Terry Rozier Turning Into One of the Most Complete Players on the team
Terry Rozier is playing like an every day starter with Kyrie Irving sidelined
The Boston Celtics continue to win games in the face of one of the most brutal injury stretches, and we are seeing different players step up on a nightly basis. Last night, against the Sacramento Kings, they got a career night and almost record breaking performance from Terry Rozier.
The Celtics knew they would have to figure out how to replace the scoring boost that Marcus Morris was bringing, and Rozier responded with a career high 33 points on just 16 shots, and one three pointer away from a team record.
Rozier was simply superb in everything he wanted to do. He missed just four shots total, with one of the most efficient scoring nights anyone’s had on the Celtics this season. Rozier also extended his streak of scoring in double digits to 22 games.
There are a lot of questions about sustainability on the Celtics right now, especially with so many second unit players in a prominent role. With Rozier, he is passing the test of time, and is proving to everyone that he is going to be able to do this on a nightly basis, and all he is going to need is the opportunity.
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Rozier’s biggest weakness has always been his inconsistency, and tendency to make mistakes and get out of control. Rozier is now in full control of what he wants to do on the court, and he is blowing away standards set in previous seasons.
Rozier has the incredibly athleticism that makes him one of the best renbounding guards in the league, and a capable defender who can make up for size problems. Rozier is also now on the cusp of breaking 40 percent from three point range, and that is something nobody saw coming.
Ever since Rozier got that triple double in his first start, and followed it up with his first 30 point game, you knew he was hitting another level this year. With all these injuries allowing him to get consistent opportunities, he is fixing all the problems that have held him back in the past.
Rozier is ready to lead this team on the offensive end, and will not be a slouch on defense, even if he is still too far off from Marcus Smart to be compared to him. On offense, however, Rozier is separating himself from Smart, because he is having a truly dynamic impact when he has the ball in his hands.
Rozier has always been able to push the pace, and he is now finding a better balance, and making sure that he is generating quality looks, instead of just jacking up the volume shots. Rozier still has a lot of work to do, but he is going to make it impossible not to keep his minutes up in the playoffs.
The Celtics knew that these bench players had to step up if they wanted any momentum going into the playoffs, but they could not have expected this. Rozier looks far from a bench player right now, and if he is bringing this impact off the bench when everyone is healthy, no one in the league will be able to account for him.
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Rozier will be one of the biggest factors in fully overcoming these injuries, and surviving early on the playoffs while Irving and Smart are still out. His days of being a non factor are completely behind him, and Rozier is proving that the Celtics have the deepest core of guards in the NBA.