LAS VEGAS — The Boston Celtics acquired again within the win column on Monday night time, taking down the Los Angeles Lakers within the premiere showcase of the night. Bronny James drew oohs and ahhs from the group, however Boston acquired the job accomplished, incomes an 88-74 victory.
Neemias Queta was the main scorer of the night, pouring in 22 factors and grabbing eight rebounds. Jahmi’s Ramsey had 13 factors off the pine, and Drew Peterson additionally chipped in with 12 factors, 5 rebounds, and three assists.
1. Neemias Queta is again on monitor
After a comparatively lackluster Summer season League debut, Queta confirmed why the Celtics invested a three-year contract into him on Monday night. The Portuguese behemoth was by far the perfect large man on the ground, and the Lakers had no reply for him, as evidenced by his 9 free-throw makes an attempt (of which he made eight).
The very best signal of enchancment from his first recreation was defensive confidence. In opposition to the Miami Warmth, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Isaiah Stevens, and others would glide by defenders, however somewhat than assist over within the paint, Queta hesitated. On Monday, there was no hesitation. Queta made his presence identified, and his three blocks had been proof of that.
Queta has additionally been challenged with defending on the perimeter extra, because the teaching workers are trying to arrange him for potential actual minutes in Boston subsequent season.
“Guys need me to get on the market and simply be efficient [and] impactful defensively within the paint,” Queta mentioned. “And much more on the perimeter, too. They’re getting me to change much more on the perimeter, keep in entrance of guards.
“So, that’s additionally one of many issues I needed to work on coming into Summer season League, and undoubtedly staying out of foul bother. And we’re on the precise path.”
2. Jaden Springer’s odd night time off
Within the Celtics’ first Summer season League recreation, Jaden Springer was the perfect participant on the ground. However he didn’t even get onto the ground in opposition to the Lakers. As a substitute, he could possibly be seen on the bench in avenue garments.
Springer was carrying comparable apparel for the Celtics’ earlier observe session, too, however head coach DJ MacLeay wouldn’t give a straight reply as to his standing for the remainder of Summer season League.
“He performed nice in Recreation 1. And he’s gonna be out right here with us for one more couple of days,” mentioned MacLeay. “So, we don’t actually have any data aside from that proper now.
Nor would MacLeay reveal whether or not or not the Celtics guard is injured.
“Nope, we don’t suppose so,” MacLeay mentioned when requested if Springer is damage.
3. Jordan Walsh’s bounce-back
Jordan Walsh could have had the worst recreation of his skilled profession on Saturday. However he made up for it in opposition to the Lakers.
At observe, Walsh spoke a couple of message Sam Cassell gave him, noting that he received’t be judged based mostly on his shot-making however somewhat his protection. That’s was Walsh centered on in his follow-up efficiency.
The teen nonetheless didn’t make a 3, capturing 0-of-5, however his defensive presence shined by way of. He nabbed three steals and picked up a block as effectively, as his physique language appeared infinitely higher than it did in opposition to Miami.
“I feel, basically, he was simply taking part in inside himself,” MacLeay mentioned of Walsh. “Like, he had a greater method about him immediately. He was dedicated on the defensive finish, which I feel is the place he’s going to be at his finest.
“And I actually have given him loads of credit score. He sort of embraced a failure of the opposite night time, and he simply took it on the chin, and performed a lot, significantly better. Performed way more inside himself, and way more just like the man we all know and he’s been for the final couple of months.”
Seeing some threes go down would nonetheless go a good distance for Walsh and his potential place in Boston’s rotation, however this was a large step in the precise path.
4. Drew Peterson finds one thing
It’s been a bizarre couple of video games for Drew Peterson up to now. The 24-year-old joined the Celtics for the latter portion of final season, and he appeared nice in Maine.
In opposition to the Warmth, Peterson’s defensive impression was far superior, and in opposition to the Lakers, his three-point capturing proved to be his finest asset. The flexibility feeds into the best way Peterson desires to current himself inside the group. It’s what he strives to be transferring ahead.
“Simply getting a bit greater. Stuff like that. And like I mentioned, I’m taking in every thing I can from the older guys and doing what I can to compete,” mentioned Peterson. “Capturing, defensively, I wish to be a do-it-all man. So, something I can do to assist the workforce. Tonight, it occurred to be capturing, and something I can do on the market to assist is my purpose.”
5. Baylor Scheierman challenged defensively
An ice-cold capturing night time (1-of-6 from deep) wasn’t sufficient to decelerate Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman. Fairly than hunch his head and draw back from the second, Scheierman allowed his worth to be placed on show in numerous facets of the sport.
