T.n.T: Boston's bruising starting front court
How has the duo of Theis and Thompson fared so far?
With Tim Sheils
Recommended Content
Reading
· Jaylen Brown and the difference between a star vs. a superstar (Bill Sy)
· KC: the quiet Celtics legend who won at every level (CelticsBlog)
· Is C's rookie Payton Pritchard the real deal? (NBC Sports Boston)
· Is Isaiah Thomas the answer to the Celtics’ scoring-challenged bench? (Boston Globe)
· Four Celtics Return Home to Indy for Mini-Series Against Pacers (Marc D’Amico)
Audio and Video
· Brooklyn runs away from the Celtics & thoughts on KC Jones' passing (Locked On Celtics)
· Celtics-Pacers Postgame Podcast (Anything is Poddable)
· Bannertown Buildup Pregame (Bannertown USA - Guy Boston Sports)
What’s on Tap
Hello all!
First off, thank you to all of you who provided any feedback on content, I appreciate knowing what you want to read and it will help me going forward. I want to be producing content that’s accessible and enjoyable, and I truly value your opinions.
I have to say mea culpa and claim an early mulligan on the starting lineup. In both Celtics games since Tristan Thompson has returned to play, we have seen Boston run with two bigs out of the gate, with Daniel Theis at the 4 and Tristan Thompson at the 5. Part of it may be matchup-based as the team took on the formidable Bucks and Nets, but it’s still a trend to monitor with Kemba Walker out.
The question is, how has this lineup fared so far, and is it a viable option going forward? Is Boston capable of running Theis and Thompson on the floor at the same time on a regular basis, or is it just a lineup for bigger matchups? With that in mind, let’s dig in.
Of all lineups that Boston has rolled out so far in the regular season, the starting five of Smart/Brown/Tatum/Theis/Thompson has gotten the lion’s share of minutes. Oddly enough, that starting five is essentially the only time Theis and Thompson are on the floor with each other, and the lineup has sported a plus-minus of -18 with 25 rebounds and 16 assists. Both Theis and Thompson have specific and different skillsets, and what they both bring to the table changes the performances of the players around them.
For one, when Thompson is on the floor, the team shoots worse from the field (40.5% on, 49% off). Also, the team averages 20.0 rebounds/game with Thompson on and with Theis slightly under that with 17.0 rebounds/game. However, while Thompson’s off the floor, the team takes a +1.3 uptick in RPG, whereas when Theis is not on the floor, the team jumps +7.3 in RPG. This difference may be due to Brad Stevens staggering the two bigs, with Thompson netting more rebounds as the lone big.
Thompson is the leader out of the two in rebounds so far, narrowly edged out for team leader by Tatum 26 to 24; by comparison, Theis has 12 rebounds across three games. Thompson was the primary defender against Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Bucks game, holding him to 5/10 shooting (2/4 from 3). Thompson also had the unfortunate fate of getting cooked by Kevin Durant in their matchups, letting up 4/5 shooting (1/1 from deep).
Offensively, Theis has dished out 6 assists across two games and is more of a natural fit offensively than Thompson, capable of moving with the ball easier and developing a serviceable deep ball. TT is much more of a bruising, gritty rebounder, while Daniel Theis is much more along the lines of the springy stretch-4 big ideal for a smaller lineup. Theis has certainly been more than ready to step up to the task, but having a tough, physical big like Thompson to take on bigger players like Embiid and Giannis will be vital for a deep playoff run.
It’s also important to keep in mind with these sample sizes, we are talking about two of their first three matchups coming against some of the strongest contenders in the league. Different teams with elite players present their own unique challenges in containment defensively. Let’s take a look at the two bigs and their strongest displays throughout the first few games.
For example, this nice contest by Thompson against a Giannis 3 point attempt (he shot 2/4 from deep against Thompson this game). First, he takes a swipe at the ball as Middleton drives before the kick out to Giannis beyond the arc. As soon as Giannis gets the ball, TT has active feet and hands, doesn’t bite on the dribble move, and when he goes up for the contest, he doesn’t overextend himself. He controls his landing, doesn’t let his feet too far off the ground, and drops his hands after contesting the shot to avoid contact.
