Portland, ME — Baylor Scheierman anticipated to take his rookie season week-to-week, going forwards and backwards between Boston and Portland for G-League stints to get minutes on a crowded championship roster. Earlier this season, two suitcases sat in entrance of his Boston locker after he rushed again from Maine in a automobile service for a pre-game TD Backyard exercise.
He’s lived out of these suitcases since, able to zip them up and journey at a second’s discover. Out of sight in current months at Auerbach Heart, he and Boston assistant Craig Luschenat get on FaceTime and go over Maine and Boston movie, forecasting how Scheierman might slot in with the professional crew finally.
Scheierman obtained an extended heads-up about this call-up, the Celtics alerting him Thursday morning earlier than his G-League sport in opposition to Faculty Park that he’d rejoin Boston the next day for the primary time since Dec. 23. Scheierman reached a brand new excessive that evening with Maine, scoring 23 factors with eight rebounds and 11 assists on 6-for-14 capturing (4-8 3PT). He returned from a hamstring harm within the fourth quarter to assist shut out a win in extra time.
“I’ve loved my time up right here rather a lot,” Scheierman advised CLNS Media earlier than the sport. “I benefit from the guys and the coaches rather a lot, and simply take pleasure in enjoying and in the end that’s the way you get higher is getting these reside reps. So I’ve tried to make the most of each probability I get to return out right here and play … I really feel much more comfy now than once I first received up right here. Clearly with enjoying with new teammates and coaches, it takes a while to regulate, however the extra reps I’ve gotten, the extra I’ve gotten extra comfy not simply with the crew however with the NBA model as a complete.”
Jordan Walsh and Scheierman successfully swapped spots after the previous thrived within the preseason and the latter struggled to shoot. The Celtics drafted Scheierman, 24, with some expectation that 5 faculty seasons would permit him to contribute instantly with common contributors out. Regardless of quite a few accidents within the first half, Boston leaned with Walsh and others for these conditions and allowed Scheierman to develop full-time.
Whereas Walsh targeted on enjoying a slender position just like how he’d play with Boston final 12 months, Scheierman grew right into a secondary level guard possibility for Maine by accidents and Ron Harper Jr.’s call-up to Detroit. He leads units into the second unit, and threw flashy dump-off and behind-the-back passes that confirmed him absolutely comfy with the ball in his palms. Scheierman famous that he performed level guard with South Dakota St. earlier than transferring to Creighton. Earlier this week, he threw a blinding full courtroom cross to JD Davison for a layup.
“He took a knee, we didn’t know if we have been gonna have him,” Maine coach Tyler Lashbrook mentioned on Thursday evening after Scheierman’s harm. “He’s a baller and a warrior, so it was gonna take every thing to maintain him out. It was actually a roster want (transferring him to level guard). We knew he had that talent set and would all the time be capable to assist out as a playmaker. It’s type of how the roster goes within the G-League. It’s all the time altering, so he was capable of slide into that position and we’ve saved him in it.”
Scheierman’s call-up comes with the Celtics absolutely wholesome, although having tried and unsuccessfully growing the deeper bench into constant roles. Walsh’s capturing limitations damage his match offensively earlier than he missed two video games with an sickness earlier this month. Xavier Tillman Sr. misplaced his rotation position two months in the past for related causes whereas Jaden Springer by no means emerged after arriving in a commerce final February. Two-way wing Drew Peterson, regardless of a robust displaying at Cleveland final month, returned to Maine and suffered a concussion final week. He’s near a return, Lashbrook mentioned. He doesn’t presently seem on Boston’s radar for a bigger position.
That left Scheierman as a possible answer for depth wing minutes. He’s solely performed 6.8 minutes per evening throughout 5 appearances late in video games, his final approaching Dec. 2. Protection, connectivity with the professional crew and a 1-for-10 begin within the NBA make him carving out a job now an extended shot, particularly with the beginning lineup needing extra reps collectively. In a uncommon transfer, Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis will each play on Friday evening within the first half of a back-to-back, setting each as much as doubtless miss Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Hawks. Maybe Scheierman’s alternative.
Maine performs once more at 1 p.m. on Saturday in opposition to Faculty Park.
“I’m targeted on being the place my ft are,” Scheierman mentioned. “I believe that’s all I can do and proceed to develop. I believe I’ve made nice strides from once I first received up right here to now. That’s the purpose for the second half of the season as nicely is take it someday at a time, proceed to develop, proceed to get higher on the courtroom, off the courtroom as entire and simply be prepared when my quantity’s known as.”
