Seldom-Used Celtics Reserve Showcasing Playoff Value

Bobby Krivitsky | Apr 8, 2024

Mar 25, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaden Springer (44) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Since arriving in Boston at the trade deadline, Jaden Springer has played 72 minutes across 14 games. That comes out to an average of 5.1 minutes per contest.

But even in limited floor time, the 21-year-old North Carolina native's defensive capabilities have shown through.

With the playoffs in mind, that most notably includes Celtics' head coach Joe Mazzulla bringing him off the bench to help close quarters on multiple occasions.

When the C's squared off against the Bulls on Mar. 23 in the Windy City, Springer came in for the final four seconds of the third frame, applying airtight pressure on DeMar DeRozan, persuading him to opt against hoisting a shot to beat the buzzer.

That preserved a three-point lead for the visitors, preventing Chicago from potentially tying the game and swinging momentum entering the last 12 minutes.

Boston immediately extended its advantage in the final frame, scoring the period's first five points, setting the tone for a quarter it outpaced the hosts 29-21, propelling itself to a 124-113 victory.

In the Celtics' 124-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, after missing five straight games due to left knee tendinopathy, upon checking in with 37.1 seconds left in the first frame, the former Tennessee Volunteer teamed with Payton Pritchard to hound Dalano Banton, who couldn't navigate his way through the pressure. Springer then dove on the TD Garden parquet to retrieve the loose ball.

"We closed it out 6-0, and those four seconds were super important," voiced Mazzulla of the former first-round pick's impact at the end of the opening quarter. "Any chance you can get to put a guy in to let him know how important every single possession is; that's kind of what I was explaining to him."

Stops and energy plays like the one Springer produced vs. Portland can be infectious and either swing momentum or help keep it on the C's side. His head coach stresses the importance of closing quarters strong, noting how it tends to carry over to the following period.

The former 76er has made life on the court uncomfortable for the likes of Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and even Karl-Anthony Towns.

In the future, the six-foot-four guard's defensive prowess represents a path to becoming a rotation player; this postseason, Mazzulla having a Bulldog he can bring off the bench to help finish frames on a high note is a valuable option that could be how Springer helps the Celtics reach the NBA's summit.

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