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Terry Rozier Proving He Can Run the Second Unit

By Joshua Bateman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 6: Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics shoots a lay up during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during a preseason on October 6, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 6: Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics shoots a lay up during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during a preseason on October 6, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Terry Rozier is looking like a player that is ready to make the leap that the Boston Celtics are looking for this season

One of the big question marks for this Boston Celtics team is their ball handling depth. They have Kyrie Irving set in stone for the starting unit, and then there is a lot of confusion about how Marcus Smart will be used.

The confusion comes from the fact that Smart is the most important defender on this team, and it is hard to imagine having that come off the bench, while also being the only other trusted ball handler on the team.

The Celtics always move the ball and run their offense as a unit, but they need someone that can be trusted to initiate the movement that will benefit everyone. As long as Smart is the only other option to do that, the Celtics will need that impact on the second unit.

If, however, Terry Rozier is finally ready to make that leap, and run the second unit, then all kinds of lineup options open up.

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If Rozier proves to be a capable ball handler for the second unit, it is still possible that Smart will come off the bench, allowing Stevens to get more size with Jaylen Brown. Even if that is the case, having that third ball handler will drastically open up Smart’s minutes throughout the game.

Even if he starts running the second unit, having Rozier behind Smart means that he can play the most important minutes with the starters, giving them much greater potential to play small ball thanks to his defense, and allowing Stevens to have more freedom to make adjustments according to matchups throughout a game.

We have seen these glimpses before with Rozier, so we cannot get too excited yet, but he is showing all the signs of being a player that can successfully run the second unit. He has all the aggressiveness, and his finishing is starting to look a lot better.

He will make sure the second unit is playing with pace, and if his control problems are actually behind him, then he will be a stable force running that second unit.

Another great part of Rozier’s performance against the 76ers is his ability to get to the line, Isaiah Thomas created so much offense because of his ability to drive to the rim through traffic and get to the line. The real benefit comes from how that forces defenses to crash, opening everything up on the outside.

If Rozier is able to establish that kind of respect when he drives, then the second unit will have no problem getting the open looks they need. Rozier has proven that he has the mentality needed to run this offense, and now it is starting to feel like he is polishing off the parts that were leading to too many mistakes in the past.

The Celtics do not need Rozier to destroy teams with his ability to score. What they need is someone that will have as much of an offensive impact on his teammates, as he does with his own scoring. Most importantly, they need someone that is not going to be making the mistakes that will make the second unit a liability.

There are a lot of different things that go into running an offense for Stevens well, and the standards will often change according to the personnel. One thing that will always be essential is limiting turnovers and mistakes, and that has held Rozier back in the past.

The question will always be how well he sustains this play, and it will take a fair amount of the regular season to establish that trust. Smart will still be needed to run the second unit a lot of the time, but the more Rozier proves the more options the Celtics have with one of their most dynamic and important players in Smart.

In the end, we will find out how much Rozier is able to handle this season. The ball handling depth is non existent right now and the Celtics will have to live with the good and the bad of Rozier. If, however, we get more of the good, then Stevens will get more of the freedom that he needs to bring out the best of this roster.

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Rozier is in a unique position where his impact will obviously be felt in how he runs the second unit, but how that works out will then make a massive difference in how the starters can be used.

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