Getty
Xavier Tillman
With Xavier Tillman stay with the Boston Celtics By 2026, they’ll need him to play the role they give him well. Tillman may be a replacement, but Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes explained why he considers him their “biggest X-factor (no pun intended).”
Hughes explained why Tillman could be so important to the Celtics in an article dated August 17.
“As long as Kristaps Porzingis “If the 2023-24 season is to begin, the Boston Celtics will be playing center every night. Most of the time, Xavier Tillman should be the first man out,” Hughes wrote.
Hughes then explained how Tillman’s skillset could develop into something reminiscent of another big man on the Celtics roster.
“Tillman is an elite defender for a big man, has good hands, is considered an excellent facilitator and rarely loses the ball. Add to that a credible three-point shot, and Tillman’s scouting report would look a lot like Al Horford‘s.
“Boston obviously trusts the 38-year-old vet more than Tillman or HornBut Horford can’t be expected to log more than 26.8 minutes per game like he did last season. The closer Tillman gets to Horford’s shooting ability, the more he’ll allow the Celtics to maintain the style they like.
Xavier Tillman has become a hero of the Celtics’ 2024 playoffs
As a mid-season acquisition, Tillman didn’t have much in the way of expectations heading into the 2024 playoffs. However, after Porzingis’ injury, the Celtics needed players to replace Horford. Tillman, Luke Kornet, and Oshae Brissett did their best to fill that void.
Tillman distinguished himself as a playoff hero when he helped the Celtics take an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the The Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Most will remember him for the three-pointer he made to increase the Celtics’ lead to 13 points in the third quarter.
However, Tillman’s individual defense meshed seamlessly with the team, allowing him to put together some impressive defensive runs in isolation.
With Porzingis out again with an ankle injury, the Celtics needed Tillman to step up in Porzinigis’ absence. His presence played a role in the Celtics’ victory over the Mavericks in a gentlemen’s sweep.
Tillman left a good enough impression that the Celtics re-signed him in free agency.
Xavier Tillman looks back on the Big Game 3 shot
While Tillman’s calling card is his defense, he’s best remembered lately for his shot in Game 3. Chatting on Spaces on NBA X account, Tillman explained what happened up until the moment the shot fell.
“I made it and I looked straight at the bench because I think Dereck Lively was right behind me when I shot and he said, ‘(expletive) no,’” Tillman said, as transcribed. by Souichi Terada of MassLive“So when I hit him, I looked him straight in the eye, smiled and thought, ‘Yeah.’
He explained why he felt so much satisfaction in achieving this shot.
“It was a really cool moment because the art and the love and the passion of basketball is about competition. So for me to be able to prove how I played, how I felt and how I talked nonsense, it was an incredible feeling.”
Again, Tillman isn’t a floor player, but if he can hit the shot at a mid-range rate, he could become a valuable contributor for the Celtics.
Matt John covers the NBA for Heavy.com. The Massachusetts native has been covering the NBA since 2018, with stints at The Sporting News, FanSided, Basketball News, and Basketball Insiders. Learn more about Matt John
