Boston Celtics’ Front Court CRISIS | Can Xavier Tillman SAVE the Day?

Boston Celtics’ Front Court CRISIS | Can Xavier Tillman SAVE the Day?

The Celtics front court situation is eh, but there’s one guy who might be able to snap it all into place. We’ll talk about it right now on the Locked On Celtics podcast. Uh-huh. Town ready to see. Who else could it be? What they going to say now? Screaming like JT Cares. We kept the madness every game, every practice. Prime time. Deon D. White on the sideline. Rain and J. How we started. Raise a business. How we finish. Lock on Celtics. Pot home of the winners. Hey there. Welcome back to the Lockdown Celtics podcast right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network where it is your team every day. Your team is the Boston Celtics. I talk about them Monday through Friday right here on any podcasting app that you use. So, whichever one it is, thank you for opening it up and listening. Or if you want to watch the show, it’s on YouTube. Get into the comment section there. Share your thoughts with me. I’m John Carales, beatw writer for Boston Sports Journal. I’ve been doing a version of this job for about 20 years now. I’ve also written a couple of books about the team, so go check those out. Today, we’re talking about the Celtics front court situation, which is their obvious weakness. Uh, but one name we have not been talking about very very much at all. In fact, I I barely have remembered talking about him at all. Now, I know who we’re talking to, and we’ve talked about talked to to him a lot. It’s Tom Westerhome. Tommy podcast. What’s going on? That’s me, Tom. The the the Tommy podcast. I’m good, man. How are you? Oh, I’m great. I’m great. Uh because we just keep, you know, tinkering around with the Boston Celtics lineups here. But later on we’ll we’ll get into some of the depth and and you know who might be the starting center. But I want to get into the one person we haven’t talked about in all of this and it’s Xavier Tilman because I don’t know have you do you remember even saying his name this summer? I mean I we were like before we started recording you called him Xavier McDaniels. Um because like you know that’s an old man knee-jerk reflex. Yeah, it’s it’s not the first time it’s happened and it absolutely will not be the last time. It’s it’s front of mind like Tilman’s gonna have to do a lot more before he passes Xavier McDaniel in my Xavier uh who I think about the most list. Well, yeah. Like the the McDaniels is the name that rolls off the tongue after you say Xavier. Of course. Perfect. Yeah. So, the reason why he’s such an X factor, no pun intended. Yeah. Ah. So, well, let’s start with this. There are two people that we know are starters on the Celtics. Everybody else, it’s all up for grabs. We know Derek White and we know Jaylen Brown. Those are the two starters. Everyone else, is it going to be Pton Pritchard or Anthony Simons? There’s some debate about that. Who’s going to be the center? Is it Kada? Is it Buché? Is it Garza? We We can have a debate about that. Who’s the four? People talk about Sam Hower. Maybe you start Buché in and Nish Kada. Maybe you go double big. Maybe you go with Xavier Tilman. And honestly, the more I think about it, and I’m not saying I expect Tilman to be healthy enough. I don’t know what’s what the knee issue is. The fact that it recurred last season is not something that I I am hopeful that it’s going to, you know, go away. But if the giant capital I bold it atalicized if if he can be healthy and can get to Memphis Grizzlies level where when I was there people were like, “Oh my god, you’re going to love this guy.” Uh, and all that stuff. and he’s he’s a nice guy and and you know great locker room guy and family man and you know like a legitimate like loves his family his kids are around like that’s just a good solid person but as a basketball player can he be that starting can can he at least get into the mix I’ll I’ll throw it to you Tom this way if Xavier Tilman can be a starting power forward for the Celtics, then that snaps the entire I know it’s makeshift and I’m not saying it’s going to be good, but it snaps the rotation into place. What do you think? Yeah, I think it Well, for sure, right? I mean, I think starting with the premise, right? like let’s let’s say that Xavier Tilman can can be that simplifies everything enormously, right? Then then you don’t have a player um you know kind of playing up a little bit too much. Like I I don’t I I see the argument for Sam Hower. Um you know I see I I see it. I see what people are getting at. Um it’s going to be a big old challenge for Sam Hower. Uh, and uh, you know, I think that it really does. It’s one of those ones that kind of does. I mean, honestly, when you think about like speed, uh, you know, actually not that bad for for Hower when you when you think about it from certain perspectives, but I do think that you’re you’re really throwing in the towel on anything defensive at that point, which is going to be a huge challenge either way. But you’re like like you’re not just throwing the towel away. you’re, you know, putting in throwing putting the towel in and kind of launching it somewhere. Um, you got one of those, uh, cannons that can reach the upper deck at a um, which they need in that building, by the way. Anyway, sorry. Um, I think I mean, you know, look, Tilman makes a lot of sense there. I think, you know, he’s 26, which is crazy to like to he just