Invoice Sy: Hey, Man and Oliver. Welcome to CelticsBlog! Let’s get introductions out of the best way. How lengthy have you ever guys been followers of the crew and what’s your favourite reminiscence to this point?
Oliver Fox: Blissful to be right here! I used to be born in Boston so I’ve been a card-carrying fan since February thirteenth, 2003. My first actual reminiscence was the 2010 Finals, however greatest reminiscence? Might 21, 2017, when Avery Bradley hit a game-winning-buzzer-beating triple that bounced about 1,000,000 occasions on the rim earlier than happening. The C’s had simply dropped each video games at dwelling and had been down 2-0, in order that was a positively electrical shot to remain alive within the collection. I ran round the lounge like you possibly can’t imagine.
Man DePlacido: Like Oliver, I used to be additionally born within the space so I’ve all the time technically been a fan however I actually began supporting them in 2000 after I began taking part in basketball myself. That is in all probability a cliche reply however my favourite reminiscence is the Paul Pierce wheelchair recreation. Pierce is my favourite athlete of all time throughout all of the sports activities in order that was a extremely particular second.
Invoice Sy: Effectively, that simply dates me. Pierce will all the time mark a time in my life when the crew’s famous person was my age and I promise you guys, it simply adjustments your complete perspective of their profession. However that’s an awesome segue into what we’re going to speak about right this moment. I figured a superb intro to CB could be discussing three gamers that would get full-time introductions into the Celtics rotation: Sam Hauser, Oshae Brissett, and the rookie, Jordan Walsh. It’s early and clearly means too early to inform, however who do you guys see taking that ninth-man slot because the backup wing?
Man DePlacido: I may see Hauser taking that ninth spot. Regardless of a tricky stretch in December and January final season the place he shot 28% and 31% respectively, he nonetheless managed to finish the 12 months capturing 41.8% from past the arc.
With the addition of Porzingis who also can create his personal shot, it’s extra necessary than ever to have catch and shoot guys on the ground and Hauser offers precisely that.
Oliver Fox: Give me Jordan Walsh over the sector, principally due to his upside as a defender greater than something the Celtics want offensively. Hauser will in all probability get the nod early within the season whereas Walsh will get acquainted, however I’m going into this 12 months with the fervent hope that Joe Mazzulla received’t play guys just because they’ve been round longer.
Picture by David Dow/NBAE through Getty Pictures
The variety of occasions Mazzulla’s deference to Marcus Sensible in moments when Derrick White was plainly higher brought about the Celtics’ downfall… shouldn’t be a quantity I really know of the highest of my head. But it surely occurred greater than it ought to have. Walsh has an opportunity to be one thing actually impactful on this league, and—whereas I like the man—I already know the participant Hauser is. It’s time to seek out out who Walsh can be.
Man DePlacido: I’m certain we’ll see Walsh in some unspecified time in the future and I might by no means argue concerning the defensive upside with Walsh over Hauser. Based mostly on Summer season League play, it appears greater than seemingly we’ll see the Celtics roll with much more zone protection than we now have seen previously. Porzingis is a wonderful decide and roll defender however isn’t somebody that you really want on an island on the prime of the important thing.
I can see the Celtics hiding Hauser in a zone protection much like how the Warmth hid Herro and Robinson. Actually, none of their guards are excellent defenders however the Warmth’s zone labored so effectively. We noticed a variety of zone in Summer season League and there’s no means they might roll that out simply to get a win. They wish to get these guys prepared for NBA time so I can see Hauser translating into that extra typically.
Oliver Fox: I’m simply undecided Hauser’s offensive upside is nice sufficient to warrant having to “disguise him” in a zone if it’s schematically worse in a playoff collection. Possibly that is too extreme, however my complete worldview relies on the query “can this dude play in a playoff collection” and I don’t see Hauser as that man.
