Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2019 18:25:34 GMT -5
Tacko Fall returns, Jayson Tatum trying new shots, and other pre Boston Celtics-New York Knicks notes
By John Karalis
By John Karalis
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics officially ruled Robert Williams out for their Friday night game against the New York Knicks. He’s dealing with left hip bursitis and was initially calling him questionable earlier in the day.
With Enes Kanter out again, the Celtics recalled rookie Tacko Fall from the Maine Red Claws to add some big man depth to their bench. Daniel Theis will likely start, and Vincent Poirier will get a chance at some real minutes as a backup.
As for Kanter’s injury, Stevens said “Enes did more today on the court. Nothing contact yet. So the next time that we will practice contact-wise or do anything that resembles five on five basketball will be Monday. So that’ll be the next chance for him and then if he can do some of that, great. If not, we’ll probably have a good idea what his week looks like.”
Boston has games next week in Cleveland and Charlotte, so there’s no rush to bring Kanter back. The next time they should face a tough frontcourt challenge should be next Saturday against LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs.
Other pregame notes
- As noted this morning, Tatum is suddenly working on his floater game. He’s taking nearly three per game this season after averaging less than one per game last year. He’s currently shooting 27 percent on them this season after shooting 45.6 percent last season.
“Just attacking more, keep expanding, try different things,” Tatum said of trying the shot more often. “I wish I would make some more. But made a couple. Keep working on it.”
Tatum’s stated goal coming into the season is to take more 3-pointers and attack the rim more. He’s doing both, but the floater is something he’s leaning on when a clear path to the rim isn’t there.
“I think he is trying to figure out what’s best, especially when he comes downhill," Stevens said. “Defenses are set up to take away lay-ins, not foul, take away the 3. So you have to balance what’s the next thing. He tried to get deep to the rim and on a couple of those occasions he shot a floater because he wasn’t able to get all the way there.”
The question now becomes whether the floater is the best option for Tatum in these situations or if there’s a happy medium with him taking mid-range shots in certain situations.
“One of the things we’re trying to emphasize is just be patient to seek great," Stevens said. “At the same time, we can’t give up some things that are really in a guy’s wheelhouse. Sometimes those are the best shots you can get because defenses are good.”
- Marcus Morris returns to the Garden for the first time as a New York Knick. It’s another opportunity for the Celtics to heap some love on him.
“I think you enjoy having Marcus around,” Stevens said. “He’s a tough guy, a competitive guy, he made a lot of big plays here and I thought really had a huge impact on a lot of big wins. I say this all the time, the toughest transition from the standpoint of the past couple years to this year was we lost five guys that really helped us win a lot of games, and he’s one of the main reasons. He’s a tough guy to play against and a good guy to have in the locker room.”
Jayson Tatum has a bit more of a bond with Morris.
“It was cool seeing him," Tatum said of facing Morris once already in New York. "Personally, he kind of took me under his wing while he was here. So just competing against him, it’s different, but good to see him doing well.”
- Brad Stevens dressed as Mayor Pete,
“My wife, who has a political science background, and a couple of her friends put a little heat on me yesterday to throw on a blue tie and act political as I was handing out candy,” Stevens joked about the costume, which his wife shared on her Twitter page. Then he deadpanned “She’s just trying to get her followers up.”
When he was asked, jokingly, to give a political opinion before the game, Stevens passed.
“I’m just a coach.”
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics officially ruled Robert Williams out for their Friday night game against the New York Knicks. He’s dealing with left hip bursitis and was initially calling him questionable earlier in the day.
With Enes Kanter out again, the Celtics recalled rookie Tacko Fall from the Maine Red Claws to add some big man depth to their bench. Daniel Theis will likely start, and Vincent Poirier will get a chance at some real minutes as a backup.
As for Kanter’s injury, Stevens said “Enes did more today on the court. Nothing contact yet. So the next time that we will practice contact-wise or do anything that resembles five on five basketball will be Monday. So that’ll be the next chance for him and then if he can do some of that, great. If not, we’ll probably have a good idea what his week looks like.”
Boston has games next week in Cleveland and Charlotte, so there’s no rush to bring Kanter back. The next time they should face a tough frontcourt challenge should be next Saturday against LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs.
Other pregame notes
- As noted this morning, Tatum is suddenly working on his floater game. He’s taking nearly three per game this season after averaging less than one per game last year. He’s currently shooting 27 percent on them this season after shooting 45.6 percent last season.
“Just attacking more, keep expanding, try different things,” Tatum said of trying the shot more often. “I wish I would make some more. But made a couple. Keep working on it.”
Tatum’s stated goal coming into the season is to take more 3-pointers and attack the rim more. He’s doing both, but the floater is something he’s leaning on when a clear path to the rim isn’t there.
“I think he is trying to figure out what’s best, especially when he comes downhill," Stevens said. “Defenses are set up to take away lay-ins, not foul, take away the 3. So you have to balance what’s the next thing. He tried to get deep to the rim and on a couple of those occasions he shot a floater because he wasn’t able to get all the way there.”
The question now becomes whether the floater is the best option for Tatum in these situations or if there’s a happy medium with him taking mid-range shots in certain situations.
“One of the things we’re trying to emphasize is just be patient to seek great," Stevens said. “At the same time, we can’t give up some things that are really in a guy’s wheelhouse. Sometimes those are the best shots you can get because defenses are good.”
- Marcus Morris returns to the Garden for the first time as a New York Knick. It’s another opportunity for the Celtics to heap some love on him.
“I think you enjoy having Marcus around,” Stevens said. “He’s a tough guy, a competitive guy, he made a lot of big plays here and I thought really had a huge impact on a lot of big wins. I say this all the time, the toughest transition from the standpoint of the past couple years to this year was we lost five guys that really helped us win a lot of games, and he’s one of the main reasons. He’s a tough guy to play against and a good guy to have in the locker room.”
Jayson Tatum has a bit more of a bond with Morris.
“It was cool seeing him," Tatum said of facing Morris once already in New York. "Personally, he kind of took me under his wing while he was here. So just competing against him, it’s different, but good to see him doing well.”
- Brad Stevens dressed as Mayor Pete,
“My wife, who has a political science background, and a couple of her friends put a little heat on me yesterday to throw on a blue tie and act political as I was handing out candy,” Stevens joked about the costume, which his wife shared on her Twitter page. Then he deadpanned “She’s just trying to get her followers up.”
When he was asked, jokingly, to give a political opinion before the game, Stevens passed.
“I’m just a coach.”