For the Boston Celtics players, the NBA off season is all about improvement. Here we take a look at three ways that second-year forward Semi Ojeleye can improve heading into the season.
[Editor’s Note: This article is the first installment in a series of posts we will run here at Hardwood Houdini in the next two weeks as the Boston Celtics get ready for the NBA season. For NBA players, the off season is all about improving for next season. The work, the hours these players put into their game during the summer will determine not only their individual success in the upcoming season, but also the success of their teams.
As The Greatest, Muhammad Ali said, “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
In this series, we will detail three improvements that we hope each Boston Celtics player made in the off season to lift his game to the next level and hopefully bring the Celtics to the next level: Banner 18.]
Semi Ojeleye
Last season, Jayson Tatum (rightfully) got most of the attention for having an historic rookie season, but the Boston Celtics had another promising rookie who made major contributions throughout the regular season and playoffs: Semi Ojeleye.
The Boston Celtics selected Semi Ojeleye with the 37th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. It’s rare for a second-round pick to have an impact on the court in his rookie season, especially on a team as talented and successful as the Boston Celtics.
However, when Gordon Hayward broke his ankle in the first game of the season last year, Ojeleye took advantage of the opportunity to earn a spot in coach Brad Stevens’ rotation with his relentless defensive energy.
Ojeleye appeared in 73 regular season games for the Celtics, averaging nearly 16 minutes per game for a 55-win team. The first-year forward clearly earned Stevens’ trust, holding onto his spot in the rotation during the playoffs and even starting three games.
With his rare combination of physical size, strength, and lateral mobility, Ojeleye developed a reputation as a strong individual defender who even drew such assignments as Giannis Antentokounmpo in the postseason.
While Ojeleye’s defensive abilities were well beyond that of a typical rookie, his offense lagged far behind.