Author Topic: Full Ainge press conference - media day  (Read 11572 times)

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Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #30 on: December 02, 2020, 03:04:31 PM »

Offline Jvalin

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Because those guys had full college seasons, summer league, training camp, and a full pre season to get ready for Game 1. 

The Heat were starting Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson last season. Nunn was an undrafted rookie, yet he was their starter on opening night. Robinson came off the bench that night. He was also undrafted, but he had played 15 games for the Heat during the previous season.

Nesmith is a lotto pick. Why on earth can't he start on opening night?

Btw, I believe Duncan Robinson is a pretty good comp for Nesmith. Robinson is a better passer. Nesmith is a better defender. Both of them are elite shooters and off-ball specialists.
Again, they were undrafted, yet they quickly became full-time starters. Nesmith is a lotto pick. He's also an elite shooter which means he can contribute from the get-go. Don't see why he ain't ready to start. It's not like we have a clearly better alternative. Grant and Semi are just role players.

With Hayward gone and Kemba facing a chronic injury, I believe we should start building the team around the Js. Nesmith can provide spacing for them, plus they all share the same time window. Would love us to give him extended playing time.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2020, 03:31:35 PM by Jvalin »

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #31 on: December 02, 2020, 03:36:58 PM »

Offline ozgod

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Nesmith, Williams, and Semi will all be given the chance to start. I could also see a scenario where Brad moves back to a two-big lineup with Theis and Thompson.

This is where getting Thompson over Millsap hurts.  With Millsap, we could have plugged him in as a floor spacing PF.  Thompson/Theis just isn’t a great combo.

My guess is GW starts.

The other option is:

Theis
Tatum
Brown
Smart
Teague

That leaves our bench pretty thing for a bit.

I think this is the most likely scenario. All 5 are proven performers in the NBA. Throwing rookies, even lower lottery ones, into the starting lineup on opening day is usually something that rebuilding teams do. Especially with no summer league.  I'm as high on Nesmith as anyone, but let him earn his spot in the rotation first. Then we can talk about starting lineup.

I think starting lineups are slightly overrated in today's NBA anyway. It's going to be about minutes and Nesmith and the others will get some. The rookies will get chances to play, and chances to earn starting spots.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2020, 03:42:41 PM by ozgod »
Any odd typos are because I suck at typing on an iPhone :D

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #32 on: December 02, 2020, 04:02:31 PM »

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #33 on: December 02, 2020, 06:38:37 PM »

Offline RodyTur10

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.


Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #34 on: December 02, 2020, 06:54:15 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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Nesmith, Williams, and Semi will all be given the chance to start. I could also see a scenario where Brad moves back to a two-big lineup with Theis and Thompson.
what scenario would that be? having two bigs who cannot shoot 3 pointers reliably would seem to go against the essense of CBS' space and pace game plan, the one they have worked on and played within for years.

it would hurt the celtics outside shooters since there would be two bigs who cannot stretch the floor.

we might see this combo on occasion, i suppose, but i dont expect it to happen very often.
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Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #35 on: December 02, 2020, 06:56:35 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
i think you misspelled the word "inadequate."  ;D

i root for edwards a lot. but given his play last year, he would have to have one heck of a pre-season to earn a starting position.
I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy — not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred.
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Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #36 on: December 02, 2020, 07:49:29 PM »

Offline RodyTur10

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
i think you misspelled the word "inadequate."  ;D

i root for edwards a lot. but given his play last year, he would have to have one heck of a pre-season to earn a starting position.

No, I've little confidence that Edwards will perform well, but it would be interesting to watch if the team can work it out.

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #37 on: December 02, 2020, 08:16:32 PM »

Online RJ87

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
i think you misspelled the word "inadequate."  ;D

i root for edwards a lot. but given his play last year, he would have to have one heck of a pre-season to earn a starting position.

He'd definitely be an interesting starter in China.
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C: Kristaps Porzingis/Bobby Portis/James Wiseman

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #38 on: December 02, 2020, 08:57:55 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.

It is an interesting approach and it is the kind of out-the-box approach to coaching that I want to see. It addresses the slippery slope effect of injury to starters where not only is the starting unit depleted the bench suffers too when you elevate a bench player to starter. By playing the end of the bench guy in a starting role you protect the integrity of the  bench.

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #39 on: December 02, 2020, 09:35:15 PM »

Offline NKY fan

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
Since a contender like the Celtics are just giving away starting jobs like that and Nesmith looks like the starter at the 3 why not start Timelord at the 5... let other teams figure out how to deal with our starters and adjust to us.

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #40 on: December 03, 2020, 12:51:38 PM »

Offline Hoopvortex

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
i think you misspelled the word "inadequate."  ;D

i root for edwards a lot. but given his play last year, he would have to have one heck of a pre-season to earn a starting position.

He'd definitely be an interesting starter in China.

A TP for that wit. Well played, sir.

But I think that you’re underestimating him. Boston gave him a contract with a low risk to the team - and a recognition that it might take a while.

I think that a couple of things are clear going forward: he can get an open shot for himself; and he’s a competitor.