seems older, you know. I think it’s not just because he looks older. It’s also like, you know, like you were saying, he’s a he’s a family man. He’s a he’s a he’s a senior, you know, he seems like seems like he should be getting, you know, like like cheaper ice cream on a senior season discount or something. But but he’s not. He’s he’s 26. He he’s still, you know, pretty young. He’s still um he’s really not that far removed from being the guy that Memphis was really upset to lose. Like, yeah, he’s he’s not that far removed from that. So, I do think that I I think that you’re right that like if Tilman can can be that player, I mean, that simplifies things a lot. You can play lineups that make more sense. You can um you know, you you’re you start to get some stuff out of the front court that you’re that you were really worried about at the start of the summer, right? like you start to get some uh you know, some size, some some some heft, some uh you know, like yeah, you’re you’re still lacking a lot of kind of key elements that the that the front court has had in previous years, but um you know, I mean, even like, you know, when Tilman came to the Celtics, one of the things that really made him an attractive option was the fact that he was a little bit more able to move, you know, than some guys. like he is, you know, he’s always been kind of a a guy who could kind of get side to side a little bit and and and help in the pick and roll. Like if if not every if you don’t have to play drop on every single pick and roll that that involves a big man, that’s not, you know, that that’s helpful. It’s helpful to be able to have some more options and and yes, those options, you know, for the millionth time this summer, those options are not going to be as good as they were last year, but um if you can start to plug some of those gaps, that’s a really good thing. So yeah, he’s an interesting he’s an interesting player that you know like like you said I really I was honestly trying to think about it and I don’t think I’ve said Xavier Tilman. I I certainly have not said Xavier Tilman on this podcast since July at the like it’s been a long it’s been a while. It’s been a long time and and I want to be clear that there is no great option like e even I think at his best Tilman is not a starting level power forward. I don’t think he’s a starting level player at this point. Um hey look he might historically he’s never been one. I mean even even in Memphis like like you know I was just looking at it when we were talking the most starts he’s ever had was um 20 22 23 he had 29 starts out of 61 games. Like that’s the most he’s ever had. He’s never been a starting qual like starting caliber player necessarily, right? And so having him as a regular starter starting let’s say 60 games. Um you’re you’re looking at a a front court that’s less than you need it to be. Yeah. And you know, no offense to the guys that are here, but you know, I go back to the the Brad Stevens quote where he said something along the lines like, “Yeah, on paper that people aren’t going to look at this and say it’s the best. Uh, but they’re just gonna have to prove us wrong. And like it’s it even Brad Stevens couldn’t come up with anything complimentary to say. He was just by basically saying like, “Yeah, yeah, we our front court sucks and everybody’s saying it and I can’t refute it.” So very principal Skinner, prove me wrong, kids. Prove me wrong. It’s the uh it’s a tough situation, but Tilman presents this very obvious power forward type of player who if he is mobile enough to do things like guard a guy in the corner, still have the lateral movement to come over and tag the roll man. Yeah. On a pick and roll. And for people who don’t understand, you’re just coming over and slowing. You’re disrupting the timing of a pick and roll when the center is up playing up higher and you come over and and tag literally like kind of touch the roll guy just to kind of disrupt the timing and show the the the point guard like there’s a defender there and then still get out to the corner in enough time where because normally what’s going to happen is the pass is going to go out to the corner. If you can come tag the roll man and get out to the corner defensively and contest the three or run the guy off the line, that is a massive, massive help defensively. This is the Celtics major weakness this year is frontcourt defense. That’s going to be a problem. If Tilman can come in and and help that in any way, then he is worth his weight in uh accolades for it. And that doesn’t come out exactly the way I wanted it to, but uh he he he will be worth it. Uh let’s let’s continue that and we’ll talk about who might start at center now if he’s able to do this. We’re basically going best case scenario because Tilman being able to start is I think the ultimate best case scenario. So let we don’t need to do the the downside. We know what the downsides are. Let’s see if we can get to best case scenario one. Yeah. Yeah. Today’s show is brought to you by 5Hour Energy. Time to fuel up and turn it up with 5Hour Energy Transfusion. This grape, ginger, and lime flavored shot brings the iconic taste of a golf course favorite to a non-alcoholic boost. Perfect for sinking birdies, making great memories with friends. It’s a hole-in-one for your energy game. Whether you’re out on the course or just need a little extra push to power through your day, 5 hour energy transfusion delivers the clubhouse