Boston Celtics: Three Improvements Semi Ojeleye Can Make Next Season

1) Confidence

The most important area Ojeyele can improve on for next season is his confidence and decisiveness when he’s out on the court. Ojeleye was probably not expected to contribute much last season until Hayward was hurt and he was thrust into a reserve role.

On a team full of top-flight NBA talent, Ojeleye naturally took a backseat to his teammates on offense, mostly spotting up in the corners for the three-pointer and trying to provide spacing for the stars. When he did have the ball in his hands, the second-round pick often looked a kid called on in class who hadn’t done the homework.

Despite making 41.5 percent of his college three-pointers, Ojeleye often hesitated on open shots in his rookie season, almost always looking to pass to his more accomplished teammates before looking for his own offense. The way Ojeleye played, it was hard to remember that just a year before he led SMU to a 30-win season and an AAC Championship while scoring more than 20 points per 36 minutes on 49 percent shooting.

At SMU, Ojeleye displayed a diverse offensive game, shooting from distance, scoring in one-on-one situations, and getting to the line more than six times per game. He was the focal point of the offense and could handle and shoot very well for man of his 6-foot-7, 235-pound frame.

Obviously, it’s a major step up in competition from the AAC to the NBA, but still, Ojeleye far too often played with a passivity and indecisiveness that hid his true talent. In his second season, after some big playoff learning moments, expect Ojeleye to play with a renewed swagger and confidence.