Jay Scrubb has chance to add new wrinkle to Celtics offense

Usually, two-way spots are used to maintain maintain of second-round picks, take flyers on younger gamers, or develop untapped expertise. For the Boston Celtics, the previous two choices have been the tactic of selection with guys like JD Davison, Mfiondu Kabengele, Sam Hauser, and Tacko Fall.

However Jay Scrubb, Boston’s newest two-way signee, may permit them to comply with within the footsteps of the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors, who’ve used their two-way slots to domesticate win-now rotation items. Guys like Juan Toscano-Anderson, Anthony Lamb, Caleb Martin, and Max Strus all labored their method up the ranks following their stints as two-way gamers.

Scrubb continues to be solely 22 years previous, however he has the skillset to play a singular function for the Celtics. He might be an archetype of participant that has blossomed into relevancy in recent times like Bruce Brown and Gary Payton II.

All through his total profession, Scrubb has been the man. Whether or not it’s been in rubbish time of NBA video games, within the G League, or at John A. Logan School, the JUCO college he attended earlier than coming into the NBA Draft — Scrubb has all the time had the ball in his fingers.

And at first look, that might be a priority. On a Celtics staff with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and heaps of different expertise, Scrubb will seldom be the one making performs. However his expertise driving to the ring and using his elite athleticism offers him a pathway to show over a brand new leaf and grow to be a selected (and precious) participant for Boston.

Photograph by Dustin Bradford/Getty Pictures

Getting into the league, Brown and Payton had considerably related storylines. They didn’t stick to their first groups, discovered a brand new dwelling the place they performed a distinct function, and ended up incomes big-time paydays. It took Payton a few additional steps to that time, however ultimately, they each went from customary guards to successfully undersized forwards who primarily play off the ball.

Brown and Payton largely make a dwelling off cuts, setting screens, and taking part in the in-between sport. Their athleticism permits them to make runs on the rim like an enormous however with the quickness of a guard.

Take a look at this play the Golden State Warriors drew up for Payton, as outlined by Anthony Slater of The Athletic. He fakes a display, cuts to the basket, and will get a simple dunk.

And right here, Brown is used as a screener with the Brooklyn Nets. Steve Jones Jr. of The Dunker Spot podcast particulars the play.

As for the chopping means of the 2 gamers, right here’s a major instance from Payton (with a gorgeous go by Nemanja Bjelica).

The identical could be mentioned about this play, as Brown and Nikola Jokic full a stunning two-man sport with an incredible reduce and a good higher go.

Clearly, anticipating Scrubb to step in and tackle a task like this instantly is unrealistic. He’s younger and has spent nearly all of his profession as a ball-dominant participant. And he’s on a two-way contract.

However, as was the case with each Brown and Payton, Scrubb’s present skillset wouldn’t solely assist him transfer into a task like this however thrive in it. Within the case of Brown and Payton, their playmaking means and defensive versatility helped the transition. For Scrubb, he’d should largely depend on athleticism and defensive timing.

Throughout Summer season League, Scrubb made his cash by attending to the basket. His ending on the rim was excellent, and by the top of the occasion, he was getting a bit extra comfy taking part in off the ball. His means to play via contact across the basket would solely improve his expertise as a cutter.

Scrubb’s athleticism has all the time jumped off the web page. He was a human spotlight reel in faculty and averaged 22.2 factors within the G League this previous 12 months. Scrubb would add a brand new layer to Boston’s offense as a lob menace off cuts and rolls.

His three-point shot has even proven indicators of coming. Each Brown and Payton have changed into serviceable shooters on low quantity, and that’s what Scrubb confirmed off throughout Summer season League, capturing 40.0% on 4 makes an attempt per sport. And the standard of his pictures will solely enhance as soon as he’s surrounded by NBA expertise.

The defensive finish is the place Scrubb would wish to actually put within the work to make a dwelling on this function. His athleticism has allowed him to be stable on the defensive finish, however Brown and Payton are each plus defenders.

Throughout Summer season League this 12 months, Scrubb confirmed indicators of being efficient on that finish. He was continually pestering the opponent and would typically nab steals in transition utilizing his quickness and timing, flipping them into simple buckets on the opposite finish.

If Scrubb desires to earn sufficient minutes to ascertain himself as a brand new presence inside the offense, he must show that he’s not a legal responsibility on protection or, even higher, that he can positively impression that facet of the ball.

As issues stand, the Celtics rotation is fairly set. They’ve a stable eight-man group with different guys on the perimeter who may escape into extra vital roles (Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and so on.). However with Scrubb’s distinctive skillset, Boston has a chance so as to add a brand new wrinkle to their gameplan on each side of the ball.