Poirier has plenty more to prove
Celts need help from big man
The Celtics are facing a dilemma of sorts as regards Vincent Poirier . They are three weeks away from the trade deadline, and they still don’t know if they already have what appears to be their greatest need.
The 7-foot rookie is a mature 26 years old, but he’s yettoprovehecangetupto NBA speed. He may have had a very good opportunity to do so after Robert Williams went out with his hip injury, but be broke a finger during practice four weeks ago and only returned (for mop-up duty) in Monday’s goring of the Bulls.
The Celts have known since before the start of the season that physical interior defense could be an issue against larger opponents, and to trade for someone who could help might weaken them in another area and introduce a heavy contract into their salary structure, which, in turn, could hinder the club’s ability to keep its good stuff together.
It would, therefore, behoove the C’s to find as much playing time as possible for Poirier in the near future to see if he can be an answer.
Unless he’s already shown in practice that he cannot — which, according to sources, is not the case.
Poirier got into two games for G-League Maine, and while the competition certainly isn’t the same — maybe more so for big men — he averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3 blocks in 26.8 minutes.
He hadn’t played for the Celts since Dec. 9 against Cleveland when he got in for five minutes at the end versus Chicago. Poirier missed his only three shots but smoothly canned two free throws while looking rusty, as would be expected.
He was frustrated with his effort, knowing he can do more.
“What I did, that was (expletive),” Poirier said. “It’s hard to come into a game after a month. I’m just trying to prove I can play. I have to adjust. I have to be ready even if the coach calls me for like three minutes at the end of the game.”
To get a proper gauge on the sturdy Frenchman will require enough minutes for him to get a proper rhythm. As it is now, he’s trying to board a train not at the station but down the tracks after it is rolling at 70 miles an hour.
“For sure, I’m excited when I get a chance to play,” Poirier said. “I would like to help the team, but it’s hard for me. I just came back, and it wasn’t like I was in a great position before I got injured. I just need to be able to make mistakes. That’s part of the game, and that’s how you learn. So I wish I would have a little bit more time or important time to show what I can do. At the end of the game like that is never easy.”
Young back in fold
The Celtics last week welcomed back another employee, and Poirier had an indirect role in his absence.
Assistant coach Jamie Young is still moving with the aid of crutches after team physician Tony Schena repaired the medial meniscus in his right knee a month and a half ago. Young was unable to travel with the Celts because of precautionary concern over the potential for blood clots.
“I was just on the court working out Vincent last month,” Young explained. “We were doing a simple pick and roll drill, and I just felt something in my knee pop. I ended up getting an MRI a few weeks later, and they told me I needed surgery.
“I was still able to walk and function a little bit. I couldn’t run or do anything like that, but I was able to walk, so I just did what I could do and then tried to find a good time to have surgery.”
That time was 7 in the morning the day after Christmas, ho-ho-ho.
Young has been with the Celtics for 17 years.
Good, not great — yet
Interesting line from Marcus Smart when asked what the Celtics need to do to continue the approach they’ve had since Saturday’s win over New Orleans.
“Just the mindset,” he said. “We’ve got to come in every game with the mindset and we’ve got to fully understand that.
“We’re a good team, but we’re not a great team. We’re not where we want to be, and we can’t just turn the switch on at any given time. We tried it, and obviously it didn’t work for us, so we have to come out the gate ready.”