I’ve been nervous about penning this. As a lot of you now know, Keith Smith’s time with CelticsBlog has come to an finish. As the most effective cap specialists that isn’t in an NBA entrance workplace, Keith has moved over to Spotrac, the place he’ll assume a major position of their league-wide protection. I’ll be one of many first to inform you how laborious Keith works and the way this chance is the end result of his work ethic, experience, and constructive angle — I couldn’t be happier for him!
Keith’s alternative had a knock-on impact. A kind of results was my being given the prospect to take over writing the Takeaways after every recreation. I’m excited. I’m nervous. However most of all, I’m grateful. I take into account this to be an enormous alternative and a severe present of religion from the CelticsBlog roster.
So, right here it goes!
Ten takeaways from the Celtics’ opening recreation of Summer season League, which they misplaced 99-88 to the Miami Warmth.
#1 Jordan Walsh can play offense
We now have to start out with Jordan Walsh, proper? After a wild draft night time which noticed Brad Stevens transfer again within the draft a number of occasions. Boston lastly settled on Jordan Walsh as their newest rookie addition. Walsh enters the NBA with a status for being a fierce defender with an distinctive wingspan for his measurement. But, it was Walsh’s offense that caught the attention on Saturday afternoon.
We acquired a number of seems at Walsh’s perimeter taking pictures simply earlier than the halfway level within the first quarter. On this motion, the Celtics went to a Joe Mazzulla staple motion with a Spain PnR, the place Walsh was the again screener and popper. JD Davison, a keen passer, discovered Walsh in area. Increase, a second three-point bucket to start our overreactions to Walsh’s debut recreation.
Walsh additionally flashed some self-creation off the dribble in the course of the third quarter when he pulled his dribble again to ship his man chasing shadows earlier than pulling up (and clanking the shot.)
It’s just one recreation, however there’s an opportunity Walsh has extra to his ability set than simply being a high-level defender.
#2 Jordan Walsh acquired reps as a ball-handler
Summer season League is a chance for gamers to impress and present they belong on the NBA degree. But, it’s additionally a spot the place a training employees can plug gamers into totally different roles to see how they deal with new duties and defensive coverages. In his Summer season League debut, Walsh was given some alternatives to provoke the offense, each within the open court docket and in pick-and-roll motion.
Throughout his season at Arkansas, Walsh ran a complete of 8 pick-and-rolls because the ball-handler and was seldom used as an initiator within the open court docket. So, to see the rookie wing deal with the accountability with poise is an encouraging signal for his future potential.
#3 Even TLC would need this Scrubb
Jay Scrubb got here off the Celtics bench to offer a scoring punch in considerably of a microwave position. Scrubb joined the Celtics Summer season League roster after averaging 21.8 factors per recreation in 28 appearances for the Lakeland Magic. In opposition to Summer season League competitors, Scrubb regarded like he might rating at will.
Scrubb flashed a stable understanding of driving angles, physique positioning, and management when attacking in visitors whereas additionally flashing the kind of aggressiveness Boston was lacking with their rim strain final season.
Scrubb additionally displayed an understanding of what’s going to endear him to the Celtics fanbase, hustling on protection and creating straightforward scoring alternatives for himself. If Scrubb can maintain this degree of efficiency all through Summer season League, there could also be a coaching camp invite together with his title on it.
#4 Orlando Robinson was the perfect participant on the ground
With out Orlando Robinson, the Miami Warmth probably get mauled in Saturday’s recreation. The 22-year-old massive man can be getting into his second NBA season in October and flashed severe upside and enchancment as he torched Boston’s protection time and time once more. Nonetheless, Summer season League is actually G-League Lite — protection is usually an afterthought.
However, the Celtics would like to have a younger challenge massive man like Robinson on the roster.
#5 The Champagnie nonetheless hasn’t dropped
Justin Champagnie can be getting into his third-NBA season later this 12 months. At this level, the versatile ahead must be handing out butt-whoopings in Summer season League. Champagnie has had two years of NBA teaching and growth. But, for big stretches of the sport, the Brooklyn native regarded like a passenger.
Champagnie did make an impression on the glass, however his 3-for-13 taking pictures and 4 turnovers left quite a bit to be desired. Nevertheless, there was one second that caught the attention — a well-timed lower that caught the protection napping and led to a pleasant dunk.
Champagnie’s contract is non-guaranteed for subsequent season. Struggling in opposition to Summer season League competitors isn’t the easiest way to promote the entrance workplace and preserve you round subsequent 12 months. Fortunately, this was solely the primary recreation in Las Vegas, so, Champagnie has some extra possibilities to shine.
