Eight telling numbers from the Celtics' preseason

Very little can be drawn from the actual results in the preseason but some contests can be a good measuring stick when it comes to a player or team tendencies. As the page turns to the start of the Celtics' regular season next week, let's take a look at some noteworthy numbers to see what (if anything) they mean for the team's plans in the coming days. 

73% - Percentage of FG attempts Carsen Edwards took from 3-point range: In a new era of NBA analytics, this is exactly the type of shot selection that Brad Stevens and the coaching staff have to be looking for from the 6-foot-1 guard. Edwards struggled to finish at the rim in college due to his size and heavy volume, but he also excelled at getting to the free-throw line with over 10 attempts per game. He may not be able to get the same type of calls as an NBA rookie with better rim protectors in the paint so his focus has been squarely on the outside in Boston’s offensive scheme. 31 of his 43 shot attempts in the preseason have come from beyond the arc and he’s knocked down 45 percent of those in the high volume setting. After his 30-point explosion against the Cavs, he’s going to have to be on the radar for opposing bench defenses and that should help open up the floor for the scorers he shares the floor with. With very little reliable 3-point shooting set to come off the pine for Boston, Edwards looks like he can be counted on for floor spacing.

80% - Javonte Green’s FG percentage: It’s hard to do much more as a rookie with limited playing time in a quest to earn a roster spot than Green did in his second-half minutes this preseason. After opening his first two games by making his first 11 shots from the field, Green finished 16-of-20 overall, showing off some explosive athleticism to the rim along with the ability to play through contact at the rim. His 3-point shot has been a flaw throughout his career but there are enough other appealing aspects to his game right now to make him an appealing end-of-the-bench addition fo this group. Between having a nose for the ball on the boards (4.0 rebounds per game in just 14.1 minutes) along with some savvy defensive instincts, Green is some wing depth that Stevens may feel comfortable throwing in the mix if injuries call for it. Max Strus has plenty of appeal due to his age and 3-point shooting (45 percent this preseason) but Green’s play has done enough to land him a spot on this roster.

2 - Number of starts for Daniel Theis: There was a limited amount of buzz about the German big man heading into training camp but he clearly found a nice role for himself in the starting five in the two preseason games he suited up for. He had a +53 net rating with that group, largely thanks to a 21-2 start to Friday’s win in Orlando but the biggest key for Theis right now is the fact that Brad Stevens has a comfort level with him on the defensive end. He knows the schemes, knows where he should be and has some built-in chemistry with most of that group outside of new addition Kemba Walker. There may be some shifting at this position for specific matchups if Theis runs into too much foul trouble while attempting to match up against true 5s like Marc Gasol or Joel Embiid. For now, Theis appears to be the default choice though as the big that Stevens can trust.

12.7 - Jayson Tatum FG attempts per game: Tatum was far and away the leader of the C’s roster during the preseason and perhaps more importantly, just seven of his 37 field goal attempts were taken from the midrange. There may be a plethora of scoring options in the C’s new-look starting five but Tatum has not been shy about trying to assert his place in the hierarchy. When you consider the fact that Kemba Walker is welcoming a role that doesn’t require some heavy usage after eight years in Charlotte, it’s fair to wonder whether Tatum will be pushing for the leading scorer on this roster before this season is done. If he continues to focus his game more around 3-point attempts and attacking the rim, there is a good chance he will be able to raise his play to the All-Star level many thought they would see last year.

20 - Number of minutes played by Romeo Langford: The rookie wing was the one player that was hit hardest by the injury bug during training camp, dealing with a sore groin and knee bruise that limited him to just 20 minutes in two games. With no experience in summer league to fall back on as he was recovering from thumb injury, it’s hard to carve out much of a role for the No. 14 pick on this roster for the time being. The C’s are obviously loaded with talent on the wing and even the depth there is strong at the bottom of the roster with Javonte Green expected to make the final squad. The Red Claws’ season doesn’t begin for another few weeks but it’s hard to imagine Langford not being sent down there to get reps with no clear path to playing time in the early going in Boston. Perhaps Brad Stevens might throw in the fire in the next few weeks to see if he can provide a spark but the path to those minutes remains murky for the time being.

33.3% - Semi Ojeleye’s FG percentage: This is a pivotal third season for the 24-year-old as the door was wide open for him to earn consistent minutes at power forward for the first time in his career. Some direct competition between him and Grant Williams at the backup four has been apparent throughout camp however and Ojeleye’s offense remains a barrier for him to come out on top of that battle. He shot just 33 percent from the field over four preseason games and only 22 percent from 3-point range, taking an array of tough shots that he never gained much rhythm on. This has been the story of his offensive game throughout much of his career and with Williams showcasing a more complete offensive skillset (rebounding, passing, screening) than Ojeleye, the rookie might end up getting a share of bench minutes out of the gate. Defense has kept Ojeleye in the league throughout his career but that may not be enough anymore on a new-look roster with younger promising pieces emerging.

20% - Gordon Hayward’s 3-point shooting percentage: Small sample size is always a disclaimer here, along with the fact that Hayward did look better this preseason when it comes to the eye test in the paint. However, Hayward’s down shooting year from 3-point range (33 percent) last year may not just be an isolated incident. He has shot below 35 percent from downtown now in four of his eight full NBA seasons. The C’s are going to need him to regain a reliable stroke to maximize their offensive potential but his track record has been a bit unpredictable on that front even before his ankle injury. How much consistency he regains will have a measurable impact on Boston’s chances in the East.

0 - Number of 3-point shots made by Enes Kanter: Danny Ainge made reference to the arc through the center’s introductory presser but the big man has not made a notable transition towards the 3-point line in his preseason warmups. The 6-foot-10 veteran took just one 3-point attempt in three preseason games and spent the majority of his team inside the arc where his comfort level is clearly higher. Stevens is clearly not going to push any of his centers outside of Theis to let it fly much from downtown, instead focusing more on the positives they can bring with their rim running and offensive rebounding. Just how Kanter fits in that equation with his additional post skills will be a tough question for Stevens to tackle as he weighs whether his defensive shortfalls can be overcome by the offensive skillset he brings. Adding a consistent 3-point shot to that skillset doesn’t appear to be in the cards for now if the preseason was any indication.