Ojeleye-as-starter, Walker-to-bench? Don't dismiss it.

I broached the idea one year ago - Semi Ojeleye-as-starter in place of Gordon Hayward. Well, it took a while, but Brad Stevens has been doing just that over the past several games.

The original idea was to transfer some of the scoring from the top-heavy starting-5 to the bench. Even with Hayward gonzo, that still applies. Semi has always been a solid defender right out of the gate, and over the past five games his minutes and offensive production have risen significantly.

Over the five-game stretch, his minutes are up to 27.6 MPG - his points show 10.6 PPG - and his rebounding has improved to 4.4 boards per contest. In that same span, he has hit 14-of-36 from 3-point land (46.7%) and his field goals are at 46.2%.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are combining for almost 52 points per game this season, and the only other players averaging double-digit points are Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart. Well, Ojeleye, with increased minutes over the last five games, has moved into that double-digit-points territory.

Upon Smart's return to action, the idea of keeping Semi in the starting unit and having Kemba's scoring relegated to the second unit is not absurd. It's the Celtics bench that needs the scoring (among other things), while the starters can use another tough defender with size that can contribute at least 10 efficient points per game and ample rebounds. That sounds like Semi Ojeleye.

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