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 time 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 nicely.
1. Anton Watson appears prepared
Boston chosen Watson with the No. 54 decide 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 in some unspecified time in the future in his profession. That will likely be a vital growth for him to proceed to work on.
“It truthfully 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. This can be a good time to get them up.”
The true spotlight of Watson’s evening was his protection. Above all, Watson is continually in the fitting place. He’s not essentially the most athletic participant, neither is he the most important, however he’s made his dwelling by always positioning himself accurately.
“He’s already an NBA-level defender,” mentioned 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 exhibits a willingness to take him with out hesitation, he’s gonna be a extremely good participant for us.
“And he supplies numerous versatility due to his switchability and his capability 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 affect, and that’s nearly extra vital. Home was an entire pest on the defensive finish, nabbing two steals that straight 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 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. “At any time when someone talks, I really feel like I gotta get the final snort 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 workforce in rebounds ought to converse 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 continues to be a few years away from taking part in 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 time League (0-of-12).
Dangerous selections 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 in opposition to the Warmth, however that isn’t saying a lot.
Walsh is simply making an attempt to remain constructive and compete, which is all MacLeay is asking from him.
“I believe the large factor for him, typically, is simply sustaining a degree of competitors and making an attempt to compete on every possession,” mentioned MacLeay. “I believe, typically, 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 typically, 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 time League.”
4. Jahmi’us Ramsey wants a two-way deal
The Celtics don’t have any roster area, however they need to make some for Jahmi’us Ramsey. He’s been the most effective gamers on this roster, performs each ends of the ground, and his three-point shot appears to be like fully 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 sector and 2-of-5 from past the three-point arc.
Whether or not it’s releasing one in all their two-way guys or elevating one into their fifteenth roster spot, they should discover a technique to preserve Ramsey round.
5. Killian Tillie displaying flashes
Killian Tillie acquired the beginning on this sport, and instantly, he regarded 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 strong job of merely being in the fitting 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 Prepare dinner appears to be like intriguing
This addition to the roster appeared like a filler alternative. However given his first probability at actual minutes, Tyler Prepare dinner regarded actually spectacular. The 26-year-old didn’t do something spectacular, however he was strong throughout.
Prepare dinner had eight factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 4-of-7 capturing 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 Prepare dinner manning the middle spot (now that Neemias Queta has seemingly been shut down for Summer time League), it’s clear that Brad Stevens targeted on getting guys who simply play the sport the fitting approach.
Whereas he might not be a official candidate to land a roster spot, the Celtics ought to contemplate preserving Prepare 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 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 nicely. He’s a fantastic rebounder and didn’t doo an excessive amount of to actively damage the workforce. That mentioned, his protection leaves some to be desired.
Scheierman truly strikes his ft fairly nicely, 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, probably as a result of the Celtics are shutting them down for Summer time League. The workforce most likely desires to get some extra run for the end-of-bench guys, and these three don’t actually need 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 probably have loads of time in Maine subsequent season to indicate off his stuff.
9. The remaining
Tristan Enaruna noticed his first Summer time League motion on Wednesday. He was always hustling, and he snagged a couple of 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 take care of Boston.
The identical will be mentioned for Ron Harper Jr., who can be on a camp contract with the Celtics. That mentioned, he’s earned extra taking part in time than Enaruna and continues to be underwhelming. Harper Jr. can’t get his shot to fall constantly, 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 nicely, displaying off his elite playmaking, however it appeared as if the Celtics needed to provide Ramsey and Home some extra run on this one, as Davison didn’t even crack 20 minutes. He could possibly be finished for Summer time League.
