Boston Celtics: How lack of bench scoring could be a big problem

Alex Green

Boston Celtics (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Boston Celtics Carsen Edwards (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics are off to a great start to the 2018-19 NBA season, but the one thing they need to improve on is bench scoring.

The Boston Celtics have the third worst scoring bench in the NBA and the worst in the East. Prior to Monday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, their bench has a total of 327 points in 199 minutes. Below them is the Houston Rockets (326) and the Utah Jazz (320).

Excluding Enes Kanter, the Celtics do not have a bench player who is averaging more than 6 points a game.

Against Golden State, Alec Burks went off for 20 points. Against the Spurs, Patty Mills went off for 20. Whilst on the contrary, no member of the Celtics bench has hit 20 points in a game yet.

Similarly against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets, both Larry Nance Jr and Devonte Graham scratched 15, respectively. Only twice this season has a Celtics bench player scored more than 13, Carsen Edwards against the Wizards (18) and Marcus Smart vs the Spurs (16).

Do you think off the bench scoring is the Boston Celtics’ biggest problem? Or merely a minor blip that injuries to Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Enes Kanter and Romeo Langford have enforced?

Let’s take a look at the numbers:

Boston Celtics Bench: As a Group.

As a group, over the first 12 games, the Boston Celtics bench has averaged 27.2 points, almost 4 points less than next the next in line Philadelphia 76ers (31.2) and 17.8 points less than the highest scoring benches of the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons (45).
On average the Celtics concede 36 points per game to the opponents bench. Resulting in an outscoring of 36-27.2, bench-wise.
In the last two games the Celtics have been run deep into the fourth quarter by the Warriors and the Kings. The Warriors bench, much thanks to Alec Burks, outscored their Celtics counterparts 42-17, which led to Golden State leading the Celtics with 1:39 to go in fourth. Earlier in the season, the Bucks bench outscored Boston’s 37-8. The Cavaliers bench won their contest 40-24. San Antonio’s won theirs 62-43, as did Dallas’: 42-20.
There have been five occasions this season where three or more players have scored 0 points off the bench, and six occasions where four or more players have scored 2 points or less.
In field goals made the Celtics average 8.8 – the lowest in the East, with the Wizards on top sinking 18.5.

In the East these scoring difficulties for the Boston Celtics bench hasn’t yet caused any heartache for the Celtics, but their first real test could come against the Clippers on Thursday. The Clippers’ bench lead the West in points per game (51.4), field goal percentage (47.5 percent) and 3-point percentage (37.3) and could spell danger for the Celtics.

Boston Celtics Grant Williams (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Boston Celtics Bench: Individually

The Boston Celtics have some good players on the bench. Good scorers. Grant Williams averaged 18.8 in his last year in College, shooting 56 percent from the field.

Carsen Edwards averaged 24.3 and Semi Ojeleye shot 42 perent from 3-point range on his way to averaging 19 points per game in his final season with SMU. But they’re young players in the league. The Celtics don’t have the type of bench player that do what Alec Burks did the other night on the offensive end.

They don’t have a stand-out scoring bench player. A true sixth man. Here’s how they stand right now:

B. Wanamaker – 5.8ppg (14.1mpg)

V. Poirier – 1.4ppg (5.9mpg)

J. Green – 3.2ppg (6.8mpg)

S. Ojeleye – 2.1ppg (10.0mpg)

R. Williams III – 4.8ppg (14.5mpg)

C. Edwards – 4.8ppg (12.2mpg)

E. Kanter – 8.2ppg (18.0mpg)

G. Williams – 2.6ppg (15.3mpg)

The Boston Celtics bench needs to dig deep and find some more contributions. The skill level of the second and third unit is good, they have the ability but it’s not translating on the hardwood. If they want to make a deep run in the playoffs, health is going to be key – yes, but bench contributions will define them.

Boston Celtics Enes Kanter (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Key factors that will improve the bench

The addition of Enes Kanter off the bench helps, he’s an offensive center whose rebounding adds immensely to the team. But they’re going to have to find scoring from elsewhere to really be a force.

When Gordon Hayward comes back and Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown alternate between the bench and the starting spot, the situation will improve but I think they need Grant Williams or Semi Ojeleye to step up with their minutes.

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Williams is averaging 28.1 percent from the field, and Ojeleye has 50 percent, but only averaging a shot and a half per game in 10 minutes. An improve from either of these two players and the Celtics bench will fill out nicely.

Semi Ojeleye showed against the Kings what he’s capable of from 3-point range, hitting 3 of 4 on his way to 11. Another player who has a lot to offer offensively is Carsen Edwards, but his 35.3 percent from the field leaves little to be desired at the moment.

The Boston Celtics first unit are doing well now offensively, especially in the second half of the game, they’re flying, but there is some potential trip hazards in regards to the bench.

When the star players of other teams are off the floor and the Boston Celtics second and third rotations come in, they need to capitalize and make every point, rebound and assist count; especially if they want to run deep come play-off time. Something they’re very capable of doing.

If the Celtics bench improve and show up in time for Gordon Haywards return, then I think the conversation regarding who is the biggest from the contenders from the East will shift.

What are your thoughts on the Boston Celtics bench? Who’s impressed you? Who do you think is capable of stepping up?