Jordan Walsh reflects on ‘unacceptable’ Summer League performance, preseason improvements

It’s no secret that Jordan Walsh’s Summer time League stint didn’t go as he expected. The 20-year-old missed 22 consecutive three-pointers, performed sped up, and struggled to search out his footing.

“I don’t ever wish to hear about that recreation ever once more,” Walsh stated with a upset smile after a tough first recreation in Las Vegas. Although his ultimate recreation of Summer time League was his finest, Walsh was candid about how issues went as a complete.

“I really feel like I performed fairly unhealthy… I positively anticipated extra from myself, for certain,” Walsh instructed CelticsWeblog in July after capturing 29.1% from the sector throughout 5 video games within the desert.

However, he bounced again with a solid preseason showing through which he averaged 9 factors on 45.5% FG. And, although the stats undeniably seemed higher, it was the opposite extra intangible issues — his tempo, defensive vitality, and instincts — that stood out most.

At apply Friday, Walsh mirrored on his poor Summer time League efficiency.

“I used to be listening to suggestions from household, the group, all people,” Walsh stated. “It was type of like, ‘okay, yeah. I perceive how I performed was unacceptable to me.’ So, transitioning from that to a development mindset — making an attempt to develop into a extra full participant, a extra below management participant.”

He additionally credited Jrue Vacation for serving to him internalize the significance of slowing down.

“He’s instructed me, ‘every time you’re going 100 MPH you’re going to make a mistake. However in case you are going 80-85, you can also make that proper learn, make the suitable resolution and see the court docket clearly, 99% of the time.’” Walsh stated.

Final week, Joe Mazzulla stated he was impressed by Walsh’s enhancements throughout the board.

“[He’s] defending at a excessive stage, defending a number of positions, rebounding, after which making reads on the offensive finish,” Mazzulla stated. “Simply actually pleased with his development.”

And, his extra veteran teammates have additionally taken discover of how issues have gone.

“He’s gotten higher, simply throughout,” Sam Hauser stated. “That comes with type of getting extra recreation reps, having extra confidence, and simply getting used to enjoying with completely different guys. He showcased loads within the preseason and we’re excited to see what he can do within the common season.”

So, whereas only a few months in the past, it appeared that Walsh was destined to spend many of the yr in Maine, Mazzulla used him as a rotational participant all through the preseason, albeit with completely different starters sitting out most nights.

“He works onerous at it,” Mazzulla stated. “He’s beginning to carve out a task and simply displaying a very good angle in the direction of it. So, it’s been enjoyable to look at him develop.”

Nonetheless, whether or not the second-year ahead will probably be within the combine for normal season NBA minutes to start the season stays to be seen.

“I nonetheless don’t know,” Walsh stated. “I most likely gained’t know till the primary recreation, however I’m hoping for the perfect, and I can work till I get there.”

Turning into a constant three-point shooter is a serious level of emphasis, as was prioritizing the defensive finish and specializing in the main points. If he can flip into the kind of defender scouts initially projected him to be, he would possibly simply discover himself as a 3&D participant on the Celtics.

“I really feel like I’m rising into being extra of an NBA participant,” Walsh stated. “I’m making an attempt to show that to everybody else, but additionally to show it to myself.”

The suggestions from the teaching employees has been optimistic.

“For essentially the most half, they have been simply saying I performed my function rather well,” Walsh stated. “They assume I’ve matured much more than I used to be final yr at this level. Even from Summer time League to now, I performed manner higher.”

Nonetheless, an improved preseason displaying doesn’t imply that Jordan Walsh is happy. He is aware of he’s simply firstly of what he hopes will probably be an extended NBA profession.

“I really feel like I’ve gotta work on all the pieces, actually,” Walsh stated. “I really feel like there may be nonetheless plenty of incomplete issues in my recreation… there may be nonetheless plenty of work to be accomplished.”