Semi’s Role

[Goldstar88]

Could Semi be the Celtics version of PJ Tucker? I know some had suggested that Grant Williams could fit that role, as his size and build is similar and he has been shooting the 3 well. I don’t see it, though. He seems too Slow/unathletic to cover multiple positions. Even at 35 PJ Tucker seems much quicker and more athletic than Williams is at 22.

Semi on the other hand has the size at 6’6”, 240lbs as well as the strength, quickness, and athleticism of a younger PJ Tucker. He’s shooting the 3 ball at 38% this year and is especially effective from the corners. Although infrequent, Semi has also improved as a finisher at the rim, as he can play above the rim, whereas Grant cannot. I’m hoping that Brad gives him another opportunity as a starter to see if he can continue to be effective as a 3 and D player with extended minutes.  Other than Jaylen, Semi seems to be the most improved player on the team and he deserves the playing time.

[wdleehi]

Semi has the same issue and Grant Williams and Rob Williams from earning consistent time. 



Consistent play.


All three have show what level they are capable of playing.   All three of them have way to many games or times they are playing way below that level. 

[td450]

Could Semi be the Celtics version of PJ Tucker? I know some had suggested that Grant Williams could fit that role, as his size and build is similar and he has been shooting the 3 well. I don’t see it, though. He seems too Slow/unathletic to cover multiple positions. Even at 35 PJ Tucker seems much quicker and more athletic than Williams is at 22.

Semi on the other hand has the size at 6’6”, 240lbs as well as the strength, quickness, and athleticism of a younger PJ Tucker. He’s shooting the 3 ball at 38% this year and is especially effective from the corners. Although infrequent, Semi has also improved as a finisher at the rim, as he can play above the rim, whereas Grant cannot. I’m hoping that Brad gives him another opportunity as a starter to see if he can continue to be effective as a 3 and D player with extended minutes.  Other than Jaylen, Semi seems to be the most improved player on the team and he deserves the playing time.

I've said the same thing a few times here not too long ago. Semi had started the season with some significantly improved offensive play, and I agree he has the physical tools to play power forwards. The problem I have with Stevens is that if players don't clearly win minutes, he won't commit to anyone, and you often end up with the chicken or egg problem. No one gets enough minutes to emerge.

However, Semi's offense started to regress the past few weeks, prior to last night's big game. Grant Williams has been more consistent this year, and I do think he is a good enough athlete to fill the role, especially since he's quite a bit better at the little stuff.

I'm not sure it matters so much which guy Stevens picks, but he has to pick someone and let them work through slumps and improve. Stevens must commit.

Side note: one thing I've thought the team hasn't had for a very long time is a ball handler who manages team roles, who looks out for other players and makes sure they get the shots they need. That's something that Kemba just doesn't do, and Kyrie didn't really do it either.

Jaylen showed that last night. He clearly tried to get Semi good shots early, knowing he was slumping and that he would want to succeed starting. It was impressive.

[GreenWarrior]

Oh man just think what we're going to score trading tatum or brown. with the emergence of semi tone of those guys are expendable now....

[Hoopvortex]

Semi has the same issue and Grant Williams and Rob Williams from earning consistent time. 

Consistent play.

All three have show what level they are capable of playing.   All three of them have way to many games or times they are playing way below that level.

And yet Brad has consistently said how ‘reliable’ (his word) Ojeleye is. Can it be that he’s looking at more than scoring? The trouble with using scoring as a benchmark is that it relies on opportunity as much as anything else. Semi shot over league average from 3 for the season last year, and at the moment is above that; last night he got open looks because Brown was finding him on the move and off the kickout - so he got more shots. Opportunity.

I’ll pick one more bone with you: in fact Ojeleye has gotten consistent minutes. He’s been a rotation player since his rookie year.

[Goldstar88]

Semi has the same issue and Grant Williams and Rob Williams from earning consistent time. 



Consistent play.


All three have show what level they are capable of playing.   All three of them have way to many games or times they are playing way below that level.

I feel like Semi has been one of the most consistent players on the team. He plays good D, Spaces the floor for Brown/Tatum and has been hitting 3’s at a good rate. That’s really all they need out of a 4/5 option.

[Vermont Green]

Semi had 30 min against TOR last night.  That is the most minutes since Jan 4 when he also had 30 min against TOR.  Stevens must like some about Semi matching up against Toronto's starters.

