Jordan Walsh is getting into his sophomore season within the NBA after spending most of final 12 months in Maine. Baylor Scheierman is the primary first spherical draft decide of the Celtics in 4 years. Each gamers will struggle for minutes off Joe Mazzulla’s bench subsequent season.
Because of the Boston Celtics roster depth, it’s unlikely we see each Walsh and Scheierman earn a job within the rotation. If we’re being sincere, each guys might spend the vast majority of their time within the G-League.
Nonetheless, within the spirit of the offseason and the enjoyable that debates can convey, Adam Taylor and latest CelticsBlogger Robby Fletcher have sat down to debate which of the younger wings might doubtlessly impress the teaching workers sufficient to be a part of the rotation.
Picture by Monica Schipper/Getty Pictures
Who has the sting on offense?
Adam: You may as properly give me the early benefit right here.
There’s no contest on who brings extra to the offensive finish. Scheierman is a sophisticated three-level scorer, can create for himself and others off the bounce, and is a precious ground spacer as each a spot-up and motion shooter.
In line with Synergy, Creighton used Scheierman as a spot-up shooter on 4.5 possessions per sport, with every possession price 1 level (technically 0.96, however we’re rounding up.)
Creighton additionally ran Scheierman off screens as an off-ball menace on 3.3 possessions per sport; these possessions have been price 1.04 factors. He shot 53.4% when ending transition assaults and generated 1.3 factors per possession as a pick-and-roll handler.
Check out this play. Creighton runs an NBA-level set out of a sideline-out-of-bounds (SLOB) motion with Scheierman inbounding the ball, reducing to the weakside elbow, earlier than coming out to the strongside slot for the catch-and-shoot three. That’s the kind of mobility and flexibility Mazzulla likes from his offensive threats.
Scheierman’s multi-faceted offense will enable him to fit into no matter position Mazzulla envisions whereas giving him scope to counter defensive coverages, close-outs, or mismatches. I can’t see how Walsh tops that when contemplating Scheierman’s NBA-level upside on this facet of the ground.
Robby: That is the realm the place Baylor’s edge is most evident.
It’s additionally an space the place Walsh should show lots of people fallacious. He pressed loads in his second Summer time League, typically forcing awkward jumpers off the dribble in addition to drives into oncoming site visitors that left him with little various than to throw the ball up and pray.
Nonetheless, a modest 27-game pattern out of the G-League warrants some optimism. He was a decent 36% shooter from past the arc on 5.7 makes an attempt per sport at that stage, displaying confidence from the perimeter that simply wasn’t there in his Summer time League play or transient NBA minutes.
In these transient minutes up with Boston, solely the Charlotte sport late within the season confirmed that very same confidence from deep, as demonstrated by a pleasant elevate up from the wing that resulted in a 3-pointer off the catch late within the first quarter.
Walsh can be a succesful cutter that may generate offense off the gravity of extra dependable scoring choices, of which there’d be a lot on the ground surrounding him ought to he discover himself inside Mazzulla’s rotation. He’s proven a pleasant understanding of his off-ball duties throughout a number of ranges of the sport, profiting from over-helping defenders to flash into house close to the dunker spot.
Would he be operating a lot offense? Extremely unlikely, however Walsh has put quite a lot of work into his off-the-dribble skill, and he overtly admitted he was urgent slightly too exhausting to search out his shot this summer season. The story’s slightly totally different when defenses are tasked with forcing the ball out of the fingers of a Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
Adam: My common push-back right here can be that taking pictures 36% within the G-League is totally different to doing it within the NBA, however as I’m defending a rookie contemporary out of faculty, that might be hypercritical of me.
What I’ll say, although, is that Walsh’s position is well-defined. He’s a corner-spot-up shooter who must evolve his decision-making when seeking to assault off the dribble. I worth the flexibility that Scheierman brings right here. He can fill the identical position as Walsh however has the skillset and polish to develop that position based mostly on coverages. He got here into the league as a 39% 3-point shooter in faculty and had a dependable 82% free-throw conversion price.
Walsh has loads of upside on offense, however for a contending workforce, if certainly one of these two are wanted within the bench rotation, Scheierman’s offense is clearly a stage or two above the place Walsh is at proper now.
Who has the sting on protection?
Robby: The clearest good thing about inserting Walsh into the rotation comes on the defensive finish.
A 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-foot-3 wingspan gives a ton of alternatives for a workforce that’s greater than keen to change matchups and reside with the outcomes.
Even amidst his total offensive Summer time League struggles, Walsh’s mixture of size with a growing higher physique permits him to deal with stronger wing assignments together with switch-outs to extra interior-oriented scoring threats.
I believe Scheierman proved to be a capably above-average defender on the faculty stage, significantly in his paint protection, however I do fear about his skill to deal with the faster slashers off the wings. In Oshae Brissett’s absence, this workforce might use a jolt of vitality on that facet. Walsh fills that position, particularly in his display screen navigation, the place you see his lateral quickness and outrageous wingspan on full show.
Adam: I’ll give it to ya. Walsh has the benefit on protection, particularly by way of point-of-attack and passing lanes. Nonetheless, Scheierman brings a dependable presence on the glass. He ended his collegiate profession averaging 7.8 boards per sport, and grabbed 9 per evening in his ultimate season. He has the scale and positioning to assist ease the stress when groups want to crash the boards and management the tempo.
I additionally agree with you on Walsh’s benefit when guarding faster wings who look to slash off-ball or by way of catch-and-drive alternatives. Nonetheless, Mazzulla has already applied a failsafe in these conditions, having his gamers peel swap to make sure any benefit is rapidly eliminated.
