The Celtics unofficially began their title protection on the Vegas Summer season League and misplaced their first sport to the Warmth 120-114. At yesterday’s observe, the summer season squad talked about excelling of their anticipated roles they might tackle with the massive membership…and possibly showcasing slightly extra what they’ll do on the ground.
The Celtics began many acquainted names from final 12 months’s championship workforce together with JD Davison, Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, and Jaden Springer. Becoming a member of them within the opening 5 was thirtieth total choose Baylor Scheierman.
Scheierman began the sport slightly rusty and presumably nervous with bricks on his first two three-point makes an attempt. His most transferable talent coming from 5 years at South Dakota State and Creighton to the NBA may be his taking pictures. He shot 39% total and hit 3-of-7 in his first style of professional ball.
Nonetheless, it was his passing and total really feel for the sport that was on show in opposition to the Warmth. Scheierman confirmed a really feel and persistence as a passer, letting angles and lanes develop earlier than delivering the dish. He completed the sport with six assists, understanding of the center of the ground and semi-transition. The Celtics didn’t precisely have that sort of participant within the second unit final 12 months.
The true revelations on Saturday afternoon got here from JD Davison, Jaden Springer, and Neemias Queta.
After being drafted at #53 in 2022, Davison has spent the final two years in Boston on two-way contracts. Final 12 months in Maine, the 22-year-old averaged 20.8 factors and eight.6 assists for the G League affiliate and his improvement sparkled this afternoon. In his third journey to Vegas, he opened almost excellent from the sphere on 6-for-7 taking pictures. It was a pleasant mixture of perimeter taking pictures (3-for-3 from 3) and and in-between sport for the purpose guard. He additionally completed with seven assists and 4 turnovers.
Springer, who got here to the Celtics from the 76ers ultimately season’s commerce deadline for his or her 2024 second spherical choose, has been billed as a defensive stopper, however he was a lot extra in opposition to Miami. He led the workforce with 23 factors as a bull-headed scorer, hitting half of his six three-point makes an attempt with six assists and two steals.
Queta signed a three-year contract with the workforce this summer season and appears to be an power shifter off the bench. His springiness was on show on the Strip with 20 factors, 9 rebounds (with six off the offensive glass), and a block.
Boston’s second spherical choose Anton Watson completed with 8 factors and two rebounds. Walsh and Drew Peterson chipped in 4 every.
The Celtics will proceed their Summer season League schedule on Monday vs. the Lakers at 4:30 pm EST.
