Throughout the regular season, previously unproven players stepped up in the absence of Jayson Tatum and the rest of the departed championship core. It was Neemias Queta stepping into the starting lineup for Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Garza being a nightly Tommy Award candidate. It was Jordan Walsh becoming a bona fide 3-and-D threat, the nineteen-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez looking like a seasoned vet, and Baylor Scheierman putting it all together in Year 2.
Unfortunately in the playoffs, Joe Mazzulla went away from that depth and eventually back to them too late. And if we learned anything from Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, it’s that depth not only matters in the regular season, but also through the pace and intensity of the postseason and as series go deep and teams’ gameplans start to take away superstars in Games 4, 5, and 6, role players become increasingly more important to clinch the late games of a long series.
CelticsBlog’s Ian Inangelo reminded me of The Grant Williams Game against the Bucks and The Kelly Olynyk Game to eliminate the Wizards as some of the greatest Game 7 performances in the franchise’s glittering history. Now, it was a well-rounded effort by the Spurs to take down the defending champs on the road in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama was crowned the conference finals’ MVP, but let’s not forget the peripheral performances that ultimately tilted the deciding game. It was Julian Champagnie’s 6-of-10 from 3 and even a big momentum-shifting block from Luke Kornet that really turned the tide for San Antonio.
For the Thunder, they’re not there without Alex Caruso’s gutty defense or Isaiah Hartenstein’s physicality or Jared McCain’s sharpshooting paired with SGA’s MVP heroics.
It was just another reminder that for the Celtics to reach this mountaintop again, it won’t just be the efforts of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ll get doubled. Opposing teams will scheme against their tendencies and most efficient spaces on the floor. It’ll be up to players #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8 to not only make up the difference, but push the team over the top.
Watching the playoffs without the Celtics, it’s impossible not to daydream about what a postseason run will look like this time next year. Realities blur and my mind’s AI starts Photoshopping Spurs and Thunder out and replacing them with Celtics. I’ll squint my eyes and see Scheierman defending Wemby just like Alex Caruso. When Jared McCain rips off a 14-point quarter, I’ll fantasize that that’s Ron Harper Jr. taking it to baby brother Dylan Harper. And tell me Garza couldn’t have a Luke Kornetesque impact in a big game.
With some financial flexibility this summer, the Celtics will no doubt look to make upgrades. The $27 million TPE and the non-taxpayer mid-level could be in play and if they’re utilized, those additions will come with high expectations. But for the Stay Ready Group, their goal is a little more vague: deliver the unexpected and deliver it when it matters most.
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