Training camp battle: Jordan Walsh vs. Baylor Scheierman

Jordan Walsh is getting into his sophomore season within the NBA after spending most of final yr in Maine. Baylor Scheierman is the primary first spherical draft choose of the Celtics in 4 years. Each gamers will combat for minutes off Joe Mazzulla’s bench subsequent season.

As a result of Boston Celtics roster depth, it’s unlikely we see each Walsh and Scheierman earn a job within the rotation. If we’re being trustworthy, each guys may spend nearly all of their time within the G-League.

Nonetheless, within the spirit of the offseason and the enjoyable that debates can carry, Adam Taylor and latest CelticsBlogger Robby Fletcher have sat down to debate which of the younger wings may probably impress the teaching employees sufficient to be a part of the rotation.

Picture by Monica Schipper/Getty Photos

Who has the sting on offense?

Adam: You may as nicely give me the early benefit right here.

There’s no contest on who brings extra to the offensive finish. Scheierman is a cultured three-level scorer, can create for himself and others off the bounce, and is a priceless ground spacer as each a spot-up and motion shooter.

According to Synergy, Creighton used Scheierman as a spot-up shooter on 4.5 possessions per sport, with every possession price 1 level (technically 0.96, however we’re rounding up.)

Creighton additionally ran Scheierman off screens as an off-ball menace on 3.3 possessions per sport; these possessions had been price 1.04 factors. He shot 53.4% when ending transition assaults and generated 1.3 factors per possession as a pick-and-roll handler.

Check out this play. Creighton runs an NBA-level set out of a sideline-out-of-bounds (SLOB) motion with Scheierman inbounding the ball, reducing to the weakside elbow, earlier than coming out to the strongside slot for the catch-and-shoot three. That’s the kind of mobility and flexibility Mazzulla likes from his offensive threats.

Scheierman’s multi-faceted offense will enable him to fit into no matter function Mazzulla envisions whereas giving him scope to counter defensive coverages, close-outs, or mismatches. I can’t see how Walsh tops that when contemplating Scheierman’s NBA-level upside on this aspect of the ground.

Robby: That is the world the place Baylor’s edge is most evident.

It’s additionally an space the place Walsh must show lots of people improper. He pressed lots in his second Summer season League, typically forcing awkward jumpers off the dribble in addition to drives into oncoming visitors that left him with little different than to throw the ball up and pray.

Nonetheless, a modest 27-game pattern out of the G-League warrants some optimism. He was a good 36% shooter from past the arc on 5.7 makes an attempt per sport at that degree, displaying confidence from the perimeter that simply wasn’t there in his Summer season League play or transient NBA minutes.

In these transient minutes up with Boston, solely the Charlotte sport late within the season confirmed that very same confidence from deep, as demonstrated by a pleasant raise up from the wing that resulted in a 3-pointer off the catch late within the first quarter.

Walsh can be a succesful cutter that may generate offense off the gravity of extra dependable scoring choices, of which there’d be lots on the ground surrounding him ought to he discover himself inside Mazzulla’s rotation. He’s proven a pleasant understanding of his off-ball duties throughout a number of ranges of the sport, benefiting from over-helping defenders to flash into area close to the dunker spot.

Would he be working a lot offense? Extremely unlikely, however Walsh has put a whole lot of work into his off-the-dribble skill, and he overtly admitted he was urgent somewhat too laborious to seek out his shot this summer season. The story’s somewhat completely different when defenses are tasked with forcing the ball out of the palms of a Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.

Adam: My normal push-back right here could be that capturing 36% within the G-League is completely different to doing it within the NBA, however as I’m defending a rookie recent out of faculty, that might be hypercritical of me.

What I’ll say, although, is that Walsh’s function is well-defined. He’s a corner-spot-up shooter who must evolve his decision-making when trying to assault off the dribble. I worth the flexibility that Scheierman brings right here. He can fill the identical function as Walsh however has the skillset and polish to increase that function based mostly on coverages. He got here into the league as a 39% 3-point shooter in school and had a dependable 82% free-throw conversion charge.

Walsh has loads of upside on offense, however for a contending group, if considered one of these two are wanted within the bench rotation, Scheierman’s offense is clearly a degree or two above the place Walsh is at proper now.

Who has the sting on protection?

Robby: The clearest advantage of inserting Walsh into the rotation comes on the defensive finish.

A 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-foot-3 wingspan supplies a ton of alternatives for a group that’s greater than keen to modify matchups and reside with the outcomes.

Even amidst his general offensive Summer season League struggles, Walsh’s mixture of size with a creating higher physique permits him to deal with stronger wing assignments together with switch-outs to extra interior-oriented scoring threats.

I believe Scheierman proved to be a capably above-average defender on the school degree, notably in his paint protection, however I do fear about his skill to deal with the faster slashers off the wings. In Oshae Brissett’s absence, this group may use a jolt of vitality on that aspect. Walsh fills that function, particularly in his display screen navigation, the place you see his lateral quickness and outrageous wingspan on full show.

Adam: I’ll give it to ya. Walsh has the benefit on protection, particularly by way of point-of-attack and passing lanes. Nonetheless, Scheierman brings a dependable presence on the glass. He ended his collegiate profession averaging 7.8 boards per sport, and grabbed 9 per night time in his ultimate season. He has the dimensions and positioning to assist ease the strain when groups need to crash the boards and management the tempo.

I additionally agree with you on Walsh’s benefit when guarding faster wings who look to slash off-ball or by way of catch-and-drive alternatives. Nonetheless, Mazzulla has already applied a failsafe in these conditions, having his gamers peel change to make sure any benefit is rapidly eliminated.

