Ime Udoka has done a fantastic job figuring out which members of the Boston Celtics play well together and in what roles this season. A really damn fantastic job.
It has led to Marcus Smart thriving as a floor general–I mean, did you see his 13 assists in the C’s latest blowout triumph against the Utah Jazz–and Robert Williams figuring out the exact role needed from the 5. Al Horford has figured out the perfect balance being someone no longer capable of quarterbacking the defense as he did in his last stint. Grant Williams has fully grown into a sixth-man role, Payton Pritchard is on his way to doing so, and Derrick White has been granted the grace to do so after a sluggish start, as per Brad Stevens sending several assets to the San Antonio Spurs in order to land him this past February.
Then, of course, there’s All-Star starter Jayson Tatum and All-Star snub Jaylen Brown. Despite constant calls for their demise as a duo, they are operating at career-high levels and near-career-high levels, respectively.
All of these names will serve integral roles come playoff time when the team begins its quest for Banner 18. A notable name missing here, though, is Daniel Theis.
According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the recent trade deadline acquisition isn’t expected to get many postseason minutes:
"I don’t expect Theis to get much run against most opponents but given how dominant this group has been while on the floor with Jayson Tatum against opposing second units, there’s enough firepower there to at least hold their own if the 3-point shots keep failing."
The Boston Celtics acquired Daniel Theis for depth purposes
The emergence of Robert Williams as a premiere defender on the block, Grant Williams as a legitimate two-way presence capable of stepping in as a small-ball 5, and Al Horford’s ability to serve as a glue-guy for this team have made Daniel Theis a depth piece.
It’s truly not much of a problem, either. Theis can step in during emergencies, but is expendable in the offseason should the Cs find that their current crop of talent isn’t enough to contend.