The Boston Celtics are one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA because they haven't played the style of basketball that Boston has become accustomed to in the previous two seasons. The Celtics have been a .500 team for the past two seasons, which is unusual to say about one of the NBA's most renowned organizations.
It's unclear why the Celtics struggle at times, but their lack of 3-point shooting and depth is undeniably a problem. They have two stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but the front office did a poor job bringing in players who can play alongside them as high-level role players in the last offseason.
This Celtics team hasn't had many positives this season, but several of their players have performed better than many expected. Every NBA fan expects Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to go out and get their 25 or so points every night, and that's precisely what they've done.
The Celtics don't have many high-level role players who have performed well this season, but they do have three players who have stepped up and made a significant contribution to help them remain in contention for a playoff berth despite all of their misfortunes.
Let's take a look at the three unsung heroes of this year's Boston Celtics team.
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Celtics Unsung Heroes 2022
3. Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart is a player that every championship-caliber team needs on their roster. Many Boston fans have been dissatisfied with some of the minutes he has given them this season, but that is very debatable.
Boston fans may perceive him as a player who can be the third star on a championship team, but that isn't the guy he is going to be in his career. He is more of a team's workhorse when it comes to grabbing rebounds, deflecting passes, diving for balls, and making huge shots.
Smart is averaging 11.6 points, four rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season.
Marcus Smart hasn't been as good as he has been in the past, but it doesn't necessarily mean he hasn't been good this season. He is one of the reasons why the Celtics have been able to find some success this season, despite the fact that they are still a .500 team. They haven't had much success so far this season, but Marcus Smart is one of the key reasons they've managed to remain afloat and are still in the running for a playoff spot.
2. Al Horford
Many people thought the Celtics' move to bring in Al Horford this season was questionable, and deservedly so. He's 35 years old and didn't play in the previous season. It's unclear why the Celtics decided to sign him, but whoever made the decision from the front office clearly saw something in him, as he's having a fantastic season for them. He's not doing the things he used to do in his early career, but that was to be anticipated.
At 35 years old, he is still providing the Celtics with valuable minutes, averaging 10.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
The Celtics would do this deal over if anyone had told them he'd be as good as he has been this season. Horford has performed admirably in the job that they have assigned him, and he is another reason why, despite their lack of success this season, they have been able to remain competitive.
1. Robert Williams
Robert Williams is another intriguing name on the Celtics roster since, once again, many Boston fans aren't huge fans of his game.
This season, all Robert Williams has done is go out and play at a high level with the minutes he has been given on the court. He's averaging 9.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and nearly two blocks per game. He's been one of the best rim protectors in the NBA and has been a bright spot for a team that has struggled defensively at times.
Although Robert Williams is not a superstar, he is a valuable role player for the Celtics and someone they should consider keeping in the future since he can make it difficult for some of the other stars in the Eastern Conference who the Celtics will undoubtedly face in the playoffs. When they have to go up against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and other talented big men in the Eastern Conference, they will need someone who can make it difficult for them.
Obviously, these guys will score their 25 to 30 points every night as usual, but Robert Williams, who guards the rim at the highest level in the NBA, can make it much more difficult for them than most other centers.
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