Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, Aron Baynes seemed an unlikely threat to space the floor. The bruising big man was known primarily as a defender and rebounder, a brute whose primary offensive value came in setting screens and not taking many shots.

The Boston Celtics encouraged him to explore the boundaries of his game, however, and together they discovered a surprising touch from beyond the arc. Baynes struggled to hit consistently in the regular season, but got hot when things mattered most, in the Playoffs.

The burly Australian cashed in on 47.8% of his looks from deep throughout Boston’s postseason run. That’s not a sustainable mark, but it’s reflective of legitimate improvement as a long range shooter. Baynes plans on utilizing his newfound skill in the coming year.

“It’s one of those things that I’m not gonna shy away from,” he said of his three-point shot at the Celtics’ Media Day on Monday. “I’m not gonna try to live off it either. Brad’s so great at getting people into the right position that, whether he wants me spacing the floor or being close to the paint, whatever he sees as the best fit I’m comfortable doing that, and confident it will be the right thing for the team.

“Confidence is one of those big things. I didn’t really shoot many threes in the NBA, because I never had the confidence of the coach behind me. Brad was so great last year, and telling me that he wanted me to shoot those shots, because it would help the team. He’d seen me in practice shooting it, and making those shots.

“So he knew that I could make it, and having that confidence from the coach definitely allows you to go out there and do some good things and feel comfortable out there. And that’s what I was able to get to, was a comfortable feeling on the three-point line. The confidence that everyone thought it was a good shot for us as well, also helped me go out and take those shots.”

Stevens and the Celtics’ will be hoping that confidence continues to translate in the form of makes. Baynes anchored Boston’s defense spectacularly last year, but limited its potential scoring the ball. If he’s a real threat to fire from deep his value is considerably greater.