How much is Timelord's injury holding us back?

[Roy H.]

For me, I think if we had a healthy Timelord, we'd be dominating right now, just like we did during the last stretch of the regular season.  I think the guy is a huge weapon on both ends that would be hurting Golden State inside.  I've said all post-season, I don't think we can be beat with a healthy Timelord.

Am I exaggerating?  Is a healthy Timelord the difference between a potential Celtics loss in six, versus a win in five?  He was 10/10/2 in the regular season, and he's at 8/6/1 in the playoffs.  Do the two points and four rebounds mean *that* much?  Is this one of those "his impact goes beyond the box score" scenarios?  (Hint:  yes.)

It's a little depressing that after being up 2-1, we've dropped two games where Timelord was +6 and +11.

[SparzWizard]

For me, I think if we had a healthy Timelord, we'd be dominating right now, just like we did during the last stretch of the regular season.  I think the guy is a huge weapon on both ends that would be hurting Golden State inside.  I've said all post-season, I don't think we can be beat with a healthy Timelord.

Am I exaggerating?  Is a healthy Timelord the difference between a potential Celtics loss in six, versus a win in five?  He was 10/10/2 in the regular season, and he's at 8/6/1 in the playoffs.  Do the two points and four rebounds mean *that* much?  Is this one of those "his impact goes beyond the box score" scenarios?  (Hint:  yes.)

It's a little depressing that after being up 2-1, we've dropped two games where Timelord was +6 and +11.

Turnovers were the reason we lost the game. We had like 15+ when we lost. Along with missed free-throws, esp last night's atrocity. We could've still won with him at 8/6/1

[Sketch5]

It's a good amount.

He allows guys to pressure more at the 3pt line because he can recover, and keeps the D guess on the offensive end cause guys can drive and lob it up to him, so it opens the lanes up for Tatum and Brown.

[scaryjerry]

When he first got injured I thought we were done because he’s that important.

I’m surprised we made the finals with him on 1 leg but I tend to agree, this series would be over if he was actually healthy

[slamtheking]

it's an impact but not as big an impact as having no role players stepping up and supporting the J's nor as big an impact as the J's having off nights nor as big as the reckless/stupid TOs.  GSW also seemed to have figured out how to deal with him around the defensive rim -- bait him into a block and either pass to his man that's now open or throw it near the rim where his man can grab the offensive board and score or get fouled.  noticed that a few times last night

[nyceltsfan]

Yesterday felt strange watching the game.  Timelord seemed to be in position to challenge a number of shots that he did not even jump to contest.  I am not sure if that was due to his injury, nerves or just an off day.  Although he was okay in the +/- category, I felt he had opportunities to impact the game more on the defensive end.

[Celtics2021]

I think it’s definitely a problem.  He’s just not the lob threat when Smart and the Js drive, which has been getting them caught in a lot of traffics and leading to turnovers.  Is it decisive?  Who’s to say, but it definitely has affected our efficiency in the paint.

[Moranis]

In the Finals he is 7 p, 7.6 r, 1.4 a, 1.0 s, and 2.4 b in 25.2 mpg.  So steals and blocks are up (especially accounting for lesser minutes) while his other 3 are down some, though he is shooting better. 

I think it is more about him not being a great fit against the Warriors.  They are mostly a jump shooting team and they are great defensively so that limits someone like Rob a lot.  I'm sure the knee has had some affect, but the reality is Rob is mostly an unskilled player that doesn't play well when the conditions aren't conducive to the things he does well and the Warriors are just a bad fit.  It is why before the series started I was on here saying I didn't think Rob would have much of an impact.  He just isn't the right type of player to have success against the Warriors.  Styles make matchups.

[gouki88]

I think it’s definitely a problem.  He’s just not the lob threat when Smart and the Js drive, which has been getting them caught in a lot of traffics and leading to turnovers.  Is it decisive?  Who’s to say, but it definitely has affected our efficiency in the paint.

Big time. He's clearly not confident in his leap, as evidenced by all these hesitant looks from him in the paint where, when healthy, he'd just dunk it.

[Rondo9]

Ehhh it's the careless turnovers that's killing the Celtics. Williams is fine it's just that he's not the greatest fit depending on the Warriors' lineup.

[jambr380]

I don't know, these last couple of games Rob looks as close to his old self as he has since before the meniscus injury. He is also playing more minutes and the team is a plus in those minutes. I think the team suffered throughout the playoffs with his injury and perhaps we could have closed out MIL and MIA earlier giving us more energy now, but I can't blame Rob's performance for our last couple of losses; he has been great! Just goes to show how bad the rest of the team is playing.

[wiley]

A lot.  We are a different team with a healthy Rob.

[Dchuck]

If Rob is completely healthy, we win this series.  However, him being limited is not the reason we won’t win it either.  Turnovers, stagnant offense and our inconsistent energy are a bigger reason why we’re down.

[footey]

REDDIT podcast guy (Spoony) said our plus/minus with Rob this series is very high, with Al is very negative.   We need to find more minutes for Rob, don't know if his body can take it.  Fewer for Al.  When they play together, plus/minus is only slightly plus.

[Phantom255x]

I don't really think it'd make a difference. Because Timelord has already been playing really well over the last three games and we've lost due to a bunch of terrible turnovers, missed FTs, etc.

It's the others that need to step up, particularly Horford and the role players. They've gone ice cold for stretches for way too long and it puts us in difficult spots. It's almost like they used up all their firepower in Game 1