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Whether Semi Ojeleye would return to the Celtics this year was something to be questioned by many in the 2020-21 season, but Boston chose their player option.
And he’s taken that opportunity so far, with a well-deserved big game, beating the Orlando Magic 124-97 with five players eliminated.
“Male, Semi. I work hard. Like, I’ll say it, first and foremost, ”Jaylen Brown said after scoring a record 21 points in his Zoom media availability after the game.
Ojeleye followed with 18 points off the bench with six boards, all defensive and an assist.
“Semi, I always say, probably works harder than me. Semi is a hard working guy, man, and I’ve seen him the last four seasons and seen him keep improving, ”said Brown. “I saw that things weren’t going as planned, I saw him not playing for a few minutes, and I sometimes see him frustrated. Semi can play basketball, man, and I’m glad he got a game like this for others to see. But Semi can definitely play basketball as long as he keeps his head up and keeps working and continues to have opportunities, I think he will perform.
After the Celtics first trained on Thursday after shutting down matters due to NBA health and safety protocols, coach Brad Stevens was asked if multiple postponed games were a silver lining , allowing Boston to recover.
In response, Stevens kind of suggested otherwise and went into great detail about how he hopes to see younger guys and players who don’t usually have as much playing time see decent minutes in a single situation.
A lot of guys normally at the end of the bench had those chances tonight on the bench.
“We missed each other, we missed being on this ground. It was a unique evening where everyone who usually can’t play or usually doesn’t have as much playing time got to go out and show their talent and present everything they’ve been working on, ”said Smart in his availability. media after the game.
“Semi has been doing this for as long as I can even imagine now. We’re really excited for these guys, especially Semi. He doesn’t have as much playing time, we don’t talk a lot, he doesn’t have a lot of visibility. But this guy works his cock every day, day in and day out and he never complains. He comes in and he’s professional and he waits his turn, and when his number is called he goes out and applies whatever he’s working on.
Javonte Green also dropped double-digit points off the bench (10), while rookie Aaron Nesmith’s five points included a big 3-pointer and Tacko Fall had an electric home straight 3-for-3 off the field with a huge block.
Here’s what else happened:
–Brown matched his career in assists against Orlando (eight) in one of the best examples to date of the All-Star’s growth as a facilitator.
“Every year I try to improve myself, but at the same time I have more and more opportunities, so I think that’s the biggest difference,” Brown said of his efforts to step up, especially as the Celtics started their season without point guard Kemba. Walker.
“With the opportunity, you gain experience and the experience starts to turn into rewards and performance. So I’m just grateful that I can be in that position to take on that responsibility and try to handle it as best I can.
– Stevens revealed ahead of the game that the Celtics were unsure whether Brown, Theis, Ojeleye or Green would be available until the afternoon when negative COVID-19 tests returned for all four players.
And on top of that, they had a practice this week.
It didn’t matter in a compelling game against a team with plenty of injury issues, but the Celtics were still happy with the energy they brought on Friday.
“We’re professionals, all of us for a reason,” said Smart. “I’m very happy with the way we were able to come here, focus and do what we were supposed to do on both sides of the pitch and do what we had to do to get ready for the game on short notice.
“It’s hectic. A swirling tornado, you can call it. Brad, throughout this process, told us “to be able to hit curved balls”. For us, we had a curve ball when we found out we could be shorter than we expected.
– Theis, having been upgraded to questionable hours before the game, did not start on Friday, but had five points and two assists.
Instead, Grant Williams was alongside Tristan Thompson and the other starters, and after the game Stevens gave details on the two big rosters and how crosses will be used in the future.
“Tristan and Theis both, we tried to keep them around 20-24 (minutes) just because of the week’s inactivity, we couldn’t get it started,” Stevens said of not not have started Theis.
“It made sense not to do it, it made sense to get a guy off the bench, and it will continue. I told these two guys that they are both really good players. They both help us in so many ways. Sometimes they can start, sometimes they can come off, but the minutes will probably be quite similar to when they were shared tonight.
– During the game, ESPN Tim Bontemps reported that in addition to players still absent due to NBA health and safety protocols, assistant coaches Jay Larranaga and Jerome Allen are also absent from the squad.
“We have a great staff, we have a great staff, we don’t want anyone to be absent or absent, but these guys always add as much value as possible while they are away,” Stevens said after the Game.
“I’m sure Jay has rewound Tacko’s jump 58 times already and watched it with great joy.
–Next, the Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks at TD Garden Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Brian Fluharty / USA TODAY Sports Images
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