LAS VEGAS — The Boston Celtics bought again within the win column on Monday night time, taking down the Los Angeles Lakers within the premiere showcase of the night. Bronny James drew oohs and ahhs from the gang, however Boston bought the job completed, incomes an 88-74 victory.
Neemias Queta was the main scorer of the night, pouring in 22 factors and grabbing eight rebounds. Jahmi’s Ramsey had 13 factors off the pine, and Drew Peterson additionally chipped in with 12 factors, 5 rebounds, and three assists.
1. Neemias Queta is again on monitor
After a comparatively lackluster Summer season League debut, Queta confirmed why the Celtics invested a three-year contract into him on Monday night. The Portuguese behemoth was by far the perfect massive man on the ground, and the Lakers had no reply for him, as evidenced by his 9 free-throw makes an attempt (of which he made eight).
The most effective signal of enchancment from his first sport was defensive confidence. In opposition to the Miami Warmth, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Isaiah Stevens, and others would glide by defenders, however slightly than assist over within the paint, Queta hesitated. On Monday, there was no hesitation. Queta made his presence recognized, and his three blocks have been proof of that.
Queta has additionally been challenged with defending on the perimeter extra, because the teaching employees try to organize him for potential actual minutes in Boston subsequent season.
“Guys need me to get on the market and simply be efficient [and] impactful defensively within the paint,” Queta stated. “And much more on the perimeter, too. They’re getting me to change much more on the perimeter, keep in entrance of guards.
“So, that’s additionally one of many issues I needed to work on coming into Summer season League, and positively staying out of foul bother. And we’re on the suitable path.”
2. Jaden Springer’s odd night time off
Within the Celtics’ first Summer season League sport, Jaden Springer was the perfect participant on the ground. However he didn’t even get onto the ground in opposition to the Lakers. As an alternative, he may very well be seen on the bench in avenue garments.
Springer was carrying comparable apparel for the Celtics’ earlier follow session, too, however head coach DJ MacLeay wouldn’t give a straight reply as to his standing for the remainder of Summer season League.
“He performed nice in Recreation 1. And he’s gonna be out right here with us for one more couple of days,” stated MacLeay. “So, we don’t actually have any data apart from that proper now.
Nor would MacLeay reveal whether or not or not the Celtics guard is injured.
“Nope, we don’t suppose so,” MacLeay stated when requested if Springer is harm.
3. Jordan Walsh’s bounce-back
Jordan Walsh could have had the worst sport of his skilled profession on Saturday. However he made up for it in opposition to the Lakers.
At follow, Walsh spoke a couple of message Sam Cassell gave him, noting that he received’t be judged primarily based on his shot-making however slightly his protection. That’s was Walsh targeted on in his follow-up efficiency.
The teenager nonetheless did not make a 3, capturing 0-of-5, however his defensive presence shined by means of. He nabbed three steals and picked up a block as effectively, as his physique language appeared infinitely higher than it did in opposition to Miami.
“I feel, typically, he was simply enjoying inside himself,” MacLeay stated of Walsh. “Like, he had a greater approach about him at present. He was dedicated on the defensive finish, which I feel is the place he’s going to be at his finest.
“And I actually have given him numerous credit score. He sort of embraced a failure of the opposite night time, and he simply took it on the chin, and performed a lot, a lot better. Performed far more inside himself, and far more just like the man we all know and he’s been for the final couple of months.”
Seeing some threes go down would nonetheless go a great distance for Walsh and his potential place in Boston’s rotation, however this was a large step in the suitable route.
4. Drew Peterson finds one thing
It’s been a bizarre couple of video games for Drew Peterson to date. The 24-year-old joined the Celtics for the latter portion of final season, and he appeared nice in Maine.
In opposition to the Warmth, Peterson’s defensive influence was far superior, and in opposition to the Lakers, his three-point capturing proved to be his finest asset. The flexibility feeds into the best way Peterson desires to current himself inside the group. It’s what he strives to be transferring ahead.
“Simply getting just a little greater. Stuff like that. And like I stated, I’m taking in all the pieces I can from the older guys and doing what I can to compete,” stated Peterson. “Capturing, defensively, I prefer to be a do-it-all man. So, something I can do to assist the staff. Tonight, it occurred to be capturing, and something I can do on the market to assist is my purpose.”
5. Baylor Scheierman challenged defensively
An ice-cold capturing night time (1-of-6 from deep) wasn’t sufficient to decelerate Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman. Moderately than hunch his head and draw back from the second, Scheierman allowed his worth to be placed on show in numerous points of the sport.