That first is more important than it might appear to the casual fan, who likely replies, “So what, he’s got to make them!” - which is a good point, as far as it goes. Does that mean his upside is Terry Rozier with less length? Maybe.

Terry’s role expanded in Charlotte, with a modest uptick in assist% - and also in turnover %. Those numbers look about like Marcus Smart’s. Mostly the shots he creates are for himself. He shot over .400 from 3, which is golden, especially for a guy who can get a shot off the dribble and isn’t afraid of the moment. As we saw when he was in Boston, he got into the paint off the dribble, too, though his finishing was uninspiring.

Carsen did one thing last year that Terry has never come close to and that is in fact rare in the NBA - he was effective on the dreaded long 2’s - .529 on a small but not useless sample size (17 shots). He’s got a couple of different ways of getting those shots off the dribble with a shot fake at the arc and one or two dribbles going either right or left into that big open area that NBA defenses are mostly conceding nowadays. A guy who can reliably get you more than a point on a possession is an asset on offense.

Will Edwards eventually shoot at least an average % from 3? I’d bet on it. The form is excellent, the drive to improve is there, and he’s already got sidestep moves to either side to get a good look at the rim. The safety valve move to the wide-open long 2 is golden if last year’s % is real. That alternative means he’s not stuck with having to take a challenged 3 on a short clock.

The rosiest scenario is something like: Isaiah Thomas with better defense. But he’s got two high bars to get over first: he’s got to get to the rim and finish; and he’s got to get shots for his teammates. The first of those looks more likely, but he’s got a long way to go with the second. For my money, those are the two things to watch.

He’s an NBA player. I wouldn’t predict that he’ll retire in Boston, but I would predict that he’ll have a long career.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2020, 12:59:59 PM by Hoopvortex »
'I was proud of Marcus Smart. He did a great job of keeping us together. He might not get credit for this game, but the pace that he played at, and his playcalling, some of the plays that he called were great. We obviously have to rely on him, so I’m definitely looking forward to Marcus leading this team in that role.' - Jaylen Brown, January 2021

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #41 on: December 03, 2020, 01:12:24 PM »

Online RJ87

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
i think you misspelled the word "inadequate."  ;D

i root for edwards a lot. but given his play last year, he would have to have one heck of a pre-season to earn a starting position.

He'd definitely be an interesting starter in China.

A TP for that wit. Well played, sir.

But I think that you’re underestimating him. Boston gave him a contract with a low risk to the team - and a recognition that it might take a while.

I think that a couple of things are clear going forward: he can get an open shot for himself; and he’s a competitor.

That first is more important than it might appear to the casual fan, who likely replies, “So what, he’s got to make them!” - which is a good point, as far as it goes. Does that mean his upside is Terry Rozier with less length? Maybe.

Terry’s role expanded in Charlotte, with a modest uptick in assist% - and also in turnover %. Those numbers look about like Marcus Smart’s. Mostly the shots he creates are for himself. He shot over .400 from 3, which is golden, especially for a guy who can get a shot off the dribble and isn’t afraid of the moment. As we saw when he was in Boston, he got into the paint off the dribble, too, though his finishing was uninspiring.

Carsen did one thing last year that Terry has never come close to and that is in fact rare in the NBA - he was effective on the dreaded long 2’s - .529 on a small but not useless sample size (17 shots). He’s got a couple of different ways of getting those shots off the dribble with a shot fake at the arc and one or two dribbles going either right or left into that big open area that NBA defenses are mostly conceding nowadays. A guy who can reliably get you more than a point on a possession is an asset on offense.

Will Edwards eventually shoot at least an average % from 3? I’d bet on it. The form is excellent, the drive to improve is there, and he’s already got sidestep moves to either side to get a good look at the rim. The safety valve move to the wide-open long 2 is golden if last year’s % is real.

The rosiest scenario is something like: Isaiah Thomas with better defense. But he’s got two high bars to get over first: he’s got to get to the rim and finish; and he’s got to get shots for his teammates. The first of those looks more likely, but he’s got a long way to go with the second. For my money, those are the two things to watch.

He’s an NBA player. I wouldn’t predict that he’ll retire in Boston, but I would predict that he’ll have a long career.

I wish I could buy into and get attached to these young players the way some other posters do. I still remember when people thought Jordan Mickey was a rotation player or when JuJuan Johnson supposedly had KG potential. Or JR Giddens or Bill Walker or any number of young guys who just aren't NBA caliber.

Who knows? Maybe Carsen will find a role, but it doesn't bode well that a guy billed as a shooter has yet to show that he can shoot at the NBA level. It's like James Young all over again. Just because you mentioned him in comparison to Isaiah (an insult to IT), I thought it'd be interesting to compare their rookie years, just in case there was some glimmer of hope I was missing. Spoiler alert, Carsen was as bad as I thought:

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=thomais02&p1yrfrom=2012&player_id2=edwarca01&p2yrfrom=2020#stats-per_game::none
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PG: Kyrie Irving/Patty Mills/Jalen Brunson
SG: OG Anunoby/Norman Powell/Matisse Thybulle
SF: Gordon Hayward/Demar Derozan
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo/Robert Covington
C: Kristaps Porzingis/Bobby Portis/James Wiseman

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #42 on: December 03, 2020, 01:35:43 PM »

Offline Vermont Green

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what scenario would that be? having two bigs who cannot shoot 3 pointers reliably would seem to go against the essense of CBS' space and pace game plan, the one they have worked on and played within for years.

it would hurt the celtics outside shooters since there would be two bigs who cannot stretch the floor.

we might see this combo on occasion, i suppose, but i dont expect it to happen very often.

