The Boston Celtics are in a strange spot and to be honest it’s a spot they’ve been in for quite a while. Sure things have changed a bit this season and perhaps they’ve taken another step to being a legitimate title contender, however there’s one area that needs to be at the top of their game if they are to indeed be a title contender. That area is the bench. This isn’t to say the bench is not a capable group and isn’t capable of being a big part of a championship team but for the Celtics to win a title they need to be on their “A” game. Boston’s typical starting lineup consists of Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Daniel Theis. This group is one of the best starting fives in the entire league and when it’s working the way it should it is a very difficult offensive group to slow down. But obviously winning a championship involves everyone’s help, maybe not a lot but there’s something to be said for every team that’s won a title recently that their bench has played a role in their playoff run. Again this isn’t to say the Celtics bench isn’t capable of being a part of a championship team but certain guys are going to need to be as effective as they possibly can. One could argue the Celtics sixth man, Marcus Smart is the team’s most important player because of the energy he brings off the bench and how he can seemingly out hustle every player on the court. Smart is the Celtics heart and soul and needs to do what he does best for them to have a chance at an NBA championship. Smart is not a player that you have to worry about effort wise and his energy seems to rub off on his teammates which makes him the definition of a perfect bench player. Smart is a player that no matter what he puts on the stat sheet the effort will always be there. For all members of the Celtics bench, it will be important for them to stick to what they do best and try not to do too much. For Enes Kanter it’s rebounding and second chance points, for Brad Wanamaker it’s controlling the pace and being a pest on defense and for Semi Ojeleye it’s being a solid defender and knocking down the occasional three pointer. For the Celtics to be successful in the playoffs, the bench is going to need to be at the top of their game. One of the most pleasantly surprising storylines of the restart has been the emergence of second year forward, Robert Williams. The former Texas A&M Aggie also known as “Timelord” has been a huge addition to the bench with his athleticism and high energy. Williams, prior to the restart had been struggling with a hip edema that had kept him out of commission for a few months. Having him healthy could be a secret weapon for the C’s as he’s been incredibly efficient in the bubble, shooting 18 of 21 from the field. Williams is also a solid defender and is known for his spectacular blocked shots. Like Smart, Williams is a guy who can give the team energy just by checking into a game. It should be interesting to see how much Williams will be used in the postseason but he will almost certainly be a difference maker. Other key bench players include Grant Williams, Javonte Green and Carsen Edwards who are all in their first NBA season. Williams will likely be the one out of that trio to see the most playing time. He’s a player that doesn’t do anything spectacularly well but does do a lot of things that help a team win. Whether it’s grabbing an important rebound or being the first to a loose ball, Williams is a deep bench player that you can rely on to give you consistent effort. The one prototypical bench player the Celtics don’t really have is a scorer. A player who can come off the bench and simply just get buckets. The C’s certainly have survived without one but it’s a legitimate concern especially if the starters are having a tough night offensively. Sure Smart can score a little and Kanter is a fantastic offensive rebounder but when the Celtics go up against the better teams in the playoffs they absolutely need to be able to find consistent offense off the bench. The great thing with the Boston Celtics is they do a little bit of everything. They can score, they can defend and they can get consistent bench play. That third piece is going to be the difference between the Celtics becoming a legitimate title contender or simply just staying where they are. By: Garrett Haydon | Follow Me On Twitter @thesportsguy97
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