Boston Celtics
“Scheierman?Who he play for?” O’Neal requested.
Baylor Scheierman is in his second season taking part in for the Celtics, however, apparently, ESPN’s Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t certain who Scheierman is till he noticed highlights of the Celtics’ win in opposition to the Cavaliers.
“I don’t even know who this child is,” O’Neal mentioned throughout a latest episode of Inside the NBA. “I ain’t ever letting no one named Baylor or Scheierman rating on me. “Scheierman? Who he play for?”
Scheierman was a first-round decide in 2024. He has performed in 59 video games for Boston this season, making 16 begins throughout Jayson Tatum‘s absence. He posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double on Sunday in opposition to the Cavs.
“He’s simply one other connector. He doesn’t care about beginning, he doesn’t care about something besides competing. That doesn’t get awarded sufficient, is competing and care issue. He doesn’t care something about competing on the highest stage and executing,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned of Scheierman after Sunday’s sport.
“He takes a ton of pleasure in that. When you might have a man that doesn’t miss a beat whatever the state of affairs that he’s or the circumstances that he’s in, you type of see stuff like that. I feel he’s going an excellent job dealing with it.”
Scheierman suffered a thumb fracture final week, but it surely hasn’t triggered him to overlook time. He’s taking pictures 38.9 p.c from 3-point vary this season, scoring 4.8 factors per sport in 16.5 minutes per sport. He’s additionally averaging 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
The Celtics are two video games into Tatum’s comeback, and, to this point, Scheierman’s minutes haven’t dipped. He performed 21 minutes in opposition to the Mavericks on Friday and 25 minutes in opposition to the Cavaliers on Sunday.
Tatum, who performed 27 minutes in each video games, mentioned that he’s on a minutes restriction.
“It’s been seamless, I might say,” Tatum mentioned throughout a latest interview on NBC Sports activities Boston. “I’ve received such an excellent reference to a lot of the group. I’ve performed with most of those guys for a very long time. A bunch of excessive IQ gamers. The hardest half for me is simply being on a minutes restriction, that [expletive] sucks, fairly frankly.”
“That’s the hardest half, taking part in shorter stints and sitting for an extended time than I usually am, however I perceive the larger image.”
The Celtics leaned on Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Hugo Gonzalez for assistance on the wings with Tatum out. The younger trio has performed three-fourths of the season with out Tatum, permitting for extra minutes than regular. Tatum made his return on Friday and can doubtless see his workload improve as he will get additional alongside within the season.
The Celtics return to motion Tuesday evening in opposition to the Spurs. They’ll be again on ESPN Wednesday, March 18 once they host the Golden State Warriors.
Get the most recent Boston sports activities information
Obtain updates in your favourite Boston groups, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