His passing has confirmed to be one of the priceless instruments in his belt, and the previous Bluejay’s nostril for offensive rebounds is extraordinarily spectacular as effectively.
However maybe the perfect a part of Scheierman’s sport in opposition to the Lakers was his protection. He didn’t arise effectively in opposition to Jaquez and the Warmth, however he turned issues round on Monday.
“I feel after the sport the opposite night time, we actually talked about, that simply isn’t our commonplace,” stated MacLeay. “It was a group-wide factor, however it was one thing that we talked about with Baylor as effectively. And I believed he actually like took on that problem. He took it on the chin, much like Jordan, and he actually was a lot, a lot better tonight.
“I feel it’s a rising and studying course of. The expertise stage is clearly quite a bit larger. I really like that he desires these challenges. He’s sort of asking for these challenges. He’s making an attempt to develop on his personal. He’s dedicated to that. He’s aggressive. And I feel that you simply noticed that.
Scheierman guarded Dalton Knecht, the Lakers first-overall choose, for a lot of the night. In two-straight video games, he’s guarded who may very well be thought of the opposing staff’s finest participant. And whereas the Celtics wish to push him defensively, these matchups are one thing the rookie has been asking for.
“It’s one thing that he retains taking up,” MacLeay stated. “It’s one thing that he has actually embraced. So, I feel that it’s some extent of ours to assist him develop. However typically, it’s been his possession of that, greater than actually us.”
6. Jahmi’s Ramsey: Two-way candidate or Tasmanian satan (or each)?
The expertise is evident with Ramsey. After spending the early a part of his profession with questions surrounding his capturing, he’s slowly placing these narratives to mattress. A profitable capturing yr within the G League is being compounded with a formidable Summer season League stroke.
Ramsey started the sport in opposition to the Lakers with some powerful turnovers. He was urgent. It appeared as if one other staff got here as much as him and stated, ‘Hey, we’re scouting you tonight,’ and he was making an attempt to placed on a present. However as he settled down, issues moved again into place.
His ball-handling bought tighter, his shot bought higher, and his rim assaults have been way more managed. The Tasmanian satan that began the sport on offense slowly become a man the Celtics may think about discovering a strategy to preserve round.
7. Anton Watson is solely dependable
Nothing will stand out about Anton Watson on each nights, however that must be taken as an enormous praise. The previous Bulldog is all the time in the suitable place on the proper time. He’s all the time hustling for a rebound. He’s all the time mucking issues up down low.
All the things about Watson screams, ‘Lengthy profession as a serviceable back-up heart,’ and that’s superior. He had seven factors and 7 rebounds in opposition to the Lakers, and all of them got here inside the movement of the sport.
8. JD Davison goes quiet
Whereas there have been some flashes of strong play for JD Davison in opposition to the Lakers, this sport wasn’t practically as spectacular as his displaying vs. the Warmth.
Whether or not it was James or one other Lakers defender, Los Angeles did job of slowing Davison down on the level of assault. He wasn’t in a position to get the identical area he’s used to with a view to get downhill, create area, and make performs for others.
That stated, he nonetheless shot effectively from deep, and that’s crucial factor to be monitoring heading into his third yr on a two-way contract with Boston.
9. The place, oh the place is Tristan Enaruna?
It’s been two Summer season League video games, and the one participant who hasn’t stepped onto the ground for the Celtics is Cleveland State ahead Tristan Enaruna. The Celtics have already signed him to a training-camp contract, so they’re clearly considerably keen on him.
So, that begs the query, why isn’t he getting any run in Summer season League?
10. The others
Jaelen Home earned his first minutes of Summer season League, and he made probably the most of them. Not solely was he a pest on the defensive finish, however he additionally picked up a tech in simply three minutes on the ground. When the one stat a 6-foot-1 guard produces is a block, it’s all the time enjoyable.
In the meantime, Killian Tillie confirmed some flashes of promise. He began out comparatively scorching from three however cooled down simply as rapidly. Defensively, his presence down low led to a few blocks. Tillie was extra impactful in opposition to the Lakers than he was in opposition to Miami, however it was nonetheless a mediocre efficiency.
That simply leaves Ron Harper Jr., who was a team-worst -11 within the Celtics’ 14-point win over the Lakers. Harper made a 3, however for probably the most half, he simply appeared like an additional physique on the market.
Oh yeah, Tyler Prepare dinner was there, too.
BONUS: Kristaps Porzingis appears to be doing simply positive after surgical procedure, in accordance with MacLeay. “Final time I talked to him, he was on a seaside someplace, and he was simply chilling,” he stated.
