The Boston Celtics improved to 2-1 on Wednesday, taking down the undefeated Charlotte Hornets, who are infested with former Celtics. From new head coach Charles Lee to Jermaine Bucknor and Blaine Mueller (on Charlotte’s Summer League bench) to Brandon Slater and James Banks III (who played in Maine last year), the Hornets are Celtics South.
Led by Anton Watson’s 15 points, the Celtics earned an 89-84 win over Nick Smith Jr. and the Hornets. Watson also added five boards, two assists, and two steals, while Jahmi’s Ramsey chipped in with 15 off the pine as well.
1. Anton Watson seems ready
Boston selected Watson with the No. 54 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft but have yet to sign him to a contract. They still have an open two-way spot, and after his performance on Wednesday, he should be the front-runner to snag it.
Watson threw up nine triples, nailing three of them. His shot looked good, leaving hope for him to be a reliable three-point shooter at some point in his career. That will be a crucial development for him to continue to work on.
“It honestly feels good,” Watson said of having a green light frmo deep. “Coaches have confidence in me. My teammates want me to take it. So, it’s just on me. No hesitation. This is a good time to get them up.”
The real highlight of Watson’s night was his defense. Above all, Watson is constantly in the right place. He’s not the most athletic player, nor is he the biggest, but he’s made his living by constantly positioning himself correctly.
“He’s already an NBA-level defender,” said coach DJ MacLeay. “He has things that he’s got to work on on that side of the floor that we’re trying to help him with, but I think if he can prove that he can knock down those shots, and he shows a willingness to take him without hesitation, he’s gonna be a really good player for us.
“And he provides a lot of versatility because of his switchability and his ability to guard the basketball.”
2. Jaelen House’s defensive Master Class
Though the shots didn’t fall for Jaelen House on Wednesday night, he still made an impact, and that’s almost more important. House was a complete pest on the defensive end, nabbing two steals that directly led to break-away layups.
He’s made a name for himself by being a nuisance, and he even got into it with Hornets players and fans. All House wants to do is cause chaos, and that’s the type of thing Celtics fans should love.
“I’m just a competitor,” said House. “Whenever somebody talks, I feel like I gotta get the last laugh all the time.”
House finished the night with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 2-of-8 from the floor and 0-of-2 from distance. The fact that the smallest guy on the floor finished second on the team in rebounds should speak volumes.
3. Jordan Walsh just can’t find it
Back to the gallows for Jordan Walsh. After somewhat of a bounce-back game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Walsh succumbed to his previous struggles in the Celtics’ win over the Hornets.
He still showed some flashes on defense, but his overall performance was still that of a guy who is still a couple of years away from playing NBA minutes. Walsh ended with two points, four rebounds, and two assists while shooting 0-of-5 from the floor and 0-of-1 from distance. He has still yet to make a three in Summer League (0-of-12).
Bad decisions were compounded by rushed drives, and his confidence seems to be at an all-time low. Walsh still played slightly better than he did against the Heat, but that isn’t saying much.
Walsh is just trying to stay positive and compete, which is all MacLeay is asking from him.
“I think the big thing for him, in general, is just maintaining a level of competition and trying to compete on each possession,” said MacLeay. “I think, in general, he’s trying to do that.
“And maybe his shot hasn’t been what we expected it to be over the first three days, but just in general, I think maintaining a mindset of working and getting better each day and embracing these possessions is awesome. And I think that that’s what we try to do in Boston, and that’s what I think he’s trying to do this week and for the rest of Summer League.”
4. Jahmi’us Ramsey needs a two-way deal
The Celtics don’t have any roster space, but they should make some for Jahmi’us Ramsey. He’s been one of the best players on this roster, plays both ends of the floor, and his three-point shot looks completely transformed.
Ramsey put up 15 points, three rebounds, five assists, and three steals against the Hornets. He shot 5-of-10 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc.
Whether it be releasing one of their two-way guys or elevating one into their 15th roster spot, they need to find a way to keep Ramsey around.
5. Killian Tillie showing flashes
Killian Tillie got the start in this game, and immediately, he looked comfortable. The big man hasn’t played professional basketball in two years, as he’s been dealing with some injuries, so perhaps he just had to shake some rust off.
Like his former Gonzaga teammate, Watson, Tillie did a solid job of simply being in the right spot. He ended the game with 11 points, two rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 4-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-3 from deep.
6. Tyler Cook looks intriguing
This addition to the roster seemed like a filler choice. But given his first chance at real minutes, Tyler Cook looked really impressive. The 26-year-old didn’t do anything spectacular, but he was solid all around.
Cook had eight points, four rebounds, and four assists on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. The 26-year-old set solid screens, showed off his bounce with a big-time dunk, and some nifty passes.
With Watson, Tillie, and Cook manning the center spot (now that Neemias Queta has seemingly been shut down for Summer League), it’s clear that Brad Stevens focused on getting guys who just play the game the right way.
While he may not be a legitimate candidate to land a roster spot, the Celtics should consider keeping Cook around with Maine (if he’s open to it).
7. Baylor Scheierman back down to earth
For the second straight game, Baylor Scheierman couldn’t find his three-point shot (though the one three he did make was a big one down the stretch). He put up 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 3o-f-10 from the floor and 1-of-8 from three-point range.
Despite the lackluster statistical night, Scheierman still did the little things well. He’s a great rebounder and didn’t doo too much to actively hurt the team. That said, his defense leaves some to be desired.
Scheierman actually moves his feet pretty well, but when it comes time to contest shots, he almost never leaves his feet, giving opposing players easier shots at the basket.
8. The no-shows
Jaden Springer, Drew Peterson, and Queta didn’t play in this game, likely because the Celtics are shutting them down for Summer League. The team probably wants to get some more run for the end-of-bench guys, and these three don’t really need more court time.
Well, that’s far more true for Springer and Queta. It would be nice to see a bit more from Peterson, but he’s on a two-way, so he’ll likely have plenty of time in Maine next season to show off his stuff.
9. The rest
Tristan Enaruna saw his first Summer League action on Wednesday. He was constantly hustling, and he snagged a few boards, but it was a fairly mediocre showing. Enaruna wasn’t involved too much, which is odd, considering he’s on a training camp deal with Boston.
The same can be said for Ron Harper Jr., who is also on a camp contract with the Celtics. That said, he’s earned more playing time than Enaruna and continues to be underwhelming. Harper Jr. can’t get his shot to fall consistently, and nothing else he’s brought to the table has stood out much.
JD Davison usually gets more words, but this game was pretty quiet for the point guard. He still played well, showing off his elite playmaking, but it seemed as though the Celtics wanted to give Ramsey and House some more run in this one, as Davison didn’t even crack 20 minutes. He could be done for Summer League.
