Celtics Roster Breakdown, 2016-17: Handlers-Wings-Swings-Bigs

[Parliament10]

2016-17 Roster Breakdown: The Ball Handlers
By Taylor C. Snow | Celtics.com | September 9, 2016




http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/offseason-2016-17-roster-breakdown-ball-handlers?sf35512861=1

Isaiah Thomas

At this time last year, Isaiah Thomas was considered to be Boston’s sixth man. He had just 21 regular season games in a Celtics uniform under his belt, and started the season coming off the bench to provide an early spark of offensive electricity. It only took three games for his role to change, however, as he earned the starting ball handling role. He was selected to his first All-Star game and established himself as one of the top guards in the league. Boston rode Thomas’ current to the Playoffs for the second straight season. He averaged team highs in points (22.2 per game) and assists (6.2 per game), and became just the third player in franchise history to tally at least 1,800 points and 500 assists in a season, joining legends Larry Bird and John Havlicek.



Marcus Smart

Before joining the Celtics, Marcus Smart was the primary ball handler at Oklahoma State, but he has had limited opportunities to shine in that role since being drafted in 2014. Point guard responsibilities have fallen heavily upon Thomas and Evan Turner over the last two seasons, which forced Smart to play off the ball often.



Terry Rozier

Another player who should benefit from Turner’s departure is second-year point guard Terry Rozier. During his rookie season, Rozier didn’t see much of the court – 311 regular season minutes over 39 games, to be exact. He did, however, earn some significant playing time in the Playoffs, averaging 19.8 minutes per game off the bench during Boston’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. That postseason experience instilled confidence in the 22-year-old, and could go a long way as he embarks on his sophomore campaign.



Demetrius Jackson

Demetrius Jackson will likely serve a similar role for the Celtics as Rozier did last season. Jackson, who led Notre Dame in scoring (15.8 PPG) and assists (4.7 APG) last season, may have difficulty breaking the rotation behind Thomas, Smart and Rozier.

[KGboss]

Jackson wont play and Rozier will take a big leap this year. Smart needs to become that 6th man as well this year off the bench. All in all excited about our ball handlers.

[jmr07019]

Turner was our second best ball handler and he is gone. Smart, Rozier and Brown all have an opportunity to take over this role. Any one of them emerging would be a huge positive for our season and future. It is the storyline I am most excited to follow this season.

[Kalela]

Turner was the best ball handler in the team in my opinion and he will be a huge miss.

[Parliament10]

2016-17 Roster Breakdown: The Wings
By Taylor C. Snow | Celtics.com | September 9, 2016



http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/offseason-2016-17-roster-breakdown-the-wings

Avery Bradley

Bradley, the longest-tenured member of the team, earned the most Defensive Player of the Year votes of any guard in the league last season and was honored with his first All-Defensive First Team nod. Along the way, a number of his All-Star caliber opponents went out of their way to publicly declare him as the top perimeter defender in the NBA.



Gerald Green

Green fully embodies what a team needs in a wing from an offensive perspective, as he’s capable of scoring in multiple ways. The 6-foot-7 guard is strong 3-point shooter – he canned 204 triples for Phoenix three seasons ago – so that should aid a Celtics team that struggled in the long ball department last season. And, for those who remember watching Green during his early days in Boston, the 2007 Slam Dunk Champion is fully capable of throwing down a highlight-reel dunk and sparking the offense when the time calls for it.



R.J. Hunter

The lanky guard shot just 36.7 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from long range last season. However, he showed significant strides during Summer League in July by shooting a 47.2 percent clip from beyond the arc despite playing with an injured right wrist.



James Young

James Young will likely be Hunter’s biggest competition for minutes this season. Young is entering his third season with the C’s and has yet to earn a consistent role with the team, evidenced by his 48 total trips between the NBA and the D-League.

[GregB]

How are Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder not wings? Sure crowder may occasionally play small ball 4 at times. But Brown is a 2/3 at this point in his career all the way.

[Parliament10]

How are Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder not wings? Sure crowder may occasionally play small ball 4 at times. But Brown is a 2/3 at this point in his career all the way.

They're both included as "Swings".

Coach Brad Stevens divides his team into four positional categories, as follows:

Ball handlers – Typically played by the 1.
Wings – A hybrid between the 2 and the 3.
Swings – A hybrid between the 3 and the 4.
Bigs – A hybrid between the 4 and the 5.

[GregB]

How are Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder not wings? Sure crowder may occasionally play small ball 4 at times. But Brown is a 2/3 at this point in his career all the way.

They're both included as "Swings".

Coach Brad Stevens divides his team into four positional categories, as follows:

Ball handlers – Typically played by the 1.
Wings – A hybrid between the 2 and the 3.
Swings – A hybrid between the 3 and the 4.
Bigs – A hybrid between the 4 and the 5.

Ok and I would agree that Crowder is a Swing then. But I still think Brown is a 2-3 all the way this year.