Scheierman has the polish, expertise (as a five-year school product) and measurement to thrive as a system defender who elevates the group’s general rebounding whereas being consigned to the weakside nook whereas his defensive skillset catches as much as his offense.

I believe he does carry some upside to that aspect of the ground, and having somebody with an outlined defensive function isn’t dangerous for a group stuffed with pitbull defenders.

Robby: All legitimate factors, notably in Scheierman’s skill to crash the glass.

I believe in the course of the pre-draft course of, that was an space that was most shocking in his sport, actually not one thing I had seen an entire lot of throughout reside video games. Underneath the microscope, he performs lots greater than your common perimeter wing. It’s one thing that might simply swoon the teaching employees past his multi-faceted scoring skill.

I, nevertheless, stay on Staff Walsh for this explicit space. And there’s nothing you are able to do to cease me.

Who matches higher within the Celtics system?

Adam: That is the hardest space for me…I imply, we’re speaking about two very inexperienced gamers attempting to earn minutes on one of the best group within the NBA. Nonetheless, I believe Scheierman has a substantial benefit over Walsh, right here.

Hear me out.

Mazzulla likes his gamers to be two-way threats. He desires them to have a dependable offensive presence but additionally contributes on the defensive finish. Scheierman is nearer to a ready-made two-way expertise than Walsh.

Sure, Walsh is a greater defender, however his restricted offensive sport actually shackles his general sport. Scheierman, alternatively, can match right into a system protection, rebound, assist, entice, and so forth… He’s additionally a dependable offensive choice as each an off-ball and on-ball weapon, and that’s earlier than he begins trying to create for others.

Mazzulla would seemingly worth that kind of manufacturing on each side of the ground, and it might enable Scheierman to take part in a number of rotation mixtures and substitution patterns.

Robby: I agree, that is actually a troublesome space to find out, particularly as a result of they’re each such completely different gamers.

Mazzulla does in actual fact worth a two-way participant, one thing that matches extra in-line with Scheierman’s present skillset. I imply, the best way he flies off screens feels reduce from the identical fabric of a younger Sam Hauser. It’s clear what he supplies within the quick future. On that finish, it’s a little bit of a thriller field with Walsh, an space the place rising pains may be widespread. And I believe that’s okay. Surrounded by an unbelievable supporting solid permits him room to develop, particularly within the earlier months of the season.

Add within the aforementioned defensive versatility that positively matches their id and I believe it’s a match that perhaps isn’t fully excellent proper now, however in time could make sense for what they want out of an eleventh or twelfth man.

Even with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined to start out the season, the Celtics have the posh of 10 really high quality gamers locked into spots inside the rotation. That doesn’t depart a ton of minutes to both Walsh or Scheierman. In these minutes, I believe I worth the defensive vitality Walsh brings just a bit bit extra. Each may simply have success round a roster this good, however I preserve pondering again to what Brissett supplied final yr, and that relentless vitality positively influenced a number of notable video games, like their early contest towards Miami on Oct. 27, and even Sport 2 of the Convention Finals with Indiana. It’s hardly flashly stuff, however it’s the sort of soiled work I need to see out of a twelfth man, and one thing I really feel Walsh may present in 12 months 2.

Adam: You make some honest factors. Walsh is arguably higher suited to “energizer bunny” function. Nonetheless, I believe in relation to general affect, I favor a man who can provide some upside on protection and work as a launch valve on offense. It additionally makes extra sense to me for the Celtics to spend the small variety of developmental minutes on somebody who can develop into an even bigger function long-term — and for me, that’s Scheierman.

Walsh is strong on protection, however his body doesn’t fill me with confidence that he can cling bodily, and he has proven that his positioning wants work, too. Once I’m taking a look at an impact-now choice with real upside for the long run, Scheierman is my winner, primarily as a result of he comes into the group with a excessive ground and decrease ceiling. He doesn’t want as a lot growth as Walsh, and for a contending group, that’s exactly what you need.

Okay, in spite of everything that, can we agree on a winner?

So, in spite of everything of this, has both of you managed to sway the opposite?

Robby: Effectively…perhaps.

It’s laborious to disclaim the extra balanced skillset of Baylor Scheierman. If I had been to put cash on it, I’d in all probability say Mazzulla prefers that choice as nicely. I’d say you’ve made the fitting factors on his match, so I’ll allow you to take the win there. I nonetheless have hope for Walsh, and perhaps one other yr with prolonged G-League motion isn’t out of the query, however I’d wish to see his progress in 12 months 2 play out in Boston.

Adam: VICTORY!!

Solely joking 🙂

You made some sturdy factors on Walsh. I needed to sit again and actually take into consideration this debate and whether or not I nonetheless had my spot on Scheierman island. Seems that I do. I’m pondering of buying some real-estate right here. Possibly a apartment with a pleasant boat and a pool out again.

Jokes apart, Walsh has all of the instruments to be a real three-and-d function participant within the NBA. I simply don’t assume he’s prepared but, and that function is probably not with the Celtics because of the competitors for taking part in time. Baylor joins the group as a ready-made addition and nonetheless has room to enhance his sport.

It is sensible to present Scheierman no matter developmental minutes are on provide. And if you would like a deeper dive into what he brings to the roster, I’ve a size scouting report from a month or two again.

I wish to see Walsh get a possibility, so long as it’s not at Scheierman’s expense. And it doesn’t matter what, I’ll be watching somewhat nearer after the sturdy argument you made for him.

Now, although, I wish to open this debate as much as the feedback and see who the readers would select between these two and whether or not our factors have helped sway their minds…