Terry Rozier’s Confidence As A Shooter Growing

Celtics point guard Terry Rozier is witnessing his role as a three-point shooting threat expand at a considerable pace.

Throughout his rookie season, the three-point shot was an afterthought for Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier. Shooting just 22.2 percent from beyond the arc, Rozier was viewed by many as someone whose lone chance of putting the ball in hoop relied on his ability to slice his way to the rim.

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Fast forward to Sunday night’s debacle of a defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Suns. Although the Celtics went down in heartbreaking fashion, the blame could not be place on Rozier’s shoulders. Offensively, Rozier looked tremendously comfortable in his 14-point outing, displaying the type of skill set that caused general manager Danny Ainge to first become enamored with him when watching him play for the Louisville Cardinals in the 2014-15 season.

Early on in the second quarter, Rozier showcased his ability to create his own shot. With Suns point guard and newfound Celtics enemy Tyler Ulis hounding him with intensity, Rozier pounded two dribbles to the right side of the paint before stepping back viciously. This created room for a 15-foot jump shot which he knocked down with conviction. Four minutes later, Rozier received a pass on the left wing from point guard Marcus Smart and let fly a three-pointer over the outstretched arm of the closing out Reggie Williams, hitting his second shot of the game.

On a plethora of occasions this season, we have seen Rozier tentative to unleash his shooting potential with a defender closing out on him, fearful of falling victim to what head coach Brad Stevens might consider to be an example of poor shot selection. When Rozier is confident in his ability to make outside shots and steps into the shot attempt convincingly, a three-pointer taken from a reasonable distance will always be a shot that Stevens encourages based on Boston’s transformation into a team whose offense is predicated on the deep ball.

Once Rozier sees the ball swish through the net on one occasions, this hesitation instantly dissipates. This was evident in the final 15 seconds of the first half against the Suns. As small forward Jaylen Brown attempted to drive past his defender from the top of the key, Rozier threw his hands up emphatically from the left corner, coaxing the rookie into tossing a pass in his direction. As soon as he received the ball, Rozier released the three-pointer over Phoenix point guard Eric Bledsoe, and it rattled home to send the Celtics into the halftime break with some momentum.

In the third quarter, Celtics fans were treated to a Klay Thompson-esque maneuver by the sophomore. As Smart pushed the tempo following a rebound, Rozier instantly flanked to his immediate right on the perimeter. With Ulis late to find Rozier on defense, Smart flipped the ball in his direction. Rozier promptly let the transition three go, and it sunk through the hoop to continue his admirable night.

Later in the stanza, Rozier rounded out his scorching outing with another catch-and-shoot three from the left wing. This time, power forward Jordan Mickey spun his way into the lane before finding a wide open Rozier deep on the perimeter.

Rozier’s dedication to making himself a threat from the outside has certainly paid dividends throughout the season, as he has upped the ante from deep while shooting 34.5 percent from long range. In February, Rozier was scintillating from deep, hitting 44.8 percent of his three-point attempts on 2.4 looks per night. The momentum has translated into this month, as Rozier is converting at a 38.5 percent clip in four appearances.

Having Rozier continue his trek into becoming a legitimate shotmaker will be crucial for this Boston team as they venture into the postseason, looking to swipe their first series victory in five seasons. One of the primary reasons why the Celtics fell short of knocking off the Atlanta Hawks in the 2016 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals was due to a lack of a supporting cast surrounding point guard Isaiah Thomas that could consistently knock down open jumpers on the outside.

Next: Isaiah Thomas and The Place of Experimentation

Regardless of who Boston matches up against in the first round, their opposition’s emphasis will be focused solely on roughing up Thomas. The scouting report on slowing down the Celtics’ offensive progress is to be physical with Thomas and to force him to rid himself of the ball, making the result of the contest contingent on whether other Boston options can step up and make shots. If Rozier can continue to hit these looks from the perimeter, it will ensure him at least 20 minutes of playing time per playoff game.