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Boston Celtics: 3 fillers for Tristan Thompson’s minutes on opening night

By Mark Nilon

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 08: Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers on the bench during the in the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on March 8, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 08: Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers on the bench during the in the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on March 8, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Player who could take some of Thompson’s minutes No. 1) Tacko Fall

We here at the Houdini are always trying to find an excuse for the Boston Celtics to throw the Senegalese supergiant Tacko Fall more minutes within the team’s rotation.

Now, with the realistic possibility of Tristan Thompson sitting out due to a lingering hamstring injury, we have found ourselves one.

Re-upping with the Celtics on a two-way contract this offseason, Fall finds himself exuberant to be back in Beantown for another go at things.

"“I’m in an organization where they believe in me,” he said. “They took a chance on me last year where a lot of teams had a lot of question marks, but they saw that I had a lot of potential. So you always want to go where you’re wanted. I know I’m wanted here, I know that they are going to help me develop my game, and they are going to utilize me the best possible way.”"

Development will be key for the raw-talented Fall, who spent the majority of his rookie season playing with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA’s G-League (averaged 12.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game).

As we all know, the best way to have players develop is by… well, letting them play. The only problem heading into this year is the fact that the Boston Celtics pulled out of the G-League bubble, meaning that Tacko will find himself trapped at the back of the bench for pretty much the entire year, leaving playing time as a mere dream on most nights.

However, with Thompson’s potential absence from opening night, it could lead to a chance for some rare minutes of action for the 25-year-old.

We’re not suggesting to start the man or, frankly, give him TT’s total share of minutes. However, even playing him at a fraction of the time in which they would have Thompson could prove to be beneficial for a young guy like Fall.

Be it some time in the first half or during garbage time minutes (if there winds up being any) giving the second-year center some of Thompson’s minutes might be a sound idea for the shamrocks on opening night — for both the fans and for Fall.

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