flavor you love without ever leaving the green. you know, if you’re out there, there’s only a little bit of time left to get out onto the onto the golf course. Uh, I know that I’m not out there uh a lot. I’m going to need a couple of these five hour energy shots to get me through my round. It’s usually because I spend a couple extra hours chasing chasing balls into the into the woods, but I’ve hit my, you know, I’ve hit a couple of good ones. And so, uh, they’re they’re not frequent, but when I’m out there with my friends, uh, it’s always a good time. And golf is always about good times with good people and good flavors. The scrape ginger lime flavor of 5-hour energy transfusion gives you the best parts of your clubhouse go-to without leaving the course or chasing down the bevart. Now you can amp up uh the fun even more. Just buy snap and enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament in the United States. Tee up that trip. Visit fivehwin.com. That’s uh fivehin.com. For rules, you can see it at the bottom here. It’s the number five.com. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Masters tournament. Ends October 31st, 2025. Hey, thanks for making Lockdown Celtics your first listen every day. If you missed yesterday’s podcast, it was a reaction to the top 100. The locked on top 100 is here. voted on by NBA locked on NBA hosts and lockdown podcast network. Uh our top 100 was formed by the experts that cover these teams and players every day. You can file the full find the full list on lockdown sports today on YouTube wherever you get your podcast if you missed it. My reaction show to this was yesterday. It was animated because I did not like the results. Uh let’s get back to the conversation here with Tom Wes where Tom look the I left it as I don’t expect I don’t really expect Tilman to do a lot but we know that the perimeter is going to be fine for the Celtics right you get Derrick White Jaylen Brown Pton Pritchard Anthony Simons Sam Hower there’s going to be there’s going to be points there’s options there yeah for sure those are all good basketball players like they’re good basketball good NBA players to be Xavier Toman is a great basketball player. Those are all good NBA players. That’s right. So, this Celtics team is going to be it’s missing um front court defense. It’s missing the rebounding. Uh we know that perimeter defense is you you can’t do anything. Can’t touch anybody. Uh, so there’s going to be a need for some help back there. If Tilman can do the stuff I said before, if he can be part of effective pick and roll coverage, it doesn’t have to be great. If effective pick and roll coverage, then now the Celtic is like, okay, it’s it’s the defense that I’m thinking is going to be like at least bottom third in the league. Maybe it can climb to middle of the pack and a middle of the pack defense with I think an offense that’s going to be pretty good still. Well, that that’s still uh a potential six seed. You know what I mean? like that’s still in in the East that’s still a team that can maybe finish the season with 43 44 wins and put them put yourself it’s a winning season and you put yourself in a position to get a sixth a seventh an eighth seed not I I don’t want to be in the playin but regardless you can know what I’m saying yeah I think a really good season is avoiding the playin and being above 500 that’s like right so if Tilman can do that then great and I know it’s gigantic if like I said before but if he does well then now the notion I think of starting Nimish Kada I think it’s a little bit better because now he can be a little bit more of a ror he can be a little bit you know you can use his height and shot blocking abil you can kind of start to play a little bit of the defense that you did over the past couple of seasons It’s not going to be great. It’s It’s still going to have problems, but okay. I can see Kada starting and then Buché off the bench. Garza coming in off the Now you’ve got uh an offensive player in Garza with some level of a shot blocker in Buché. you you can now mix and match a little bit and you don’t have to worry about Garza not being a defender because you have an extra power forward in Tilman that you can throw in there and you can if if Kada and Buché are your shot blockers Kada more because he’s 7 foot tall u then then I think that that mitigates the defic the off like it mitigates the defensive deficiency of a Garza and you don’t have to worry too much about the offense from Tilman. Follow me on that one. I’m with I’m I’m following you. Um I think there and I mean there’s there look there’s there’s stuff to that. It’s it’s I I don’t want to like you’re not overstaying the the positivity here to be clear. Um I I don’t I don’t want to continue along too positive about it because I don’t want to like oversell um you know what we’re talking about here because again like you said we’re we’re talking about trying to get somewhere closer to middle of the pack on defense which I think is a really tall task for for this roster even if Tilman is everything that we’re hoping for. I think that there’s a lot I think it’s a very tall task because a big part of the problem right is like it’s not just the big men that are the issue. It’s also there’s going to be holes on the perimeter too, which is right extra problematic. Um, I think I think Tilman helps. I think you’re right that uh that it would allow Kada to be a little bit more of a ror. I think, you