Celtics basketball is back, and it feels good. The Boston Celtics brought back almost their entire 14-man rotation from last season. This means there are only a few potential minutes up for grabs outside the core guys. However, with Oshae Brissett’s departure, that leaves 630 minutes from last season. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but Brissett played at least 15 minutes in 23 games last season. That’s an important role. After each preseason game, I will be power ranking which Celtics player I think has the best chance to capture the Oshae Brissett minutes from last season.
1) Jordan Walsh
Like a phoenix from the ashes, Jordan Walsh is back. As one of the early settlers on Jordan Walsh Island, it has been a tumultuous few months after a rough Summer League showing. Coming into the preseason, I was low on Walsh’s chances to earn a rotation spot. But after the first preseason game, I think Walsh is the easy choice for the number one spot on the Oshae Brissett Memorial Power Rankings.
Walsh poured in 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. This is the Jordan Walsh I envisioned coming out of Arkansas. After Summer League, I was primarily disappointed that Walsh’s defense hadn’t flashed. Walsh’s defensive activity was excellent in the first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets. I want to see him utilize his six-foot-seven height and seven-foot-two wingspan to create plays on defense. And we saw that against Denver.
On offense, the shot continues to look good. Walsh went 2-6 from the three-point line, but two of his misses went in and out. And last, what I have liked about Walsh since his first Summer League is his feel on offense. He knows how to keep the offense moving and make the right play. What the Celtics need from their role players on offense is to shoot when they’re open, drive closeouts and make the right rim reads. Like Walsh did on this excellent feed to Kornet.
2) Jaden Springer
I don’t think Jaden Springer played well against Denver in the first preseason game. The reason Springer gets the number two spot here is that I am just trying to read the Brad Stevens tea leaves. Springer only played one Summer League game. Indicating to me that the Celtics front office doesn’t need to see him in that environment again.
Both Springer and Walsh were given the minutes in the second unit. Once Tatum, Brown, Holiday, and White went to the bench, the Celtics brought in Tillman, Hauser, and Pritchard. No surprises there. Springer and Walsh rounded out that second unit. It feels to me like the Celtics want Springer to seize the role that is available, and they are giving him the chance to do it.
Springer did not seize the opportunity in the first preseason game. Springer’s defensive reputation exceeds what I see on the court. Springer is billed by some as an elite defensive player. I don’t see it. I see a good defender.
On the other end, his offensive game continues to be clunky. Going 0-3 from the field isn’t ideal, but it’s less about the misses and how he’s contributing to the offense. I thought he forced up a couple of bad shots. This one, in particular, stood out to me.
Springer did well to draw multiple defenders. He needs to kick the pass to Walsh in the corner. I’m not sure if you can tell, but I’m not a big Springer guy. I don’t see what the Springer Hive seems to see. Though I should reiterate that we shouldn’t read too much into one preseason game, and under twelve minutes of game time for Springer.
3) Baylor Scheierman
This is a process of elimination ranking. Baylor Scheierman has a guaranteed NBA contract with the Celtics. That gives him a better chance to win minutes than another guy on this list. That being said, Baylor didn’t do anything to move himself up the depth chart in his first semi-real action with the Boston Celtics. Bricking a corner three off the backboard and then following it up with an airball was a little deflating. However, Scheierman played less than eight minutes. I remain bullish on Baylor as a prospect long term.
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
4) Lonnie Walker IV
I’m a believer in Lonnie Walker’s talent. It’s astounding to me that a player who swung a playoff series in the second round of the playoffs two years ago is playing for a contract. Walker played a little over four minutes in the first preseason game. Walker took a classic Lonnie pullup-three that wasn’t really in the rhythm of the offense and that was about all we saw from him. I’m not going to read into four minutes of a preseason game for a guy who has played nearly 7,000 minutes in the NBA. With Walker on an Exhibit-10 contract, he is far from a lock to make the Celtic’s roster. His contract situation combined with his lack of playing time in the first preseason game has him at the bottom of the power rankings. It’s possible the Celtics feel confident they already know what Lonnie Walker can provide and are using the preseason to get a look at other, less experienced players. It will be interesting to monitor Walker’s minutes and play as we progress through the preseason.
