Last year, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens commanded a mid-season turnaround for the Boston Celtics, turning a lost and young team into a playoff team with an attitude. They transformed from the one-man Rajon Rondo Show to a deep and talented team with no “best player,” but rather a squad full of youth where anyone can give you a great game.
Stevens’ coaching style of hustle and pace has worked very well for this team, but there’s mixed feelings about the new additions and how they might fit in. His system of pace and space and a flex pick and roll system has brought the Celtics from the lottery to the playoffs.
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Players like Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley hustle very well and play lockdown D, and they are great players for this system, as well as free agency prize Amir Johnson.
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The former Raptor was renowned for his intensity and great defense, and can be a great addition to the budding defensive powerhouse of the Boston Celtics. His scoring is solid, as he put up 9.3 points per game, and also put up 6.1 rebounds per game, including 2.1 offensive rebounds.
A player like Johnson can find a great role on the Boston Celtics, and could even slot some minutes at small forward. However, not everyone who made the move to Beantown this summer will fit in with Brad Stevens as well as Amir Johnson.
The No. 1 priority this offseason was getting rid of Gerald Wallace, and the Celtics did that well. They got a bargain by acquiring David Lee from the Warriors, but this might be a challenge.
David Lee does not fit that well in the Celtics’ hustle offense, as he is a slower player. His defense is nothing spectacular, but he does bring great scoring and rebounding, and is a great double-double threat.
On the Celtics, there are six players competing for minutes at the power forward and center spots, and David Lee might have a problem finding a role. He can’t play center, because he can’t be counted on as a rim protector. Plus, the 32-year-old has lost a few steps due to age and injury.
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Despite all of his injuries, he is still a great mid-range shooter, shooting 56 percent from 10 to 16 feet last season. There is no doubt Lee is talented, but he might have trouble finding minutes in the crowded frontcourt this season.
Acquired through a salary dump by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Celtics got Perry Jones for close to nothing, but he might not get much playing time. The 6’11″ forward put up some good numbers for a struggling Thunder team this season, and is a unique player, who can produce when given the right opportunity.
He averaged 4.3 points per game last season, but averaged 9.5 points per game as a starter. During Kevin Durant’s absence, Jones did well in a starting role, showing flashes of what could be. Jones thrives close to the hoop, taking many mid range and post shots. While he might be just a role player in Boston, he can certainly take over when he needs to, like he did at times this season.
When all else failed, with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook down, he averaged 17.5 points per game during October, then 13.3 points per game in November. He boasted a 33 percent three-point percentage to go with a 45 percent field goal percentage in this span. Given how unpredictable the Celtics are, Jones is the perfect doomsday insurance.
While some parts of his game are left to be desired, especially on defense, Jones could develop into something interesting in Boston. An athletic 6’11″ small forward? I think I’ve heard this one before …
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