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Boston Celtics: Daniel Theis Most Reliable Player off Bench

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 5: Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 5, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 5: Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 5, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Daniel Theis brings unique reliability off the bench for the Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have one of the most interesting second units in the NBA right now. There is absolutely no consistency, but they show flashes of being brilliant on both ends. There is a lot of youth, and some incredibly potential with young versatile bigs. That being said, it is hard to trust anything they do on a regular basis, making reliability one of the most important things to look for.

On defense there is more reliability, and Marcus Smart will always lead the way in that respect. He is one of the truly elite game changing defenders in the NBA, and there really is no one else on the second unit that has any impact close to what Smart does on defense.

Fortunately, there are other reliable defenders on the second unit, but there is only one that also brings reliable offense, and that separates Daniel Theis from any other second unit option. The Celtics we’re looking for two way impact when they brought in Theis, but no one could have imagined he would be this reliable right away.

Theis’ role has been growing all season long, as we are quickly learning that no other option is going to bring the kind of reliability and balance that Theis does, and that means his role should become more and more prominent as the team figures more things out and shortens the rotation.

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What makes Theis so special is how reliable he is with everything the Celtics ask of him. He can go into he most difficult small ball situations, and still bring some resistance on defense. He is one of the best rebounders and has proven that he he can trusted more than any forward not named Al Horford in small ball situations. He fills a direct need on defense, and has enough to make sure he does not hurt the defense around him in any way.

On offense, his impact is still not quite as good as when he is on defense, but it is better than most would have expected coming into this season.

He will not create anything or be a real game changer on offense, but he does everything the Celtics want well enough to make sure they keep coming back. With an overall shooting percentage above 50 percent, he clearly does not take bad shots. He gets himself in the position he needs to, and is ready to capitalize on anything that is being created around him.

When you add on that three point shooting is a part of what he does on offense, and he can be an actual factor that defenders need to consider. Even without taking any threes, Aron Baynes still cannot top his overall shooting percentage. In fact, Baynes really should be closing the gap more.

Either he is getting wide open looks, and he has shown an ability to hit those well enough to keep taking them. Or he is creating space by drawing a defender to him on the outside. The key is that Theis always manages to stay a positive on offense, even if he is not helping create anything for himself or the players around him.

Next: How Can Al Horford Contain Kristaps Porzingis?

On one of the wildest bench units in the NBA, Theis is the one piece that brings reliability on both ends. He may not be the defender Smart is, and may not be able to score like Marcus Morris, but he has a level of reliability on both ends that they will not reach this season

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