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Boston Celtics: Three Improvements Semi Ojeleye Can Make Next Season

By Thomas King

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: Semi Ojeleye #37 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Seven of Round One of the 2018 NBA. Playoffs on April 28, 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 - APRIL 28: Semi Ojeleye #37 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Seven of Round One of the 2018 NBA. Playoffs on April 28, 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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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: Semi Ojeleye #37 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks of Game Seven in Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 28, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Semi Ojeleye #37 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks of Game Seven in Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 28, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2) Three-point shooting

Hopefully, a boost to Ojeleye’s confidence and another off season to adjust to the NBA’s further three-point line will help him improve his extremely poor outside shooting. Of the Boston Celtics’ regular rotation players, only Marcus Smart shot worse from deep–and he’s been one of the worst high-volume outside shooters in league history.

On offense, Ojeleye’s role probably won’t change much from last season; he’ll be expected to space the floor and spot up in the corners for three-point shots and hard slashes to the basket.

Last season, Ojeleye shot just 32 percent on three-pointers, despite nearly 70 percent of his shots being open or wide open, according to NBA’s tracking data. Of the 1.3 wide open three-point shots per game Ojeleye took, he made just 33 percent.

Almost all of Ojeleye’s three-point attempts last season were catch-and-shoot–the easiest deep shot to take–and still he shot an abysmal 31.5 percent on those shots. If Ojeleye can approach league average on his three-point shooting and make defenses pay for leaving him open, Stevens will be able to keep him on the floor more to take advantage of his great defense.

As we noted before, Ojeleye shot more than 41 percent from deep during his collegiate years, and has a good shooting form, so expect his outside shooting to improve dramatically in his second season.

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