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Trio of Reserves Making Playoff Push Possible

Marc D'Amico
Team Reporter and Analyst

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BOSTON – Who are these Celtics?

They’re the new Celtics. The energized Celtics. The fan-favorite Celtics.

The Celtics who are streaking toward the playoffs.

Everyone on this team is contributing right now. Three particular players, however, are shining brighter than the rest.

Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas and Jonas Jerebko are newcomers to Boston, but it already feels like they’ve been here forever. They have bought in to playing the Celtic way.

“That makes things a lot easier for Brad (Stevens),” Avery Bradley said Friday night, “knowing that whoever he puts in is going to play hard and not play for themselves, but play for each other.”

It is beautiful to watch. There is excitement on the floor at all times, no matter if Stevens has his starters on the floor, or if he calls on these reserves, or if he uses a combination of the two. The entire group is linked together, playing as one.

Crowder, Thomas and Jerebko arguably have been the lynchpins to Boston’s recent resurgence. They have combined to average 49.3 points per game over the last three wins. To put that into perspective, there is no bench in the entire NBA that averages more than 41.4 points per game this season. That’s each team’s entire bench. We're talking about a group consisting of just three of Boston’s reserves.

Crowder and Jerebko have also provided an average of 11.3 rebounds per game during Boston’s winning streak. Thomas, meanwhile, has dished out seven assists during each of the three contests.

It’s fun to watch what each player adds to this team. Crowder, Thomas and Jerebko all bring something different to the table that allows the Celtics to play the way they want to play.

Crowder, the longest tenured Celtic of the group at 72 days, has recently been called upon to play out of position for the betterment of the team. With Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk both sidelined with injuries, the small forward has spent much of his time at power forward and center.

Friday night, the 6-foot-6 Crowder defended the 6-foot-10 Al Jefferson one-on-one, and he did so with success. That type of versatility has proven to be an asset to this Celtics team.

“I think that the biggest thing for me has always been if you can find somebody with enough speed and skill that can guard above their size,” said Stevens, “then you can create some havoc on the other side of the court. And that’s what Jae has done.”

Crowder has played masterful defense while also spreading the floor at the other end. He made 11 of 22 3-pointers during Boston’s last three wins.

Jerebko has provided similar flexibility to the Celtics. He has also been logging minutes at center, a position he has basically never played in the NBA, but he is doing so with success. Jerebko shot 7-of-10 from 3-point range over the past two games, all while providing an average of 7.5 rebounds. Those numbers, combined with his consistent effort, have helped push the C's into the winner's circle.

“When he played for Detroit I knew he played very hard, and all you can do is respect someone that plays that way,” Bradley said of Jerebko. “He makes big shots, and that’s what he’s doing for us. I feel like he can really help our team out.”

To his credit, Jerebko has accepted his new big man role with arms wide open, and maybe even with a smile.

“It’s the second day I got asked that question,” he said with a laugh Friday night, after being asked how he likes playing center. “I like the system we play and we’re spreading the floor out there and the centers are a little bit slower than me, so why not?”

The reason why Boston is able to spread the floor? Well, that’s Thomas.

Thomas gives the Celtics an offensive repertoire that they have lacked since Paul Pierce was traded to Brooklyn nearly two years ago. Steve Clifford, Charlotte’s head coach, called Thomas a “premier pick-and-roll player.” Clifford used that term because Thomas is a legitimate scorer who can put the ball through the basket from anywhere on the floor.

“He’s so good at attacking the basket, and [the defense] is going to shrink in and (he’s going to) find open shooters,” Jerebko explained. “And if they don’t, he’s going to try and finish. He’s a great player and we’re just trying to play off of him.”

Thomas has been as selfless as one can be despite his success with the team. He has deflected all of the credit off to his teammates.

“That’s pretty nice,” Thomas said Friday night after being notified that Bradley had credited him for Boston’s recent spark, “but its not me. It’s this team. We’re playing hard, coach is putting us in position to be successful, and that’s the key. We are believing in each other.”

It’s not coincidental that their belief is turning into wins.

Forget about the Celtics who won 25 games in 2013-14. Boston has nearly matched that number already this season, and we still have 26 games to go.

Forget about the team that opened this season with a 16-30 record. It is 7-3 in its last 10 games.

Forget about all of that, and instead look forward to this team – these Celtics.

These guys, sparked by a small ball lineup that relies heavily on the skills of Crowder, Thomas and Jerebko, are fun to watch, and they’re ready to make a push toward the playoffs.