Analyst believes Boston Celtics signing 5x All-NBA big will pay off in playoffs
The Boston Celtics’ signing of Blake Griffin late in the 2022 offseason was a transaction meant to bridge the gap between the start of the 2022-23 season to the return of Robert Williams III to the lineup. Griffin has had effective spot starts, but his signing was always meant to be a temporary band-aid.
NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg believes that the Griffin signing will end up paying dividends for the Cs when the games matter most, however, calling his presence a major potential factor in the postseason.
Forsberg specifically mentioned how Griffin could help combat Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in a playoff series:
"“When Blake (Griffin) plays big minutes against Giannis (Antetokounmpo) in the playoffs and is a serviceable defender like we saw at times on Christmas Day, we’ll look back and be like, ‘Wow, Brad (Stevens) knew when he added him to the roster there would be a moment, and Blake was ready for that moment.’ Maybe that’s the tipping point. Maybe that’s just enough to help you win a tough series against the Milwaukee Bucks.”"
Brad Stevens made several perfect moves to improve the Boston Celtics bench
In his first run as a front office executive, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been doing a fantastic job. Since taking over the Cs, Stevens has added key second unit pieces in Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, Blake Griffin, and Luke Kornet, who he re-added after letting him go to the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2021 during the COVID-19 Omicron wave that rocked the NBA. He also added Danilo Gallinari on a discount, though Gallo has still yet to suit up for the Cs and unfortunately may never do so.
Though he couldn’t get the Celtics over the top when he was the team’s head coach, Stevens has almost aced the test of building a championship roster. All that’s left is the elusive Finals victory they were so close to getting last June.