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Aron Baynes and the Value of Toughness

By Jeremy Stevens

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 9: Aron Baynes 46 of the Boston Celtics gets introduced before the preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 9, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 9: Aron Baynes 46 of the Boston Celtics gets introduced before the preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 9, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Aron Baynes is bringing a nice boost with his toughenss

Aron Baynes brings a degree of physical toughness that the Boston Celtics and their fans have been longing for since prime Kendrick Perkins. No disrespect to Al Horford, the silent nucleus of Celtics basketball, but Horford acts as a spider web in the defense while Baynes serves as a brick wall reinforced by a cement wall. Why block shots when you can block people?

"“I think coach does a good job of preparing us. As a group, we’ve done a good job. [Aron] Baynes has been unbelievable. I can go out there and chase those guys around but know that if I get in a jam that he’s got my back.-Al Horford"

It doesn’t show up in box scores, but Baynes could lead the league in plenty of theoretical categories, such as…

  • Having your back
  • Not getting credited for a block because the player ran straight into him before getting a shot off
  • Getting credited for a block because a player ran straight into him while attempting to get a shot off
  • Smooth three-point shot celebrations from the bench

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The Celtics held onto their league-best defensive rating (95.1) in a win over the Kings, as well as the fourth-best defensive rebounding percentage (81.2) in no small part due to Baynes, who outrebounded each Celtics starter with nine boards while playing the fewest minutes among them. (Stats via nba.com)

Newly acquired German potato salad Daniel Theis had a game-high 10 rebounds, by the way. Tommy Heinsohn voice: He’s got nice hands.

The biggest changes made to the Celtics roster aside from the obvious all-star additions is their overall size. Avery Bradley, to all his defensive merit, is a bit undersized, which was accentuated by playing alongside a five-foot-something Isaiah Thomas.

Crowder was the ideal size of a player at his position, but Jayson Tatum is a giraffe – he feasts above the rim.  Amir Johnson, lord of advanced stats, is noticeably thinner than the newly installed Baynes. Irving, he who needs no king, leads the league in steals! Put those four around Horford and you have a stew.

If there’s any way to build a championship contender without constructing a super-mega-death-team like the Warriors, it’ll be through depth. I mean, it’s possible I’m stuck in the year 2008 and its superstars or bust, but the Celtics have a good thing going with all the youth and defense, and they’ve managed to turn a huge negative (Hayward injury) into a positive (building roster depth with the available minutes).

Next: Celtics Proving They Don't Need Any One Star

The addition of Baynes was once an afterthought, but you can never have too many solid rotation players.

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