Semi looked pretty good last night, scoring 18 points in 20 minutes off the bench. So far this season, he's 14/33 on 3's (42%) and showing an ability to drive to the basket (albeit only in a straight line).
Last night was his third time in double figures in 10 games he's played this season. It was the fourth time he played at least 20 minutes.
I think it's time to ask the question: Is Semi Ojeleye a real basketball player? As in, are the Celtics going to be able to count on him to play 15-20 mpg in the playoffs and provide some offense and some defensive versatility? If this happens, Semi could fill one of the last remaining holes in the roster.
A real basketball player? I think how you answer that shows what you’re looking at when it comes to the NBA game. Semi has played rotation minutes since his rookie year, so the coaching staff, for a start, obviously thinks that he was a real basketball player already in his rookie year. And management keeps picking up his option.
There are a lot of ways to help a team win, and Ojeleye has almost perversely specialized in the ones that are least visible to fans. The coaches see them, though. The decrease each season in turnover% (led the team last season, and it’s lower still so far this season, and despite the big jump in usage) is a prime example.
His game has expanded every season he’s been in the league, though again mostly in ways that fans aren’t looking at. The increase in 3-pt% to above league-average last year is an exception, though it still surprises me how many people didn’t even notice.
His team defense wasn’t bad in his year two, but it took a big step up in year three, where he became one of the league leaders in charges drawn.
I assumed that he was in competition with Grant last year (similar weight and length), but his per-game minutes went
up, even as Grant earned rotation minutes as well. We tend to put players into one of those same old five slots we all know and love. Ojeleye has methodically carved out a unique niche for himself so that he can contribute in a really valuable range of matchups.