know, I think the the the Boucher thing is interesting because he can block shots and he also can like, you know, hoist threes, right? And I think that like for this team, you know, people people have criticized the Celtics for hoisting a lot of threes. You want like this is a team that needs a great equalizer. Like they need to be hoisting. They need to be chucking up three-pointers. So like you know you want to talk about something that if Tilman can do at any level that would be super helpful would be you remember that like threeame stretch where it looked like he might make threes now. Like it was like very much fool’s gold. But if you could get a little bit of fool’s gold for uh for a season, oh boy, that would go a long way. Um, so no, I mean I I I think I’m I’m interested in Buché from that perspective, from the offensive side, just of that like, you know, hey, I don’t know, c can can you shoot like right right now, he shoots like, you know, three or four a game. Can you shoot five or six and stay somewhere close to 36%? Because if you can, I think I think at that point, it’s kind of tough to keep a guy like that off the floor. um you know on a team that’s that’s going to have some holes on it. Uh so I look at it from that perspective, but I think that you’re right that like you know having that extra size with Kada and having having just that guy I mean he is he is a large man right? So like if you’ve got if you’re able to kind of cover the corners if you’re able to um you know just kind of gum things up a little bit up top even if Kada isn’t the best defender in the world just having that deterrent in there matters. Um, and that’s um, you know, that’s that’s more, like you said, that’s more than you can say for Buchet. It’s more than you can say for certainly certainly a lot more than you can say for Garza. Um, so I don’t know. Those are the things I kind of toggle back and forth on in terms of starting is is like I mean, you know, which which side of the floor are you more concerned about? I I I feel like either one is valid. There’s going to be big defensive concerns. There’s going to be but also like I don’t know, do you want to make your your strength like your offensive strength a super strength? they like have Buché launch threes. I don’t know. I could see it both ways. When we come back, I’ll I’ll explain why Tilman Tilman being a available as a power forward. Um makes makes it easier I think for Kada defensively. I think I think it would maximize what Kada can be defensively. Well, thank you for making lockdown Celtics your first listen every day. Lockdown NBA locked down NBA game night. Make that feed your second check that second after you’re done with lockdown Celtics is your first listen. Locked on NBA game night. I’m going to be there on Friday nights. On Friday during the day, uh we record on Thursday nights. Me and Jake Madison and then uh Locked on NBA during the day. It’s covering the big stories during the during the season. Jake and I cover the the games at night. So just locked on NBA feed. two podcasts there. Check that out after you’re done with this show. So, I think Kada my my biggest problem with Kada is you can’t move him around too too much on the floor, right? I think he you got to make sure that he’s just in this in that in the paint. like he he can’t be out on the perimeter too much to have like if Tilman is an option and you you constantly have a Tillman or Boucher out there with with Kada like I don’t think you can put Garza out there with Kada too much right I think I think Garza at least is more mobile you can you can play around with the the mobility and and and go small whatever But I don’t want Kada to do too much. So to maximize him and keep him around the rim and have him be like a instinctive help defender, shot blocker, you need that depth. You need that big man depth that Tillman is going to give you. Um, and again to be clear, my best case scenario here is still it’s still going to be like a middle of the pack defense, but I’m heading into the season thinking this defense is going to be awful. So I think I think with if Tilman’s there to handle a lot of that running around or Buchche is there to handle a lot of that running around and and Kada is just kind of there like at the block and just doing that little dance where you’re like, “Oh, I’m going to take my foot out of the paint, put it back in the paint, one foot in, one foot out and do the hoke pokey.” That that’s if Kada’s just doing that the whole game, then he can get in there and at least be a sevenfooter with long arms. I don’t I don’t necessarily love his mobility. I’m not sure about his decision- making. It’s it’s probably it’s gotten a little bit better, but I still want to see it at NBA speed. Euro basket was, you know, somewhat encouraging. I want to see it at NBA speed now to maximize him and kind of hide his limitations. I think it would just be so huge to have that one extra guy. you you now have two solid power forwards to throw out there with, you know, Kada at different times that that just it it you’re not asking too much of Kada. And if you’re not asking too much of Kada, then I think you can get a really good year out of him. Yeah. I mean, look, I think simplifying the game, right? It it just it makes it if you if you if you can simplify the game for a player, it it does um increase the chances that they’re going to succeed, right? Because because if you can focus on, you