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DraftKings Post-Ups: Stevens Looks Past Jerebko's Shooting Struggles

Marc D'Amico
Team Reporter and Analyst

Sunday, November 29 - Celtics at Magic

Pregame - Stevens Looks Past Jerebko's Shooting Struggles

ORLANDO – Some fans are calling for Jonas Jerebko to be dropped out of Boston’s rotation. Brad Stevens is calling for those fans to look further than the percentages.

Jerebko has been unable to put the ball through the basket of late, almost literally. He made only 8.7 percent of his field goals over his past six games while misfiring on all six of his 3-pointers.

One of the key boosts Jerebko provided to the Celtics last season was his shooting. He shot 43.1 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from long range during 29 games with the C’s after the trade deadline.

That stroke has gone missing in action, but that doesn’t mean the 6-foot-10 forward isn’t providing a boost in other categories.

“He’s just an intangible guy,” Stevens said before Sunday’s game in Orlando. “He dives on the floor, he makes plays, he keeps balls alive.”

Stevens went on to point out a recent stat that would have otherwise gone undetected by nearly every Celtic fan out there.

“You know, when we beat [Washington] (Wednesday night), something that never got talked about at home was Jonas and Jae (Crowder) got us 11 points off second-chance points from the 3-spot," Stevens said. "Those guys are just – they just bring en effort and dynamic to your team that’s contagious.”

That being said, Stevens didn’t ignore the fact that Jerebko has shot the ball poorly of late. He attributed those struggles to the fact that Jerebko is playing more minutes at power forward this season, as opposed small forward, where he played almost exclusively through the preseason.

“I think that’s a little bit of an adjustment,” Stevens said. “There’s no question about it with how we’re trying to play. I think he’s still feeling that out. I think he’s better at the 3 when Isaiah’s at the 1, and we tried to pair that the other night.”

Jerebko made one of his seven field goal attempts Friday night against Washington, and that was a layup off of a dish from David Lee. The reason Jerebko was open? One of Washington’s defenders chose to stay in Thomas’ hip pocket, rather than to tail Jerebko.

Expect more of those types of buckets tonight and moving forward. Jerebko’s shooting struggles surely won’t last much longer, according to Stevens.

“He’ll make shots,” the coach confidently stated. “I’m not worried about that.”

- Marc D'Amico