BOSTON -- Tonight's injury list for the Celtics is out, and it's not good . . .
This will create opportunities for other players. Like, for instance, Semi Ojeleye.
Ojeleye has been a strong, physical guy for as long as he’s played the game of basketball. So as he got older and become more perimeter-oriented, he never strayed too far from having a certain amount of comfort around the rim.
That familiarity is likely to come in handy in these final weeks of the season as the Celtics try to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation heading into the playoffs.
Injuries have been part of the Celtics’ entire season, but the team’s current injury list looks more like their starting five plus a key rotation player or two.
Gordon Hayward (dislocated left ankle) has been out all season minus the first five minutes of the season opener. Joining him on the injured list are Daniel Theis (left meniscus tear), who is also out for the season. Marcus Smart (right thumb sprain) is expected to miss significant time.
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And then there’s Kyrie Irving, whose left knee soreness will likely keep him out for a few games as well (including tonight's).
Those injuries will afford backups a chance to play meaningful minutes; players like Ojeleye who will get some of the minutes that went to Theis.
He’s excited about the opportunity, the kind of opportunity rookies taken in the second round of the NBA draft seldom get.
But under Brad Stevens, the all-too common coaching mantra of “always stay ready” isn’t just lip service.
“[Stevens] might call you in to play in the fourth quarter after you haven’t played all game,” Ojeleye told NBC Sports Boston. “So you have to stay ready because you really never know when your number is going to be called.”
That said, every player on this roster is aware that at some point, an opportunity to play will present itself, which makes it easier to put in those long hours in the gym or in the weight room with an opportunity being a when and not an if, proposition.
“It gives you confidence that he trusts guys to go in there, and help us win,” Ojeleye said.