His passing has confirmed to be probably the most priceless instruments in his belt, and the previous Bluejay’s nostril for offensive rebounds is extraordinarily spectacular as effectively.
However maybe the perfect a part of Scheierman’s recreation in opposition to the Lakers was his protection. He didn’t rise up effectively in opposition to Jaquez and the Warmth, however he turned issues round on Monday.
“I feel after the sport the opposite night time, we actually talked about, that simply isn’t our normal,” mentioned MacLeay. “It was a group-wide factor, but it surely was one thing that we talked about with Baylor as effectively. And I believed he actually like took on that problem. He took it on the chin, just like Jordan, and he actually was a lot, significantly better tonight.
“I feel it’s a rising and studying course of. The expertise degree is clearly so much increased. I really like that he desires these challenges. He’s sort of asking for these challenges. He’s attempting to develop on his personal. He’s dedicated to that. He’s aggressive. And I feel that you just noticed that.
Scheierman guarded Dalton Knecht, the Lakers first-overall choose, for many of the night. In two-straight video games, he’s guarded who could possibly be thought of the opposing workforce’s finest participant. And whereas the Celtics want to push him defensively, these matchups are one thing the rookie has been asking for.
“It’s one thing that he retains taking up,” MacLeay mentioned. “It’s one thing that he has actually embraced. So, I feel that it’s some extent of ours to assist him develop. However basically, it’s been his possession of that, greater than actually us.”
6. Jahmi’s Ramsey: Two-way candidate or Tasmanian satan (or each)?
The expertise is evident with Ramsey. After spending the early a part of his profession with questions surrounding his capturing, he’s slowly placing these narratives to mattress. A profitable capturing yr within the G League is being compounded with a formidable Summer season League stroke.
Ramsey started the sport in opposition to the Lakers with some robust turnovers. He was urgent. It appeared as if one other workforce got here as much as him and mentioned, ‘Hey, we’re scouting you tonight,’ and he was attempting to placed on a present. However as he settled down, issues moved again into place.
His ball-handling acquired tighter, his shot acquired higher, and his rim assaults had been way more managed. The Tasmanian satan that began the sport on offense slowly become a man the Celtics may think about discovering a strategy to hold round.
7. Anton Watson is solely dependable
Nothing will stand out about Anton Watson on each nights, however that needs to be taken as an enormous praise. The previous Bulldog is at all times in the precise place on the proper time. He’s at all times hustling for a rebound. He’s at all times mucking issues up down low.
Every little thing about Watson screams, ‘Lengthy profession as a serviceable back-up heart,’ and that’s superior. He had seven factors and 7 rebounds in opposition to the Lakers, and all of them got here inside the circulate of the sport.
8. JD Davison goes quiet
Whereas there have been some flashes of strong play for JD Davison in opposition to the Lakers, this recreation wasn’t almost as spectacular as his displaying vs. the Warmth.
Whether or not it was James or one other Lakers defender, Los Angeles did an excellent job of slowing Davison down on the level of assault. He wasn’t in a position to get the identical area he’s used to with a view to get downhill, create area, and make performs for others.
That mentioned, he nonetheless shot effectively from deep, and that’s a very powerful factor to be monitoring heading into his third yr on a two-way contract with Boston.
9. The place, oh the place is Tristan Enaruna?
It’s been two Summer season League video games, and the one participant who hasn’t stepped onto the ground for the Celtics is Cleveland State ahead Tristan Enaruna. The Celtics have already signed him to a training-camp contract, so they’re clearly considerably keen on him.
So, that begs the query, why isn’t he getting any run in Summer season League?
10. The others
Jaelen Home earned his first minutes of Summer season League, and he made probably the most of them. Not solely was he a pest on the defensive finish, however he additionally picked up a tech in simply three minutes on the ground. When the one stat a 6-foot-1 guard produces is a block, it’s at all times enjoyable.
In the meantime, Killian Tillie confirmed some flashes of promise. He began out comparatively scorching from three however cooled down simply as rapidly. Defensively, his presence down low led to a few blocks. Tillie was extra impactful in opposition to the Lakers than he was in opposition to Miami, but it surely was nonetheless a mediocre efficiency.
That simply leaves Ron Harper Jr., who was a team-worst -11 within the Celtics’ 14-point win over the Lakers. Harper made a 3, however for probably the most half, he simply appeared like an additional physique on the market.
Oh yeah, Tyler Cook dinner was there, too.
BONUS: Kristaps Porzingis appears to be doing simply high-quality after surgical procedure, in accordance with MacLeay. “Final time I talked to him, he was on a seaside someplace, and he was simply chilling,” he mentioned.
