Ime Udoka has had some questionable rotations with the Boston Celtics
The first occurrence of this limited rotation came during the second game of the season against the Toronto Raptors. Udoka deployed Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, and Pritchard to close out the end of the first quarter. Not to discredit this group, but it would work much better if there was a true center holding down the position.
As the season has progressed, it’s evident that Udoka is electing to use Grant Williams over more suitable players for the center position. In doing so, Williams has played the five over the likes of Enes Kanter and Juancho Hernangomez.
It’s worth a quick mention that Hernangomez does not naturally play the center position. However, he’s a big body who can maneuver around the court and hold his own under the basket well.
Perhaps it could be as simple as this? Udoka’s initial plans of having Marcus Smart be the starting point guard aren’t working out so well, and I feel that could be the root of a majority of Boston’s problems in the early parts of this season.
There isn’t any identity at the point guard position, which leads to very few plays being initiated or executed. To me, that’s on the shoulders of the head coach for not making the necessary adjustments.
In his short time here, Udoka called out one of his stars in Jaylen Brown for being too “inconsistent” in games. He’s also suspended Smart for missing a team flight, benched Grant Williams for complaining to the referees, and has questioned the effort level which the Boston Celtics are displaying. When is it time to call Udoka out for all of his inconsistencies and coaching decisions?