know, one or two things, if you can focus on, you know, two or three, whatever it is, very specific things, and you you it’s all about knowing your role, right? a player like Kada um has had, you know, like a turbulent NBA career, you know, like he’s he’s he’s trying to do a lot of different things, like tried to be in a lot of different places. If you can kind of say like, okay, listen, here are the things. These are the things and, you know, he’s also going to have a lot of freedom this year, too, right? Like this is going to like he he’s never had an opportunity like this to play a ton of minutes and and to just kind of be a huge part of a team. Like he’s never been in this position before. So to kind of give him um some parameters and some freedom at the same time, I think, you know, yeah, that that could make a big difference for him. I I’m I think you and I are very aligned on what we expect and like where we kind of like where our hopes are for Kada. Yeah. You know, I mean, I’m not I have nothing against the guy at all. Um, no. I think he’s I think he’s a fine, you know, lower level second, more like a third kind of tier center, right? Like, like I think on on a normal team, that’s where I would feel comfortable having him. I have no problem having him be, you know, the backup to the backup or, you know, the the second backup if your primary center is injured. So, like I think we’re very much aligned on on what we think of Kada, but I think that to a lot of this season, right, is just going to be like looking at players trying to maximize trying to like more so than trying to minimize weaknesses because this team is going to have weaknesses. I think so much of this season is just going to be trying to like maximize the super strengths that you can, right? Like like, okay, what is Pton Pritchard really good at? Let’s give Pton Pritchard a chance to do the things that Pton Pritchard is really good at. Yeah. And just hope for the best, you know? And I think the same thing is true of the bigs, right? You look at Kada, it’s like, okay, what are the things that Kada can do really well? He’s very big. Um, you know, he he’s able to he’s able to play around the rim a lot. Let’s maximize the things that Kada can do. Let’s let’s put him in the right positions. And there’s going to be weaknesses, and that’s just going to is going to have to be what it is because this is a deeply deeply imperfect basketball team. And uh you just got to kind of do your best with it. And you know, I mean, these are all NBA players. Like they all have they’re all here for a reason. So try to maximize those reasons as much as you can. And I think that’s kind of what you’re getting at, right? Is like, yeah, that’s you know, that’s what you want to see from Kada this season. I I I’ll wrap it up saying this. If we’re looking at a 40 something win team where how do you how do you get to a point where you’re a couple of games above 500? You know, how do you get to 44 and 38? You know, how do you get to that level? Because that’s what the Pistons were and they were the six seed last season, right? Right. How how do you get there? Okay. The Celtics are not going to be as good as the best teams in the league, best teams in the East, right? So, I’m gonna just They’ll They’ll beat I assume they’re going to beat Cleveland once. Sure. You know, let’s just say, but they’re not as good as Cleveland, right? They’re not as good as New York now. They’re not as good as the best teams. They’re not as bad as the bad teams. So, they should beat Washington and Brooklyn and Toronto most of the time. It’s those evenly matched games that the these things that we’re talking about are going to matter. That’s where a surprisingly good season, 44, 45 wins happens or a little bit of a disappointing season, 40 wins, 39 wins happens. And that’ll still be enough probably to put you in the plan, which is exactly where I don’t want them to be. But these things, the Tilman thing, all of these things to me that wins you more of those games against the evenly matched teams than than not. So yeah, if if we split it up and we say, you know, 20, you know, 25 games against the good teams, 25 games against the bad teams, and 32 games against the middle of the pack. Okay, so we’ll say 25 and 25. We’ll just, you know, to make it easier, 500 team. Can you win? So 16, you know, can you win more than 16 of those games against the evenly matched teams? I think Tilman being available and passable as a starter, maybe that helps you win four of those games and you win 20 of those and now you’re a 45 win team. That’s how I get to 45 wins with these guys. That’s where I think they make a difference. beating some of these middle of the pack teams, those 50/50 games, you you win four more than you know that that 500 mark, you’re in. That’s that’s a a season where you look at it and you go, “Wow, 45 wins for this team is is pretty damn good.” And by then, who knows what happens in the playoffs, but that that’s where I that’s where all of this is going for me. I think that’s I think that’s a lofty but achievable hope for this team. Like that’s like That’s the best case scenario. I think that’s the best case scenario. I think that is a lit That is literally the best case scenario. Yeah. Right. I’m not looking at a 50- win team. I’m not I’m not pie in the sky here. I’m not sitting there being like, “Oh my god, they’re going to get the 50 wins you just watched. They’re going to get the fourth