Boston Celtics: 3 goals for the team post All-Star break

Get the youngsters more playing time

Last, but not least, one major goal for the Boston Celtics post All-Star weekend should be shelling out more minutes to their young players. The team has been an absolute joy to watch for a majority of the 2019-20 season and have proven that last year’s debacle is well in the rearview.

Still, generally speaking, the team has relied heavily on their main core of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward to guide them to victories throughout the regular season.

Has it worked? Of course!

But when the postseason rolls around, these aforementioned players will start to feel the tread that has been an 82 game regular season and will need help from their bench if they wish to advance deep into the tournament.

Sure they have established & talented veterans like Marcus Smart and Enes Kanter coming off the pine to help in big ways, but a majority of their second unit consists of young/ raw prospects that have seen limited action thus far throughout the campaign.

To gear this team up for the postseason, Brad Stevens should start — slowly but steadily — to increase the minutes of the team’s young bucks.

Of this young nucleus, rookie Grant Williams leads the way in minutes per game with 15.6. He has produced well — albeit quietly — with the increased time throughout the season. Earlier in the month we saw the team’s lone lottery pick from this past draft attain more minutes due to Jaylen Brown’s absence and averaged 28.5 minutes to go along with 11 points, three boards, one steal and two blocks during his two-game starting streak.

Since then, his minutes have only regressed, as too has his counting stats.

More minutes for these aforementioned players has translated to improvements in production. We’re not suggesting they should throw 25+ minutes their way, but an uptick in minutes during this final stretch — especially against should-be lock victories against the likes of Cleveland, New York and Detroit — could help their confidence come playoff time.

If they can head into the postseason with solid momentum and confidence on their side, it would only help their stars receive much needed rest, at least in the early rounds, which could be a tremendous help down the road.