I think that is the point.  There are no good answers really for replacing Walker.  Every option has some weakness or limitation.  As to Theis and "floor stretching", he shot 38.8% from 3 in 2018-19 but this was down to 33.3% in 2019-20.  What I am saying is  IF (big IF) he can shoot closer to the 39% than the 33%, that can result in a decent option to be on the floor with Smart, Brown, Tatum, and Thompson.

If he shoots more like 33% or below, not so much.  But the difference is a couple more makes a week.  Otherwise, he can defend swings or PFs just fine (leave the bigger players to Thompson), and does enough other things to be useful.  Also, not saying you play this line up all the time, just sometimes but in my opinion, you will see this more than people think.

Keep in mind, the alternatives to this are a rookie, an entirely undersized forward (Grant Williams), Ojeleye, you get the point.  Another option is the play Teague as a starter or core unit guy but I don't see that although all options are possible and will probably be tried at some point, well, except probably not Carson Edwards.

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #43 on: December 03, 2020, 01:45:51 PM »

Offline td450

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Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter.

G: Edwards
G: Smart
F: Jaylen
F: Tatum
C: Theis

Keep Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson to bench roles to provide experience and stability to an inexperienced bench. You have Grant Williams there as well.

Let Smart start at PG and run the team. Let Edwards come in and play a low pressure role next to the stars. He doesn't need to do anything fancy. Just take outside shots inside the flow of the offense. A minor role to let him / help him get comfortable. Let Smart defend SGs. Carsen defend PGs. Edwards gives you some extra ball handling security.

A bit similar to letting Scalabrine start when KG was injured. Move him into a 18mpg starting role. Let the main bench players keep their primary roles and keep the main rotation in tact. Put a lesser talent bench player in as starter. Someone who can spread the floor and just keep things ticking along.

I have no doubt that Carsen Edwards could be an interesting starter, in fact I'm sure Carsen Edwards would be an interesting starter. Talk about thinking outside the box. TP for the idea.
i think you misspelled the word "inadequate."  ;D

i root for edwards a lot. but given his play last year, he would have to have one heck of a pre-season to earn a starting position.

He'd definitely be an interesting starter in China.

A TP for that wit. Well played, sir.

But I think that you’re underestimating him. Boston gave him a contract with a low risk to the team - and a recognition that it might take a while.

I think that a couple of things are clear going forward: he can get an open shot for himself; and he’s a competitor.

That first is more important than it might appear to the casual fan, who likely replies, “So what, he’s got to make them!” - which is a good point, as far as it goes. Does that mean his upside is Terry Rozier with less length? Maybe.

Terry’s role expanded in Charlotte, with a modest uptick in assist% - and also in turnover %. Those numbers look about like Marcus Smart’s. Mostly the shots he creates are for himself. He shot over .400 from 3, which is golden, especially for a guy who can get a shot off the dribble and isn’t afraid of the moment. As we saw when he was in Boston, he got into the paint off the dribble, too, though his finishing was uninspiring.

Carsen did one thing last year that Terry has never come close to and that is in fact rare in the NBA - he was effective on the dreaded long 2’s - .529 on a small but not useless sample size (17 shots). He’s got a couple of different ways of getting those shots off the dribble with a shot fake at the arc and one or two dribbles going either right or left into that big open area that NBA defenses are mostly conceding nowadays. A guy who can reliably get you more than a point on a possession is an asset on offense.

Will Edwards eventually shoot at least an average % from 3? I’d bet on it. The form is excellent, the drive to improve is there, and he’s already got sidestep moves to either side to get a good look at the rim. The safety valve move to the wide-open long 2 is golden if last year’s % is real. That alternative means he’s not stuck with having to take a challenged 3 on a short clock.

The rosiest scenario is something like: Isaiah Thomas with better defense. But he’s got two high bars to get over first: he’s got to get to the rim and finish; and he’s got to get shots for his teammates. The first of those looks more likely, but he’s got a long way to go with the second. For my money, those are the two things to watch.

He’s an NBA player. I wouldn’t predict that he’ll retire in Boston, but I would predict that he’ll have a long career.

Look at his shooting numbers at Perdue. I don't know why the C's thought he'd be an NBA player. He's tough, confident and can create his own shots, but wasn't an an efficient shooter in college, so why would he be better in the NBA?

Waters is better at everything. Pritchard almost certainly is too.

Re: Full Ainge press conference - media day
« Reply #44 on: December 03, 2020, 01:57:10 PM »

Offline AshyLarry

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No matter what the starting lineup(s) end up being, I am excited to see Theis playing alongside Thompson or Bob-Will. With more confidence in his shot, he’d make a pretty darn good 4 alongside a guy with real defensive post presence.
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