How Blake Griffin’s leadership has proven key to the Celtics’ success

Griffin has been everything the Boston Celtics had hoped for and then some.

The Celtics’ low-risk, high-reward idea in Griffin has paid off in a way beyond the franchise’s imagination. The team announced their intention to use Horford less this season early in the summer. Rightly so, given that their former center played in consecutive nights last season and ate a lot of minutes during Boston’s NBA Finals run.

Recognizing that their main big man, Daniel Theis, had been traded to Indiana in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and that their new signee, Danilo Gallinari, had been ruled out for the season heading into training camp, it appeared as if their project for Horford had dwindled. Principally, the fact that Williams was later expected to miss more time than they thought

Adding Blake to the team gave the Celtics plenty of breathing room and experience in their heavy pursuit of banner 18, as it is now on display, with Griffin understanding what his role would be at this point in his career immediately.

"“Best part is just understanding who you are and where you are in your career,” said the 13-year-vet. “The biggest thing for me is playing meaningful basketball and playing basketball in the playoffs and also, being a part of a good group and I think that this place checks-off those things.”"

The Celtics are grateful and fortunate to have not only the voice and mind of Griffin around now but his spirit and personality.

"“These guys come to practice snd it starts from the top: JT, JB, Marcus, Al, all these guys, they come to practice and there’s a purpose,” Blake said when he first arrived. “You’d probably be surprised to know that in the NBA, that doesn’t happen every day.”"

Stating how he is refreshed and honored to be a Celtic, Griffin continued.

"“These guys, every single day come in and they have fallen in love with the process of being great,” he said. “That’s the most important step to being great.”"

Griffin’s outlook, presence, and added depth just became that much more significant with the likely returns of Williams and Horford on Friday with Blake having displayed the solidity he can provide for the Eastern Conference champions on their route back to the stage.