Erden played arguably his best game of his young NBA career Sunday night in Oklahoma City. The young forward contributed on the stat sheet with nine points and four rebounds, but his real contributions came in the form of intangibles.
When Erden was on the court on Sunday, he played with an energy and passion that was undeniable. It's no coincidence, then, that the Celtics outscored the Thunder by nine points when Erden was on the floor.
The 6-foot-11 Erden may help the Celtics quite frequently this season. The Celtics do have some questions up front, and in a pinch, Erden would likely be able to step in and give them some minutes as a big, maybe even more.
Shaquille O'Neal has already fallen victim to the injury bug, and while it's not serious, it's not totally out of the realm of possibility that he may continue to battle injuries this season, especially given his age. Jermaine O'Neal has been an uncertainty when he's been on the court and the C's still don't know what they'll get from him. And of course, Kendrick Perkins will likely be out until the new year with a knee injury.
In short, Erden could prove to be a valuable insurance policy.
Once considered one of Turkey's best young basketball prospects, there is still a good amount of potential when it comes to Erden. He has the tools to become a serviceable, maybe even good NBA player, but whether or not he does that this season in Boston is yet to be seen.
What Can the Celtics Expect From Semih Erden This Season?Market Research
