What to make of Baylor Scheierman’s early preseason struggles

There are only a few new faces suiting up for the Boston Celtics this season. Positive, there are a number of Exhibit 10 guys like Ron Harper Jr. and Dmytro Skapintsev, however so far as the primary roster is worried, it’s just about the identical bunch from final season.

The lone exceptions are the 2 drafted rookies, Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson. Even then, solely Scheierman is on a regular contract, as Watson is on a two-way.

So, how has the one true roster addition seemed by means of two preseason video games?

Effectively, he’s no Carsen Edwards, that’s for positive.

Scheierman’s pair of exhibition outings have been tough. The 24-year-old swingman has shot simply 1-for-9 to date in 19 whole minutes. A few of these misses have been tough. His first try in Friday’s win hit the highest of the backboard, then he didn’t catch iron with an airball from the highest of the important thing.

In truth, that is comprehensible. You need to assume, all through his basketball profession, the Nebraska native has in all probability by no means needed to wait till the fourth quarter to verify right into a recreation. For those who pair that with the plain nerves that will come together with making his skilled debut, it shouldn’t be stunning that the rook has seemed a bit of uncomfortable on the market.

Even with the jitters, there have nonetheless been some encouraging flashes from Scheierman. Initially, he received himself within the scoring column by making a pleasant lower to the highest of the important thing, the place he then sank a triple.

It might appear minute, but when the previous Creighton standout goes to suit into Boston’s rotation, then that is the kind of factor he’ll have to do to create offense for himself. He doubtless gained’t see alternatives to attempt to break down a defender with a number of dribbles, so slicing will probably be key.

Popping out of the draft, it shortly grew to become obvious that Scheierman was greater than only a scorer. In his senior season at Creighton, he averaged slightly below 4 assists per recreation and was a constant power on the glass with about 9 rebounds every evening.

We received a have a look at his passing and decision-making at Summer time League, the place he averaged 3.4 assists, after which once more on Sunday morning. Check out the under clip. Scheierman does an ideal job of getting Xavier Tillman’s defender to shade in direction of the paint with a faux go, earlier than dishing to an open X within the far nook.

Again in June, Brad Stevens mentioned that he and the entrance workplace had thought extremely of Scheierman earlier than the draft, labeling him as a successful participant.

“He’s at all times been tremendous expert, tremendous good, and tremendous powerful,” Stevens mentioned of Scheierman after the draft. “Like, he’s a basketball participant now. He is aware of the best way to play.”

In his brief time with the Celtics, the first-rounder has already proven a dedication to enchancment. At media day, he detailed his effort to bulk up and put together his physique for NBA play.

“I’ve positively labored on my physique loads and that’s an enormous emphasis for me coming into this new league. The most effective athletes, essentially the most sturdy people…I’ve positively put in plenty of time into that a part of my recreation.”

Fortuitously for Scheierman, there are nonetheless three preseason video games left for him to get snug earlier than the outcomes truly start to matter. Sometimes, the starters play much less and fewer because the exhibition slate strikes alongside, so there might even be extra minutes for him to seek out his footing within the coming week or so.

Even when he doesn’t, it means nothing besides that he wants some extra time earlier than enjoying regular-season rotation minutes.

Yeah — that was a given contemplating that Boston is bringing again nearly everybody from the Banner 18 squad.

Let the aforementioned Carsen Edwards preseason 30-ball function a reminder that the preseason finally doesn’t imply a lot.