Xavier Tillman is an efficient participant who helped the Celtics run on the championship final yr and can assist them this yr. Nevertheless, Boston has a crowded middle room so what sort of position will Tillman have this season?
First let’s go over Tillman as a participant.
Tillman is a restricted offensive participant. He’s not a pick-and-roll participant. In Memphis final yr, they scored simply 0.67 factors per possession when Tillman was the display screen setter in pick-and-rolls. That quantity was 2nd worst on the workforce, with solely Luke Kennard being worse. Because of this, Boston didn’t use him of their pick-and-roll sport after the commerce.
Nevertheless, his three-point shot has improved in the course of the preseason.
Tillman shot 55% on threes within the preseason, albeit a small pattern measurement. The three-out-4 from above the break is encouraging however it’s only 4 makes an attempt and never sufficient to make a definitive assertion. All through his profession, Tillman has been unhealthy from past the arch at simply 27% for his profession. In fact, his shot in Recreation 3 is one we’ll all keep in mind:
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For his profession, the three-point shot has not been there, however I’m hopeful that it’ll begin to come round this season however there isn’t a assure of that.
Tillman was excellent contained in the arch post-trade final yr, capturing 68% from two-point vary and 71% on pictures lower than ten ft from the basket. He’s not a ineffective offensive participant — only a restricted one.
The strongest a part of Tillman’s sport is his protection. Through the 2023 playoffs, he was the beginning middle for Memphis because of accidents to Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke. In keeping with PBP Stats, Memphis’ protection was 9.9 factors higher per 100 possessions with Tillman on the courtroom versus when he was on the bench. Tillman is a really versatile defensive participant; he can transfer his ft in house very properly and may guard facilities properly.
Within the playoffs final yr, there was a noticeable distinction when Tillman was on the market and when Luke Kornet was on the market. Kornet had an ideal preseason and can possible see a bulk of the common season reps however Tillman is much less exploitable in a playoff collection. The numbers again that up.
In 133 playoff minutes, the Celtics had been -7.0 factors per 100 possessions and gave up 114.8 factors per 100 possessions with Kornet on the courtroom. When Tillman was on the market, the Celtics had been +20.0 and gave up 100.0 factors per 100 possessions in 69 minutes. Thus, whereas the pattern measurement was small, Tillman was the higher participant within the playoffs.
So the query must be requested; what is going to Xavier Tillman’s position be this season?
As was talked about in my Celtics roster rankings, 21% of Tillman’s minutes after the commerce got here on the 4. I count on that quantity to both stay there or leap due to what number of helpful facilities the Celtics have.
It is because of this that the workforce desires Tillman to change into extra of a risk from 3-point vary. Having 2 non-shooters on the courtroom, Kornet and Tillman, wouldn’t be very Mazzulla Ball-like, so count on Tillman to proceed to take extra three pointers.
It will likely be good to have Tillman with Porzingis out till round Christmas and Horford not enjoying back-to-backs however the place does Tillman get his minutes when Horford is within the lineup?
Might he be that ninth man within the Celtics rotation? This may permit the workforce to make use of much less of their different facilities and play greater extra typically. Horford and Tillman solely performed 77 minutes mixed collectively within the common season and playoffs however with a +21.7 web ranking within the common season and a +50.0 web ranking in playoffs, there are constructive indicators that there could possibly be some juice to these lineups.
Lots of people need Jordan Walsh to get these minutes, however Tillman has extra expertise and is a greater participant at this stage of their careers. Although Walsh did have a great preseason, I’d lean Tillman to be the Celtics ninth man early within the season.
When Porzingis is again. Tillman will probably be a helpful member of the keep prepared crew however till then, X has an actual likelihood to carve out a job for himself.