seed and Jason Tatum’s going to come back and they’re going to make a run.” No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Okay. I am arguing for Xavier Tillman to be your starting power forward. That’s not the hallmark of an elite team, okay? But on this team, with this roster construction, with who they have there, with with Kada as a guy you’re going to rely on as as the center, man, that’s going to be very helpful. And again, it’s four games. There’s four games there that if those go Boston’s way and everything else goes the way we expect it to, that’s going to be a a 45 win season. That’s to me it just boils down to four games. And so I think can can you win those four games and and and maybe Tilman is enough and maybe he’s not and maybe in and and just put it you know wrapping up bow on this if he can’t play then forget those four games forget the 16 win then then it get it gets problematic because then you know you’re going to maybe have to start Bouche now you don’t have another option a power forward option off the bench now you have to start mixing and rotating and guys are going to have play up and now you’re going to have to mess with Hower. If Tilman steps up now, Hower’s a little bit more in his normal role like that. There’s a lot that happens when I said earlier it snaps things into into place. There are a lot of guys who can just play a more natural position if Tillman is there to eat up 24 minutes at power forward. That that’s that’s what it is. Yeah. Which could be done on or off the bench, but either way, right? Yeah. Well, yeah. Right. And and sure, just just play. That’s all. Just can you give us something? All right. The theme of the Boston Celtics of 20 2025 2026. Can you just can you just give us something? Yeah. Yeah. This this season’s going to be like driving an unreliable car. There’s going to just be a whole lot of times you’re like, “All right, I’m going to turn this key and we’re going to see. We’re going to see if this sucker starts or I I feel that there’s something wrong and please just don’t let it be the transmission. That’s all I’m asking.” Yeah. Yeah. Like this is this is something like I’ve done a lot in my life. You know, you park your car um or you move it onto the like the street or something like that. You just look in the driveway. Every time you look in the driver, you’re like, “Are there any new spots there? Are there any new Is there any oil? Is that oil? Is that is that the That’s probably That’s oil. Ah, crap.” You know, like that kind of stuff. We’re gonna spend the whole season telling ourselves that it’s that’s condensation. That’s not oil. Right. Right. Right. Right. That’s right. That’s right. People know. All right, Tom. Appreciate you, man. Appreciate you. Uh, and I appreciate all of you. Every day is here with me and Tom. But me, I’m here every f Monday through Friday. So here with me Monday through Friday. I do appreciate you being here. Uh I know that the off season can be a little bit of a struggle with you know there’s and Patriots are back, football’s back, baseball’s heading into the playoffs. I know there’s things to distract you, but I’m still here five days a week. If you want to get a little bit of a Celtics fix, it’s still we’re still here. Uh once the season goes, it might be six days, might be seven days a week. So, make sure you are subscribed podcast after every game. So, subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Watch the show on YouTube. Get into the comment section. Share your thoughts with me and fellow Celtics fans. And then share the podcast. Tell everybody they should be listening to and watching the Lockdown Celtics podcast. Here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, it’s your team every day.

Boston Celtics frontcourt shake-up: Can Xavier Tillman start at power forward? The Celtics’ roster puzzle could take an intriguing turn as the team explores unconventional lineup options for the upcoming NBA season.

Host John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal and guest Tom Westerholm dissect the potential impact of Xavier Tillman as a starting power forward, analyzing how this move could reshape the Celtics’ defensive strategy. The duo examines Neemias Queta’s role as a possible starting center and breaks down realistic win scenarios for Boston. From Brad Stevens’ candid comments to maximizing player strengths, this episode offers a deep dive into the Celtics’ evolving game plan.

Tune in for expert analysis on how the Celtics aim to overcome their frontcourt challenges and compete in a tough Eastern Conference.

1:30 Intro: Celtics frontcourt situation and X-factor
14:28 Potential impact of Xavier Tillman on defense
21:09 Maximizing Neemias Queta’s defensive abilities
26:46 Aiming for 44-45 wins this season
32:19 Comparing season to driving unreliable car

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Tee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit 5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025.

Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year

FanDuel
Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCeltics?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

Locked On Celtics is a daily Boston Celtics podcast by Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis. It’s an inside look at the C’s from a former professional basketball player who is at practices & games.

#BostonCeltics #Celtics #NBA #JaysonTatum #JaylenBrown