Do the Boston Celtics need to beef up their bench rotation? The Celtics have kicked off the 2023-24 NBA season in impressive fashion, establishing themselves as inner-circle contenders early in their current campaign.
While not flawless, their performance sparked hot takes about their bench rotation in particular. While the starting lineup is lauded as one of the best in the league, depth beyond the top six players is questionable. The current bench roster, aside from a shooting specialist in Sam Hauser, raises doubts about playoff minutes and their potential effectiveness. The Celtics may make moves before the trade deadline to fortify their second unit, a point noted by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley in a recent article.
“The Celtics might have the Association’s best starting five,” writes Buckley. “If Horford gets his shooting rates back up to their normal levels, they probably have the league’s best top six, too.”
What were the worst regular seasons in Boston Celtics history? https://t.co/uMljWLfCNg pic.twitter.com/eyNdgfekEb
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 21, 2023
“Other than those six and shooting specialist Sam Hauser, though, do the Celtics have anyone else they’d be comfortable entrusting with playoff minutes?” asks the B/R analyst.
“Payton Pritchard was supposed to enter the circle of trust this season, but he’s had a hard time getting his shot going and had never previously shown much as a playmaker. Luke Kornet is probably best when kept behind emergency glass. Oshae Brissett and Dalano Banton might have too many offensive limitations to try tapping into their defensive ability.”
“This bench has some holes, and while that’s sort of expected when a team has this much top-level talent, that doesn’t mean it’s something the front office can afford to ignore,” adds Buckley.
Former Celtic Marcus Smart says it was 'devastating' to miss game against his old team https://t.co/BAvLy5nsBB pic.twitter.com/YkxBDLmdhr
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 20, 2023
“Don’t be surprised if Boston winds up making a move or two around the margins to fortify its second unit between now and the trade deadline.”
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