Jay Scrubb has chance to add new wrinkle to Celtics offense

Generally, two-way spots are used to maintain maintain of second-round picks, take flyers on younger gamers, or develop untapped expertise. For the Boston Celtics, the previous two choices have been the tactic of alternative with guys like JD Davison, Mfiondu Kabengele, Sam Hauser, and Tacko Fall.

However Jay Scrubb, Boston’s newest two-way signee, might permit them to comply with within the footsteps of the Miami Warmth and Golden State Warriors, who’ve used their two-way slots to domesticate win-now rotation items. Guys like Juan Toscano-Anderson, Anthony Lamb, Caleb Martin, and Max Strus all labored their manner up the ranks following their stints as two-way gamers.

Scrubb remains to be solely 22 years outdated, however he has the skillset to play a novel position for the Celtics. He might be an archetype of participant that has blossomed into relevancy in recent times like Bruce Brown and Gary Payton II.

All through his complete profession, Scrubb has been the man. Whether or not it’s been in rubbish time of NBA video games, within the G League, or at John A. Logan School, the JUCO faculty he attended earlier than getting into the NBA Draft — Scrubb has at all times had the ball in his fingers.

And at first look, that might be a priority. On a Celtics workforce with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and heaps of different expertise, Scrubb will seldom be the one making performs. However his expertise driving to the ring and using his elite athleticism provides him a pathway to show over a brand new leaf and grow to be a specific (and helpful) participant for Boston.

Coming into the league, Brown and Payton had considerably related storylines. They didn’t persist with their first groups, discovered a brand new dwelling the place they performed a special position, and ended up incomes big-time paydays. It took Payton a few additional steps to that time, however in the long run, they each went from commonplace guards to successfully undersized forwards who primarily play off the ball.

Brown and Payton largely make a residing off cuts, setting screens, and taking part in the in-between sport. Their athleticism permits them to make runs on the rim like an enormous however with the quickness of a guard.

Take a look at this play the Golden State Warriors drew up for Payton, as outlined by Anthony Slater of The Athletic. He fakes a display, cuts to the basket, and will get a straightforward dunk.

And right here, Brown is used as a screener with the Brooklyn Nets. Steve Jones Jr. of The Dunker Spot podcast particulars the play.

As for the chopping capacity of the 2 gamers, right here’s a chief instance from Payton (with an exquisite cross by Nemanja Bjelica).

The identical could be mentioned about this play, as Brown and Nikola Jokic full a beautiful two-man sport with an amazing reduce and a good higher cross.

Clearly, anticipating Scrubb to step in and tackle a task like this instantly is unrealistic. He’s younger and has spent nearly all of his profession as a ball-dominant participant. And he’s on a two-way contract.

However, as was the case with each Brown and Payton, Scrubb’s present skillset wouldn’t solely assist him transfer into a task like this however thrive in it. Within the case of Brown and Payton, their playmaking capacity and defensive versatility helped the transition. For Scrubb, he’d should largely depend on athleticism and defensive timing.

Throughout Summer season League, Scrubb made his cash by attending to the basket. His ending on the rim was excellent, and by the tip of the occasion, he was getting a bit extra snug taking part in off the ball. His capacity to play by way of contact across the basket would solely improve his expertise as a cutter.

Scrubb’s athleticism has at all times jumped off the web page. He was a human spotlight reel in faculty and averaged 22.2 factors within the G League this previous yr. Scrubb would add a brand new layer to Boston’s offense as a lob menace off cuts and rolls.

His three-point shot has even proven indicators of coming. Each Brown and Payton have changed into serviceable shooters on low quantity, and that’s what Scrubb confirmed off throughout Summer season League, capturing 40.0% on 4 makes an attempt per sport. And the standard of his photographs will solely enhance as soon as he’s surrounded by NBA expertise.

The defensive finish is the place Scrubb would wish to actually put within the work to make a residing on this position. His athleticism has allowed him to be strong on the defensive finish, however Brown and Payton are each plus defenders.

Throughout Summer season League this yr, Scrubb confirmed indicators of being efficient on that finish. He was consistently pestering the opponent and would typically nab steals in transition utilizing his quickness and timing, flipping them into straightforward buckets on the opposite finish.

If Scrubb needs to earn sufficient minutes to ascertain himself as a brand new presence inside the offense, he must show that he’s not a legal responsibility on protection or, even higher, that he can positively influence that aspect of the ball.

As issues stand, the Celtics rotation is fairly set. They’ve a strong eight-man group with different guys on the perimeter who might get away into extra vital roles (Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and many others.). However with Scrubb’s distinctive skillset, Boston has a chance so as to add a brand new wrinkle to their gameplan on either side of the ball.