I can admit that I was only slightly worried about the Celtics. Although the NBA is transitioning to small ball, meaning smaller power forwards and only 1 center. I was still worried about the Celtics because of the lack of a talented center. Enes Kanter is decent, really nothing to write home about. However, Daniel Theis has fit the Celtics system perfectly. Outside of their 5 best players in Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, I’m really not excited about the rest of their team. There’s an argument for the Celtics 6th best player, but as time goes on, Daniel Theis is emerging as that. We know the 5 players I named will obviously contribute for the Celtics, but they’ll need their X Factor in Theis to get them to a title.
Daniel Theis Stats
Currently, Daniel Theis averages 9.3 PPG on 56.5% shooting, 1.6 APG, 6.6 RPG, and 1.3 BPG in only 24 minutes per game. May I remind everyone this is the SIXTH option for the Celtics? He’s a big part of what the Celtics do to win games. He does a lot of dirty work for the team such as being the main one defending in the paint and making hustle plays that don’t show up on the scoreboard. He spaces out the floor for the Celtics and makes key pick and roll plays to open the lane for the other 5 players. While Enes Kanter gets more rebounds in fewer minutes than Theis, Theis is more multi-dimensional in his game.
Of course, the Celtics will need their main 5 guys of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward, but having a center that fits their system is dire if they have any shot at a title. Especially since Gordon Hayward said he will drop out of the Orlando Season restart if his wife goes into labor. That means Daniel Theis’ role becomes even more evident in the Celtics title chances. Daniel Theis will help the Celtics championship hopes tremendously. If the Celtics win the NBA Finals, a lot of credit should go to Theis as the Celtics X Factor.
