Jerebko On the Rise

Feb 27, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko (8) signals after making a three point shot against the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics have done a masterful job of assembling draft picks and freeing up space in the salary cap. Normally when a team sells everything with a higher draft pick in mind the results look something like the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics have managed to assemble a team that is not only half a game out of a playoff spot but is finally playing fun basketball again. While Isaiah Thomas is probably the main reason for the Celtics’ recent success, Jonas Jerebko has also emerged as a great threat off the bench.

With only two games with more than five minutes with the Celtics, Jerekbo has been as efficient as possible given his opportunities. With a shooting percentage of 68% and 36 points in 50 minutes played, Jerebko is producing at a rate of 20 points and 9 rebounds per 28 minutes, 28 minutes being Jared Sullinger’s average on the season. Now it is still a very small sample size, but if Jerekbo can keep up the way he has started out as a Celtic he can be much more effective than Sullinger who averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game.

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Sullinger had all but cemented himself as the best player on the Celtics before his season was cut short. Unfortunately, the recent news of conditioning issues means question marks are surrounding Sullinger. Jerekbo has a long way to go but it is about time for Sullinger to be worried about Jerebko getting an increased role. With no more than 24 minutes in a game Jerekbo still has to be trusted to take on a bigger role. But that also means that Jerebko has the potential to emerge into something better than Sullinger.

Jerebko gets another benefit of being on a rebuilding team and that is the gift of opportunity. On a contending team, Jerebko would certainly not be given the kind of opportunity he gets in Boston. With Sullinger out the Celtics’ front court is wide open and if Jerekbo keeps his play up he will be given the opportunity to prove his worth for the Celtics.

It may be jumping the gun a bit to say Sullinger’s starting position is in danger. That being said, Jerebko has taken TD garden by storm and is one of the big difference makers during the Celtics’ three game winning streak. At the very least Jerebko has proven that he can add depth to the team, in an area that they needed the most depth.

The Celtics have already assembled one of the more young and exciting core of guards in the NBA. If Sullinger can get his conditioning on track, he and Jerekbo will then begin to give the Celtics the kind of depth they will need in the front court to contend. A young Tyler Zeller also adds a great dynamic and they all give Celtics fans a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season.

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