WALTHAM, Mass.With so much attention the past 48 hours paid to Rajon Rondo's season-ending ACL tear, it was easy to overlook the lineup change made by Doc Rivers over the weekend that wasn't injury related.
Jared Sullinger was in; Brandon Bass, out.
And while Sullinger's play certainly was a factor, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers reveals there was an even more significant reason.
"Really, Brandon was struggling," Rivers told CSNNE.com. "We just needed another guy, to be honest."
And that guy is Sullinger, who will remain in the C's starting lineup on Wednesday against Sacramento -- and potentially the remainder of the season.
"I like that him and Kevin (Garnett) are great passers," Rivers said of Sullinger. "You can give the ball to either guy, which opens our offense."
That need becomes even greater with Rondo, the league's leader in assists, out for the season.
Boston Celtics
"It matters to have more facilitators on the floor at the same time," Rivers said.
But as a starter, Sullinger knows his scoring will be predicated on how effective he is at offensive rebounding because there will be few, if any, plays called for him.
And he's totally cool with that.
"I'm just doing me," Sullinger told CSNNE.com. "Just playing hard within the team."
And unlike many of the league's youthful big men, Sullinger doesn't impact the game with above-the-rim theatrics but rather an old-school, back-to-the-basket brand of basketball that's mixed with an occasional face-up jumper or two.
It is an effective style of basketball, but one that doesn't necessarily make the nightly highlight shows.
He is a role player, a job that young players often struggle to accept once they get to the NBA.
Sullinger credits his brothers J.J. Sullinger and Julian Sullinger with helping him understand the value and importance of being a good role player.
"They both took a lesser role in college, played good for the team and it helped them out in the long run," Sullinger said.
And it's clear that Sullinger's presence on the floor has been a plus -- literally -- for the Celtics.
With the 6-foot-9 rookie on the floor, the Celtics are plus-38 this season which is tops among all Boston players.
And he does it with no complaints about his role which involves doing a lot of the dirty work that often goes unnoticed but is vital to a team being successful.
"I'm kind of like the Junkyard dog; I get all the trash points," Sullinger said. "I try to do all the hustle plays. I try to bring energy. That's what I try to bring to the team."
Rivers said he has not been surprised at how quickly Sullinger has embraced the not-so-glamorous job of a being a role player.
"That's the only role he can embrace. He's not going to embrace the athletic role, you know what I mean?" Rivers said. "The reason he's a good player already is because he already knows who he is. Most rookies come into the league and it takes them years to figure out who they are. Jared knew five years ago that he was never going to be a guy catching lobs. He knows who he is."
Said Sullinger of his role with the Celtics: "It's no glamor, but at the end of the day you have to play your game."