Boston Celtics: Terry Rozier is a different player when starting

The Boston Celtics have seen what Terry Rozier brings to the table when he’s inserted into the starting lineup. Here’s a look at how well he plays when he’s starting compared to coming off the bench.

When the Boston Celtics start Terry Rozier, they find themselves watching a completely different player compared to one coming off the bench. He’s always been a backup for the team, but has been given the opportunity to start when Boston is shorthanded.

Rozier has been able to start a lot more since the Celtics traded for Kyrie Irving. Last season was his first chance at playing with the starting five and he performed very well. However, now that fans have gotten a taste at how good he can be, the results coming off the bench have been disappointing.

He has struggled more this season, averaging 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game. On top of that, he’s shooting an inefficient 38.7 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from 3.

Those season averages are lower than what he was producing last season. Despite starting in 16 games last season, Rozier still averaged better numbers off the bench during the 2017-18 season. Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rozier was given the opportunity to start with Irving sidelined due to a scratched eye.

Once again, Rozier played well, finishing with 16 points, five assists, five steals and three rebounds. The majority of his points came in the first quarter, where he was cooking early. He finished the first quarter shooting 5-for-5 from field for 11 points.

His numbers cooled off, but a large part of that was due to how well Gordon Hayward was playing. Hayward finished with a season-high 35 points, shooting 14-of-18 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep. If he can turn his season around and play at a high level, this Celtics team is going to find a second gear down the stretch.

Going back to Rozier though, his numbers coming off the bench compared to his numbers as a starter provide a night-and-day contrast, even with the small sample size taken into account:

• Starter: 3 GP, 16.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 56.7 FG%, 47.1 3P%
• Bench: 34 GP, 8.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.8 SPG. 36.8 FG%, 34.8 3P%

Obviously him playing more minutes contributes to higher numbers, but it’s clear that he plays better in the starting lineup, nearly doubling his scoring output. The most eye-popping stat is his efficiency shooting the ball, jumping nearly 20.0 percent from the field and 13.0 percent from 3.

Even his ability to steal the ball rises drastically. This isn’t the first time the Celtics have seen a major difference in production when he’s in the starting lineup. Last season he excelled when given his opportunity, most notably in the playoffs, where he earned the nickname, “Scary Terry.”

There are still times where the decision-making is questionable, but overall, him playing in the starting lineup turns into a successful night.

Rozier is set to hit restricted free agency this offseason and there is bound to be some team that gives him more money than the Celtics will be able to match. The trade deadline is rapidly approaching, as it’s only about a month away (Feb. 7).

It stands to wonder if he will be a target from other teams. There’s been interest and rumors all season long and it’s always hard to predict what general manager Danny Ainge will do. NBA teams know what Rozier can bring to the table if he’s in the starting lineup, and Wednesday night’s performance on national TV just sparked that potential interest even more.