Why Isn’t Theis Playing?

[Roy H.]

Theis has actually played well in his four games.  He's scoring at about the same rate as Timelord and Horford, he hasn't had a turnover yet, he's shooting 86% from 2PT and 50% from 3PT, and he's been the best rebounder that's currently on the roster (even better than Timelord).  And, the team seems to have played well in those four games; he's got the best DRtg and best ORtg on the team.

So, if this is a "earn your minutes" situation, Theis has performed as well as can be expected.  He has fouled too much, but that doesn't seem to outweigh his contributions elsewhere.

[wdleehi]

I would like to see him get more minutes but it could just be a coach happy with the players and rotation already out there.   

[Vermont Green]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

[nickagneta]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

[KeepBigAl]

Theis should at least be getting 5-10 min to load manage Al and get used to the system - no excuse there. 

If this doesn't start happening down the stretch, it's on IME. 

[Vermont Green]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

[nickagneta]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

I think if you are playing Timelord and Al only 24 MPG just to get Theis some minutes because you're of the opinion the team is paying too much to sit Theis, then you are doing a disservice to the team as a whole.

Timelord and Al have been averaging around 30 MPG, and that simply isn't a lot of minutes. And both are much better than Theis. If Theis gets in due to both Al and TL being in foul trouble or during garbage time or spells those guys for off days, then that's his role and I am okay with that.

Given Al's salary, there is a good chance he is gone next year and This doing what Al is for $8 million a year is fair. Maybe we see him more then, and again, I'm okay with that.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Maybe Theis earned more trust from Brad than he has from Ime so far, but I don't think we gave up anything of consequence. Kanter and Bruno apparently aren't even NBA players anymore. I do like Bruno's activity, but he had the opportunity to earn that backup position and couldn't do it. Kanter looks really slow and was struggling to finish this year more.

Schroeder was less necessary given that we got Derrick White. He was playing a lot less minutes over the last month or so, which coincidentally also included us playing really good basketball.

Ultimately, it would have been awesome to keep Schroeder for our playoff rotation, but it was a simple math game. His skill set was more redundant and we needed additional depth on our front line.

[Vermont Green]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

I think if you are playing Timelord and Al only 24 MPG just to get Theis some minutes because you're of the opinion the team is paying too much to sit Theis, then you are doing a disservice to the team as a whole.

Timelord and Al have been averaging around 30 MPG, and that simply isn't a lot of minutes. And both are much better than Theis. If Theis gets in due to both Al and TL being in foul trouble or during garbage time or spells those guys for off days, then that's his role and I am okay with that.

Given Al's salary, there is a good chance he is gone next year and This doing what Al is for $8 million a year is fair. Maybe we see him more then, and again, I'm okay with that.

OK, Horford and RWill at 30 min each, that leaves 36 minutes to be shared between GWill, Theis, and maybe some 1 big line ups.  GWill is playing well but there still should be plenty of opportunity for Theis, unless there is something else going on.

[nickagneta]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

I think if you are playing Timelord and Al only 24 MPG just to get Theis some minutes because you're of the opinion the team is paying too much to sit Theis, then you are doing a disservice to the team as a whole.

Timelord and Al have been averaging around 30 MPG, and that simply isn't a lot of minutes. And both are much better than Theis. If Theis gets in due to both Al and TL being in foul trouble or during garbage time or spells those guys for off days, then that's his role and I am okay with that.

Given Al's salary, there is a good chance he is gone next year and This doing what Al is for $8 million a year is fair. Maybe we see him more then, and again, I'm okay with that.

OK, Horford and RWill at 30 min each, that leaves 36 minutes to be shared between GWill, Theis, and maybe some 1 big line ups.  GWill is playing well but there still should be plenty of opportunity for Theis, unless there is something else going on.

The other thing going on is increased minutes for Grant and Ime's closing lineups of TL/Tatum/Brown/Smart/White.

[Moranis]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

I think if you are playing Timelord and Al only 24 MPG just to get Theis some minutes because you're of the opinion the team is paying too much to sit Theis, then you are doing a disservice to the team as a whole.

Timelord and Al have been averaging around 30 MPG, and that simply isn't a lot of minutes. And both are much better than Theis. If Theis gets in due to both Al and TL being in foul trouble or during garbage time or spells those guys for off days, then that's his role and I am okay with that.

Given Al's salary, there is a good chance he is gone next year and This doing what Al is for $8 million a year is fair. Maybe we see him more then, and again, I'm okay with that.

OK, Horford and RWill at 30 min each, that leaves 36 minutes to be shared between GWill, Theis, and maybe some 1 big line ups.  GWill is playing well but there still should be plenty of opportunity for Theis, unless there is something else going on.

The other thing going on is increased minutes for Grant and Ime's closing lineups of TL/Tatum/Brown/Smart/White.

exactly Tatum plays minutes at PF.  bball-ref puts his PF time at 37% and SF at 63%.  Based on the eye test that seems about right to me. 

[Vermont Green]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

I think if you are playing Timelord and Al only 24 MPG just to get Theis some minutes because you're of the opinion the team is paying too much to sit Theis, then you are doing a disservice to the team as a whole.

Timelord and Al have been averaging around 30 MPG, and that simply isn't a lot of minutes. And both are much better than Theis. If Theis gets in due to both Al and TL being in foul trouble or during garbage time or spells those guys for off days, then that's his role and I am okay with that.

