Entering the month of April means that playoff basketball is here. The Boston Celtics and their fans have been waiting all year to get to this point as the Celtics try to win the franchise’s 19th championship.
The Celtics have dominated regular season play, sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 56-19 record. By keeping their championship core intact this past summer and keeping up their championship play, the Celtics have put themselves in a good position to run it back.
Since the Celtics have clinched the playoffs and will most likely remain in second place in the East, they’ve started resting their top players and giving more minutes to their bench pieces. One of the players who has shined since they’ve given more minutes is rookie Baylor Scheirman, who is on the bubble for potential playoff minutes.
Baylor Scheierman Making Case for Playoff Minutes
Baylor Scheierman hasn’t seen much playing time since being selected by the Celtics in last year’s draft, playing in 15 games before the start of March. Following the Celtics clinching a playoff berth, Scheierman has seen consistent playing time, carving out a role off the bench.
Scheierman is averaging 18.6 minutes in March, along with 7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and shooting 47.4% from three in 10 games. When the team needs a spark on offense, Scheierman has been that spark, scoring 20 points and hitting six threes in a win versus the Brooklyn Nets on Mar. 18 with no Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum.
Throughout his college career, Scheierman was regarded as a great 3-and-D player, averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from three. By being drafted by the Celtics, it was initially tough for him to get on the floor since they retained their championship roster, but Scheierman has been productive in his limited play.
Scheierman, 24, spent the majority of this season with the Maine Celtics, averaging 20.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8% from three. Playing time for the rookie has been hard to come by with the Celtics, but playing in the G-League has helped his development, as he’s shown these past few games how impactful he can become in the future.
Although cracking the playoff rotation will be a tall task for Scheierman, he has shown capability when his name is called. His three-point shooting and rebounding ability can spark a Celtics run, whether for a possession or to give one of the stars a rest.