Double-big front court working, surprised?

[Vermont Green]

I am not surprised that the Celtics have played primarily a 2-big line up.  I predicted it and advocated for it in many a post.  What I am surprised at is how well Horford, RWill, and GWill have all played this season. 

Horford has not looked like an old player but rather a cagey, skilled vet who can defend.  He has given the team way more than I thought he would.

Robert Williams has stayed healthy and improved his game.  He is still largely one-dimensional on offense, but that one dimension is really good.  On defense, he has been great blocking shots.  Can't ask for more.  I felt he had it in him but I did not expect him to put it all together all at once.

And Grant Williams, 42% from 3?  Are you kidding me?  He has been a very effective back up big, very versatile.

Now we have Theis also.  I feel he will prove more and more valuable as we play out the season and take on the playoffs.

[footey]

It works because we have Al Horford instead of Tristan Thompson.

[KG Living Legend]

 A lot of posters here were stating the best five was Rob, AK, J,J, Smart

Many people said two big lineups don't work anymore.  They were wrong.

[Moranis]

I didn't think Horford could still play PF and he really can't, Williams being able to guard PF's has been the real surprise for me. 

As for it working, I've pretty consistently said that Tatum is his best at SF, so it does not surprise me that the team is playing so well with Tatum at his best position.  The C's quite simply go as Tatum goes, so they need to maximize his skill set.  That means he should be playing SF.

[Who]

Yup. I am surprised. I am surprised by that Cavs frontcourt trio of Markkanen, Mobley and J.Allen working even more.

I wonder if the reduction on foul-bating plays had a role in this (or not).

I also wonder how well it will hold up in the playoffs but things are looking promising.

[gouki88]

I am surprised by how well Horford has looked recently. He looked really sluggish to begin the season, but he is excelling at his position now.

I find it intriguing that Al tends to take the stronger guys while Rob plays that sort of ball-hawk role on defence. Ime and co. really trust Rob's judgement, and he works awesome alongside Al

[nickagneta]

I am surprised by how well Horford has looked recently. He looked really sluggish to begin the season, but he is excelling at his position now.

I find it intriguing that Al tends to take the stronger guys while Rob plays that sort of ball-hawk role on defence. Ime and co. really trust Rob's judgement, and he works awesome alongside Al

Ime's adjustments on sometimes having players stick to guarding their main man and fight through screens against certain teams to keep bigs on bigs in certain matchups, moving Horford to defending down low so Timelord could play on the perimeter and play the best weak side defense in the league, were masterstroke adjustments that took this defense to another level. Sticking with the two big lineup and incorporating an undersized but unbelievably strong Grant into that rotation successfully shows tremendous coaching acumen and is something many of Udoka's naysayers will never admit to being brilliant moves.