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Boston Celtics: Ball protection has to be Terry Rozier’s priority

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 15: Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a play during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game One of Round One during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 15: Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a play during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game One of Round One during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 15, 2018 at 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Terry Rozier needs to keep up his ball protection to keep his role with the Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics finally got Marcus Smart back, giving their back court a much needed boost. With just two other point guards on the roster, they need as many ball handlers as possible and they need Smart’s two way impact.

The one thing the Celtics do not want, however, is to have Smart hurt Terry Rozier‘s role in any way. For now, we should probably expect Rozier to remain the starter. Smart always has a special impact coming off the bench, and Brad Stevens will not want to disrupt too much.

That being said, this puts more pressure on Rozier. It is no longer just Shane Larkin behind him, and the margin of error has to be smaller. With Rozier, that margin of error is still quite simple, because it is all about ball control.

Rozier is always going to be inconsistent as a shooter. He is streaky and has not proven that he can be the most efficient option. That being said, his control is one of the most improved part of his game and his ball protection has been the best in the team when he is playing well.

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Rozier has rounded out his game in a special way, and the only way he is having a negative impact now is if he is turning the ball over and disrupting the overall flow of the offense. The good news for Rozier is that he knows he can run anything he wants without turning the ball over.

His two best games of the series were the first two, and he had 46 points and 11 assists without turning the ball over once. He put up a dud in game three with five turnovers with just nine points. Since then he got back on track with 26 points 13 assists and just three turnovers.

With just one glaring outlier in this series, Rozier has earned all the trust Stevens is giving him. What it also shows us is that Rozier is going to have a positive impact no matter what he does, as long as he is protecting the ball.

The Celtics can deal with poor shooting, because the shots come in rhythm and it does not slow down the offense. They can survive a low scoring game, because his play making and defense are a true asset right now. If, however, he starts turning it over he will be slowing down the players around him, and Stevens will go to the other trusted option in Smart more often as a ball hander.

The Celtics do not have the depth to consider taking away the role of either of their top two point guards. That being said, they still need to figure out who is going to be the primary ball handler in the most important moments, and that is Rozier’s job to lose if he can continue to protect the ball.

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Rozier has proven a lot as a shooter, and is phenomenal at creating offense for this team in rhythm. Smart may be a better passer, but Rozier has a more dynamic overall impact on offense right now. The only way Rozier can lose that role as primary ball handler is if the turnovers start to pile up and he is doing more harm than good with the ball in his hands.

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