Given Al's salary, there is a good chance he is gone next year and This doing what Al is for $8 million a year is fair. Maybe we see him more then, and again, I'm okay with that.

OK, Horford and RWill at 30 min each, that leaves 36 minutes to be shared between GWill, Theis, and maybe some 1 big line ups.  GWill is playing well but there still should be plenty of opportunity for Theis, unless there is something else going on.

The other thing going on is increased minutes for Grant and Ime's closing lineups of TL/Tatum/Brown/Smart/White.

That closing line up has only been on the court in 3 games and for a total of 16 minutes.

[nickagneta]

Whether or not we are playing Horford too much, I think we all expected that Theis was going to be part of the rotation.  I know I am surprised that he has not played more.  Theis is only 29 years old.  He should still be the same player he was last season. He should be a solid rotation player; fringe starter or solid bench player.

I get that he has to learn the new schemes but it seems that there is more to this than that.  I have not heard any reports of nagging injuries.  He was averaging 22 min/gm in Houston although he had not played regularly since mid January.

Theis started 39 games for us last season and played decent.  He can't have fallen off a cliff in that time.  There must be something going on.

Could it just be that the 3 men in front of Theis are playing great in a 3 man rotation?

Timelord, Horford and Grant have been playing great, all with 28-32 MPG and Tatum taking some PF minute spots in a small ball lineup.

Ime has something good going that isn't taxing his bigs and doesn't feel the need to change it. That I think is the reason for This not getting minutes.

I suppose that could be the case but as others have said, that is a pretty expensive insurance policy.  I expected he was brought in the play some, to be in the rotation.  Horford and RWill each at more like 24 min and that would leave up to 48 min to be shared by Theis and GWill.  The minutes should be there, even with some level of 1-big line ups.

I think if you are playing Timelord and Al only 24 MPG just to get Theis some minutes because you're of the opinion the team is paying too much to sit Theis, then you are doing a disservice to the team as a whole.

Timelord and Al have been averaging around 30 MPG, and that simply isn't a lot of minutes. And both are much better than Theis. If Theis gets in due to both Al and TL being in foul trouble or during garbage time or spells those guys for off days, then that's his role and I am okay with that.

Given Al's salary, there is a good chance he is gone next year and This doing what Al is for $8 million a year is fair. Maybe we see him more then, and again, I'm okay with that.

OK, Horford and RWill at 30 min each, that leaves 36 minutes to be shared between GWill, Theis, and maybe some 1 big line ups.  GWill is playing well but there still should be plenty of opportunity for Theis, unless there is something else going on.

The other thing going on is increased minutes for Grant and Ime's closing lineups of TL/Tatum/Brown/Smart/White.

That closing line up has only been on the court in 3 games and for a total of 16 minutes.

In the 8 games White and Theis have been here, 3 games have been utter blowouts, that lineup didn't close and Theis got minutes. Theis also got extended minutes in that Detroit loss because TL and Smart were out. The lineup with Tatum at PF closed 3 games and interspersed in the 8 games were other small ball lineups with Tatum at the 4.

Simple facts are, the Celtics are dominant with TL and Al playing 29-31MPG. Grant is getting a lot more time due to his near top of the league three point shooting. Tatum is getting some minutes at the 4 in small ball lineups

And Theis just isn't as good as those four guys. As I said, Theis will get some minutes. When he is needed. But right now he isn't and the team is playing off the charts good. I see This getting some run, but not a lot, unless there are injuries. Next year, I think we a lot of Theis if Al is gone.

[Vermont Green]

And Theis just isn't as good as those four guys. As I said, Theis will get some minutes. When he is needed. But right now he isn't and the team is playing off the charts good. I see This getting some run, but not a lot, unless there are injuries. Next year, I think we a lot of Theis if Al is gone.

I of course don't know but I find it hard to believe that they did this trade so that they would have Theis next year.  I get that GWilliams has been playing well and that they play 1 big sometimes.  If after doing this trade, the reality is that Theis is not good enough to even play unless someone gets injured, it is a very questionable trade.

And if Theis is not good enough to play this year, it is not likely he will be good enough next year either.  Kind of a waste if that turns out to be the case.

[Celtics2021]

And Theis just isn't as good as those four guys. As I said, Theis will get some minutes. When he is needed. But right now he isn't and the team is playing off the charts good. I see This getting some run, but not a lot, unless there are injuries. Next year, I think we a lot of Theis if Al is gone.

I of course don't know but I find it hard to believe that they did this trade so that they would have Theis next year.  I get that GWilliams has been playing well and that they play 1 big sometimes.  If after doing this trade, the reality is that Theis is not good enough to even play unless someone gets injured, it is a very questionable trade.

And if Theis is not good enough to play this year, it is not likely he will be good enough next year either.  Kind of a waste if that turns out to be the case.

I said at the time of the trade that this could be a next year trade as much as a this year trade, or, more specifically, that the C's were not planning on paying Al $26.5 million next year.  This year, Theis is insurance for 35-year old Horford and oft-injured Rob Williams.  The Celtics seem committed to two bigs for the majority of the game, and Theis makes that possible even in the event of an injury, as he can fill in for either of the two (as well as Grant, who's generally been healthy).  Next year, however, Horford is not going to be kept on his massive contract unless the C's win the title and thus it fully guarantees.  Maybe there will be a trade, maybe he'll be waived or stretched.  But if Al is only here for one season, the team won't be in the same bind as they were the last time he left.