Where would we be without the leap by Grant Williams?

[Roy H.]

I mean that question two ways.  First, rhetorically, to acknowledge Grant's excellence this year.  But also, as a legit question:  if Grant hadn't stepped up this season, how would we be covering for his minutes?  I suppose we'd be seeing more Theis at PF?  But even then, we wouldn't have anybody competent to fill the role until the trade deadline.  Do we play Jabari more and give our bench a different look?  Try to stick it out with Herangomez?

It's amazing to me, that he went from a guy where it was at least minimally unclear whether we would pick up his option, to being a vital player on this team.  We *need* him to beat the Bucks.  His defense on Giannis is just very, very good, particularly for a guy who has really deficiencies in height and athleticism.

[otherdave]

Yes he sure is a keeper.  Brad and Mike Z get your contract extension ready for this fall!

Future Sixth Man of the Year!!

[gift]

Wasn't a big believer before this year. After last night, if he wants me to call him Batman, I'm calling him Batman.

[Who]

If he can consistently play like he did last night, he is a starter for the next 8-10 years.

[Phantom255x]

G-Will has become the player we hoped Semi Ojeyele would be. A really good 3-and-D player.

I've said for many years that I wish the C's had that sharpshooter who could come in, make some shots and help the 2nd unit in particular (like a Korver, or JJ Reddick, etc). G-Will has emerged as that guy AND he plays great defense.

[sgrogan]

I mean that question two ways.  First, rhetorically, to acknowledge Grant's excellence this year.  But also, as a legit question:  if Grant hadn't stepped up this season, how would we be covering for his minutes?  I suppose we'd be seeing more Theis at PF?  But even then, we wouldn't have anybody competent to fill the role until the trade deadline.  Do we play Jabari more and give our bench a different look?  Try to stick it out with Herangomez?

It's amazing to me, that he went from a guy where it was at least minimally unclear whether we would pick up his option, to being a vital player on this team.  We *need* him to beat the Bucks.  His defense on Giannis is just very, very good, particularly for a guy who has really deficiencies in height and athleticism.

I guess pre-deadline it would have been Langford, or Neismith if he wasn't available.
If the trades all happened the same I guess Theis and White would be splitting the minutes.
I don't the our record or DRTG would be as good.

[nebist]

I mean that question two ways.  First, rhetorically, to acknowledge Grant's excellence this year.  But also, as a legit question:  if Grant hadn't stepped up this season, how would we be covering for his minutes?  I suppose we'd be seeing more Theis at PF?  But even then, we wouldn't have anybody competent to fill the role until the trade deadline.  Do we play Jabari more and give our bench a different look?  Try to stick it out with Herangomez?

It's amazing to me, that he went from a guy where it was at least minimally unclear whether we would pick up his option, to being a vital player on this team.  We *need* him to beat the Bucks.  His defense on Giannis is just very, very good, particularly for a guy who has really deficiencies in height and athleticism.

Yeah, I have to take an L on my pre-season analysis of the 4 spot. I thought Horford would not be able to play 4 anymore at his age (that he would have to play primarily 5). He has been amazing at the 4. I also thought Grant was not a viable rotation player from what we had seen prior to this year. Consequently, I thought our best lineup was putting Tatum at the 4 and trying to play another wing (J-Rich/Nesmith/Langford) more. But Horford and Grant have been a revelation with their ability to play the 4 spot at both ends and that has elevated our team size and team toughness considerably. Very happy to be wrong about their capabilities.

[BringToughnessBack]

He has been incredible and amazing D is a huge surprise.

I get super excited thinking Brown, Williams, Williams and Tatum have not hit their prime yet and will hit that around the same time in 3-4 years. Can you imagine? Smart is in his prime now.

[Big333223]

I mean that question two ways.  First, rhetorically, to acknowledge Grant's excellence this year.  But also, as a legit question:  if Grant hadn't stepped up this season, how would we be covering for his minutes?  I suppose we'd be seeing more Theis at PF?  But even then, we wouldn't have anybody competent to fill the role until the trade deadline.  Do we play Jabari more and give our bench a different look?  Try to stick it out with Herangomez?

