Boston Celtics: 5 reasons to be excited for 2019-20 NBA season
By Adam Taylor
Clean-up duty
Not since Kevin Garnett have the Boston Celtics had a player capable of commanding rebounds on either end of the floor. Many have since tried but none have had long term success.
Instead, the Celtics have reverted to rebounding by committee, relying on a team effort to grab rebounds, sometimes to the detriment of the team’s ability to run on the break.
Enter Enes Kanter and Vincent Poirier, two big men who thrive on cleaning the glass, gobbling up rebounds like men possessed. Kanter comes into the season averaging 9.8 rebounds per-game for his career, while Poirier finished last year with 6.2 rebounds per game in the EuroLeague.
Neither are known for their ability to defend the perimeter, but they serve a purpose on the block.
The Tristan Thompsons of the league will not be feasting on the Celtics frontcourt as they have done so regularly in recent seasons, second- and even third-chance opportunities will be much tougher for opposing teams now.
Kanter will shore up the rebounding and offer post scoring. Barring another deal, Boston will have to be creative with its interior defense. https://t.co/vzEf8PbMh1
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) July 1, 2019
Adding young big men Rob Williams, Grant Williams and Tacko Fall into the mix alongside Daniel Theis, both the 4 and 5 positions look vastly upgraded in terms of rebounding.
Now is the time to start looking forward to some easy put-backs on offense, while the rebounding on defense provides the team with a greater potency on the break should the bigs be able to hit the guards and forwards when they leak out.