Ranking the 5 worst Celtics starters of the Jayson Tatum era
By Ben Grunert
Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson joined the Celtics for the 2020-21 campaign, Boston’s worst season in the Tatum era.
In a season that was shortened by COVID-19, the Celtics dealt with an avalanche of missed games as players constantly fell in and out of the lineup due to injury and illness. Ridiculously enough, Boston trotted out 37 different starting lineups over the course of the campaign. Jaylen Brown even missed the playoffs with a major wrist injury.
Thompson started in 43 of his 54 appearances as a Celtic. Designed to provide Boston with toughness, rebounding, and championship experience, Thompson posted respectable averages of 8.2 points and 8.2 rebounds as a starter.
Nevertheless, a major problem stuck out like a sore thumb during that season: Rob Williams was tied down to the bench.
Timelord had not broken out yet, but players like Thompson and Daniel Theis severely capped his playing time. Danny Ainge dealt Theis at the deadline to make more room for Williams, but the future All-Defensive center still ended the season averaging just 18.9 minutes per game.
Thompson could never move the needle for Boston
In a forgettable season defined by mediocrity, the Boston Celtics were simply mediocre with Thompson. In games Thompson started, Boston went 21-22. Meanwhile, the team won 10 of 13 contests in which Williams started.
As a starter, Timelord outpaced Thompson in average points, rebounds, blocks, steals, and assists. He also shot nearly 17% better from the field and shot slightly better from the charity stripe. In 43 starts, Thompson accumulated a total plus-minus of -5. In 13 starts, Williams was +45.
In Thompson’s defense, Brad Stevens somewhat misused the former Cavalier. Instead of mainly leaning on the veteran’s championship pedigree, Stevens frequently played Thompson in double-big lineups with Theis that totally lacked spacing, all while refusing to commit to Boston’s big man of the future.
Some fans have speculated that Stevens played such awkward lineups in an attempt to force Ainge to trade one of Theis or Thompson. If that was true, Stevens got what he wanted.
At the end of the day, Boston should not have signed Thompson. Double T may have played just fine with the Celtics, but his presence on the team only delayed Timelord’s development. The following season, Williams played 29.6 minutes per game and anchored a defensive unit that made the NBA Finals.