Each season, on the night time earlier than the Boston Celtics play their opening recreation, I sound like a child on Christmas. One thing concerning the opening week or two of a season all the time captivates me. Maybe it’s the possibility to dive into a brand new or revamped playbook. I’m unsure if I’ll ever know. What I do know is that I loved the WNBA this 12 months. Shoutout to the New York Liberty for his or her championship.
Nonetheless, whereas the Liberty celebrated their success, the New York Knicks had been frantically operating simulations. Tom Thibodeau should discover a option to shield the rim when Karl-Anthony Cities is off the courtroom.
Why?
Stefan Bondy of The New York Submit reported that Treasured Achiuwa had suffered a hamstring damage. He’s anticipated to be out for 2-4 weeks. We’re not new right here. We all know hamstring accidents can last more than that…However in fact, that’s not our downside…That’s New York’s downside…That’s KNICKS FANS’ downside.
Achiuwa’s absence does pose a possibility for the Celtics, although. He isn’t the one huge on New York’s damage report. Mitchell Robinson has been dominated out till November/December/January — someplace round that point. As such, Thibodeau doesn’t have many choices in the course of the ground.
Jericho Sims is probably the most logical alternative. He performed in 45 video games for New York final season. Nonetheless, he didn’t swimsuit up in any of the video games in opposition to Boston, so we don’t have any knowledge on how he matches up with among the bench bigs obtainable to Joe Mazzulla.
Sims averaged 13 minutes per recreation when he noticed the ground, guarding a mean of two.1 pictures per night time. Regardless of his restricted contributions on the glass, the Knicks went 30-15 in his video games.
Not like Robinson, who’s a conventional drop huge, Sims might give the Knicks’ second unit some defensive fluidity. He’s cell sufficient to protect up on the perimeter, has good lateral quickness, can keep in entrance of his man, and has better-than-expected timing in shot contests.
Check out the above clip the place Sims begins by defending Myles Turner, who’s within the delay. Sims doesn’t chunk on the hold motion however takes a step off the perimeter to provide himself time and house, giving himself an additional beat to react because the play unfolds. As Indiana strikes the rock across the perimeter, Sims switches earlier than going into an up-to-touch protection on the second aspect PnR. He splits the curler and ball-handler earlier than timing his shot contest and getting the block.
Right here’s one other instance of Sims guarding as much as the perimeter. This time, Nic Claxton appears to be like to check Sims’ potential to remain linked on drives. When the younger Knicks huge beats him to his spot, Claxton tries to spin off, solely to seek out himself met by Sims’ lengthy wingspan and bouncy shot contest.
Nonetheless, like most younger huge males, Sims tends to chunk on pump fakes, which may go away him inclined to leaving his ft — creating simple scoring or passing alternatives whereas doubtlessly permitting him to fall into foul bother.
So, what does this imply for the Celtics?
Sims can be a useful member of the Knicks bench unit. He’ll present legit rim safety and a few dependable PnR protection. Nonetheless, he will be exploited. He’s nonetheless younger and has a slight body. Somebody like Neemias Queta should not have any downside dislodging him or proudly owning him on the inside across the rim. After all, Neemy would want to showcase an aggression we’ve but to see from him if he needed to dominate that matchup.
Nonetheless, I feel Neemy is a stable counter to what Sims gives on protection. Neemy is cell, athletic, tall, robust and has an limitless motor. He’s a stable rim-runner who can bully across the publish whereas controlling the offensive boards.
I do marvel how a lot enjoying time Al Horford will get, contemplating he solely performed in one of many preseason video games. Maybe he splits some bench minutes with Neemy, permitting Kornet to run with the starters. Horford could be a nightmare matchup for Sims resulting from his three-level scoring, potential to manage the angles, willingness to play by means of his defender and general basketball IQ.
If Horford begins, Kornet might doubtlessly be the one who assessments Sims potential to comprise the short-roll and name out passing lanes for his teammates to shut down.
It doesn’t matter what, there’s a motive Sims wasn’t a part of the Knicks rotation in the course of the 5 video games they performed in opposition to Boston final season. Contemplating Thibodeau doesn’t have a trusted third huge to fall again on, and the staff at the moment has simply 12 gamers on its roster — 15 in case you embody their three two-way guys.
For what it’s value, Ariel Hukporti might additionally see some enjoying time, however from the place I’m sitting, Thibodeau could also be higher suited to going small if Sims struggles…Perhaps Josh Hart on the 5? Who is aware of, but it surely might get funky.
My projected strategy to New York’s present points could be as follows
- Kornet — Starter.
- Horford — First huge off-bench, restricted minutes
- Neemy — Fill the minutes that Horford is giving up as he works again to health
- Tillman – will possible play extra 4 than 5, which is why I haven’t factored him in right here.
Mazzulla will possible be experimenting within the opening recreation anyway, so displaying Sims and the remainder of the Knicks’ protection a number of totally different appears to be like could be a wise option to go.
How do you assume the Celtics will strategy the sport, and do you see Achiuwa’s absence as a possible benefit for the Celtics? Let me know within the feedback.
CelticsBlog graciously allowed this text to be cross-posted from my “Celtics Chronicle” e-newsletter.