Boston Celtics: Daniel Theis is key to playoff success for Celtics

How long the Boston Celtics will last in the playoffs is on the shoulders of Daniel Theis. He will be the key to their success during the postseason.

The Boston Celtics don’t stand a chance in the playoffs without Daniel Theis.

Despite the Celtics finally having the three-headed monster of a center rotation that they originally planned for during the offseason with Theis, Enes Kanter, and Robert Williams, it all begins with Theis being the forefront of the unit.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

Before the NBA shut down, Theis was having the best season of his NBA career and is arguably one of the best and most productive centers in the league in regards to what he does on a nightly basis for the Celtics.

What goes unnoticed is that Theis is, in fact, a top-20 center in the NBA, ranking eighth in block percentage (5.0), 14th in offensive rebound percentage (10.2), and 17th in defensive rating (104.8) and true shooting percentage (.629).

In 23.8 minutes per night, Theis is averaging 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while doing all of the dirty work and getting beat up on a nightly basis when defending the opposing teams’ bullies of big men.

What has made Theis’ time on the floor a success this season is due to his profound and unique box-out-seal move that he has created and brought to life this season. In doing so, he has unselfishly created an endless amount of plays for his teammates and they all know it.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Brad Stevens give Daniel Theis much deserved recognition.

"“Especially for me, he opens the game up so much with getting me easy buckets. That opens the game up for me and he does it for everybody. That’s a thing that doesn’t show up in the stat book. Theis is that dude.” – Jayson Tatum, per John Karalis of MassLive“Good energy, good guy, always smiling, making jokes, great energy on the floor, what he does in the pick-and-roll in the seams, makes the right plays defensively. He battles, and he should probably get a little bit more credit for it.” – Jaylen Brown, per Greg Brueck- Cassoli of Celtics Wire“His screening angles are great. His rolls are great. And he’s very unselfish. He does a lot of unselfish things.” – Brad Stevens, per John Karalis of MassLive"

Theis adds a completely different element to the Celtics when he’s on the floor. In all reality, he is a true power forward that is capable of both playing and defending the center position. Theis is 6’8” tall but has close to a seven-foot wingspan that he uses to his complete and full advantage.

Prior to joining the NBA only three years ago, Theis was an established and accomplished three-time champion in the German League, as well as being the league’s best defender in 2017, just one season before joining the Celtics.

Having that experience and success has translated well into the NBA and for the Boston Celtics. Now with a healthy duo of reinforcements in Kanter and Williams, the overworked Theis should be able to persevere his energy throughout the course of an entire contest rather than his tank running on empty in the fourth quarter.

It will also be intriguing to see a potential big lineup where both Theis and Williams are on the floor at the same time. The versatility of Williams playing and defending both the four and center positions like Theis will work in favor of the Boston Celtics when it comes to defending teams with multiple big men such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers.

Daniel Theis is one of the main ingredients for Boston’s future in the playoffs.