Why Brad Stevens considers Aaron Nesmith for the final Celtics lineup

The Boston Celtics’ problems with closing a game have been well documented.

On Sunday, the Celtics had one of their most embarrassing performances at the end of the season – a 24-point lead in the middle of the third quarter completely evaporated as the Pelicans recovered and sent the game into overtime before defeating the Celtics by 120- 115

The myriad of problems in the Celtics require a myriad of solutions. One idea that Brad Stevens has said he will consider is playing rookie winger Aaron Nesmith with the final lineup.

“Aaron’s energy makes a big difference and I think it really helped us,” said Stevens. “I think we have to get to the point where he can be in a final line-up, potentially, until we are full, just because it gives us more space, more ability to spread the ground, more ability to play when teams really attack our best players, to play in that space and get open looks. “

After the Celtics’ double squad collapsed at the end of Sunday, Nesmith’s logic makes some sense. In college, he was a motion shooter who scored flying around screens and aligning his body to the rim with the speed of light. In the NBA, his role has been slightly different – less like JJ Redick shooting difficult 3s and more like Danny Green locating and wandering around the 3-point line as the attack develops.

“It’s always a fit,” said Nesmith last week. “Shooting is what I do, but I shot a lot outside the movement. I’m not doing much of that. So, I’m trying to adjust to the change of role and, regardless, I have to take the open shot down. “

On Sunday, Nesmith submitted 3 of 4 and made one of his two attempts at 3 points. In his last 10 games, Nesmith reached 40.7 percent of his triples after fighting early, and the Celtics are starting to see some progress from a rookie they have summoned hoping he can contribute this year.

Nesmith, who played just 13 games in his second year at Vanderbilt, is also adjusting to the NBA schedule. In most seasons, newbies are forced to adjust to 82 games (at least). This year, Nesmith has fewer games in the regular season, but they come at a furious pace.

“This is the largest number of games we have played in one season, so playing so many consecutive games and making sure you are prepared for each one is a difficult thing to do,” he said. “But as long as you remain consistent in your body of work, consistent in the things you must do every day, it will help you and help you not hit the newbie barrier, as they say.”

Stevens appreciated Nesmith’s dedication to consistency, as well as his agility. Apparently with each game, Nesmith hits the deck chasing a lost ball or hitting the rim trying to chase an opponent in the transition.

All of these moments have generated Nesmith’s recent opportunities.

“We knew he had good energy, he is a person of high character, he plays the game with integrity,” said Stevens. “He struggles, he works, he runs, he remains in play, we saw him block some kicks, he falls from the corner for rebounds. He does all these little things. And I think the biggest thing, the biggest challenge, and then you have to let that happen, is just adjust the speed of the game in the attack. And he’s been doing a better job over the past few weeks.

“Obviously, we are playing youngsters off the bench and I think he has done a great job in the past few weeks. There is a lot to build there. “