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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 effectively.
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 must 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 shall be a vital improvement for him to proceed to work on.
“It truthfully feels good,” Watson said of getting a inexperienced gentle frmo deep. “Coaches trust 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 consistently in the best place. He’s not probably the most athletic participant, neither is he the largest, however he’s made his dwelling by continually positioning himself accurately.
“He’s already an NBA-level defender,” said coach DJ MacLeay. “He has issues that he’s set to work on on that facet of the ground that we’re attempting to assist him with, however I believe if he can show that he can knock down these photographs, and he exhibits a willingness to take him with out hesitation, he’s gonna be a very good participant for us.
“And he gives loads of versatility due to his switchability and his potential 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 nearly extra necessary. Home was a whole pest on the defensive finish, nabbing two steals that immediately led to break-away layups.
He’s made a reputation for himself by being a nuisance, and he even bought into it with Hornets gamers and followers. All Home needs to do is trigger chaos, and that’s the kind of factor Celtics followers ought to love.
“I’m only a competitor,” said House. “Each time anyone talks, I really feel like I gotta get the final chortle 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 group 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 recreation 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 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 choices 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 attempting to remain constructive and compete, which is all MacLeay is asking from him.
“I believe the massive factor for him, typically, is simply sustaining a degree of competitors and attempting to compete on every possession,” mentioned MacLeay. “I believe, typically, he’s attempting 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 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 attempting 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 among the best gamers on this roster, performs each ends of the ground, and his three-point shot appears utterly reworked.
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 it’s releasing one in every of their two-way guys or elevating one into their fifteenth roster spot, they should discover a method to maintain Ramsey round.
5. Killian Tillie exhibiting flashes
Killian Tillie bought the beginning on this recreation, 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 stable job of merely being in the best 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 intriguing
This addition to the roster appeared like a filler selection. However given his first likelihood at actual minutes, Tyler Prepare dinner regarded actually spectacular. The 26-year-old didn’t do something spectacular, however he was stable throughout.
Prepare dinner had eight factors, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 4-of-7 capturing from the ground. The 26-year-old set stable 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 centered on getting guys who simply play the sport the best manner.
Whereas he is probably not a official candidate to land a roster spot, the Celtics ought to contemplate maintaining Prepare dinner round with Maine (if he’s open to it).
7. Baylor Scheierman again right down to earth
For the second straight recreation, 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 effectively. He’s an important rebounder and didn’t doo an excessive amount of to actively damage the group. That mentioned, his protection leaves some to be desired.
Scheierman truly strikes his toes fairly effectively, however when it comes time to contest photographs, he nearly by no means leaves his toes, giving opposing gamers simpler photographs on the basket.
8. The no-shows
Jaden Springer, Drew Peterson, and Queta didn’t play on this recreation, seemingly as a result of the Celtics are shutting them down for Summer time League. The group in all probability needs to get some extra run for the end-of-bench guys, and these three don’t really want extra court docket time.
Effectively, 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 seemingly 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 continually hustling, and he snagged a couple of boards, but it surely was a reasonably mediocre exhibiting. Enaruna wasn’t concerned an excessive amount of, which is odd, contemplating he’s on a coaching camp take care of Boston.
The identical might 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 delivered to the desk has stood out a lot.
JD Davison often will get extra phrases, however this recreation was fairly quiet for the purpose guard. He nonetheless performed effectively, exhibiting off his elite playmaking, but it surely appeared as if the Celtics needed to offer Ramsey and Home some extra run on this one, as Davison didn’t even crack 20 minutes. He might be finished for Summer time League.
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