LAS VEGAS — The Boston Celtics opened up their Summer time League marketing campaign with a 119-114 loss to the Miami Warmth. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the way in which for Miami, ending the sport with 29 factors, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. The soon-to-be sophomore was enjoying in a unique stratosphere than everybody else on the courtroom.
For the Celtics, Jaden Springer led the way in which within the scoring column, tallying 23 on the evening. Neemias Queta adopted intently behind with 20 and 9 rebounds, whereas JD Davison put up 19 factors and 7 assists.
1. Jaden Springer is right here
When the Celtics traded for Springer on the 2024 deadline, Brad Stevens had heaps of reward for the younger guard.
“He additionally has a whole lot of rising to [do to] get higher, and he’s dedicated to that,” stated Stevens. “He’s received a protracted runway forward of him. So, we’ll see how this yr shakes itself out for him. See the way it all suits with the group. However he’s a man that we imagine in.”
In his first Summer time League recreation in inexperienced, he confirmed off why Boston went out and received him.
Springer was comfy all evening, weaving out and in of Miami’s protection. Each time he seemed for his spot, he discovered it. And his three-point shot, which has been inconsistent all through his profession so far, seemed clear.
The 21-year-old laboring at instances, slowly getting again and clearly out of breath, however his effort by no means wavered. He had two rebounds, six assists, and two steals to associate with his 23 factors, pestering Miami on the defensive finish as effectively.
If he can translate a number of the expertise he confirmed on this recreation to the NBA stage, the Celtics may have an especially intriguing mission on their palms to deploy as soon as Jrue Vacation retires.
“Proper now, I really feel like I’m fairly prepared [to play NBA minutes],” Springer instructed reporters post-game. “Having the ability to watch the fellows since I got here right here, watching them play, I really feel like I’ve realized quite a bit. Having the ability to present my defensive effort [and] having the ability to fill any position they want me to, I really feel like I can go there and assist the group.”
2. Jordan Walsh’s no good, very unhealthy day
This was definitely not the beginning Jordan Walsh envisioned when he was getting ramped up for Summer time League. The 20-year-old wing, who spent nearly all of this previous season within the G League with Maine, merely couldn’t discover his footing.
Walsh completed the evening with 4 factors, 5 rebounds, and 6 fouls, taking pictures 1-of-8 from the sector and 0-of-6 from past the three-point arc.
Exterior of some promising defensive possessions, this one was a multitude for the teen. Not solely was the shot not falling, however he was fouling way over he ought to, and frustration took over by the point the fourth got here round.
One unhealthy recreation doesn’t outline a participant, and Walsh may have loads of time to bounce again, however this was a tough first exhibiting.
3. Neemias Queta hits and misses
By basic requirements, Queta had recreation. He put up 20 factors, grabbed 9 rebounds, and shot 9-of-15 from the sector. However judging his efficiency by the requirements of a participant anticipated to step up and play actual minutes in Boston subsequent yr, this exhibiting was comparatively underwhelming.
Quetta set stable screens and rolled to the rim effectively, however there was nothing excellent about his efficiency.
Offensively, it’s clear that Queta’s contact across the rim nonetheless wants some severe work. Two or three of his rebounds got here as a direct results of missed bunnies, and too typically did he look stranded below the basket, not sure of the place to go. In the meantime, whereas Queta’s protection was stable, it appeared as if he missed just a few rotation alternatives that would have led to blocks.
Total, Queta performed effectively, however he ought to be held to the next normal. And by stated normal, he ought to be trying to enhance within the subsequent recreation.
4. Jahmi’us Ramsey quietly confirmed out
Jahmi’us Ramsey seemed stable. However wanting on the field rating afterward, his stats popped. The 23-year-old guard put up 16 factors on 6-of-8 taking pictures from the sector and 2-of-2 taking pictures from deep.
He constantly received out in transition, hustled on the defensive finish, and nailed his threes when given the possibility—an space of his recreation that had been inconsistent within the early portion of his younger profession.
5. Baylor Scheierman becoming in properly
All the pieces Baylor Scheierman did in his Summer time League debut could be translated to an actual NBA recreation and in a task that he’ll possible be enjoying.
Exterior of some early nerves, Scheierman shot the ball with confidence when he received it, made quick-decision passes that led to nifty assists, and attacked the glass every time he received the chance to take action. All of these issues can be relevant in a possible position with Boston.
The rookie must minimize down on the fouling, and his protection was a bit awkward. He strikes his toes effectively, and he caught with Jaquez for stretches, however he by no means jumps to shut out possessions. The outcomes have been straightforward buckets for Miami and lackluster optics, however in actuality, he has the define of a stable group defender.
“Yeah, somewhat jitters in the beginning, clearly,” Scheierman stated post-game. “However then, such as you stated, it form of settled down, and [I] form of received right into a rhythm there. Particularly within the second quarter, transferring into the second half.
“After which, finally, simply performed my recreation. Tried to get my teammates concerned. My teammates did job of discovering me after I was open. And it was simply a whole lot of enjoyable.”
Followers ought to be very excited based mostly on what Scheierman confirmed in his first recreation in inexperienced. After a shaky taking pictures begin, he locked in, and he seemed unafraid.
6. JD Davison exhibits promise
In a recreation the Celtics misplaced by 4 factors, Davison was a +9. That tells the story fairly effectively. Davison was a high quality level guard on this recreation. Plain and easy. He made good passes, held up on protection, and maybe most significantly, he nailed his three-point pictures.
After a few years within the G League, Davison is rejoining the Celtics on a third-straight two-way contract.
“My plan was routinely to come back again right here anyhow, no matter what occurred,” Davison stated of enjoying for the Celtics in Summer time League. “So, I didn’t know nothing in regards to the two-way deal. My agent instructed me final minute.
“I simply got here in [knowing] I wished to play for Boston as a result of I’ve been right here my final two years, occurring my third one. So, I simply wished to be right here.”
His alternatives to progress additional will hinge on his three-point shot and protection, however Saturday was begin.
7. Drew Peterson ought to have performed extra
The shot wasn’t there for Drew Peterson on this recreation. And the deal with was awkward at instances. However defensively, he seemed just like the Celtics’ second-best rim protector.
Each time Miami drove to the ring, Peterson was there, utilizing his size to disrupt pictures on the rim. And his rebounding was important for stretches of this one, too.
Peterson solely performed 17:06, possible resulting from his subpar offensive exhibiting (0-of-4 from three), however the Celtics may have afforded him a bit extra rope to play with.
8. The others
Anton Watson performed stable ball when he was within the recreation. He didn’t do something distinctive (aside from a thunderous block on Jaquez), however he set stable screens and made some pictures. Watson must let it fly from three a bit extra, although.
His former faculty teammate, Killian Tillie, received some run on this recreation, too. Tillie didn’t present a lot. He moved his toes effectively on protection just a few instances, however after not enjoying ball for 2 years resulting from accidents, he evidently seemed a bit behind. The massive man couldn’t discover a rhythm.
Ron Harper Jr. solely performed 10 minutes on this recreation and was pretty invisible. Each Jaelen Home and Tristan Enaruna didn’t see any courtroom time.
