With Kristaps Porzingis out for the start of the season, there are plenty of available minutes early on in the Celtics big-man rotation. Additionally, Al Horford will rest on back-to-back games opening up even more minutes. Two of the main candidates to fill these minutes are Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman. But who deserves more minutes and a permanent spot in the rotation once Porzingis returns? Let’s evaluate both players and answer this question.
Celtics Rotation Battles: Luke Kornet vs Xavier Tillman
Luke Kornet: A Quality Lob Threat
Luke Kornet has played with the Celtics for three and a half years. Joe Mazzulla appears to trust Kornet quite a bit. In 63 games last season, he averaged 15.6 minutes and started in seven games. Kornet posted averages of 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and one block. In the playoffs, Kornet dropped to 10.2 minutes per game and appeared in 13 out of 19 games. It’s worth noting three of the six games Kornet didn’t play were due to injury. Mazzulla used Kornet as the primary backup big man in the Cleveland series without Porzingis.
At 7-foot-2 Kornet is a skilled lob-threat and shot blocker. Notably, Kornet had a field goal percentage of 70, and all his attempts were within five feet of the rim he also had a 44.5 defensive field goal percentage. Having an efficient interior scorer with Porzingis out sidelined is ideal. However, Kornet’s lack of mobility and switchability is a clear drawback. This causes Kornet to be consistently targeted defensively, especially in the pick-n-roll. Given the Celtics switch-heavy scheme this makes Kornet somewhat of an awkward fit.
Kornet is best suited against teams that lack rim protection and don’t operate a ton in the pick-n-roll. This gives the Celtics a source of easy offense with Kornet as a lob threat while covering up his weaknesses as a defender. Overall Kornet has a pretty simple role that he does pretty well, catch lobs and protect the rim. At 29 he won’t add anything to his game and his athletic deficiencies will always hold him back from being a highly-switchable defender. Nevertheless, with another season of solid play, Kornet could keep his spot in Boston’s rotation. Alternatively, the Celtics could explore giving Neemias Queta more minutes who would play a similar role with more mobility. While he has a different play style Tillman is clearly the top choice who could steal minutes from Kornet.
Xavier Tillman: A Skilled Big Man
Xavier Tillman is an all-around big man with a high basketball IQ. At 6-foot-8 he doesn’t have the same frontcourt size as Kornet. However, his well-rounded skill set is highly valuable for the Celtics. Some have even called Tillman a mini Al Horford, the similarities between the two are certainly there. Both big men are effective rebounders, playmakers, and switchable defenders. Given this, it’s possible the Celtics are preparing for Tillman to have a significant role once Horford retires. Furthermore, at 25 Tillman has some upside.
After being traded to the Celtics at the deadline Tillman appeared in 20 regular season games including two starts. He posted averages of 13.7 minutes, four points, 2.7 rebounds, and one assist. In the playoffs, Tillman appeared in just eight games and averaged 8.6 minutes 1.5 points, and 1.8 rebounds. However, Tillman’s career average of six points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists are an encouraging sign. This includes the 2022-23 season where he started in 19 out of 61 games averaging 19 minutes, seven points, five rebounds, and 1.6 assists on a 51-win Grizzlies team. Tillman also averaged 8.7 points and eight rebounds in the playoffs that season. In short, Tillman has proven he can contribute to winning basketball.
While Tillman like Kornet isn’t an elite athlete he has the size, strength, and IQ to guard multiple positions. Tillman’s defensive versatility gives him a clear advantage over Kornet. Especially considering the Celtics switch-heavy defensive scheme. This also allowed him to get minutes over Kornet in the NBA Finals. In Game 3 Tillman played 11 minutes chipping in three points, four rebounds, and two blocks. Against pick-and-roll heavy teams, Tillman must play over Kornet. Additionally, Tillman’s high-level rebounding and solid shot-blocking negate his height issue.
A few things would help Tillman solidify his spot in Boston’s rotation. Most notably, developing a consistent outside shot. Tillman is a career 26.7 percent three-point shooter on 0.9 attempts per game. He’s fairly willing to shoot the deep ball and has solid form but hasn’t been able to hit threes consistently or efficiently. With some work in the offseason, Tillman could become a more reliable shooter. Even if Tillman shoots within the mid to low 30s on a few more attempts he would be far more playable in Boston’s five-out offensive approach.
The Last Word
On paper, Tillman is the more talented and a much better fit for the Celtics’ system particularly on defense. If Tillman can develop as a shooter and or become a better interior scorer he will be a lock for the Celtics rotation even with a healthy Porzingis. Nevertheless, expect Kornet to get plenty of opportunities especially early in the season with Porzingis out. Mazzulla’s trust in Kornet and his ability as a lob threat are key factors. It’s possible the two bigs will get a similar amount of minutes and they will be used differently based on the matchup. Ultimately though Tillman has a better chance of playing a significant role.