#6 JD Davison’s skill to regulate the tempo
After a season of creating and impressing with the Maine Celtics, JD Davison regarded keen to point out off his progress. From the opening tip to the closing whistle, the second-year guard’s skill to regulate the tempo of the sport was on present.
Davison is a blur when he turns the jets on, permitting him to penetrate at will and create havoc when pushing the tempo in transition.
The one factor holding Davison was his unwillingness, or incapacity, to embrace contact on his drives. Far too typically, Davison acquired himself into the lane earlier than on the lookout for methods to go across the low man moderately than trying to undergo him.
For somebody as fast and explosive as Davison, having the ability to end by means of contact is a should. As soon as he figures out the best way to rating on greater, stronger opponents at this degree, his recreation will attain an entire new degree.
Speaking of reaching new heights, Davison did show a stable pick-and-roll recreation, as he various his pace to maintain the protection guessing whereas creating scoring alternatives through penetration.
Davison ended the competition in opposition to Miami with 14 factors and 11 assists. Nevertheless, taking pictures 5-of-14 from the sphere is an instance of why embracing contact on his drives would be the subsequent massive step for Davison to take.
#7 Azubuike is a keen but ineffective screener
The identical level I made about Champagnie rings true for Udoka Azubuike. After three years within the NBA, the 6’10’’ massive must be dominating in opposition to the extent of competitors in Las Vegas. As an alternative, Azubuike had a tough night time. Miami crowded the paint and had Robinson ready to contest across the rim, so we’re not going to concentrate on Azubuike’s struggles with the again to the basket. In spite of everything, there are different methods to impression the sport.
For a giant man, being a dependable screener is an important ability to have. Azubuike didn’t present a lot upside when attempting to create area for his teammates.
I misplaced depend of what number of occasions Azubuike went to set a display for a teammate however ended up simply being an impediment for the protection to navigate. Reasonably than entering into his man, forcing contact, and making the defender work to shut area, Azubuike sagged off, anticipating the cutter to steer his man into the display.
Sure, there’s a time when guiding your defender right into a screener is critical, and oftentimes it may be advantageous. That is Summer season League, although. Don’t depend on others understanding the sport the way in which your NBA-seasoned teammates do. Set laborious screens, spring guys free. Make an impression. Azubuike did none of these issues.
#8 Operating an NBA offense
We’ve already seen how the Celtics utilized a Spain PnR to spring Walsh free for a pleasant perimeter bucket. Boston’s teaching employees gave the impression to be retaining with their playbook from final season throughout their opening recreation in opposition to the Warmth.
Within the early moments of the primary quarter, the Celtics went to a ‘Fast 77’ motion for Davison, which ended up with some pleasing ball motion and a corner-three end from…you guessed it… Jordan Walsh.
A fast motion is an off-ball display in transition for a participant on the weakside wing to twist in direction of the ball-handler (often to obtain a move across the prime of the perimeter.) A 77 motion is a double or stagger display.
Once more, Davison’s managed tempo and decision-making enable this play to tick over earlier than Justin Bean makes a wise lower and clever learn to seek out Walsh open on the weak facet.
#9 Justin Bean(city)
Justin Bean is likely one of the extra unknown members of the Celtics’ Summer season League roster this 12 months after going undrafted out of Utah State. Bean is a four-year collegiate veteran who joins the Celtics event roster after averaging 17.4 factors and 9.9 rebounds per recreation within the Mountain West Convention.
Bean confirmed clever motion, hustle, and a fringe shot that would proceed to enhance. But, it was his faux dribble hand-off motion that caught my eye as he bids to point out he can fill Grant Williams’ sneakers.
Bean impressed all through Boston’s recreation in opposition to Miami and confirmed the poise and management that you’d anticipate from a four-year collegiate prospect. I favored what he needed to supply and wish to see him be somewhat extra aggressive within the coming video games.
#10 Jordan Walsh’s protection
We began with some factors on Jordan Walsh’s offense. It’s solely proper we finish with a fast thought on his protection. I’m not going to deep dive his efficiency — there can be loads of time for that in the course of the lifeless of summer season. As an alternative, I picked out a possession from early within the first quarter, which caught my eye.
Walsh begins this possession by trailing the motion. But, the rookie wing by some means manages to discourage the shot from Miami as a consequence of his rearview contest and the bottom that his wingspan permits him to cowl.
The Arkansas product then reads the pump faux earlier than sliding his toes to chop off the driving lane and shut any scoring angle, finally forcing his man to desert his offense and quit the rock.
It’s that degree of protection that originally drew Brad Stevens to draft Walsh, and it seems like all of the speak of his basketball IQ and talent to remain composed and balanced is all actual. It’s going to be enjoyable watching Walsh shut guys down over the subsequent two weeks.
