Xavier Tillman’s opening stretch of the season was defined by extreme rotational volatility, bouncing between invisible garbage-time cameos and sudden bursts of physical dominance. When finally given a starting nod on 11/30 vs CLE, he logged 30 minutes and scored just 9 points, yet generated a massive +8.1 impact score. That sterling rating stemmed entirely from his elite rim deterrence and exceptional rotational awareness rather than raw offensive output. He found similar success off the bench on 10/22 vs PHI, shooting a dismal 2-for-8 from the floor but still managing a +4.1 impact. His stifling switch defense and physical screen-setting completely negated his shooting woes that night, allowing him to drive a highly productive stint through sheer grit. However, when that physical edge disappeared, he quickly became a liability. During a brief five-minute run on 12/04 vs WAS, he was completely invisible on both ends of the floor, resulting in a steep -6.1 impact score. He remains a highly situational bruiser who swings games with his defensive hustle but fades into the background the moment he stops hitting bodies.