Boston Celtics: 2 players who could have increased roles in 2020-21

Boston Celtics player worthy of increased role No. 2) Marcus Smart

Yes, followers of the shamrocks understand how valuable Marcus Smart has been for the franchise virtually since the moment he was drafted back in 2014. Labeled by many as the “lifeblood of Boston Celtics basketball”, it’s hard to argue that the wing’s impact on the rotation isn’t as high as it could already be.

That said, while his minutes on the hardwood could ultimately remain the same, a way in which we could see his role changing and, in theory, increasing moving forward is if Brad Stevens opts to thrust him into the starting lineup permanently come 2021.

Though he was still viewed as the team’s trusty Swiss Army sixth-man, Smart spent the majority of this past season in the starting unit for the shamrocks and, in turn, had one of the best years of his career.

Through 60 games and 40 starts, Smart put forth impressive averages of 12.9 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game on 35 percent shooting from deep.

His stupendous play — and starting status — rolled right along into the playoffs, where he put forth career-best averages of 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 33 percent shooting from deep.

Filling in for the injured Gordon Hayward, Smart was a revelation.

From his Games 1 & 2 shooting heroics against the Toronto Raptors to his stellar distribution skills throughout the Miami Heat series, the All-Defensive talent played his heart out during this year’s campaign, plugged any hole that needed filling, and, in truth, put together a strong argument for him to be a full-time staple in the C’s starting rotation moving forward.