It's amazing to me, that he went from a guy where it was at least minimally unclear whether we would pick up his option, to being a vital player on this team.  We *need* him to beat the Bucks.  His defense on Giannis is just very, very good, particularly for a guy who has really deficiencies in height and athleticism.

I think we would've seen Hernangomez a lot more and he'd still be here being mediocre.

This is really the first year we're seeing what kind of player Grant is going to be in the NBA. He's a wing, not a big. I'm looking forward to what he'll look like next year when he's had a full summer under his belt with the confidence he's gained in knowing this is what he is.

[otherdave]

I know the coaches and players are smarting than me, but.....

I was really disappointed that they stopped their multiple drives and kick outs in the second half - was working so well in the first half!


OOPS wrong thread

[Sophomore]

I mean that question two ways.  First, rhetorically, to acknowledge Grant's excellence this year.  But also, as a legit question:  if Grant hadn't stepped up this season, how would we be covering for his minutes?  I suppose we'd be seeing more Theis at PF?  But even then, we wouldn't have anybody competent to fill the role until the trade deadline.  Do we play Jabari more and give our bench a different look?  Try to stick it out with Herangomez?

It's amazing to me, that he went from a guy where it was at least minimally unclear whether we would pick up his option, to being a vital player on this team.  We *need* him to beat the Bucks.  His defense on Giannis is just very, very good, particularly for a guy who has really deficiencies in height and athleticism.

I think we would've seen Hernangomez a lot more and he'd still be here being mediocre.

This is really the first year we're seeing what kind of player Grant is going to be in the NBA. He's a wing, not a big. I'm looking forward to what he'll look like next year when he's had a full summer under his belt with the confidence he's gained in knowing this is what he is.

It's fantastic. His mental make-up seems to be excellent. He sees what he needs to do and re-makes his body and his game as needed.

Next year, he might add some off-the-bounce moves or we might see the Cs get him into the post more often when he's guarded by a smaller guy.

[Big333223]

I mean that question two ways.  First, rhetorically, to acknowledge Grant's excellence this year.  But also, as a legit question:  if Grant hadn't stepped up this season, how would we be covering for his minutes?  I suppose we'd be seeing more Theis at PF?  But even then, we wouldn't have anybody competent to fill the role until the trade deadline.  Do we play Jabari more and give our bench a different look?  Try to stick it out with Herangomez?

It's amazing to me, that he went from a guy where it was at least minimally unclear whether we would pick up his option, to being a vital player on this team.  We *need* him to beat the Bucks.  His defense on Giannis is just very, very good, particularly for a guy who has really deficiencies in height and athleticism.

I think we would've seen Hernangomez a lot more and he'd still be here being mediocre.

This is really the first year we're seeing what kind of player Grant is going to be in the NBA. He's a wing, not a big. I'm looking forward to what he'll look like next year when he's had a full summer under his belt with the confidence he's gained in knowing this is what he is.

It's fantastic. His mental make-up seems to be excellent. He sees what he needs to do and re-makes his body and his game as needed.

Next year, he might add some off-the-bounce moves or we might see the Cs get him into the post more often when he's guarded by a smaller guy.

I think that's his evolution. He's already developing a pump-and-go game. Given his history, if opponents do start putting guards on him, I'd love to see him punish smaller guys near the rim.

[Atzar]

If we assume that the alternative to Year Three Grant was another season of Year Two Grant, then I think he would still have likely been ahead of Parker and Hernangomez in the rotation.  But he would have been a weakness instead of a strength, and we would have lost more games as a result. 

It's entirely possible that being a few games further underwater at the trade deadline might have pushed the owners and Stevens to sell on this group, rather than looking to add a few pieces.  It's impossible to know where that line would have been.  I imagine that we weren't too far from it. 

[kraidstar]

I think we collectively underrated the degree to which the Covid fiasco hampered our young guys' development.

Without Grant's emergence Brad might have made totally different trades at the deadline. Maybe Richardson gets Grant's minutes or Brad sells the farm for a better player than White. maybe Nesmith (who I believe will be quite good some day) is gone for a win-now veteran.  Or maybe we have a worse record at the deadline and the FO decides to blow it up.

His emergence really has allowed us to hold on to more assets, which could pay big dividends for future transactions.

[seancally]

So do we think he’s our Horford replacement? And then we need a Grant replacement?