Why Danny Ainge isn't too worried about Celtics' lack of bench scoring

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics’ lack of bench production is a popular topic of conversation these days.

For Danny Ainge, it has a certain been-there, heard-that kind of vibe. 

The Celtics’ president of basketball operations recalls his days as a player here in Boston when the Celtics’ bench received similar criticism from all corners. 

“Bench scoring was a big issue for us, but it didn’t matter,” Ainge told NBC Sports Boston. “Because we had, we started our best five players and they started 35 minutes a game and they all scored. So we didn’t need points from our bench.”

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While the workload for Boston’s starters isn’t nearly as great as it was for their Green Team predecessors, there’s no getting around the fact that this team relies heavily on the starting five to score most nights. 

According to Hoopsstats.com, Boston’s starting five has the third-highest scoring average (85.8) in the NBA, trailing Houston (90.1) and Portland (87.1). 

No surprise those same three teams comprise the three lowest-scoring bench units in the NBA with the Celtics being next-to-last in the league with 27.2 bench points per game, sandwiched between the Rockets (28.0) and Blazers (26.5).

The scoring by Boston’s first unit most of this season has been impressive, especially when you consider the Celtics have spent most of this season playing with at least one of their top four scorers out with an illness or injury. Boston is currently playing without Jaylen Brown, who is nursing a hamstring injury. 

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And even with them being consistently at less than full strength, they currently average 113.0 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA.

In addition, the Celtics are the only team in the NBA with three players (Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker and Brown) averaging at least 20 points per game. 

“Scoring is not our issue,” Ainge said. “Bench scoring has nothing to do with … defense in the playoffs is what matters.”

For the Celtics, their starters have to carry most of the offensive load most nights because that’s the role that they are most suited for when it comes to Boston winning games. 

The roles of Boston’s backups include rebounding, defending and limiting the scoring of whomever they are on the floor matched up against. 

And success in those particular areas doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet. 

But players understand it’s vital to winning games. 

“Us guys coming off the bench, we know there are certain things we need to do and certain things we count on the starters to do,” Brad Wanamaker told NBC Sports Boston. “For us, it’s all about winning. Some of us need to score for the team to win. Others have to defend or rebound or whatever for us to win. That’s how it is when you have a team full of guys who don’t just talk about winning, but are about doing their job, whatever that job is, if it helps the team.”

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And while the Celtics’ second unit has not scored the ball much, they’re not giving up a ton of points, either. 

This season, second units are scoring a league-low 33.6 points per game against Boston.

When Ainge assembled this current Celtics squad, he did not do so with the expectation that the second unit would generate a significant amount of offense. 

Marcus Smart was supposed to lead the second unit charge, but injuries have forced Smart into the starting lineup for 39 games this season compared to just 14 coming off the bench. 

None of Boston's backups have stepped up to fill that scoring void left by Smart being with the first group. 

However, the defense of Boston's reserves has been solid this season, which is one of the key factors in Boston being among the league’s best — they have the fourth-best defensive rating (106.2) in the NBA — despite key losses defensively (Al Horford, Aron Baynes and Marcus Morris) in the offseason.

And as much as Ainge would love to see his backups score more, he’s more consumed by ensuring the Celtics have the necessary pieces to make some noise in the playoffs. 

And their play, particularly when it comes to defense, is part of the plan. 

“I’m not saying shooting doesn’t matter. I’m not saying scoring doesn’t matter,” Ainge said. “But if you can’t guard your position, you can’t play. That’s what it all boils down to (with the bench).”

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