Remind us why Amir starts.

[mobilija]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

Not completely, no.  Because he only plays 24 minutes a game or so, the starters tend to be on the court for 10-15 minutes a game without him, and the team as a whole performs worse on average during that time when he's off, even when most of the other starters are playing.

Is he not getting to start with the four best starters when the starters are at their freshest, at tipoff and starting the second half? Would that not explain it, maybe?

He has the team's best 4th quarter net rating (not counting Demetrius Jackson's 15 minutes of garbage time action), so no, not really.

So the real question is, why doesn't Amir play more 4th quarter/crunch time minutes?

[D Dub]

He starts because he sets the best pick in the league. 

Ever notice how dominant IT is in P/R?   That's not a one-man job. 

[colincb]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

Not completely, no.  Because he only plays 24 minutes a game or so, the starters tend to be on the court for 10-15 minutes a game without him, and the team as a whole performs worse on average during that time when he's off, even when most of the other starters are playing.

Is he not getting to start with the four best starters when the starters are at their freshest, at tipoff and starting the second half? Would that not explain it, maybe?

Over his career, he always has had strong advanced stats. On good teams. On bad teams. As starter. As bench player. Always has been an advanced stats darling and is on a team that likes advanced stats.

http://tinyurl.com/mz5jv79

I was doing some analysis by position and found that among top 60 PFs in minutes played during the 2016-17 season, he’s 15th in WinShares, 9th in Block +/-, and 12th in VORP. Pretty comparable to AH among centers and JC among SFs.

[Dino Pitino]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

I could argue that the team's best players' on-court net rating is a byproduct of playing with Amir.  Then what would you do?

lol

TP

I just still cannot imagine it...
When he coughs up the ball in Shaqtin a Fool worthy ways, and he barely hits a three every few games, and I mean, I get the way he can capably pass the ball and set picks, but I gotta think that Kelly or, no ****, Yabusele as early as next year (no really, did you see the IQ / instincts / reflexes in that highlights reel from just the other night?) could be doing maybe even better, if they spent an equal amount of Quality Time as the fifth wheel to our best four. Amir is...it's ugly to watch. And I enjoyed watching Perk.

[colincb]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

Not completely, no.  Because he only plays 24 minutes a game or so, the starters tend to be on the court for 10-15 minutes a game without him, and the team as a whole performs worse on average during that time when he's off, even when most of the other starters are playing.

Is he not getting to start with the four best starters when the starters are at their freshest, at tipoff and starting the second half? Would that not explain it, maybe?

He has the team's best 4th quarter net rating (not counting Demetrius Jackson's 15 minutes of garbage time action), so no, not really.

So the real question is, why doesn't Amir play more 4th quarter/crunch time minutes?

Good question. My guess is it's for spacing. BCS hands the reins over to IT4 and IT4 takes it to the hoop or kicks it out.

[saltlover]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

Not completely, no.  Because he only plays 24 minutes a game or so, the starters tend to be on the court for 10-15 minutes a game without him, and the team as a whole performs worse on average during that time when he's off, even when most of the other starters are playing.

Is he not getting to start with the four best starters when the starters are at their freshest, at tipoff and starting the second half? Would that not explain it, maybe?

He has the team's best 4th quarter net rating (not counting Demetrius Jackson's 15 minutes of garbage time action), so no, not really.

So the real question is, why doesn't Amir play more 4th quarter/crunch time minutes?

Endurance/health and matchups (most teams go with only one big in the 4th these days).  When teams go with two bigs, Amir comes in and the unit plays about as well as it does to start the game.

[YoungOne87]

I think Amir is having a better all around season than Kelly.

That said, I would like to replace one if not both going into next season.

[Darío SpanishFan]

I'd love to bring him back next year for the veteran minimum as a backup, after a big payment these two seasons.

[green_bballers13]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

I could argue that the team's best players' on-court net rating is a byproduct of playing with Amir.  Then what would you do?

lol

TP

I just still cannot imagine it...
When he coughs up the ball in Shaqtin a Fool worthy ways, and he barely hits a three every few games, and I mean, I get the way he can capably pass the ball and set picks, but I gotta think that Kelly or, no ****, Yabusele as early as next year (no really, did you see the IQ / instincts / reflexes in that highlights reel from just the other night?) could be doing maybe even better, if they spent an equal amount of Quality Time as the fifth wheel to our best four. Amir is...it's ugly to watch. And I enjoyed watching Perk.

Kelly and Amir have one thing in common- they play basketball for Boston. Other than that, its hard to say that Kelly will do the things that Amir does (and vice versa).

Al is a stretch 4. They need someone to do the dirty work down low. Kelly is not that guy. The Celtics are hoping that Yabu or Zizic can ultimately fill Amir's shoes. Amir is a very suitable big man role player. There are plenty of worse options in the NBA.

[loco_91]

Amir has never been a big scorer, but his advanced stats have been excellent his whole career. Stats models value steals and blocks because they often indicate that the player is doing a lot of other good stuff on the defensive end that doesn't end up in the box score, and that seems to fit for Amir, who is arguably our best interior defender. On offense, he scores efficiently enough that he doesn't counteract his defensive value, but he's definitely below average on that end. Overall, I think Amir is a true rotation-caliber big man who would be a starter on maybe 10-15 NBA teams.

[Ogaju]

As saltlover said, his on-court net rating is ~ +9 per 100 possessions.

And that's not a byproduct of spending all his time oncourt with the team's four best players?

Not completely, no.  Because he only plays 24 minutes a game or so, the starters tend to be on the court for 10-15 minutes a game without him, and the team as a whole performs worse on average during that time when he's off, even when most of the other starters are playing.

I do not get Dino's point. Amir is responsible fro his own effect on the game. This is borne out by his advance stats. To argue that this is simply because he is on the court with the four best players is illogical. If he was ineffective would he not drag down the so-called best four players? If he adds to their production which he seemingly does, then he is doing his job.

[Chris22]

Celtic fans constantly want to run down our best players.
Amir is our best center. Horford is our best power forward.

[TheSundanceKid]

Amir is the most underrated guy on this team. Possibly the league (and by saying that I've just proven its Lillard).

He does all the gritty stuff, much the same as Marcus. His screens are awesome, he can switch onto guards. He knows when to add offense and he rarely forces it. Defensively he is our best forward/center imo. Very aware of the court and surprisingly athletic. Consummate teammate.

KO does add a different kind of offense but he is much more passive than Amir and not on his level defensively, certainly against the more aggressive players in the league.

I'd love to hold onto Amir in FA, I'd value him over KO right now.

[The One]

Because he would be worse off the bench.

Those old bones wouldn't be able to shake off the rust coming off the pine.

[Billz401]

Amir is the most underrated guy on this team. Possibly the league (and by saying that I've just proven its Lillard).

He does all the gritty stuff, much the same as Marcus. His screens are awesome, he can switch onto guards. He knows when to add offense and he rarely forces it. Defensively he is our best forward/center imo. Very aware of the court and surprisingly athletic. Consummate teammate.

KO does add a different kind of offense but he is much more passive than Amir and not on his level defensively, certainly against the more aggressive players in the league.

I'd love to hold onto Amir in FA, I'd value him over KO right now.

Basically this. I'm not understanding how you can't tell he's our best big outside of horford. His defense is leaps and bounds above the likes of KO and zeller. Around the rim he's our best big man over horford even. And he doesn't force it, he stays in his lane and dives to the basket or takes the occasional 3pter and is shooting better from 3 than kelly this year. He can finish with either hand and has a very handy hook shot(which tommy has begged KO to develop for years). It's honestly pretty cut and dry..