Celtics-Lakers Summer season League takeaways: Neemias Queta shines in win initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
The Boston Celtics have secured their first win in 2024 NBA Summer season League motion on the Los Angeles Lakers’ expense.
After falling to the Miami Warmth of their high-scoring Summer season League opener Saturday, the Summer season C’s cranked up the defensive depth Monday evening en path to a 88-74 victory on the Thomas & Mack Middle in Las Vegas.
Massive man Neemias Queta tallied a game-high 22 factors and eight rebounds for Boston, whereas Jahmi’us Ramsey (13 factors) and Drew Peterson (12 factors) additionally reached double figures.
Bronny James, the son of Lakers celebrity LeBron James, had a tough offensive evening for Los Angeles — two factors on 1 for five capturing (0 for 3 from 3-point vary) — whereas fellow rookie Dalton Knecht led the way in which for the Lakers with 19 factors.
The Summer season Celtics are again in motion Wednesday towards the Charlotte Hornets at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports activities Boston, however earlier than that matchup, listed here are three takeaways from Monday’s contest:
Neemias Queta makes a press release
Queta could be taking part in his means out of Summer season League motion going ahead — in a great way.
After tallying 20 factors and 9 rebounds towards Miami, the 7-foot massive man one-upped himself with a 22-point effort on a more-efficient 7 for 10 capturing.
Queta used his peak to his benefit by throwing down a number of alley-oops, dominating on the glass and defending the rim, racking up eight rebounds (4 offensive) and three blocks.
Queta additionally bought to the free throw line, making eight of his game-high 9 free throw makes an attempt.
The 25-year-old is the tallest and most skilled participant on the Celtics’ Summer season League roster, so he ought to be capable of discover success in Vegas. However it’s nonetheless encouraging to see Queta benefit from his alternative, particularly contemplating he may see motion early within the season with massive man Kristaps Porzingis sidelined as a consequence of damage.
Scheierman overcame a gradual begin Saturday to complete with 13 factors, however he had no such luck offensively towards the Lakers.
The Celtics’ first-round choose (No. 30 total) within the 2024 NBA Draft went 1 for 7 from the ground and 1 for six from 3-point vary to complete with simply three factors. What the C’s will discover encouraging, nonetheless, is that Scheierman did not let his offensive struggles influence the opposite components of his sport.
The Creighton product confirmed promise as a facilitator with three assists and performed strong protection, recording one steal and ending as a plus-24, tied with Jordan Walsh for the very best plus-minus mark on the staff.
Celtics Summer season League coach D.J. MacLeay lauded Scheierman’s defensive effort Monday evening after watching his staff hand over 119 factors to the Warmth on Saturday.
“I believe after the sport the opposite evening, we actually talked about, that simply just isn’t our commonplace,” MacLeay informed reporters, through CelticsBlog. “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, just like Jordan, and he actually was a lot, a lot better tonight.”
Jordan Walsh reveals (some) enchancment
After a brutal offensive displaying towards Miami (4 factors on 1 for 8 capturing), the Celtics’ 2023 second-round choose discovered just a little extra offense Monday evening, ending with 9 factors on 4 for 12 capturing.
Walsh nonetheless struggled from 3-point vary, nonetheless, and now’s 0 for 11 from deep by way of two Summer season League video games.
The 20-year-old discovered loads of different methods to influence the sport, recording six rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. He has a fame as a wonderful defender, and that should not be a difficulty going ahead.
If Walsh desires to carve out minutes on the NBA stage, although, he’ll have to be simpler offensively — notably as a 3-point shooter. Walsh’s offense is price watching in Boston’s closing two Summer season League video games.
