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Boston Celtics: Carsen Edwards deserves more playing time

By Jason Haskins

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Carsen Edwards #4 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on February 05, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Carsen Edwards #4 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on February 05, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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Opportunity is abound for players populating the bench in 2020-21 for the Boston Celtics. Taking advantage of these additional minutes and contributing any way possible typically earns a player more playing time, especially in this odd season.

Carsen Edwards proved that on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Edwards — with Jaylen Brown out due to knee soreness — played the best game of his young career. His 16 points on 5-8 shooting (3-5 from three-point land) helped lead the Celtics to a 119-115 victory.

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Edwards added four rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes of game action. He started the second-half and was part of the third quarter run by the Celtics that turned an 11-point halftime deficit into an eight-point lead.

Edwards also connected on three free throws during a key stretch in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory.

The performance was just another reason proving that Edwards deserves more playing time. If that happens at the expense of Jeff Teague, especially with Payton Pritchard back from his injury, so be it. It’s time to let the young guys prove their worth.

Due to injuries, load management, and COVID-19 issues, Edwards has been one of the guys seeing more playing time. Still, he’s totaled only nine games and the season is a little over 25 percent complete.

Improvement by Edwards over a rookie season in which he played in 37 games has already been shown. His field goal percentage is up to 51.2 (from 32.8) and the same for his three-point shooting (31.6 to 40).

The 16 points against the Clippers weren’t even a season-high for Edwards. He tied a career-high with 18 in a 141-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in January.

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Edwards is on the rise. Consistency from him is still needed, but there is no reason where he can’t begin to cut into Teague’s minutes. The veteran Teague can still be a valuable contributor to Boston, especially on the defensive end with Marcus Smart still out due to a calf injury.

Teague’s play on offense, however, has left a lot to be desired. Life looked bright for Teague and the bench after he dropped 19 points in the season-opening victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Since then, Teague has only crossed into double digits twice, the most recent when he scored 17 against the Orlando Magic on January 15.

On the season, Teague has a field goal percentage of only 31 percent. The last five games have been equally disappointing for Teague. He’s scored only 20 total points and is 6-25 from the field.

There were high hopes for Edwards entering his rookie year. Hopes that didn’t quite pan out in the disjointed 2019-20 season. As of late, there have been promising signs so it’s not an overreaction to say he deserves more minutes.

Give Edwards the minutes and see how he responds. The Eastern Conference is bunched together at the moment, so it’s a perfect time to do so without possibly losing much ground if he doesn’t work out.

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And if it does? Well, then he and Pritchard could provide the 1-2 scoring punch off the bench the Boston Celtics have been desperately seeking the last five seasons.

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