Gerald Green Needs to Prove his Value Early on

Gerald Green may be the only good option to replace Kelly Olynyk’s shooting

With Kelly Olynyk and potentially Marcus Smart out to begin the season, the Boston Celtics are going to need someone new to step up on the second unit. Gerald Green‘s role is a bit of a mystery at this point and these early games could be the most important of his season, both for his status with the team as well as the success of a depleted second unit.

The Celtics know that they are going to be without their best three point shooter and most important second unit offensive player in Olynyk. While Terry Rozier and, when he’s back, Marcus Smart will be the instigators on offense, they will not be the ones making up for the shooting.

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The Celtics were one of the worst shooting teams in the league last year and they lost the only player they could really trust on the second unit to give them the floor spacing they need. Green was brought in because of his ability to score, and he needs to prove that he can make a difference from beyond the arc while Olynyk is sidelined.

Even when Smart is back in the lineup, Green will certainly get his opportunities. Brad Stevens and certain players have spoken about how important Green can be as a scorer. He has an opportunity to become a go to option on this second unit, and now is the best time for him to prove he should have that role.

The Celtics will lean on Green’s shooting a lot more with Olynyk sidelined, and he needs to be a reliable option for Smart and Rozier to dish it out to. Green does not need to be the play maker for them, but he needs to be an aggressive and effective shooter.

Green’s career average of 36.2 percent and that would have put him behind only Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko on the Celtics last year. He had four seasons in his career above 38 percent from three, and if Rozier and Smart get the ball moving well, Green will have open opportunities to take advantage of.

On that second unit, it is unrealistic for Green to have a top season percentage wise. If he wants to have the best kind of role, his aggressiveness as a shooter will be the most important. If he proves he can be trusted then he cannot even be hesitant as a shooter. The extra volume of opportunities could cause a bit of regression in his percentages, but he needs to make sure that defenses have to account for him from beyond the arc.

The Celtics will struggle to get good floor spacing on the second unit no matter what this year. They have far too many players that struggle shooting and who will be stronger in the paint. Defenses will be able to focus everything on the inside and if Green does not step up then they may never be good enough on offense, at least until Olynyk is back in the lineup.

Green has unfortunately seen his three point percentage drop two years in a row now. He has been declining and that is where all the uncertainty this year comes from. The Celtics do not definitely know what kind of player Green can be this year, and if he can return to that prime shooting.

Green will get this added opportunity because of these injuries and he will be amongst a very inexperienced group. Stevens has proven that he will use the talent he has properly, and Green needs to convince him that his shooting needs to be used.

Part of proving himself will also be on the defensive end. Even if he struggles at times shooting, he will continue to get more opportunities as long as he is holding his own on the defensive end. His size gives him solid position versatility, and that could be important with a front court as weak as Boston’s second unit.

Oct 8, 2016; Uncasville, CT, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky (44) is guarded by Boston Celtics guard Gerald Green (30) in the 2nd quarter during a pre-season game at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, Green has a history of struggling on the defensive end. Right now, shooting alone should be enough to keep him in the lineup, but anything beyond Olynyk’s return will be predicated on his defense. Green has been a liability many times in his career, and the Celtics have always found that unacceptable.

James Young and, depending on his position, Jaylen Brown could both get minutes behind Smart and Rozier. The Celtics have other options, but none of them have established anything in their young careers. With the injuries suffered, the Celtics are much better off giving the safer option in Green the opportunities, in order to avoid a complete disaster.

Next: James Young Makes Final Cut

Stevens can have a much better idea of how he can use Green and that will be a better option in order to hold things together before they get healthy.