to a terrible start to the season. I think a lot of young players really need preseason games and training camp. Grant has come on as of late. Role players are there to fill their role not be stars.

[RockinRyA]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Grant Williams is one of the worst defensive PF’s in the league. He can’t stay in front of anyone, it’s laughable. If it wasn’t for his 3pt shooting he wouldn’t play at all.

And where are your stats to back that up?

[gouki88]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Grant Williams is one of the worst defensive PF’s in the league. He can’t stay in front of anyone, it’s laughable. If it wasn’t for his 3pt shooting he wouldn’t play at all.

And where are your stats to back that up?

You won't get a response because it's a complete and utter lie

[liam]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Grant Williams is one of the worst defensive PF’s in the league. He can’t stay in front of anyone, it’s laughable. If it wasn’t for his 3pt shooting he wouldn’t play at all.

And where are your stats to back that up?

You won't get a response because it's a complete and utter lie

I think Carmelo is considered a PF. Blake Griffen is still in the NBA. Obi Toppin is a bad defender. Gallo is a PF. Saric is not good. Markkanen is not a good defender. That's six at least.

Oh, Marvin Bagley III, Aldridge, Love, Bertans, Poku

[gouki88]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Grant Williams is one of the worst defensive PF’s in the league. He can’t stay in front of anyone, it’s laughable. If it wasn’t for his 3pt shooting he wouldn’t play at all.

And where are your stats to back that up?

You won't get a response because it's a complete and utter lie

I think Carmelo is considered a PF. Blake Griffen is still in the NBA. Obi Toppin is a bad defender. Gallo is a PF. Saric is not good. Markkanen is not a good defender. That's six at least.

Melo, Blake, Toppin, Pokusevski, Bagley, Michael Porter Jr., KLove and Dean Wade all off the top of my head are shocking defenders at PF

[liam]

Jokic was visibly frustrated at some non-calls and a travel call when being defended by Grant Williams during the Celtics’ stirring fourth-quarter run. In the final sequence, Jokic thought he was fouled on a short jumper by Williams and tried fouling Williams on his way down the floor and then stopped to argue with officials as Williams scored a layup.

Grant had a few good defensive possessions, quite a few bad ones, too but once again almost nothing in terms of production but had one great hustle play each game.   Imagine a PF who could do the defense and produce more than 2 reb, 3-4 points in 20min and how much that could help us.  We would not have been  in the OT game, period.

Two games where we won despite him, not because him though he did have a few good plays here and there.  But you're literally cherry picking his two best possessions of the game.  Jokic is a good match up for him because he is slow and earthbound too. 

 Upgrading PF is a top priority in the off season we can't have a guy playing 20 min and giving us 2 pts and 2 rebs thank god the others carried him offensively.

Grant's defense was stellar last night and has been very good to great over the last few weeks. This team doesn't ask him or need him or want him to be a scorer. His role is to be a very good or better, versatile defender than can hit corner threes at a high percent. He fills that job very well. He's a #9-#10 guy on the depth chart. Your obsession with a such a minor role player is strange.

Grant Williams is one of the worst defensive PF’s in the league. He can’t stay in front of anyone, it’s laughable. If it wasn’t for his 3pt shooting he wouldn’t play at all.

And where are your stats to back that up?

You won't get a response because it's a complete and utter lie

I think Carmelo is considered a PF. Blake Griffen is still in the NBA. Obi Toppin is a bad defender. Gallo is a PF. Saric is not good. Markkanen is not a good defender. That's six at least.

Melo, Blake, Toppin, Pokusevski, Bagley, Michael Porter Jr., KLove and Dean Wade all off the top of my head are shocking defenders at PF

Yeah, I added a couple of those but I'm sure there's even more.

[liam]

The Celtics hit the Nuggets so hard they are still feeling it tonight!

[LilRip]

That's insane how the Celtics outscored them 31-8 in the 4th quarter. Did Denver just threw in the towel?

Winning at Denver is always fun though.

Denver mentally imploded and I’m glad the C’s took advantage instead of trying to brick more 3’s.

Attack on Tatum is a sight to behold

[colincb]

Grant Williams is ranked 75th, 73rd, and 80th out of 87 PFs in defensive, offensive, and overall Real +/-, respectively. He has improved recently, but he was an unmitigated disaster earlier in the year after a decent rookie campaign.

In fairness to him and everyone else with less than 2 years of experience on the squad, the extremely short off-season and lack of practice time have adversely affected everyone's progress. Combined with the relatively young roster, injuries and Covid (which together may well have hit the Cs harder than anyone else), and roster construction issues at PF and the bench, it's not surprising that the Cs have struggled to jell.