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Romeo Langford didn’t have any preconceived ideas of how his early days as an NBA player.
But this is certainly not what he had in mind.
After healing up from a thumb injury suffered in college, Langford was out for summer league and limited in some capacity for most of training camp with a groin injury and later, a knee sprain.
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Those setbacks have created this narrative in the minds of many that the 19-year-old — while talented — can’t stay healthy enough to see that talent through which makes him one of the bigger mysteries on the Celtics roster.
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It’s a successful season for Langford if…
...he can carve out a role as a change-of-pace playmaker off Boston’s bench. A solidly built 6-foot-6 wing, Langford’s versatility gives Boston a plug-and-play option with the skills to play multiple positions. He shot the ball poorly in college, in part because of torn ligaments in his right (shooting hand) thumb. It's an injury that Langford still managed to play with for the final 24 games of the season. In limited playing time with the Celtics, he has shown himself to have a good feel for how to get into the lane and finish at the rim due to a 216-pound frame that he uses well once in the paint.
It’s a disappointing season for Langford if …
...injuries prevent him from playing close to the promise he showed two years ago as one of the best high school players to come out of Indiana. Multiple health setbacks prevented Langford from playing in summer league and limited him to just two preseason games. Because of that, expectations are low as to what Langford will contribute to the Celtics this season.
2019-2020 Outlook
The injuries that have sidelined Romeo Langford by and large have been minor; just enough to keep him off the floor, unfortunately. But with the games coming fast and furious in the NBA relative to what Langford experienced in his lone season in college at Indiana, this season is going to be more about lessons learned than playing for the youngest member of the Celtics roster. And that’s OK. Because the upside with Langford’s game is great enough to where the Celtics can bring him along slowly, knowing that the experience gained through the rigors of the NBA schedule combined with his immense potential talent-wise, gives hope that in time Langford can be a key contributor to this franchise’s quest to get back in the hunt for Banner 18 soon.
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