The Boston Celtics improved to 2-1 on Wednesday, taking down the undefeated Charlotte Hornets, who’re infested with former Celtics. From new head coach Charles Lee to Jermaine Bucknor and Blaine Mueller (on Charlotte’s Summer season League bench) to Brandon Slater and James Banks III (who performed in Maine final yr), the Hornets are Celtics South.
Led by Anton Watson’s 15 factors, the Celtics earned an 89-84 win over Nick Smith Jr. and the Hornets. Watson additionally added 5 boards, two assists, and two steals, whereas Jahmi’s Ramsey chipped in with 15 off the pine as properly.
1. Anton Watson appears prepared
Boston chosen Watson with the No. 54 choose within the 2024 NBA Draft however have but to signal him to a contract. They nonetheless have an open two-way spot, and after his efficiency on Wednesday, he must be the front-runner to snag it.
Watson threw up 9 triples, nailing three of them. His shot seemed good, leaving hope for him to be a dependable three-point shooter sooner or later in his profession. That can be an important improvement for him to proceed to work on.
“It actually feels good,” Watson stated of getting a inexperienced mild frmo deep. “Coaches trust in me. My teammates need me to take it. So, it’s simply on me. No hesitation. It is a good time to get them up.”
The true spotlight of Watson’s evening was his protection. Above all, Watson is continually in the suitable place. He’s not probably the most athletic participant, neither is he the largest, however he’s made his dwelling by always positioning himself accurately.
“He’s already an NBA-level defender,” stated coach DJ MacLeay. “He has issues that he’s set to work on on that aspect of the ground that we’re making an attempt to assist him with, however I believe if he can show that he can knock down these pictures, and he reveals a willingness to take him with out hesitation, he’s gonna be a extremely good participant for us.
“And he supplies a number of versatility due to his switchability and his potential to protect the basketball.”
2. Jaelen Home’s defensive Grasp Class
Although the pictures didn’t fall for Jaelen Home on Wednesday evening, he nonetheless made an influence, and that’s nearly extra necessary. Home was an entire pest on the defensive finish, nabbing two steals that instantly led to break-away layups.
He’s made a reputation for himself by being a nuisance, and he even acquired into it with Hornets gamers and followers. All Home needs to do is trigger chaos, and that’s the kind of factor Celtics followers ought to love.
“I’m only a competitor,” stated Home. “Each time someone talks, I really feel like I gotta get the final giggle on a regular basis.”
Home completed the evening with eight factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, and two steals whereas capturing 2-of-8 from the ground and 0-of-2 from distance. The truth that the smallest man on the ground completed second on the staff in rebounds ought to communicate volumes.
3. Jordan Walsh simply can’t discover it
Again to the gallows for Jordan Walsh. After considerably of a bounce-back sport towards the Los Angeles Lakers, Walsh succumbed to his earlier struggles within the Celtics’ win over the Hornets.
He nonetheless confirmed some flashes on protection, however his total efficiency was nonetheless that of a man who continues to be a few years away from enjoying NBA minutes. Walsh ended with two factors, 4 rebounds, and two assists whereas capturing 0-of-5 from the ground and 0-of-1 from distance. He has nonetheless but to make a 3 in Summer season League (0-of-12).
Dangerous choices had been compounded by rushed drives, and his confidence appears to be at an all-time low. Walsh nonetheless performed barely higher than he did towards the Warmth, however that isn’t saying a lot.
Walsh is simply making an attempt to remain optimistic and compete, which is all MacLeay is asking from him.
“I believe the large factor for him, basically, is simply sustaining a stage of competitors and making an attempt to compete on every possession,” stated MacLeay. “I believe, basically, he’s making an attempt to do this.
“And possibly his shot hasn’t been what we anticipated it to be over the primary three days, however simply basically, I believe sustaining a mindset of working and getting higher every day and embracing these possessions is superior. And I believe that that’s what we attempt to do in Boston, and that’s what I believe he’s making an attempt to do that week and for the remainder of Summer season League.”
