But Middleton's strong play in the playoffs propelled him to the No. 10 spot. He averaged 24.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in six games during the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Health is still a concern for Middleton,

The Celtics have long benefitted from a rare level of depth, especially within the NBA’s financial constraints. The bench faces another test Monday in Atlanta against the Hawks as Jaylen Brown prepares to sit out his second straight game with a sore left hip flexor.