Only Russell Westbrook could see Tacko Fall check in to the game and immediately go try to posterize him. It would take a madman to want to climb a 7-foot-5 mountain on the first opportunity, but this is Westbrook after all.
Fall blocked the attempted throwdown pretty easily, triggering a Celtics fast break that ended with a wide-open Jaylen Brown 3-pointer. It’s common for Fall to take the floor and make a highlight play or two, but he and the entire organization have been waiting for the day when he could put together a full stint of consistently effective play.
Then, with Fall out of position this time, Westbrook attacked again.
Fall is learning to adapt. In the past, he would be sprinting with his head down, trying to get to the end line to be ahead of the play and in position. But this is a new Fall, even if it’s winter out there.
He is prepared to defend not just when he has everything in front of him and is in his stance. Fall is…
