Ainge often said at the end of last season that Boston was trying to figure out which players on its roster would be “on the bus” moving ahead. For a young team in the building process, identifying those building blocks is important to roster construction.
Plenty can be gauged over the course of a season. But the playoffs provide a big stage to see how these young players perform when the intensity is cranked up.
[…] Playing under the bright lights of the playoffs and against one of the best teams in the league can help Ainge and the Celtics’ front office better evaluate who on the roster is capable of stepping up when the games matter more.