Terry Rozier is Flourishing With Pace

Terry Rozier has emerged as the only rookie to receive significant playing time for the Boston Celtics following the All Star Break. The reason Rozier has carved out a role in the cluttered back court, a much more significant role than any other rookie, is because he has been the most comfortable and productive in their pace. On offense and on defense, Rozier has embraced the aggressiveness that each player on the Celtics needs to have for them to be successful.

Rozier has reached a level of comfort in the offense where he is not hurting the team by trying to do too much, but he is also avoiding the hesitant play that can threaten the pace they need to be successful. Rozier is also fitting in perfectly with the deadly defensive guards on the Celtics. He is proving that he will not be a liability on the court and he is yet another player that will always be pestering the opponent, looking to generate turnovers and push the ball in transition.

Rozier may not have a steady or permanent role in the rotation but his involvement has separated from the rest of the rookies. Rozier has fully bought into Brad Stevens’ system and is doing everything to prove that he fits in and deserves to have a role on this team.

Trying to gauge Rozier’s progress this season looking strictly at his stats per game cannot do him justice. Rozier was a complete non factor for the majority of the season and it is more recently that he has taken on the increased role as a contributor off the bench. Per 36 minutes, however, you start to get an idea of how active Rozier is and how involved he is in every facet of the game.

Scoring has been his worst area. He has shot poorly from almost everywhere on the court and he clearly needs to make a lot of progress before becoming a difference maker on the offensive end. The most important thing for Rozier on offense is that he does not stunt the flow of the game. Rozier has struggled but he has adapted a Marcus Smart like approach to his struggles, and has not allowed that to make him a tentative player. Rozier still does not get many opportunities but he never hesitates when an opportunity presents itself.

The Celtics need offensive players that will continue to be aggressive even when they struggle. Missing opportunities is a reality that the Celtics have to live with and seeing Rozier remain aggressive through his struggles indicates his commitment to the system. Rozier has also managed to have an impact passing the ball while remaining aggressive with his opportunities. Rozier is averaging 6 assists per 36 minutes.

Coming out of college, Rozier was used to be being the go to scorer for his team and that is a mentality that wouldn’t be acceptable on the Celtics. Rozier has proven that he is going to be a willing passer. His offensive game has been about playmaking, more so than shot making. Rozier has done a great job of understanding the role of guards on the Celtics and he is showing signs that he can be a main rotation player in the future.

It is then on the defensive end that Rozier is having a true impact on the game. The Celtics have one of the best collection of defensive guards in the league and Rozier is proving that he may not be that far behind the others on the roster. Rozier is averaging 7.2 rebounds per 36 minutes, which is simply phenomenal for a guard.

The Celtics need their guards to pick up slack on the boards, especially with how frequently they have been using three guard lineups. Rozier is giving Stevens confidence that he can fill in and not be a liability on either end. On top of that, Rozier is proving that he is always going to look to be a difference maker on both ends.

A lot of people were shocked and disappointed when the Celtics selected Terry Rozier with their first pick last draft. They already had a log jam at the guard position and they appeared to be reaching for Rozier, who many thought would fall to late in the first round. Now, Rozier is validating the Celtics’ selection, not as much because of his results on the court, but because of his ability to play in their system.

Next: The Celtics Got Their Swagger Back

Rozier has a lot of improving to do on both ends but he has had absolutely no problem getting comfortable with the pace the Celtics play with. His aggressiveness on both ends resembles the effort of Marcus Smart and that is the exact mentality that has lead to much of the Celtics’ success this season.