Consistency?  Semi is 43% 3P% in Feb but he was only 3-13 until last night (6-8).  If your primary offense is standing in the corner and shooting the 3, you will by definition not be consistent night to night.  You will be 0-4 one night and 4-4 the next.

I like Semi, each of the last few seasons, I have dubbed him my X-factor, expecting that it would be the season that he emerges.  So far, he really hasn't.  He has the tools.  Maybe this is the time that he puts it all together and has a run and emerges as a starting caliber PF for us.

[Fred Ziffel]

Very inconsistent.  Last night great. 

[Uncle_Stingfinger]

He’s a poor mans Jae Crowder if he plays like this.  Unfortunately he doesn’t very often.  Brad will probably play 3 minutes tonight

[PhoSita]

Semi's role is to endlessly confound people as to whether he's any good or not

[DefenseWinsChamps]

He's the new Solomon Hill. Some team desperate to keep their superstar will overpay because they think he is the perfect role player, just like the Pelicans did with Solomon Hill when they had Anthony Davis. My prediction is that it will be the Wizards, Suns, or Wolves that give him most of MLE next off-season. The Celtics will not match.

I like Semi a lot. He might finally be figuring out how to be a consistent role player on offense. I also think he is in the top echelon of one-on-one defenders at the forward spot (even though I don't think he's a very good team defender).

[PhoSita]

He's the new Solomon Hill. Some team desperate to keep their superstar will overpay because they think he is the perfect role player, just like the Pelicans did with Solomon Hill when they had Anthony Davis. My prediction is that it will be the Wizards, Suns, or Wolves that give him most of MLE next off-season. The Celtics will not match.

I like Semi a lot. He might finally be figuring out how to be a consistent role player on offense. I also think he is in the top echelon of one-on-one defenders at the forward spot (even though I don't think he's a very good team defender).

Yeah I agree with this.  Even if the Celts want to keep Semi, they really won't have roster or cap room for him given that they've invested $$ and 1st round draft selections on Langford, Nesmith, and Grant Williams.

[lrybrd]

Scal made a great observation last night.  He said that Stevens, since he had so much familiarity with the Raptors, knew that they would try to take away the Jays so he told the Jays to look to share the ball last night.  It was obvious from the get go that the Jays were following that game plan.  It would be great if this was same game plan used against teams other than the Raptors.  It is how we used to play with the IT-led teams.  Although both JT, JB and Kemba are talented players, we need to get away from so much iso ball.

[NKY fan]

He's the new Solomon Hill. Some team desperate to keep their superstar will overpay because they think he is the perfect role player, just like the Pelicans did with Solomon Hill when they had Anthony Davis. My prediction is that it will be the Wizards, Suns, or Wolves that give him most of MLE next off-season. The Celtics will not match.

I like Semi a lot. He might finally be figuring out how to be a consistent role player on offense. I also think he is in the top echelon of one-on-one defenders at the forward spot (even though I don't think he's a very good team defender).

Yeah I agree with this.  Even if the Celts want to keep Semi, they really won't have roster or cap room for him given that they've invested $$ and 1st round draft selections on Langford, Nesmith, and Grant Williams.

I see semi max offer from a team to be in the mini MLE but even if he got 3yr/20M in total. I don’t see why Celtics won’t match especially if he’s outplaying the 3 guys above. Neither of those can guard best player on a contender while Semi has had success against the likes of Giannis and Lebron. Ideally he signs 4yr/16M in total but a couple more million won’t break wyc wallet. Also I don’t see the Solomon Hill comparison. Hill had 10 good games when he stepped in for injured pacers while Semi is carving out a role as a player that tries to maximize whatever little minutes he’s getting consistently. Also Hill signed outrageous deal when the cap exploded  which further points to how Celtics won’t need to overpay to keep Semi. At some point you’d want some continuity on the team you can’t just reshuffle rookies and career journeymen every season

[Rikibellevie]

Semi has become his reach I guess an appreciable Sub who can give some minutes, become hot at 3 sometimes and give intense defense, not being timid to take the best opposite wings, even superstars... He is a usefull guy. I hope whe continue to play him some times and he still shows inconstancy... So we can keep him ship. He could also be the contract guy who overplay and be overpayed if he overachieve to much.