Semi not half bad
Semi Ojeleye made his third straight NBA start last night in Game 7, and the Celtic’s rookie experience could have been so much different.
“It will be invaluable for me. I could have been in the G-League all year and that would have been a different case, different story, but going forward it builds confidence,” he said. “But it’s something I can look on that got me here.”
Brad Stevens called Ojeleye the best matchup the Celtics have on Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and not many could have envisioned that when the Celtics took him with the 37th pick in last year’s draft.
But having the ability to switch against a wide range of defenders has already carried Ojeleye far.
Asked if knowing he was forcing Antetokounmpo into tough shots, even when the Bucks forward made them, gave him satisfaction, Ojeleye said, “It never feels good to get scored on, but if he takes the shot we want him taking, by the numbers that’s what helps us win games.
“Helped me tremendously,” he said of the opportunities that have been created by his defense. “I wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case. So when shots aren’t going in I can still impact the game in that end.”
The next step is the development of Ojeleye’s 3-pointer — a shot that has already come through for him in spots this season.
“Obviously he’s a spacer and will have to take and make open shots,” said Stevens. “But he plays really hard, and if you look at any of the numbers or just watch, he’s our best player guarding Giannis. At the end of the day we can’t keep him from getting every shot, but as far as making him take as tough a shot as possible, he’s done a good job of that. Lot of other guys will rotate on him.”
Theis off crutches
Daniel Theis, recovering from knee surgery, began walking without crutches two days ago. Though the forward faces a long rehabilitation process, Stevens was encouraged by the site of the German shot blocker walking around without assistance.
“Saw him walking (Friday), saw him walking around (yesterday),” the coach said. “He’s been around every day, but it was great to see him. He was excited about getting off those crutches. He’s got a long way to go before he’s able to get back on the court doing hard cutting and those types of things. I don’t want to put a timeline on him, but my understanding was he wouldn’t be cleared for full, physical activity until mid-July.”
A different Game 7
Though the Celtics beat Washington in seven games in last year’s conference semifinals, nothing about the situation was of use for Stevens.
“Not really. Two different teams that play totally different,” Stevens said of the difference between the Bucks and Wizards.
“I think offensively and defensively, Milwaukee plays differently than Washington did. Again, the Game 7 thing’s the Game 7 thing. But this is the Game 7 or Game 11 or 12 or whatever it is against Milwaukee. So like, that’s the way we have to look at it.”