The Hornets performed within the California Traditional Summer time League earlier than coming to Las Vegas. They received all 3 video games there, beating San Antonio, the crew from China, and Sacramento. In addition they received their first recreation in Las Vegas, beating the Knicks 94-90. The Celtics and Hornets final performed in Summer time League in 2018 when the Celtics received 100-80, whereas beginning Kadeem Allen, Jarrod Uthoff, Jabari Hen, Semi Ojeleye, and Guerrschon Yabusele.
As all the time in Summer time League, it’s subsequent to inconceivable to foretell who will begin as coaches attempt to combine and match gamers and to experiment with completely different beginning lineups. After being the Celtics finest participant towards the Warmth, Jaden Springer sat out the sport towards the Lakers, not even dressing for the sport. The coach was noncommittal as as to if his absence was on account of an harm or not.
The Celtics have fielded related beginning lineups of their 2 video games to date with Davison, Scheierman, Walsh, and Queta beginning each video games. Springer began towards the warmth and Peterson began towards the Lakers. They could begin the same lineup or one that’s fully completely different. The Hornets began Simpson, Smith, McGowens, Black and Gueye of their first 2 video games and Simpson, Smith, Miller, Black and Stephens of their final two video games.
D.J. MacLeay is teaching the Celtics Summer time League crew. The Celtics employed MacLeay in 2021 as a participant enhancement coach on Ime Udoka’s workers. In July 2022 he was promoted to assistant coach. He stayed with the Celtics as an assistant after Udoka left. Assistant coach Josh Longstaff is teaching the Hornets. He has been an assistant coach for Chicago, Milwaukee, New York and Oklahoma Metropolis. He has additionally been the pinnacle coach of the Erie Bayhawks within the GLeague.
Boston Celtics Roster
Tyler Prepare dinner
JD Davison
Tristan Enaruna
Ron Harper, Jr
Jaelen Home
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Jahmi?us Ramsey
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Killian Tillie
Jordan Walsh
Anton Watson
Head Coach
D.J. MacLeay
Starters Final Recreation
JD Davison
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Gamers to Watch
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Neemias Queta
Picture by Candice Ward/Getty Pictures
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Anton Watson
Picture by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe by way of Getty Pictures
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Baylor Scheierman
Picture by Monica Schipper/Getty Pictures
Neemias Queta
Queta was simply the very best participant in Monday’s recreation towards the Lakers. He completed with 22 factors, 8 rebounds, and three blocks whereas taking pictures 70% from the sphere. He additionally performed superb protection whereas defending the paint. He began the primary two video games however as issues go in Summer time League, he could or could not play on this recreation.
Anton Watson
Watson was the 54th choose within the draft and will not less than get a 2 approach contract. He got here off the bench and, whereas his stats received’t bounce off the web page, he performed superb protection and appeared to be in the suitable place on the proper time. He is an effective rebounder and hustles, bringing power to the sport.
Baylor Scheierman
Scheierman was the Celtics thirtieth choose on this 12 months’s draft. He is named a shooter however his efficiency within the first 2 video games proves that he’s a flexible participant with nice courtroom imaginative and prescient. He completed Monday’s recreation with 3 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He struggled along with his shot however picked up his protection and performed arduous in different areas. One of many highlights of the sport was when he dove into the 2nd row to avoid wasting a ball from going out of bounds. That type of hustle ought to earn him taking part in time.
Charlotte Hornets Roster
James Banks III
RaeQuan Battle
Leaky Black
Pedro Bradshaw
Kevin Cross, Jr
Marcus Garrett
Mouhamadou Gueye
Malik Corridor
Caleb McConnell
Bryce McGowens
Brandon Miller
Matt Morgan
Drew Pember
Charles Delight
Tidjane Salaun
Zavier Simpson
KJ Simpson
Brandon Slater
Nick Smith, Jr
Jake Stephens
Starters Final Recreation
Xavier Simpson
Nick Smith, Jr
Brandon Miller
Leaky Black
Jake Stephens
Gamers to Watch
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Brandon Miller
Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
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Nick Smith, Jr
Picture by Rocky Widner/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
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Zavier Simpson
Picture by David Dow/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Brandon Miller
Miller was the #2 choose in final 12 months’s draft and was third in Rookie of the 12 months voting. He performed as you’d anticipate a second 12 months lottery choose would. He completed the Hornets first recreation towards the Knicks with 23 factors, 8 rebounds, and a pair of assists. Nevertheless, he additionally had 7 turnovers. He shot 43.8% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. He has began the final 2 video games for the Hornets.
Nick Smith, Jr
Smith was the twenty seventh choose within the 2023 draft. He completed this recreation with 24 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 52.9% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc. He has began all 4 video games for the Hornets in Summer time League (3 in California and 1 in Las Vegas).
Zavier Simpson
Simpson has began all 4 video games to date for the Hornets. He completed Saturday’s recreation with 15 factors, 4 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 block. He shot 55.6% from the sphere and 100% from past the arc. He has good courtroom imaginative and prescient and distributes the ball nicely.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Simply as protection is the important thing to each recreation within the common season and within the playoffs, it’s also the important thing to profitable within the Summer time League. Of their first recreation in Las Vegas, the Celtics allowed the Warmth to shoot 61.5% from the sphere and 60% from past the arc. In opposition to the Lakers, they clamped down on protection and held the Lakers to 36.4% from the sphere and 30.8% from past the arc. The Celtics have to proceed to play powerful protection on this recreation.
Rebound – Together with protection, rebounding is all the time a key to profitable. The Celtics out-rebounded the Warmth 35-29 of their first recreation. The Celtics out-rebounded the Lakers 38-35. The Celtics have to proceed to crash the boards on this recreation in the event that they need to get a win.
Enchancment – In Summer time League, enchancment and analysis are extra vital than profitable. Each coaches are on the lookout for enchancment from returning gamers and they’re evaluating all the gamers on the roster for doable spots on the roster or 2 approach contracts. The Celtics noticed enchancment in a number of gamers between their first recreation and their second recreation and hopefully will see much more enchancment on this recreation.
X-Components
Chemistry and Expertise
The Celtics have performed simply 2 video games in Summer time League. The Hornets have performed 4 video games in Summer time League, taking part in 3 in California and 1 in Las Vegas. The Hornets have a reasonably skilled Summer time League crew with 1 5 12 months participant, 2 4 12 months gamers, 2 3 12 months gamers, 2 2 12 months gamers, 6 1 12 months gamers and seven rookies.
