Per Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, there’s hope that backup center Aron Baynes will be “day-to-day” after this week.
Baynes has been dealing with a right foot contusion for a month and without the Aussie on the floor, Boston’s defense has suffered immensely.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Baynes’ presence boosts the Celtics’ defense, as he has solid size (6-foot-10, 260 pounds) and strength for the position while being an energetic, alert and willing interior defender. Nonetheless, it’s stunning that Baynes has been so instrumental to Boston’s success, as they’re 15-2 when the seven-year veteran plays at least 15 minutes and 22-21 when he doesn’t.
That’s an eye-popping statistic and one that should make Stevens at least consider whether he would be best served by making rookie center Robert Williams III the third-string center behind Baynes rather than Daniel Theis, a player who focuses a bit more on the offensive end than either Baynes or Williams.
With three more games this week — against the Toronto Raptors (February 26), Portland Trail Blazers (February 27) and the Washington Wizards (March 1) — the Celtics will face at least two opponents that will be tough to defeat, especially without one of their key defenders. Baynes truly can’t return to Boston’s lineup soon enough.
