Although not the most well-known Boston Celtic, Daniel Theis has been quietly filling the stat sheet night in and night out.
After signing Tristan Thompson, many thought Theis’ role may be reduced, but Theis does not seem to be slowing down or contributing any less than before.
Primarily a defender and rebounder, Theis took the offseason to improve on offense. Despite being considered an undersized center, his aggressive play and stout defense makes DT a key cog for the Celtics. The 28-year-old’s work has resonated onto the court so far this season.
Offensive Improvements
Through 17 games, Theis has averaged 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds over 22.5 minutes per contest. He’s hitting a career-best 63.5% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 73.9% from the charity stripe. Theis’ offensive game continues to evolve as he gains valuable experience in numerous big games.
Likewise, playing in meaningful games increases his confidence and position in Brad Stevens’ offense. His play in last season’s playoffs proved to be key for Boston’s continued advancement.
On a team where he does not need to be a top scoring option, DT’s usage and play style fits quite well with the C’s. He is a decent complimentary piece to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker, creating opportunities for others by setting effective screens and cleaning the glass. Last week’s game against Philadelphia gave casual fans a glimpse of Theis’ toughness and scoring ability. He finished with 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.
Theis does not post eye-popping numbers often, but his ability to produce efficiently makes Boston that much better. Even when he is not scoring, his offensive rebounding and unwavering hustle makes a difference.
Defensive Star
Theis has slowly emerged into relevance within the last couple seasons. His breakthrough came in the Bubble, where he averaged 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds across 28.4 minutes per game in the postseason. He snatched rebounds against the likes of all-star-caliber bigs in Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo and Pascal Siakam. The duo of Theis and Marcus Smart provide a formidable defensive front that creates issues for the opposition.
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Boston’s defense proves to be stellar while their rebounding has improved from a year ago. The team’s rebounding deficiency became obvious in the playoffs, but that improved after signing Thompson coupled with Theis’ growth. The four-year pro looks to have found his niche with the team, and his continued blossoming will only fortify Boston’s quest for Banner 18.
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