Robert Williams' injury influenced Boston to sign Blake Griffin?
Michael Scotto: I think the absence of Robert Williams affected the way they went about filling Danilo Gallinari’s roster spot. There were some rumblings out there about Carmelo Anthony before Blake Griffin. One of the reasons the Boston Celtics targeted Griffin was the team prioritized defense. Griffin was one of the league leaders at drawing charges. With Williams being out to start the season, Griffin can play the five. Offensively, Griffin can help with DHOs (dribble handoffs). Melo would’ve been a fine stretch four and could’ve replaced that role similar to Gallinari, but that wasn’t the focus after the surgery for Williams, I’m told.
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
NBA executives weigh in on Ime Udoka’s future. Plus, updates on Robert Williams, why the Celtics signed Blake Griffin over Carmelo Anthony, and what executives think Grant Williams is worth in extension talks with @Jared Weiss on the @Jorge Sierra podcast. hoopshype.com/lists/celtics-… – 10:02 AM
NBA executives weigh in on Ime Udoka’s future. Plus, updates on Robert Williams, why the Celtics signed Blake Griffin over Carmelo Anthony, and what executives think Grant Williams is worth in extension talks with @Jared Weiss on the @Jorge Sierra podcast. hoopshype.com/lists/celtics-… – 10:02 AM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
This is hardly news, but the Celtics defense is outstanding, as per usual. And this is without Robert Williams, which is kind of a scary thought for the rest of the league. – 8:25 PM
This is hardly news, but the Celtics defense is outstanding, as per usual. And this is without Robert Williams, which is kind of a scary thought for the rest of the league. – 8:25 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Blake Griffin is rocking a white #Celtics sweatsuit, meaning he’s not playing tonight. But he’s on the bench. – 7:40 PM
Blake Griffin is rocking a white #Celtics sweatsuit, meaning he’s not playing tonight. But he’s on the bench. – 7:40 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
For anyone who wanted to see Blake Griffin getting up shots at TD Garden as a Celtic….here’s Blake Griffin getting up shots at TD Garden as a Celtic…. pic.twitter.com/y8AncQA0dm – 5:58 PM
For anyone who wanted to see Blake Griffin getting up shots at TD Garden as a Celtic….here’s Blake Griffin getting up shots at TD Garden as a Celtic…. pic.twitter.com/y8AncQA0dm – 5:58 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Blake Griffin is available tonight, but Joe Mazzulla says he’ll play it by ear whether he uses Griffin gets in – 5:48 PM
Blake Griffin is available tonight, but Joe Mazzulla says he’ll play it by ear whether he uses Griffin gets in – 5:48 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Blake Griffin still getting acclimated, per Mazzulla, and will either debut tonight or Friday. – 5:48 PM
Blake Griffin still getting acclimated, per Mazzulla, and will either debut tonight or Friday. – 5:48 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
There is a chance Blake Griffin could make his debut tonight according to Joe Mazzulla – 5:47 PM
There is a chance Blake Griffin could make his debut tonight according to Joe Mazzulla – 5:47 PM
A. Sherrod Blakely @ASherrodblakely
Will Blake Griffin be the Glue Guy the Celtics Need? | A List Podcast w/ @A. Sherrod Blakely, @Gary Washburn & @KwaniALunis | Powered by @betonline_ag & @indeed twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:00 AM
Will Blake Griffin be the Glue Guy the Celtics Need? | A List Podcast w/ @A. Sherrod Blakely, @Gary Washburn & @KwaniALunis | Powered by @betonline_ag & @indeed twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 11:00 AM
More on this storyline
Adam Himmelsbach: Been in the Cs locker room for 5 mins and seems like Blake Griffin has been here 5 years. Engaging everyone and roasting Grant lol. -via Twitter @AdamHimmelsbach / October 6, 2022
Jared Weiss: Blake Griffin may play tonight depending on how the game goes per Joe Mazzulla, but Luke Kornet remains out with an ankle sprain. He is listed as day to day. -via Twitter @JaredWeissNBA / October 5, 2022
Blake Griffin signed a fully guaranteed one-year, $2.91M contract with the Boston Celtics. -via HoopsHype / October 4, 2022
Jared Weiss: I haven’t heard anything indicating there would be an earlier time frame than the 2-3 months. I just saw him walking around the other day. He’s got a single crutch on the side where the knee (surgery) is. He’s basically using it as a big cane essentially to support his walking. He’s walking pretty gingerly. It’s not like he’s full on limping, but he doesn’t look like he’s putting all of his weight on his knee the way he normally would, and he’s not doing full strides like he normally would. I think he’s definitely got a ways to go before getting back out there, and I’d presume they’re going to go on the more conservative time of this time frame because he’s already come back a few different times in his career, and the results haven’t been good. They’ve got to take as much time as they can because if he goes down again for this injury, you’ve got to worry about his career at that point. -via HoopsHype / October 6, 2022
It turned out Tatum played in the 2022 NBA Finals with a right shoulder injury, and he also revealed to Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks in August that he had a small non-displaced bone chip in his wrist for two months that was healed entering the NBA Finals but still susceptible to pain if hit. Tatum told Andscape that his injured wrist didn’t need offseason surgery. “It affected me, but that’s why I never talked about it,” Tatum told Andscape. “I didn’t show people I was wearing a brace [off the court] because if I’m out there, if you playing, then you playing. So, if you can’t play, then you can’t play. It was June, so everybody was dealing with something. I wasn’t the only guy out there that was banged up. “[Celtics center] Robert Williams was damn near playing on one leg and I know the Warriors had guys [with] injuries and stuff, so it’s not an excuse. It was just the reality.” -via Andscape / October 5, 2022