The Boston Celtics opened up their Summer time League marketing campaign with a 119-114 loss to the Miami Warmth. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the best way for Miami, ending the sport with 29 factors, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. The soon-to-be sophomore was enjoying in a unique stratosphere than everybody else on the court docket.
For the Celtics, Jaden Springer led the best way within the scoring column, tallying 23 on the night time. Neemias Queta adopted intently behind with 20 and 9 rebounds, whereas JD Davison put up 19 factors and 7 assists.
1. Jaden Springer is right here
When the Celtics traded for Springer on the 2024 deadline, Brad Stevens had heaps of reward for the younger guard.
“He additionally has a variety of rising to [do to] get higher, and he’s dedicated to that,” stated Stevens. “He’s bought an extended runway forward of him. So, we’ll see how this 12 months shakes itself out for him. See the way it all suits with the workforce. However he’s a man that we consider in.”
In his first Summer time League sport in inexperienced, he confirmed off why Boston went out and bought him.
Springer was snug all night time, weaving out and in of Miami’s protection. Each time he appeared for his spot, he discovered it. And his three-point shot, which has been inconsistent all through his profession so far, appeared clear.
The 21-year-old seemed to be laboring at occasions, slowly getting again and clearly out of breath, however his effort by no means wavered. He had two rebounds, six assists, and two steals to associate with his 23 factors, pestering Miami on the defensive finish as nicely.
If he can translate a few of the expertise he confirmed on this sport to the NBA stage, the Celtics might have a particularly intriguing undertaking on their arms to deploy as soon as Jrue Vacation retires.
“Proper now, I really feel like I’m fairly prepared [to play NBA minutes],” Springer informed reporters post-game. “Having the ability to watch the blokes since I got here right here, watching them play, I really feel like I’ve realized rather a lot. Having the ability to present my defensive effort [and] having the ability to fill any position they want me to, I really feel like I can go there and assist the workforce.”
2. Jordan Walsh’s no good, very unhealthy day
This was actually not the beginning Jordan Walsh envisioned when he was getting ramped up for Summer time League. The 20-year-old wing, who spent nearly all of this previous season within the G League with Maine, merely couldn’t discover his footing.
Walsh completed the night time with 4 factors, 5 rebounds, and 6 fouls, taking pictures 1-of-8 from the sphere and 0-of-6 from past the three-point arc.
Exterior of some promising defensive possessions, this one was a large number for the teenager. Not solely was the shot not falling, however he was fouling excess of he ought to, and frustration took over by the point the fourth got here round.
One unhealthy sport doesn’t outline a participant, and Walsh may have loads of time to bounce again, however this was a tough first exhibiting.
3. Neemias Queta hits and misses
By normal requirements, Queta had a great sport. He put up 20 factors, grabbed 9 rebounds, and shot 9-of-15 from the sphere. However judging his efficiency by the requirements of a participant anticipated to step up and play actual minutes in Boston subsequent 12 months, this exhibiting was comparatively underwhelming.
Quetta set strong screens and rolled to the rim nicely, however there was nothing excellent about his efficiency.
Offensively, it’s clear that Queta’s contact across the rim nonetheless wants some severe work. Two or three of his rebounds got here as a direct results of missed bunnies, and too typically did he look stranded below the basket, uncertain of the place to go. In the meantime, whereas Queta’s protection was strong, it appeared as if he missed just a few rotation alternatives that might have led to blocks.
Total, Queta performed nicely, however he ought to be held to the next normal. And by stated normal, he ought to be seeking to enhance within the subsequent sport.
4. Jahmi’us Ramsey quietly confirmed out
Jahmi’us Ramsey appeared strong. However wanting on the field rating afterward, his stats popped. The 23-year-old guard put up 16 factors on 6-of-8 taking pictures from the sphere and 2-of-2 taking pictures from deep.
He constantly bought out in transition, hustled on the defensive finish, and nailed his threes when given the possibility—an space of his sport that had been inconsistent within the early portion of his younger profession.
5. Baylor Scheierman becoming in properly
All the things Baylor Scheierman did in his Summer time League debut could be translated to an actual NBA sport and in a task that he’ll doubtless be enjoying.
Exterior of some early nerves, Scheierman shot the ball with confidence when he bought it, made quick-decision passes that led to nifty assists, and attacked the glass at any time when he bought the chance to take action. All of these issues could be relevant in a possible position with Boston.
The rookie must lower down on the fouling, and his protection was a bit awkward. He strikes his toes nicely, and he caught with Jaquez for stretches, however he by no means jumps to shut out possessions. The outcomes had been straightforward buckets for Miami and lackluster optics, however in actuality, he has the define of a strong workforce defender.
“Yeah, somewhat jitters at first, clearly,” Scheierman stated post-game. “However then, such as you stated, it sort of settled down, and [I] sort of bought right into a rhythm there. Particularly within the second quarter, shifting into the second half.
“After which, in the end, simply performed my sport. Tried to get my teammates concerned. My teammates did a great job of discovering me once I was open. And it was simply a variety of enjoyable.”
Followers ought to be very excited primarily based on what Scheierman confirmed in his first sport in inexperienced. After a shaky taking pictures begin, he locked in, and he appeared unafraid.
6. JD Davison reveals promise
In a sport the Celtics misplaced by 4 factors, Davison was a +9. That tells the story fairly nicely. Davison was a top quality level guard on this sport. Plain and easy. He made good passes, held up on protection, and maybe most significantly, he nailed his three-point photographs.
After a few years within the G League, Davison is rejoining the Celtics on a third-straight two-way contract.
“My plan was robotically to come back again right here anyhow, no matter what occurred,” Davison stated of enjoying for the Celtics in Summer time League. “So, I didn’t know nothing concerning the two-way deal. My agent informed me final minute.
“I simply got here in [knowing] I needed to play for Boston as a result of I’ve been right here my final two years, happening my third one. So, I simply needed to be right here.”
His alternatives to progress additional will hinge on his three-point shot and protection, however Saturday was a great begin.
7. Drew Peterson ought to have performed extra
The shot wasn’t there for Drew Peterson on this sport. And the deal with was awkward at occasions. However defensively, he appeared just like the Celtics’ second-best rim protector.
Each time Miami drove to the ring, Peterson was there, utilizing his size to disrupt photographs on the rim. And his rebounding was important for stretches of this one, too.
Peterson solely performed 17:06, doubtless because of his subpar offensive exhibiting (0-of-4 from three), however the Celtics might have afforded him a bit extra rope to play with.
8. The others
Anton Watson performed strong ball when he was within the sport. He didn’t do something distinctive (apart from a thunderous block on Jaquez), however he set strong screens and made some photographs. Watson must let it fly from three a bit extra, although.
His former school teammate, Killian Tillie, bought some run on this sport, too. Tillie didn’t present a lot. He moved his toes nicely on protection just a few occasions, however after not enjoying ball for 2 years because of accidents, he evidently appeared a bit behind. The large man couldn’t discover a rhythm.
Ron Harper Jr. solely performed 10 minutes on this sport and was pretty invisible. Each Jaelen Home and Tristan Enaruna didn’t see any court docket time.
