Boston Celtics player who could lose minutes to Hayward No. 2) Daniel Theis
Unlike the reasoning we had for Ojeleye ceding minutes to Hayward, Daniel Theis‘ inclusion on this list is not due to a lack of production or a player at his position usurping him in the rotation.
In fact, his entire 2019-20 season has been one that’s been criminally underrated, as he averaged 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 57 percent shooting from the floor and finished with the league’s second-best defensive real box plus-minus at 4.45.
This postseason run has been no different for the German-native, as he’s been posting similar numbers of 8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 50 percent shooting per game and has proven to still be the best big the Boston Celtics have in tow.
With that said, however, having Gordon Hayward back means pullbacks in minutes for some of the team’s regular participants and, if Brad Stevens’ insistence of using the often hyped, rarely used “best five” lineup (Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Hayward) in game three is any indicator, Theis is in line for a minutes regression.
That group proved to be a handful for Miami in game three, as they helped build a pivotal lead at the end of the second quarter, finishing things off on an 11-2 run (Boston went into the half with a 63-50 lead). In the second half, they were used to thwart off a late surge by the Heat, as the lineup proved to be unbelievably hard to handle on defense.
At this point in the series, especially with how the record currently is, anything that proves to have a positive effect on this shamrocks squad should be continuously utilized.
With its success in Saturday’s outing, this sentiment obviously relates to the best-five lineup, leaving Theis as a clear minutes-regression candidate.