Impact of Role Players In the Eastern Conference Finals

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The Eastern Conference finalists Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are in for a great series, especially after how Game one turned out (I got Celtics in six, but we will see how it plays out). Today, I wanted to focus on three role players on each team and discuss how they can have major impacts on this series.

Just for clarification, I am defining a role player as someone who is not a top three player on their team.

BOSTON CELTICS:

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1. Grant Williams

First off, we have Grant Curry who has wreaked havoc on the defensive end against the two best players in the NBA (Giannis and KD). His ability to slide his feet to keep people in front of him has been incredible, even if he does get away with using his hands a lot and flopping.

Before this season, Grant Williams was looked at as a dude with a lot of size for no good reason. As my Celtics fan friend described him, he was, “A 3&D without a real 3 or any significant D”. However, he has been great this season, as his corner shooting and 1-on-1 defense have been awesome.

For Grant Williams to have his name imprinted on this series, his defense on Jimmy Butler needs to be as good as it has been. This means sliding back on D to let Jimmy shoot, without leaving him too open. Also, he has to not use his hands as much because Jimmy will draw those fouls. Lastly, when it comes to his defense on Butler, he has to box out everybody under the basket, but Butler will also be crashing by himself.

In terms of offense, Grant has to be consistent with his corner 3’s. When he’s hot, it opens up the paint for Tatum and Brown to attack if other players have to worry about Grant in the corner. It even allows for easier pick and roll opportunities with Marcus Smart and Rob Williams as well.

2. Derrick White

Derrick White has been inconsistent since leaving the womb. There are some games where he is hitting the open looks that Smart, Tatum, and Brown get him. However, if those aren’t going in, his best effectiveness is when he is forcing the ball into the paint. He needs to at least be a threat from outside, and that will make winning very easy for Boston.

Defensively, they need him to be the guy that can follow Strus, Herro, Vincent, Oladipo, and Martin off of all of these different screens that Miami sets up. If he gets burned on only a couple of these in a short span, Miami can blow the game open. White needs to be in sync with the rest of the guys and communicate on screens or else the Heat will get open looks from thee or even layups for Bam diving to the basket.

3. Payton Pritchard

I included Pritchard because the reward for him playing at a productive level is very high, but so is the risk. What goes for him goes for the other guys, knock down the easy and open threes. When Pritchard knocks down some catch and shoot shots, he tends to be more aggressive and confident with himself trying to score off the dribble. When he goes off the dribble, he has a tendency to take step-back threes. If I am Pritchard, after a few fall from the outside, I am going into attack mode at every opportunity. Being that threat from outside with his quickness allows him to drive and kick for good looks almost every time down.

The risk for Pritchard is the defensive side of the floor. While we already saw this in game one, Pritchard needs to fight through screens and try not to switch onto larger wings when he is there. Some of this is on the Celtics, but Pritchard can put himself in positions where switching won’t happen. When it comes to defending Butler, who scored many times on Pritchard, he could hedge some of the screens on the perimeter, or flat out double Butler with another defender if the screen is inside 18 feet, forcing Butler to pass, and the Celtics are one of the best teams at closing out in the league.

MIAMI HEAT:

Image from Sports Illustrated

1. Max Strus

Max Strus has been awesome for the Heat ever since they acquired him. His shooting and defense have been integral to Miami’s success this post-season. Offensively, he needs to keep shooting the way he has been, but also be prepared to create more shots for the Heat. Strus is an underrated playmaker, so if Butler and other primary ball handlers are going to see tighter defense and possible traps, then Strus has to be ready to make plays off the dribble.

Defensively, he has to stay solid with Jaylen Brown, which is like asking me to read a long book. It’s very possible, but it takes a lot of focus and willpower. He has to position himself so that Brown can’t jab his way to a drive off the dribble, but can’t just pull a shot off of a jab either. Brown is super crafty and sometimes can do moves on the fly that he just does not usually do, so Strus will have to be extra locked in on that side of the floor.

2. Victor Oladipo

Now, this one will not take much explanation, as Victor’s situation is very simple.

Offensively, he can’t be hesitant to pull the trigger. Sometimes, he will pass up a decent look from three for a contested jumper or shot from 10 feet, when it would just make more sense to take that three in the first place.

Defensively, Oladipo has a real chance to leave a mark on the Celtics offense by playing his passing lanes correctly. He once led the league in steals while playing for Indiana, with a real chance to try and pick off some of the Celtics ball handlers passes should they leave their feet before making a pass.

3. PJ Tucker

Offensively, PJ’s job is also simple. Make your corner threes and make the easy layups handed to you.

Defensively, there is a lot on his plate. He has the task of guarding almost every Celtics player. When dealing with Tatum and Brown, he has to force them to take contested jumpers, while playing physical without fouling. When it comes to some of the big men like Horford and both the Williams’, PJ has to keep them out of the paint when they initiate a pick and roll, forcing the bigs to make plays off their own catches, which is very possible with Rob Williams and Horford. Both of those guys are excellent passers, so PJ has to be ready to close passing lanes even if he is way shorter. PJ’s best bet is to try and make those guys head to the basket to try and score, because you would rather they take the shots than any of the other Celtic guys.

Overall, this series will be hard fought, and the better team will earn their win, which I think will be the Boston Celtics. However, go Knicks.