Boston is the New Lob City
Creator: Bob DeChiara | Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports | Copyright: Bob DeChiara
Let it be known - Boston is the new “Lob City”.
Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) and I went live on the @GuyBostonSports twitter account for our pregame show last night, and had a viewer comment about the elite athleticism the Celtics had in their starting five. For the record, Boston’s starting five in their first preseason game was Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Javonte Green, Jayson Tatum, and Robert Williams III. Out of those guys, three are known for their elite leaping ability, and Tatum’s not half bad either.
Well, when the game came around it did not disappoint. In the first half alone both Green and Williams III both caught alley-oops, and later on there were even more flashy dunks. The Celtics have always had some super athletic guys on the team, but now that they’re more experienced and getting the chance at some playing time it’s really showing. The high-flying antics were one of the main highlights of the Celtics’ first preseason game.
Green barely got playing time last season, only playing 468 total minutes on the season. It was his first year in the league, and the main reason he’s never been able to find an NBA gig was the lack of a consistent jump shot. The one thing that was never in question was his athleticism. Green put on a show last night with not one, but two emphatic dunks. He made a real case that he should get rotational minutes this season.
Then there’s Williams III who knows two things - dunk the ball and jump really high. The third year center out of Texas A&M is an elite finisher at the rim and has a ridiculous vertical leap. The way he’s able to block shots and get up for alley-oops in DeAndre Jordan-esque. Williams III is undersized at 6’8” but this athleticism more than makes up for it.
Last of all, how can you forget about Brown. The young superstar is entering his fifth year in the league and although he can do so much more, his ability to attack the rim has to be one of his best features. The way he drives with such immense power makes him a lethal threat to stuff it down over any defender who stands in his way. He’s primed to take a huge leap this year.
With every great dunker, however, there must be a great passer. Well luckily for Celtics fans who love to watch flashy plays, Boston has that, too. Jeff Teague has always been an above average passer, Tatum and Brown have shown a solid ability to playmake, Smart led the team in assists last year, and even rookie Payton Pritchard has shown the ability to make smart plays on offense.
There are plenty of guys ready and willing to throw up lobs for the athletes on the C’s, and it should make for a super fun season. Beantown, it’s time to welcome the new to Lob City.