Here’s a similar play by Thompson, where he moves out of the way to avoid getting caught up with Middleton, drops into the paint to guard the drive, then makes a strong close-out contest at the top of the key 3 from Giannis.
Check out Theis here, getting set in the driving lane to cut off Giannis. Giannis gets a high screen from Pat Connaughton to get Smart off of him. Theis switches onto Giannis as Smart gets caught on the screen and rotates to Connaughton, Giannis works around the screen and begins to turn and get momentum towards the hoop. Theis doesn’t overcommit to the perimeter, sees the drive coming, uses good footwork and gets positioned in the right spot to cut off the drive, taking a ton of contact from Giannis in the process.
From last night’s Pacers game: versatile big Domantas Sabonis draws Daniel Theis in the post. Sabonis starts to back Theis down. Sabonis spins, Theis takes one good bump to the chest and makes a clean contest, Sabonis misses the shot, and they scramble for the rebound. Sabonis recovers, tries to put a shoulder into Theis again, and Theis draws the offensive foul after absorbing the hit.
Here’s another gem of a play by Theis defending Sabonis on the break. Sabonis comes into the paint with a full head of steam, Theis uses solid footwork to keep his man in front of him and with a last second contest forces a missed layup as Tatum grabs the board.
Another solid play by Daniel Theis here against Myles Turner (a player some Celtics fans coveted in a Hayward trade). Turner gets the pass on the wing and begins to cut to the hoop. Theis makes a quick read after slightly overplaying to the strong side, then counters back over to the right, sliding his feet over to meet Turner at the rim for the good contest and forcing a miss.
This sequence here might have been one of the defensive highlights of the game. First, Tristan Thompson offers defensive assistance for Tatum as he bounces off the Sabonis screen. Warren moves around the screen and drives to the hoop, Tatum is there waiting with Thompson there to help. Thompson meets Warren in the air and he’s forced to kick it behind to Sabonis, who’s waiting as a trailer to drive to the hoop. After the first contest, Thompson recovers and pogos back up shortly after to get the strip block on Sabonis’ layup attempt.
On paper, Boston has struggled defensively a bit out of the gate, and that’s not apt to get better when Kemba Walker returns. It’s just a matter of the team getting on the same page, and working on bigger issues as a collective, such as their transition defense. Boston currently allows the 4th most points in the fastbreak with 19.3 ppg. The Celtics also have the 5th worst defensive rating (116.9) and 2nd worst defensive rebounds per game (29.3). They are in a three-way tie for 6th most 2nd chance points (15.0 ppg). Understand that adding new pieces requires a good amount of time to adjust. Everything takes a little bit of fine-tuning, but it’s extremely easy to have knee-jerk reaction. The best way to think of it is “take care of the little things, and the big things take care of themselves”.
Personal Musings
I hope you all had a nice holiday, and as we head towards New Years. I got some good stuff for Christmas; some clothes and new socks, a Jayson Tatum jersey, some new kitchenware and cooking utensils, all the basic things I needed. I did however, get a really nice surprise from my sister and her boyfriend:
Since they’re moving in together and downsizing, they had offered it to me a while back and I was planning on paying for it. Instead, it came as a Christmas surprise that I truly appreciated.
Most of all, I really appreciated the time I was able to spend with loved ones in a safe way, and having some sense of a normal holiday among all of this chaos. I’ve reflected a good deal on this past year, the challenges we’ve all had to face during an arduous and emotionally-strained time. I’ve also thoughts about the growth I’ve had, and the further growth waiting for me next year as I continue to set goals for myself.
It’s been a long year folks, but we’re just days from the finish line. Keep pushing, find what it is that you’ve found solace in this time and cling to it. Strive for growth in your personal and work life, and do something this week that’s gonna make you happy. Cheers, and I’ll see you on the other side.