Scheierman has the polish, expertise (as a five-year faculty product) and dimension to thrive as a system defender who elevates the workforce’s total rebounding whereas being consigned to the weakside nook whereas his defensive skillset catches as much as his offense.
I believe he does convey some upside to that facet of the ground, and having somebody with an outlined defensive position isn’t dangerous for a workforce filled with pitbull defenders.
Robby: All legitimate factors, significantly in Scheierman’s skill to crash the glass.
I believe in the course of the pre-draft course of, that was an space that was most stunning in his sport, actually not one thing I had seen a complete lot of throughout reside video games. Below the microscope, he performs loads larger than your common perimeter wing. It’s one thing that would simply swoon the teaching workers past his multi-faceted scoring skill.
I, nevertheless, stay on Workforce Walsh for this explicit space. And there’s nothing you are able to do to cease me.
Who suits higher within the Celtics system?
Adam: That is the hardest space for me…I imply, we’re speaking about two very inexperienced gamers making an attempt to earn minutes on the very best workforce within the NBA. Nonetheless, I believe Scheierman has a substantial benefit over Walsh, right here.
Hear me out.
Mazzulla likes his gamers to be two-way threats. He needs them to have a dependable offensive presence but additionally contributes on the defensive finish. Scheierman is nearer to a ready-made two-way expertise than Walsh.
Sure, Walsh is a greater defender, however his restricted offensive sport actually shackles his total sport. Scheierman, alternatively, can match right into a system protection, rebound, assist, entice, and so on… He’s additionally a dependable offensive possibility as each an off-ball and on-ball weapon, and that’s earlier than he begins seeking to create for others.
Mazzulla would doubtless worth that sort of manufacturing on each side of the ground, and it might enable Scheierman to take part in a number of rotation mixtures and substitution patterns.
Robby: I agree, that is actually a tricky space to find out, particularly as a result of they’re each such totally different gamers.
Mazzulla does actually worth a two-way participant, one thing that matches extra in-line with Scheierman’s present skillset. I imply, the way in which he flies off screens feels lower from the identical fabric of a younger Sam Hauser. It’s clear what he gives within the rapid future. On that finish, it’s a little bit of a thriller field with Walsh, an space the place rising pains is likely to be frequent. And I believe that’s okay. Surrounded by an unbelievable supporting solid permits him room to develop, particularly within the earlier months of the season.
Add within the aforementioned defensive versatility that undoubtedly suits their identification and I believe it’s a match that possibly isn’t fully excellent proper now, however in time could make sense for what they want out of an eleventh or twelfth man.
Even with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined to start out the season, the Celtics have the luxurious of 10 really high quality gamers locked into spots throughout the rotation. That doesn’t go away a ton of minutes to both Walsh or Scheierman. In these minutes, I believe I worth the defensive vitality Walsh brings just a bit bit extra. Each might simply have success round a roster this good, however I hold pondering again to what Brissett offered final 12 months, and that relentless vitality positively influenced a number of notable video games, like their early contest in opposition to Miami on Oct. 27, and even Recreation 2 of the Convention Finals with Indiana. It’s hardly flashly stuff, nevertheless it’s the sort of soiled work I wish to see out of a twelfth man, and one thing I really feel Walsh might present in Yr 2.
Adam: You make some honest factors. Walsh is arguably higher suited to “energizer bunny” position. Nonetheless, I believe with regards to total affect, I favor a man who can supply some upside on protection and work as a launch valve on offense. It additionally makes extra sense to me for the Celtics to spend the small variety of developmental minutes on somebody who can develop into a much bigger position long-term — and for me, that’s Scheierman.
Walsh is strong on protection, however his body doesn’t fill me with confidence that he can hold bodily, and he has proven that his positioning wants work, too. Once I’m taking a look at an impact-now possibility with real upside for the long run, Scheierman is my winner, primarily as a result of he comes into the workforce with a excessive ground and decrease ceiling. He doesn’t want as a lot growth as Walsh, and for a contending workforce, that’s exactly what you need.
Okay, in spite of everything that, can we agree on a winner?
So, in spite of everything of this, has both of you managed to sway the opposite?
Robby: Effectively…possibly.
It’s exhausting to disclaim the extra balanced skillset of Baylor Scheierman. If I have been to position cash on it, I’d in all probability say Mazzulla prefers that possibility as properly. I’d say you’ve made the best factors on his match, so I’ll allow you to take the win there. I nonetheless have hope for Walsh, and possibly one other 12 months with prolonged G-League motion isn’t out of the query, however I’d prefer to see his progress in Yr 2 play out in Boston.
Adam: VICTORY!!
Solely joking 
You made some sturdy factors on Walsh. I needed to sit again and actually take into consideration this debate and whether or not I nonetheless had my spot on Scheierman island. Seems that I do. I’m pondering of buying some real-estate right here. Possibly a rental with a pleasant boat and a pool out again.
Jokes apart, Walsh has all of the instruments to be a real three-and-d position participant within the NBA. I simply don’t suppose he’s prepared but, and that position is probably not with the Celtics as a result of competitors for taking part in time. Baylor joins the workforce as a ready-made addition and nonetheless has room to enhance his sport.
It is sensible to provide Scheierman no matter developmental minutes are on supply. And in order for you a deeper dive into what he brings to the roster, I’ve a size scouting report from a month or two again.
I want to see Walsh get a chance, so long as it’s not at Scheierman’s expense. And it doesn’t matter what, I’ll be watching slightly nearer after the sturdy argument you made for him.
Now, although, I want to open this debate as much as the feedback and see who the readers would select between these two and whether or not our factors have helped sway their minds…
