Takeaway No. 3) Danny Ainge heavily focused on bench scoring
The two first-round picks kept by the team were solid choices for a multitude of reasons.
However, perhaps the biggest plus that comes out of adding both these guys to the Boston Celtics rotation for the 2020-21 season is the fact that they’ll be able to help improve the team’s putrid scoring punch off the pine.
For the 2019-20 campaign, the shamrocks ranked in as having one of the worst offensive bench units in the entire league. Finishing 29th in points per game (28.5), 28th in 3-point percentage (31.8), and 20th in offensive rating (53.6), it was evident all throughout the year that the Boston Celtics had no one outside of Marcus Smart they felt confident in taking/ making shots, and this statement barely even rings true for Smart!
With Boston’s decision to bring on Nesmith and Pritchard, they are adding on two players who averaged over 20 points, shot over 50 percent from the floor, and converted on over 40 percent of their attempts from deep during their final seasons at the collegiate level.
Heck, even their decision to bring on Israeli point guard Yam Madar was a move to potentially upgrade the team’s secondary offensive production — possesses the capability to create his own shot with craft handles and speed while also showcasing a sound shooting stroke off catch-and-shoots.
With proven capabilities to score off-ball while also being able to create for themselves with the rock in their hands, it would appear that the Celtics added on at least two stellar scoring prospects that could help their measly bench immediately.