Boston Celtics front court has been the biggest surprise of the season
The Boston Celtics continue to be the hottest team in the NBA, capturing their 10th straight win. The Celtics got that win with the injuries piling on even more. Al Horford was sidelined with a concussion, and Jayson Tatum left the game early on with ankle issues.
Including earlier injuries to Marcus Morris and Marcus Smart, all on top of the devastating injury to Gordon Hayward to start the season, they have been hit with injuries worse than anyone else in the NBA. The Celtics have looked far from their best, but they are overcoming everything that gets in their way.
The Celtics also went into this season knowing that they had a solidified core of guards. They had their solidified starters, and some great depth with how Terry Rozier had been playing. The front court, however, did not look so good coming in.
They had a bunch of rookies and two decent additions to go along with Horford. The front court struggled last season, and it was unclear whether or not it would improve at all this season. Not only is it the most improved part of this team, but we are quickly realizing that this is one of the deepest front courts in the NBA.
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With Horford out with a concussion, the Celtics knew they would be pushed to the limit. They did not get their usual advantage on the inside against the Lakers, but they their depth step up right when they needed it. Morris finally looked like a capable contributor and Aron Baynes had a career night.
The Celtics needed those secondary front court players to step up with Horford out, and they came through when it was needed. The two of them are going to give Horford great help all season long, and make sure he is not carrying everything by himself.
Those two showed it off last night, but this young front court depth has been on display all season long. Jayson Tatum has had a phenomenal two way impact in every single game. He is playing smart on both ends, and is looking like the most efficient player on the team. He does not always play in the front court, but his versatility in that regard will help the front court all season long.
The biggest surprise, however, has been Daniel Theis and Semi Ojeleye. The two of them have already solidified great roles on this team, and their ability to have an impact on both ends has been crucial to this 10 game winning streak.
The Celtics have the best defense in the league, and that would not be the case without Theis and Ojeleye. The two of them are bringing great rim protection, as well as versatility. They do not have to be stuck in one particular spot to have their impact. Brad Stevens is able to use them in multiple scenarios, and they are holding together a lot of small ball lineups.
Every single key player in Boston’s front court this season and been phenomenal. Not only are they holding things together, but almost everyone of them is having a greater impact than expected. That may not be the case for Morris, but he just got back and can actually make this an even better front court.
The Celtics have just one traditional seven footer on the team, and yet they are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, who have been killing teams in the paint more than with their shooting. A lot of that has to do with the versatility of their ball handlers and wings, but this team is being held together by a front court that very few could have seen coming.
The front court has given the Celtics the added lift they have needed to overcome all these problems, even if they are not alone. Kyrie Irving has been everything we could have imagined, and Brown and Tatum are better on both ends than most were expecting. That being said, the difference between expectations and reality for the front court has been much bigger than anywhere else.
Next: Post Game Summary and Takeaways
The Celtics have needed an unexpected boost because of so many unexpected obstacles, and everyone has come together to pick things up. When the front court is doing, however, is making up for more of the problem than anything else. Horford deserves the most credit, but it is not like it was last year. The Celtics had almost no support for Horford last season, and this year every player they put in there has been making a difference.