Boston Celtics: 3 moves the Cs can make to improve their shooting
By Chris Conte
How to improve Boston Celtics shooting No. 2) Acquire some cutters
There are many ways to space the floor in basketball that don’t include playing five shooters on the floor at once.
That is arguably the best way to space the floor, but it’s not the only way.
With rollers, cutters, and relocaters, it is possible to generate spacing without the need for elite 3-point shooters.
The Boston Celtics should want to grab as many shooters as they can, but I’d argue that bringing in guys that move without the ball and put pressure on the rim are just as important as those shooters.
Take Robert Williams, a non-shooter that changed the C’s spacing in the middle of the season while only playing about 25 minutes per game. His rim gravity, passing, and vertical ability changed how defenses reacted to Boston’s pick-and-rolls.
They could no longer blitz Tatum or Brown, and they had to condense to contain Williams. This adjustment led to more open 3-pointers and a more efficient offense.
The Boston Celtics aren’t going to find more Robert Williams’ on the market, but some guys can have a similar impact on the team.
The Celtics can grab Hamidou Diallo in restricted free agency, who can jump out of the gym and massively improve as a shooter. His cutting, along with his shooting, would mesh nicely with Boston’s core pieces.
In free agency, Boston should look towards Alex Caruso, Torrey Craig, or Trevor Ariza, who specialize in moving without the ball and match Boston’s price tag.
Brad Stevens should keep his eyes on Larry Nance, Kenrich Williams, and Kyle Anderson, who fit inside the TPE and can play off-ball on the trade market.
Ultimately, I see the Boston Celtics prioritizing Anderson or Williams over their other options in free agency.
Craig, Caruso, and Ariza are all likely to return to their current teams, and Diallo may be too young for Stevens’ liking.
Regardless, Anderson or Williams is an exceptional return on the TPE, and their contracts are team-friendly. Anderson and Williams give the Celtics more reliable backup wings that can move without the ball, pass, defend, and shoot.