Boston Celtics Bench Continues to Step Up

The Boston Celtics are finding success with their second unit and that is bad news for the Washington Wizards

Coming into this postseason, the Boston Celtics knew that the play of their bench was going to be huge. Brad Stevens has always used deep rotations and the runs they have been giving up with Isaiah Thomas on the bench have been an epidemic this season.

The dependence on that depth was put to the test by the lineup changes by Stevens against the Bulls. He exercised literally any possible option, and it was vital to the series that he found the answers he needed.

First it was Gerald Green, then Kelly Olynyk stepped up and even Terry Rozier played a role in winning the Bulls series. Against the Washington Wizards, things changed, so once again Stevens went to his bench for a spark. Olynyk was one of the only players that helped weather the initial burst form the Wizards, and the impact he had cannot be understated.

Obviously Marcus Smart had an impact, but that is to be expected at this point. The unexpected breakout in that first victory was Jaylen Brown. After losing his spot in the rotation entirely against the Bulls, he was thrust into this game during the most difficult stretch, and he responded by knocking down a shot, creating another shot, and generating two steals.

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The Celtics know that they will only go as far as their starters will take them, but these contributions from the bench make it a lot easier for the starters to take them there. The most remarkable thing this second unit has done is being prepared.

Stevens has been changing his rotations on the fly for five straight games now. Forget about not knowing when they will go on, almost none of these players even know if they will be going in at all, and somehow all of them have been ready.

This second unit has now proven that not being a liability is no longer their standard. These guys are doing a lot more than holding their own, and this tendency to building a lead with Thomas and Al Horford on the bench could easily be the difference in this series.

Even if Markieff Morris is expected to come back for game two, depth is an issue for the Wizards. The Celtics know their starters are always capable of getting an advantage over the Wizards’ starter, but the second unit should be getting an advantage every time John Wall hits the bench.

The +/- numbers are misleading in this game because of the odd nature of the run that started out the game, but the Celtics were winning with their bench players on the floor, and, whoever it happens to be, that has to continue if this playoff run is also going to continue. Rozier was a +13, Smart was a +12, Olynyk was a +4, and Brown was +8 in just six minutes played. The Celtics need the second unit to continue building leads like this, because we have seen what happens when Thomas has to do everything by himself.

It is hard to trust that the bench will keep this up, because they have been unbearably inconsistent all season long. What is happening now that is that all these players understand that Stevens is going to them to fill a specific role. Stevens is optimizing his talent and it is never an issue of sending a guy in for a general spark. No one is coming in to take over a game, Stevens has a particular job for each player, and playing them according to the needs of the situation.

Stevens played Green because he wanted a faster pace and more shooting, and that’s exactly what he gave. Rozier was put in there because they needed an athletic rebounder and someone that can control the offense, and that is exactly what he did. Brown was brought in because Stevens felt his size would help on defense, and once again the call was answered.

Stevens is letting the game and situation dictate what he looks for in his players, and he is using his second unit in as many different ways as possible to get those answers. It may not hold up. Stevens may miss and try to misuse one of these players in a role. It is also inevitable that these players will eventually fail to fill their role, but the Celtics now realize what a difference the bench can make.

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Stevens will continue to make his adjustments, and continue to use his players in a way that will allow the team to be their their strongest position. The way Stevens has been constructing his rotation has been absolutely vital, but in the end it comes down to one thing. The players on the court need to perform to their capabilities, and right now that is exactly what Stevens is getting out of any player he has looked to on the bench.