Xavier Tillman: Boosting the Celtics’ Interior Rotation and Defensive Capabilities

NBA – With Xavier Tillman, the Celtics have one more interior rotation, capable of evolving with Al Horford and “switching” against opposing attacks.

Xavier Tillman is undefeated with Boston. Arriving in Massachusetts during the “dealin trade”, the former Grizzlies (2m03, 25 years old) thus had nine victories with the Celtics, even if he only participated in three games.

Obviously, it is not the former Michigan State man who transformed Joe Mazzulla’s team into a war machine that crushes everything in its path, but Xavier Tillman represents one more option for the coach.

“He’s a guy who can help us on switches, while providing size” explains the coach to The Athletic. “That’s one of the things I like about this team is that they keep an open mind and understand that we’re doing what’s best for the team and what has a impact on the victory, and so we felt it was the right thing to do (against Dallas) to continue to switch, and it’s to his credit and that of the rest of the guys to have understood that it was the most important. »

Against Dallas, Joe Mazzulla did not use Luke Kornet, whose profile provides more size (2m18) but necessarily limits the team if it involves “switching” on opposing attackers.

“X looked comfortable”

confirme Jaylen Brown. “It’s like he fit in perfectly with the team… He came in and contributed on defense, he grabbed a few rebounds, he made a few stops. In attack, we can say that he feels the game well. He is a good screen setter. He has great hands, so I was able to find him several times from the baseline, while reading the defense and the way they handled themselves. »

With Kristaps Porzingis in the major five, plus Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta in rotation, the Celtics have complementary, and interesting, profiles to hold their racket.

Xavier Tillman, Sr. Rebounds Percentage Season Team MJ Min Shots 3pts LF Off Def Tot Pd Fte Int Bp Ct Pts 2020-21 MEM 59 18 55.9 33.8 64.2 1.3 3.1 4.3 1.3 2.0 0.8 0.8 0.6 6.6 2021-22 MEM 5 3 13 45.4 20.4 64.8 1.3 1.8 3.0 1.2 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.3 4.8 2022-23 MEM 61 19 61.4 26.7 55.1 2.0 3.1 5.0 1.6 1.6 1.0 0.7 0.5 7.0 2023-24 * All Teams 37 20 42 .1 23.6 44.4 1.5 2.9 4.4 1.6 1.7 1.2 0.8 1.0 5.9 2023-24 * MEM 34 21 40.8 22.6 41.9 1.7 3.0 4.6 1.7 1.8 1.2 0.9 1.0 6.0 2023-24 * BOS 3 12 75.0 50.0 100.0 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 5.0 Total 210 18 52.4 26.6 57.8 1.5 2.7 4.2 1.4 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.5 6.1

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.

2024-03-05 17:31:50
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