The Boston Celtics are dealing with more backcourt injuries that they can handle at the moment. With consistency being an issue, several players being on and off the court do not help things improve. Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley continue to deal with problems as Isaiah Thomas and RJ Hunter fill the void.
According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com, Bradley is dealing with a lower leg injury while Smart exited the game against the Indiana Pacers with a toe injury. Smart had just returned from the injury following a three-game absence and now could be out even longer as he cannot seem to get healthy. That is putting a lot of pressure on the starting lineup as both Bradley and Smart are leaders on the team. However, their injuries have opened the door for Thomas and Hunter to thrive.
While the Thomas hype train has been running at full speed for some time now, the Hunter express is just beginning to board. The former Georgia State star is having some breakout moments for the Celtics as a leader off the bench. While his numbers are not off the charts, head coach Brad Stevens notes that his basketball IQ is paying off in big ways for the Boston team. The 22-year-old is not a regularly rotated player, but he is quickly earning more and more playing time with injuries.
"He's doing well," Stevens said, via MassLive.com. "He hasn't gotten a chance in the games yet. But he's not far from not only getting a chance, but being an impactful guy. He's really gotten better on the defensive end, and his shooting is a real positive. We'll see if he can impact us sooner rather than later."
With players like Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger struggling with consistency while injuries are setting the team back, Hunter is taking advantage of whatever time he gets on the court. The same can be said for Evan Turner who has been filling in a starting role as well. The growth of the depth is certainly something the Celtics need, but they are lacking that go-to star. The Pacers beat the Celtics because Paul George was their go-to guy. The Celtics are lacking that on the roster right now. Thomas could be a candidate, but considering he traditionally comes off the bench, Stevens needs to adjust.
"There's a reason that certain guys are at an elite level, right? I think that we've got a lot of young guys that aspire to be really good players and a big part of that is being a very good player every night," Stevens said, via ESPN.com.
