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 12 months), 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 needs to be the front-runner to snag it.
Watson threw up 9 triples, nailing three of them. His shot regarded good, leaving hope for him to be a dependable three-point shooter sooner or later in his profession. That might be an important improvement for him to proceed to work on.
“It actually feels good,” Watson mentioned of getting a inexperienced mild frmo deep. “Coaches have faith 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 consistently in the best place. He’s not probably the most athletic participant, neither is he the largest, however he’s made his residing by continuously positioning himself appropriately.
“He’s already an NBA-level defender,” mentioned coach DJ MacLeay. “He has issues that he’s started working on on that facet of the ground that we’re making an attempt to assist him with, however I feel if he can show that he can knock down these photographs, and he reveals a willingness to take him with out hesitation, he’s gonna be a very good participant for us.
“And he gives numerous versatility due to his switchability and his capability to protect the basketball.”
2. Jaelen Home’s defensive Grasp Class
Although the photographs didn’t fall for Jaelen Home on Wednesday evening, he nonetheless made an impression, and that’s virtually extra essential. Home was a whole 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 received into it with Hornets gamers and followers. All Home desires to do is trigger chaos, and that’s the kind of factor Celtics followers ought to love.
“I’m only a competitor,” mentioned Home. “Each time anyone talks, I really feel like I gotta get the final snicker on a regular basis.”
Home completed the evening with eight factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, and two steals whereas taking pictures 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 workforce 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 in opposition to 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 general efficiency was nonetheless that of a man who remains to be a few years away from enjoying NBA minutes. Walsh ended with two factors, 4 rebounds, and two assists whereas taking pictures 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).
Unhealthy selections have been compounded by rushed drives, and his confidence appears to be at an all-time low. Walsh nonetheless performed barely higher than he did in opposition to 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 feel the massive factor for him, typically, is simply sustaining a degree of competitors and making an attempt to compete on every possession,” mentioned MacLeay. “I feel, typically, he’s making an attempt to try this.
“And perhaps his shot hasn’t been what we anticipated it to be over the primary three days, however simply typically, I feel sustaining a mindset of working and getting higher every day and embracing these possessions is superior. And I feel that that’s what we attempt to do in Boston, and that’s what I feel 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 among the best gamers on this roster, performs each ends of the ground, and his three-point shot seems to be utterly remodeled.
Ramsey put up 15 factors, three rebounds, 5 assists, and three steals in opposition to the Hornets. He shot 5-of-10 from the sphere and 2-of-5 from past the three-point arc.
Whether or not or not it’s releasing one among their two-way guys or elevating one into their fifteenth roster spot, they should discover a method to preserve Ramsey round.
5. Killian Tillie displaying flashes
Killian Tillie received the beginning on this sport, and instantly, he regarded comfy. 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 strong job of merely being in the best spot. He ended the sport with 11 factors, two rebounds, and two blocks whereas taking pictures 4-of-5 from the ground and 2-of-3 from deep.
6. Tyler Cook dinner seems to be intriguing
This addition to the roster appeared like a filler selection. However given his first likelihood at actual minutes, Tyler Cook dinner regarded actually spectacular. The 26-year-old didn’t do something spectacular, however he was strong throughout.
Cook dinner had eight factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 4-of-7 taking pictures from the ground. The 26-year-old set strong 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 targeted on getting guys who simply play the sport the best method.
Whereas he might not be a reputable candidate to land a roster spot, the Celtics ought to think about protecting Cook dinner round with Maine (if he’s open to it).
7. Baylor Scheierman again right 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 taking pictures 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 important rebounder and didn’t doo an excessive amount of to actively harm the workforce. That mentioned, his protection leaves some to be desired.
Scheierman truly strikes his ft fairly properly, however when it comes time to contest photographs, he virtually by no means leaves his ft, giving opposing gamers simpler photographs 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 workforce most likely desires 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 way more true for Springer and Queta. It might 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 indicate off his stuff.
9. The remaining
Tristan Enaruna noticed his first Summer season League motion on Wednesday. He was continuously hustling, and he snagged just a few boards, however it was a reasonably mediocre displaying. Enaruna wasn’t concerned an excessive amount of, which is odd, contemplating he’s on a coaching camp cope with Boston.
The identical will be mentioned for Ron Harper Jr., who can also be on a camp contract with the Celtics. That mentioned, he’s earned extra enjoying time than Enaruna and continues to be underwhelming. Harper Jr. can’t get his shot to fall constantly, and nothing else he’s dropped at the desk has stood out a lot.
JD Davison normally will get extra phrases, however this sport was fairly quiet for the purpose guard. He nonetheless performed properly, displaying off his elite playmaking, however it appeared as if the Celtics wished to provide Ramsey and Home some extra run on this one, as Davison didn’t even crack 20 minutes. He could possibly be carried out for Summer season League.
