Nikola Vucevic was acquired by the Boston Celtics before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline and performed 12 video games for his new group earlier than struggling a fractured finger injury that required surgical procedure.
Vucevic has been working laborious to get again on the courtroom, though the group hasn’t introduced an official return date for him. With simply eight video games left in the common season, time is operating out for the veteran middle to construct extra chemistry together with his new teammates earlier than the playoffs.
“Vooch has been working his ass off. He’ll be back soon, I hope,” Tatum told reporters at shootaround forward of Wednesday night time’s sport towards the Heat in Miami.
What type of influence might Vucevic have for the Celtics in the playoffs?
His most profound contribution should come offensively. It’s no secret the Celtics like capturing 3-pointers, and all through Joe Mazzulla’s tenure as head coach, they’ve used lineups the place all 5 guys on the courtroom might shoot 3s.
That hasn’t all the time been the case this season, although. Neemias Queta has been one of many league’s most improved gamers in his first season as Boston’s beginning middle, however he isn’t a menace from past the arc. When the C’s traded Kristaps Porzingis and let Al Horford stroll in free company final offseason, their capturing depth at middle took an enormous hit.
Vucevic offers the Celtics that means to stretch the ground. He is capturing 35.1 p.c on 3-point photographs with the Celtics and 37.3 p.c for the entire season. He shot a formidable 40.2 p.c on 3-pointers with the Bulls final season. Opposing defenses must respect Vucevic’s means to hit these photographs, and that opens up driving lanes to the basket for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Launching photographs from the perimeter is just not the one a part of Vucevic’s offensive repertoire. He is a succesful low-post scorer. That’s one thing the Celtics have not had a ton of in latest years, and there was positively an adjustment interval when Vucevic first arrived.
Throwing it down low to Vucevic and permitting him to make use of his 260 kilos of bulk to create a high-percentage shot is not a foul play, particularly when he has a positive matchup towards a smaller defender.
In pick-and-rolls, Vucevic can display screen and roll to the basket or come out for a 3-pointer. This type of versatility is efficacious for the C’s. Vucevic is also a top quality passer for a giant man. If Celtics gamers lower to the basket, he’ll discover them.
Vucevic is not a foul defender by any means. It’s simply not the power of his sport. And it took some time for him to regulate to the Celtics’ scheme. But earlier than he suffered the finger injury, he positively had a greater thought of when to be the assistance defender and methods to react to screens. Vucevic is just not going to be the shot-blocking presence that Porzingis was for the Celtics, however he should be capable to maintain his personal across the rim.
If the Celtics are going to win the Eastern Conference, they’re going to must rebound at a excessive stage. Whether it is the Knicks (Karl-Anthony Towns), Cavaliers (Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley) or Pistons (Jalen Duren), the Celtics possible will face a number of of the league’s prime rebounding large males all through the East playoffs. The Pistons rank fourth in the league in rebound share and the Knicks are fifth. The Hornets could possibly be a possible first-round opponent for the C’s, they usually rank No. 2 in rebound share.
Vucevic is an excellent rebounder. He is averaging 9.0 rebounds per sport (7.2 per sport with Boston) this season. He additionally ranks second on the Celtics in field outs per sport. He is a tough man to maintain off the glass.
Vucevic’s return will assist the Celtics, however it might additionally influence different gamers in the frontcourt. Luka Garza did not play a ton after the Vucevic commerce. But with Vucevic out, Garza has seen his position enhance a good quantity these days, and he is taken benefit of the chance.
Garza averaged 5.1 factors over 10.9 minutes per sport in February. He improved to 9.5 factors in 17.7 minutes per sport in March. He additionally shot 43.5 p.c from 3-point vary in March, together with not less than one 3-pointer made in 13 of his 15 video games in the month. Garza additionally has a pleasant contact across the basket and runs the ground effectively.
Garza was implausible in Monday’s loss to the Hawks with 20 factors on 8-for-9 capturing, together with 9 rebounds and one block.
Whenever Vucevic comes again, it will be a mistake to considerably trim Garza’s minutes. He has confirmed to be an efficient participant off the bench and deserves a spot in the playoff rotation.
Between Queta, Vucevic and Garza, the Celtics even have fairly good depth at middle getting into the playoffs. This spot was a priority getting into the season following the departures of Porzingis and Horford, however that trio has carried out admirably at each ends of the ground.
It would not be surprising if one, two or all three of Queta, Vucevic and Garza had a memorable second in a 2026 playoff sport. You want position gamers to step as much as win a championship, and these guys all convey vital abilities to the desk.
