It wasn’t precisely Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo, however in a Summer time League rematch of the Jap Convention Finals, the Celtics gave up (one other) fourth quarter run to the Warmth and misplaced 99-88 in Boston’s first motion of the 2023 Vegas Summer time League.
Sport 9 to be decided at a later date.
All eyes have been on Boston’s final two consecutive second spherical picks, J.D. Davison and this yr’s thirty eighth decide, Jordan Walsh.
J.D. Davison led the Summer time League in assists final July and averaged 13.2 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and seven.7 assists in 26 video games in Maine. Sporting a much bigger body this yr, Davison regarded to once more command the Celtics in Sin Metropolis and hopefully, safe a roster spot with the massive membership for subsequent fall after spending final season on a two-way contract.
Davison racked up 5 turnovers, however completed with 14 factors and 11 assists with a robust run down the stretch. Miami’s aggressive protection usually doubled and trapped him above the break, attempting to stop him from utilizing his pace as a weapon. He hit simply 5 of his 14 photographs, however stayed efficient penetrating the center of the ground and getting out in transition.
Walsh hit his first 4 threes of the sport and completed with a team-high 18 factors. After signing a four-year, $7.6 million contract this week, he’s set to be a attainable 3&D possibility off the bench for head coach Joe Mazzulla at solely 19-years-old.
“When he got here for his second draft exercise, we did 100 spot 3’s, he was within the 50’s in Could and 74 in late June,” Brad Stevens mentioned. “In order that exhibits you there’s work being put in. It exhibits you he’s received the contact to be a very good shooter.”
His protection was as marketed — an extended, athletic perimeter disruptor with an lively motor. He had 5 fouls to go together with two steals and a block.
“For me at this level, it’s about taking part in my position to one of the best potential I can. I do know that my objective is play with the fellows on the sideline like Jayson Tatum. I gotta make open photographs and do the soiled work and that’s what I’m getting ready for,” Walsh instructed NBATV’s Chris Haynes.
Justin Champagnie, who’s taking part in on a non-guaranteed contract after being added to the roster in April, struggled in his thirty minutes, making simply 3-of-13 from the sphere and completed a -19 as a SL starter.
Jay Scrubb, who averaged 22.3 factors per recreation for Orlando’s G-League workforce, had 17 factors. Justin Bean chipped in 13 and Olek Balcerowski had 8 and 5 within the loss.
After all, take every little thing with a grain of salt. That is one recreation — the primary recreation — on a Saturday afternoon of Summer time League. First spherical draft picks try to point out out. Others are preventing for end-of-the-bench spots and two-way contracts. Competitors and workforce play may be skewed to these particular person motivations.
Nevertheless, we did get our first take a look at what may very well be a part of the close to and long-term way forward for the Celtics. With departures of Marcus Good, Grant Williams, and to a lesser extent, Danilo Gallinari, Boston is in search of gamers to fill out their common season rotation with clear wants on the wing and guard positions.
