Tag: Daniel Theis

Injury report: Kemba Walker, Daniel Theis out vs. Kings

Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker will miss the team’s game against the Sacramento Kings but they may have another player proficient in the pick-and-roll in mind to replace him in the starting lineup.

Per an announcement from the Boston Celtics, star point guard Kemba Walker and starting center Daniel Theis have been listed as out against the Sacramento Kings, with Walker still ailing from a neck sprain he sustained on Friday and Theis recently contracting an illness.

Rookie swingman Romeo Langford continues to be out with an ankle sprain he’s been rehabbing for two weeks.

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has played coy about who could start in Walker’s place, suggesting that even recently called-up rookie point guard Tremont Waters could get the opportunity (per The Athletic’s Jay King). With Waters running the show in the starting unit, he’ll be able to mimic Walker’s pick-and-roll heavy style while helping keep Stevens’ rotation as is.

Boston has been dealing with injuries since before the season began, staying true to their “Hospital Celtics” nickname. However, the Celtics have lost three out of their last four games and will need to overcome their recent losses in order to right their suddenly rocky ship.

Injury report: Daniel Theis, Robert Williams III listed as probable vs. Warriors

The Boston Celtics may not have to worry about the Golden State Warriors dominating in the paint but the return of centers Daniel Theis and Robert Williams III is timely nonetheless.

The Boston Celtics were vulnerable on the interior without centers Daniel Theis and Robert Williams — possibly their two best players at the position — when they faced the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, a game that the Celtics would win but surrender 133 points in.

64 of those points, nearly half of the total, came in the paint.

Fortunately for Boston, both Theis and Williams look as if they’ll be available for the Celtics when they face off against the (Splash Brother-less) Golden State Warriors on Friday. Boston has held opponents to just 44.2 points in the paint per game (ranked seventh in the NBA, per NBA Advanced Stats) largely behind the defense of Theis and Williams.

Though neither have been officially cleared, both spoke to reporters prior to Friday’s game to confirm their playing status.

Theis, who dislocated his pinky three times against the Dallas Mavericks, will be wearing a special splint (per MassLive’s John Karalis).

The duo are averaged a combined 3.7 blocks per game while Theis is holding opponents to 4.8 percent below their field goal percentage on shots fewer than six feet from the rim and Williams is holding opponents to 2.7 percent below their field goal percentage on shots fewer than six from the rim.

With only 39.6 percent of Golden State’s points coming in the paint, ranked 27th in the NBA, the Celtics were unlikely to have been dominated inside by the Warriors but without sharpshooters Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson available (and lockdown defender Marcus Smart sticking to D’Angelo Russell’s ribs like a home cooked meal), Golden State may be forced to find most of their offense from forward Eric Paschall.

Per Basketball Reference, 47.7 percent of Paschall’s 15.5 points per game have come in the paint this season.

Injury Report: Robert Williams III, Daniel Theis downgraded to out vs. Wizards

With Boston Celtics centers Robert Williams III and Daniel Theis out, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens will have to rely on a pair of rookies to help protect the rim in their absence.

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Per an announcement from the Boston Celtics, centers Robert Williams III (right ankle sprain) and Daniel Theis (little finger sprain) won’t be suiting up against the Washington Wizards.

Theis was listed as questionable as recently as Tuesday and Celtics head coach Brad Stevens appeared hopeful that Theis could play after shootaround, per Boston.com. Though team doctors have held him out against Washington, Boston will face off against the hobbled Golden State Warriors on Nov. 15, a game in which he may return.

Williams wasn’t listed on yesterday’s injury report and Stevens said nothing after shootaround to indicate that he wouldn’t be playing. So, the injury seems to have occurred shortly before the team’s scheduled  7:30 p.m. ET tipoff.

Though Theis and Williams bring similar elements to the game in terms of their rim-protection and rim-running ability, they’re largely different players with Williams playing the part of an extraordinary athlete and elite shot-blocker (as well as finisher) and Theis being a heady pivot who can stretch the floor.

Without either center available, Celtics center Enes Kanter — who started in the season opener — may open the game in the starting unit with either Vincent Poirier or Grant Williams (or both) playing the five when he’s off the floor.