Boston Celtics: Five Most Important Players This Season

Mar 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Terry Rozier (0) dribbles the ball against the Northern Iowa Panthers in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Rozier

While he is no Russell Westbrook, Rozier has a very similar style of play to Westbrook. Westbrook has an elite burst and loves running the court in a fast paced offense. Rozier has a similar type of burst and Celtics fans are going to love watching this kid grow up in Boston. Rozier is a very exciting player and one who can make big plays in big moments.

He was a very strong player at Louisville, a team that made the Elite Eight this past season. With scoring point guards becoming a must in today’s NBA, his upside is very high and his on court performance may determine Marcus Smart’s fate with the team.

Marcus Smart is a Boston type of player. He’s competitive and very gritty. While there is no denying his ability to compete and play hard, Smart just does not look like the type of player I would want to develop. He is clearly still a project as a point guard/shooting guard. If Smart does not improve this season, I expect him to be traded and Rozier to step in as starting point guard.

Smart has yet to show me he’s a capable point guard in the NBA. I was personally hoping we traded him during the NBA draft this past year. Look for Rozier to carve out a role on this team this season even with Smart on the roster.

Next: The Consistent Force