In time, and through the proper development in the NBA D-League, Terry Rozier will play off for the Boston Celtics and Danny Ainge
Terry Rozier of the Boston Celtics has the potential to become a notable NBA talent, but on a playoff team in the Bean, the opportunity isn’t there as of right now. With Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas absorbing a good portion of the team’s minutes at the point guard position, Rozier has come quite acquainted with the Red Claws of Maine, the teams D-league affiliate.
The 16th pick in last year’s NBA Draft, Rozier has been assigned to the D-league six times over the course of his rookie season and has played exceptionally well for Boston’s developmental team. In 14 appearances with the Red Claws, Rozier is averaging 19.4 points, 7.9 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest. His play has been a very bright sign for what could be a foreshadowing of his NBA career if he receives the appropriate playing time and continues to improve with every repetition.
“I think Rozier has played well overall,” Chris Reichert, writer for Hardwood Paroxysm’s Upside & Motor says. “He’s been very aggressive and sometimes to a fault. When he’s attacking the rim is when he’s at his best, and he’s shown the ability to find open teammates off the dribble drive as well. It’s very clear that he’s comfortable driving and doesn’t really want to shoot jump shots.
He’s only shooting 39 percent overall and just under 34 percent from outside so efficiency has been an issue but he certainly produces nonetheless. I would like to see him improve his ast/to ratio as well. Currently he’s almost at 3:1 which isn’t terrible but he’s a point guard in the NBA so taking care of the ball has to be a priority.”
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Rozier’s occasional visits to Maine have led to his game improving in slight increments, which is sign that his D-league assignments are being taken seriously. He’s improved every nuance of his game, since he wants to have a long-lasting career in the league and become one of the well-talented point guards. He has become more in control of his speed, learned to create scoring opportunity for others, and how to read and use the pick and roll to his advantage.
“I’ve seen him improve his court vision mostly in his time with Maine,” Reichert said. “His first couple games he had tunnel vision and it appeared he was there just to put up big scoring numbers. As he’s spent more time with the team (14 games so far) it’s easy to see that he’s finding open guys and more importantly he’s helping others get easier looks off his penetration.”
With Rozier’s consistent improvement over the past year, from his pre-draft workouts to now, his ceiling is tough. The former Louisville Cardinal continues to shutdown any comparison or projection that anyone has placed on him. From all around the web and TV, Rozier has been compared to Damian Lillard, Trey Burke and Mookie Blaylock to name a few. Obviously, comparisons are based on a players’ current skill-set and it would be up to Rozier to accept or change the mold he’s in.
Right now, Rozier is steadily improving his game, and if he keeps up the consistent work, it’ll be a great reflection on the Celtics, the D-league and his tenacious work ethic
“This is tough for me,” Reichert said, when trying to find a true comparison for Rozier. “I don’t know what his ceiling is right now but if shores up his jump shot and focuses a little more on defense, maybe it’s Kyle Lowry? If he doesn’t improve his jump shot then it’s honestly hard to see him as a real PG prospect in the NBA.”
With everything Rozier has done while in the D-league, putting up gaudy numbers, he could be looked upon as the next D-league coming of age story. Just as Reichert pointed out previously, the Celtics rookie has improved basically each game he’s out there with each rep, whether it be during practice or a game. It also doesn’t hurt that the Boston Celtics are one of few teams to utilize the D-league correctly, just look at the development of Avery Bradley courtesy of it.
“I can definitely see Rozier becoming a poster boy for the D-League,” Reichert said. “Guys have to want to improve, want to be in the NBADL and embrace it — it appears he has done that and it’s an important first step. Scott Morrison is a great coach so he’s got that going for him as well. Last year Tim Frazier, who by all means is less talented than Rozier, was MVP of the league and is now the 3rd string PG in Portland. All this is to say, if Rozier focuses on the aspects of his game that need improvement we could see Terry Rozier 2.0 as early as next year.”
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Players in the NBA typically have a five-year window to establish themselves as players and establish the “they are who they are now” label. Right now, Rozier is steadily improving his game, and if he keeps up the consistent work, it’ll be a great reflection on the Celtics, the D-league and his tenacious work ethic. Could Rozier 2.0 happen next year? Possibly, it’s all due with time and opportunity, which will come when he earns it.