4. Jahmi’us Ramsey wants a two-way deal
The Celtics don’t have any roster house, however they need to make some for Jahmi’us Ramsey. He’s been top-of-the-line gamers on this roster, performs each ends of the ground, and his three-point shot appears fully remodeled.
Ramsey put up 15 factors, three rebounds, 5 assists, and three steals towards the Hornets. He shot 5-of-10 from the sector and 2-of-5 from past the three-point arc.
Whether or not or not it’s releasing considered one of their two-way guys or elevating one into their fifteenth roster spot, they should discover a method to maintain Ramsey round.
5. Killian Tillie exhibiting flashes
Killian Tillie acquired the beginning on this sport, and instantly, he seemed snug. The massive man hasn’t performed skilled basketball in two years, as he’s been coping with some accidents, so maybe he simply needed to shake some rust off.
Like his former Gonzaga teammate, Watson, Tillie did a stable job of merely being in the suitable spot. He ended the sport with 11 factors, two rebounds, and two blocks whereas capturing 4-of-5 from the ground and 2-of-3 from deep.
6. Tyler Cook dinner appears intriguing
This addition to the roster appeared like a filler selection. However given his first probability at actual minutes, Tyler Cook dinner seemed actually spectacular. The 26-year-old didn’t do something spectacular, however he was stable throughout.
Cook dinner had eight factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 4-of-7 capturing from the ground. The 26-year-old set stable screens, confirmed off his bounce with a big-time dunk, and a few nifty passes.
With Watson, Tillie, and Cook dinner manning the middle spot (now that Neemias Queta has seemingly been shut down for Summer season League), it’s clear that Brad Stevens centered on getting guys who simply play the sport the suitable method.
Whereas he is probably not a respectable candidate to land a roster spot, the Celtics ought to think about preserving Cook dinner round with Maine (if he’s open to it).
7. Baylor Scheierman again all the way down to earth
For the second straight sport, Baylor Scheierman couldn’t discover his three-point shot (although the one three he did make was an enormous one down the stretch). He put up 12 factors, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals whereas capturing 3o-f-10 from the ground and 1-of-8 from three-point vary.
Regardless of the lackluster statistical evening, Scheierman nonetheless did the little issues properly. He’s an excellent rebounder and didn’t doo an excessive amount of to actively damage the staff. That stated, his protection leaves some to be desired.
Scheierman truly strikes his ft fairly properly, however when it comes time to contest pictures, he nearly by no means leaves his ft, giving opposing gamers simpler pictures on the basket.
8. The no-shows
Jaden Springer, Drew Peterson, and Queta didn’t play on this sport, possible as a result of the Celtics are shutting them down for Summer season League. The staff most likely needs to get some extra run for the end-of-bench guys, and these three don’t really want extra court docket time.
Properly, that’s much more true for Springer and Queta. It will be good to see a bit extra from Peterson, however he’s on a two-way, so he’ll possible have loads of time in Maine subsequent season to point out off his stuff.
9. The remainder
Tristan Enaruna noticed his first Summer season League motion on Wednesday. He was always hustling, and he snagged a number of boards, nevertheless it was a reasonably mediocre exhibiting. Enaruna wasn’t concerned an excessive amount of, which is odd, contemplating he’s on a coaching camp cope with Boston.
The identical could be stated for Ron Harper Jr., who can be on a camp contract with the Celtics. That stated, he’s earned extra enjoying time than Enaruna and continues to be underwhelming. Harper Jr. can’t get his shot to fall persistently, and nothing else he’s delivered to the desk has stood out a lot.
JD Davison often will get extra phrases, however this sport was fairly quiet for the purpose guard. He nonetheless performed properly, exhibiting off his elite playmaking, nevertheless it appeared as if the Celtics needed to offer Ramsey and Home some extra run on this one, as Davison didn’t even crack 20 minutes. He might be achieved for Summer season League.
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