Of their last Summer season League “common season” sport, with an outdoor shot on the playoffs on the road, the Boston Celtics got here up quick towards the Dallas Mavericks. The Finals rematch led to a 101-90 victory for Dallas, who earned their first win in Vegas.
Jaelen Home led the Celtics in scoring, dropping 18 factors on 19 pictures, whereas Baylor Scheierman added 15 of his personal. Your entire beginning lineup cracked double-digit scoring marks, as did Ron Harpter Jr., who poured in 11 factors off the pine.
1. Anton Watson might make Celtics contemplate pulling out pockets
Jaden Springer was nice within the one sport he performed. Neemias Queta proved dominant within the two he appeared in. However no one on the Celtics had as spectacular of a Summer season League as rookie massive man Anton Watson.
In opposition to the Mavericks, the previous Gonzaga massive man put up 14 factors, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks whereas taking pictures 5-of-11 from the sphere and 2-of-4 from deep. However most significantly, he was continually in the fitting place defensively, proving his talents as a stalwart on that finish of the ground.
Boston has an open two-way spot proper now, and he’s the clear frontrunner to land it. However with how effectively he’s performed, the Celtics ought to critically contemplate opening up their pockets and signing him to the fifteenth roster spot utilizing the second-round exception. That means, they may get him on a four-year deal.
Watson is that good.
2. Jaelen Home deserves a spot in Maine
Regardless of barely seeing the court docket till Boston’s third sport, Home has confirmed worthy of staying within the Celtics group. Actually, Boston ought to do no matter they’ll to maintain him round except another person scoops him up on a two-way contract.
Although he wasn’t environment friendly towards the Mavericks (7-of-19 FG, 2-of-7 3PT), he did every part else at a really excessive degree whereas exhibiting flashes of high quality scoring.
Home performed stable protection, hustled each time he obtained the prospect, dished out 9 assists, and even dove on the ground to power a bounce ball—which he gained.
“His power is nice,” mentioned coach DJ MacLeay. “He’s superior to have round. I believe, simply on the whole, he’s actually, actually taken on a task of making an attempt to stress the ball. After which, I assumed he did a great job of dealing with a large load offensively right now.
“Clearly, we had been down a pair guards, so he was together with the ball in his fingers loads, getting us into stuff, and organizing [our offense]. I assumed he did a reasonably good job of that, contemplating he needed to do all that.”
The six-foot level guard simply performs basketball the fitting means, and he’s the kind of participant who Celtics followers would fall in love with instantly.
3. Jordan Walsh lives in his personal head rent-free
This was about as unhealthy of a Summer season League exhibiting as Jordan Walsh might have probably had. He performed superb protection towards the Mavs. He snagged 11 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. However he simply can’t get out of his personal head.
“Once I assume again on the sport, one possession actually stands out,” mentioned MacLeay. “He made a very, actually concerted effort to crash the offensive glass, obtained an offensive rebound, and I believe another person obtained a 3.
“And so, I believe when that involves thoughts, like, he performed actually, actually laborious right now, and I believe he’s doing the perfect he can defensively. And I believe that he had a great sport on that finish. Photographs come and go. It’s a small pattern. You simply obtained to stick with the method, hold taking pictures the fitting ones, and go from there.”
Walsh shot 0-of-10 from past the arc towards Dallas, bringing his Summer season League whole to 0-of-22 on threes — zero threes made in 4 video games on over 5 makes an attempt per sport. He was the one participant in Summer season League with double-digit three-point makes an attempt with out a make.
“I really feel such as you type of must go in with the mentality of being higher than you had been earlier than. And I suppose that’s type of what slumped me to start with,” Walsh mentioned of his Summer season League exhibiting. “Simply type of getting into with that mentality. Not getting into with the fitting mentality of, ‘Alright, I obtained to exit and play as laborious as I can. The outcomes of the outcomes.’ So, now I’m making an attempt to change to that and let that be the primary objective and see the way it goes.”
For a man hoping to have an outdoor shot at breaking into Boston’s rotation subsequent season, this Summer season League stint was an absolute catastrophe. It was painfully clear that he was in his personal head worse than ever earlier than.
4. Baylor Scheierman’s taking pictures is again
After a rocky begin to Summer season League from behind the arc, Baylor Scheierman discovered his vary towards the Mavs. He went 3-for-6 from distance whereas totality 15 factors and 5 boards.
Scheierman’s influence on the sport boils right down to way more than his taking pictures, nevertheless it was good to see just a few go down on Friday. He’s been impactful in each space of the sport, and after the sport, he credited assistant coach Craig Luschenat for serving to him all through Summer season League.
“Craig watched a whole lot of movie, and he’s been serving to me out loads with protection and the verbiage,” mentioned Scheierman. “And like I mentioned, watching a whole lot of movie of the video games, making an attempt to be taught, and simply be higher every time I step on the court docket.”
5. Killian Tillie is again
Previous to becoming a member of the Celtics for Summer season League, Killian Tillie hadn’t performed skilled basketball in two years, as he was coping with a large number of accidents. However, after shaking the rust off within the first couple of video games, he discovered his rhythm.
In opposition to Dallas, Tillie posted a 12-point, four-rebound statline whereas taking pictures 5-of-10 from the ground and 2-of-5 from distance. His three-point shot is clear and assured, and his defensive instincts are spectacular, too, as he nabbed a steal and a block as effectively.
The Celtics could not have room to maintain round, however he’d make a terrific challenge up in Maine. Gonzaga simply is aware of how you can churn out high quality massive males.
6. Ron Harper Jr. lastly flashes potential
It has been a reasonably underwhelming Summer season League for Harper, who the Celtics have inked to a training-camp deal. However of their last sport towards the Mavericks, he had his finest efficiency of the occasion.
Alongside along with his 11 factors, Harper added two rebounds, one help, and one block. He shot 4-of-9 from the ground and 3-of-6 from past the three-point arc. And most significantly, his shot appeared assured from distance, as he let it fly with out hesitation.
7. Is Jahmi’us Ramsey getting a contract?
The Celtics sat Jahmi’s Ramsey for his or her last Summer season League sport. If he had been underneath contract proper now, that wouldn’t be a subject of dialog. He’s been superb to date. However since he’s not on a deal, the truth that they sat him might imply {that a} deal is in line for the 23-year-old.
Now, the deal he will get will not be with the Celtics, however by sitting out, Ramsey is actually screaming, “I’m going to signal a contract and don’t wish to danger getting damage.”
8. The remainder
Jaden Springer, Neemias Queta, JD Davison, and Drew Peterson all sat out on this sport, which is sensible. All of them will likely be again in Boston subsequent yr (or Maine, within the case of the latter two).
Contemplating the truth that he was the primary participant signed to Boston’s Summer season League crew, or not less than the primary to be reported, Tristan Enaruna had a really disappointing Summer season League. He simply couldn’t get on the court docket. And when he did play, it simply appeared like he was on the market filling area.
Tyler Cook dinner was alright in his last Summer season League stint, however he simply feels a bit too slow-footed on protection to earn actual run. His laborious screens and stable instincts might earn him a spot in Maine, however he was fairly mediocre.
The Celtics (2-2) will wrap up their time on the Strip on Sunday at 5 pm EST towards the Philadelphia 76ers (3-1).