I used to be likewise hopeful that Hauser may present prime Duncan Robinson (I can’t imagine I simply stated “Prime Duncan Robinson”) manufacturing for what successfully no cash or dedication, however these chilly stretches the place he was barely cracking 30% from downtown can torpedo an entire bench shift. Walsh has the possibility to tackle the Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, dare I say even Giannis tier guys and make them work for 20 minutes. I like that.
Man DePlacido: He’s far too skinny to defend Giannis however I do assume he can dangle in some lineups. I do assume you want ground spacers on the offensive finish and, though he had an awesome summer season league, I don’t see Walsh’s 3pt% being excessive sufficient for Mazzulla to stay him on the market.
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Invoice Sy: Possibly the comfortable medium between Hauser and Walsh is Oshae Brissett. He’s not the best shooter, however he’s two years faraway from capturing over 42% from 3 at a reasonably excessive quantity. He’s an extended and lanky 6’7 able to defending most second unit wings. He’s a four-year veteran and whereas he’s new in Boston, his company information of your entire NBA might be precious to a crew with championship aspirations.
Man DePlacido: I’m really very excessive on Brissett. I may completely see him leaping in and getting a while.
For me, whereas I like the decide and assume Walsh will flip right into a stable participant, I don’t assume this 12 months goes to be an enormous efficiency 12 months. I can’t see greater than 5 minutes each different recreation for him.
Oliver Fox: I additionally like Brissett as a prototype-player, however the pattern dimension on his 42% capturing season is what considerations me. He solely appeared in 21 video games that season, and the 2 seasons after—in each of which he performed 65+ video games—he shot a way more pedestrian 35% and 31% respectively. However he did baptize Jakob Poeltl such as you can not think about, so I’m open to a contender-leap from him.
Invoice Sy: Effectively, right here’s one other consideration: the brand new CBA. Brissett might be in Boston for only a cup of espresso with a participant possibility for subsequent season. Hauser has a crew possibility for subsequent season which they’ll almost definitely decide up. Walsh, nevertheless, signed a four-year contract and can be a developmental piece at an economical worth when the Jays’ supermax contracts hit the cap collectively in 2025.
Man DePlacido: That’s the reason I nonetheless see Hauser as that ninth man. They’d be foolish to maneuver off of Hauser’s very low cost contract. He additionally hasn’t proved a lot that he would demand rather a lot in free company as soon as that point comes so he very feasibly might be on the Celtics for a very long time.
Oliver Fox: Walsh’s deal is actually probably the most engaging to me, because the crew in all probability desires to hit it’s absolute peak world-destroying powers two years from now, when Tatum is 27 and Brown 28. NBA historical past tells us that’s when a man is really at their pinnacle, and Walsh can be locked down by way of that season and the subsequent. I’m not implying that this crew is 2 years away from actual competition… they’re really two years faraway from beginning that period. However I wouldn’t be shocked if the group doesn’t pony up for a long run extension if Walsh’s summer season league capturing wasn’t simply an apparition. He’s a long term alternative that completely matches the timeline.
Man DePlacido: A part of the attract to me about Walsh’s contract is the power for him to spend as a lot time in Maine as he desires. I genuinely see him taking part in extra video games in Maine than in Boston this 12 months.
Oliver Fox: Clearly, we’re speaking concerning the ninth man right here, so within the playoffs it’s not possible any of those guys come inside a mile of actual minutes. However through the common season, I’d love if the C’s gave Walsh an opportunity to make an influence someday within the December-January vary. I nonetheless assume Hauser and Brissett are stable items, and we’ll simply should see if they will enhance in an actual means throughout subsequent season. Sarcastically, the perfect argument for and towards Walsh is that he’s a rookie. May he be nice? Sure. May he be a complete catastrophe? Additionally sure. However from the place I’m standing, deal me in on the cube roll.
Invoice Sy: Let’s not overlook that — await it — he’s solely 19. I believe Walsh goes to be a contributor, nevertheless it could be slightly early. You guys, however, are recreation prepared and I’m certain we’ll see you typically within the CelticsBlog rotation. Thanks, guys.
