The Hornets performed within the California Basic Summer season League earlier than coming to Las Vegas. They gained all 3 video games there, beating San Antonio, the staff from China, and Sacramento. In addition they gained their first sport in Las Vegas, beating the Knicks 94-90. The Celtics and Hornets final performed in Summer season League in 2018 when the Celtics gained 100-80, whereas beginning Kadeem Allen, Jarrod Uthoff, Jabari Chicken, Semi Ojeleye, and Guerrschon Yabusele.
As all the time in Summer season League, it’s subsequent to unimaginable to foretell who will begin as coaches attempt to combine and match gamers and to experiment with totally different beginning lineups. After being the Celtics finest participant in opposition to the Warmth, Jaden Springer sat out the sport in opposition to the Lakers, not even dressing for the sport. The coach was noncommittal as as to whether his absence was as a result of an damage or not.
The Celtics have fielded related beginning lineups of their 2 video games thus far with Davison, Scheierman, Walsh, and Queta beginning each video games. Springer began in opposition to the warmth and Peterson began in opposition to the Lakers. They might begin an identical lineup or one that’s utterly totally different. The Hornets began Simpson, Smith, McGowens, Black and Gueye of their first 2 video games and Simpson, Smith, Miller, Black and Stephens of their final two video games.
D.J. MacLeay is teaching the Celtics Summer season League staff. The Celtics employed MacLeay in 2021 as a participant enhancement coach on Ime Udoka’s employees. In July 2022 he was promoted to assistant coach. He stayed with the Celtics as an assistant after Udoka left. Assistant coach Josh Longstaff is teaching the Hornets. He has been an assistant coach for Chicago, Milwaukee, New York and Oklahoma Metropolis. He has additionally been the pinnacle coach of the Erie Bayhawks within the GLeague.
Boston Celtics RosterTyler CookJD DavisonTristan EnarunaRon Harper, JrJaelen HouseDrew PetersonNeemias QuetaJahmi?us RamseyBaylor ScheiermanJaden Springer Killian TillieJordan WalshAnton Watson
Head CoachD.J. MacLeay
Starters Final GameJD DavisonBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Gamers to Watch
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Neemias Queta
Picture by Candice Ward/Getty Photographs
Anton Watson
Picture by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe through Getty Photographs
Baylor Scheierman
Picture by Monica Schipper/Getty Photographs
Neemias QuetaQueta was simply the perfect participant in Monday’s sport in opposition to the Lakers. He completed with 22 factors, 8 rebounds, and three blocks whereas taking pictures 70% from the sphere. He additionally performed excellent protection whereas defending the paint. He began the primary two video games however as issues go in Summer season League, he could or could not play on this sport.
Anton WatsonWatson was the 54th decide within the draft and may no less than get a 2 method contract. He got here off the bench and, whereas his stats gained’t leap off the web page, he performed excellent protection and appeared to be in the proper place on the proper time. He is an efficient rebounder and hustles, bringing power to the sport.
Baylor Scheierman Scheierman was the Celtics thirtieth decide on this yr’s draft. He is named a shooter however his efficiency within the first 2 video games proves that he’s a flexible participant with nice court docket imaginative and prescient. He completed Monday’s sport with 3 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He struggled along with his shot however picked up his protection and performed exhausting in different areas. One of many highlights of the sport was when he dove into the 2nd row to avoid wasting a ball from going out of bounds. That form of hustle ought to earn him enjoying time.
Charlotte Hornets RosterJames Banks IIIRaeQuan BattleLeaky BlackPedro Bradshaw Kevin Cross, JrMarcus Garrett Mouhamadou GueyeMalik Corridor Caleb McConnellBryce McGowens Brandon MillerMatt Morgan Drew PemberCharles PrideTidjane SalaunZavier SimpsonKJ Simpson Brandon SlaterNick Smith, JrJake Stephens
Starters Final Sport Xavier Simpson Nick Smith, JrBrandon MillerLeaky BlackJake Stephens
Gamers to Watch
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Brandon Miller
Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Nick Smith, Jr
Picture by Rocky Widner/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Zavier Simpson
Picture by David Dow/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Brandon Miller Miller was the #2 decide in final yr’s draft and was third in Rookie of the Yr voting. He performed as you’d anticipate a second yr lottery decide would. He completed the Hornets first sport in opposition to the Knicks with 23 factors, 8 rebounds, and a pair of assists. Nonetheless, he additionally had 7 turnovers. He shot 43.8% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. He has began the final 2 video games for the Hornets.
Nick Smith, JrSmith was the twenty seventh decide within the 2023 draft. He completed this sport with 24 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 52.9% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc. He has began all 4 video games for the Hornets in Summer season League (3 in California and 1 in Las Vegas).
Zavier Simpson Simpson has began all 4 video games thus far for the Hornets. He completed Saturday’s sport with 15 factors, 4 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 block. He shot 55.6% from the sphere and 100% from past the arc. He has good court docket imaginative and prescient and distributes the ball effectively.
Keys to the GameDefense – Simply as protection is the important thing to each sport within the common season and within the playoffs, it’s also the important thing to successful within the Summer season League. Of their first sport in Las Vegas, the Celtics allowed the Warmth to shoot 61.5% from the sphere and 60% from past the arc. Towards the Lakers, they clamped down on protection and held the Lakers to 36.4% from the sphere and 30.8% from past the arc. The Celtics must proceed to play powerful protection on this sport.
Rebound – Together with protection, rebounding is all the time a key to successful. The Celtics out-rebounded the Warmth 35-29 of their first sport. The Celtics out-rebounded the Lakers 38-35. The Celtics must proceed to crash the boards on this sport in the event that they need to get a win.
Enchancment – In Summer season League, enchancment and analysis are extra necessary than successful. Each coaches are on the lookout for enchancment from returning gamers and they’re evaluating all the gamers on the roster for doable spots on the roster or 2 method contracts. The Celtics noticed enchancment in a number of gamers between their first sport and their second sport and hopefully will see much more enchancment on this sport.
X-FactorsChemistry and ExperienceThe Celtics have performed simply 2 video games in Summer season League. The Hornets have performed 4 video games in Summer season League, enjoying 3 in California and 1 in Las Vegas. The Hornets have a reasonably skilled Summer season League staff with 1 5 yr participant, 2 4 yr gamers, 2 3 yr gamers, 2 2 yr gamers, 6 1 yr gamers and seven rookies.
