Boston Celtics
Scheierman caught an unimaginable sizzling streak within the third quarter, which electrified a TD Backyard crowd that confirmed up regardless of the dearth of star energy on show.
Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr. had been electrical for the Celtics in an ostensibly meaningless 113-108 season-ending victory over the Magic that in some way didn’t really feel meaningless in any respect.
Listed below are the takeaways.
Baylor Scheierman was a blast in a bigger position
The Celtics’ whole season has been outlined by their capacity to win video games irrespective of the circumstances, and Sunday’s contest was a becoming punctuation mark.
Extra particularly, Sunday’s contest was a becoming exclamation level, administered by Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr.
Scheierman made a powerful case for himself as a rotation participant this yr by firming down his flashier tendencies — in faculty, he was a superb (and sometimes showy) distributor and rebounder, along with his scoring.
This Celtics staff, nevertheless, doesn’t want showy distribution and scoring from a bench wing — they want reliable protection, some 3-point capturing, a willingness to make the fitting move, and rebounding. Scheierman’s willingness to do these issues made him a rotation staple, particularly late within the yr.
Sunday’s sport, nevertheless, was a possibility for the outdated Scheierman to resurface.
Scheierman delivered, and he caught an unimaginable sizzling streak within the third quarter, which electrified a TD Backyard crowd that confirmed up regardless of the dearth of star energy on show.
Scheierman exploded within the third for 14 factors, which included 4 3-pointers — every seemingly rising in issue, till lastly, he lofted a 30-foot rainbow step-back jumper over Goga Bitadze that hit nothing however web in a manner that solely one of the best shooters on a heater appear capable of obtain.
Scheierman cooled off within the fourth, however the injury was accomplished, and he continued to be an possibility as a main ball-handler and passer, in addition to a screener. He was engaged defensively as effectively, ending with a formidable 30-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist, 2-steal and 1-block stat line.
Scheierman earned his spot within the rotation by altering his sport to suit what the Celtics want on a day-to-day foundation, however Sunday’s sport was a reminder that there might very effectively be extra beneath the floor to his sport, if Boston ever decides to scratch it sooner or later.
“He simply learns,” Joe Mazzulla stated. “So protection, situational basketball, however on the finish of the day, he’s an enormous competitor, and also you form of noticed that tonight.”
Luka Garza’s dagger and the significance of the margins
The Celtics almost watched what was as soon as a double-digit lead slip away late within the fourth when the Magic put their starters again within the sport. Jalen Suggs’ 3-pointer with 36 seconds left tied the competition at 108, and with the offense stalling badly, the Celtics’ unlikely win all of a sudden regarded a bit of unlikely to materialize.
Then Luka Garza unexpectedly went 2-for-1.
On the one hand, Garza opting to fireside up the 3-pointer was a little bit of a shock.
On the opposite, it was a really sensible play that represented the Celtics’ obsessive consideration to the margins — one of many myriad causes they’ve been higher than anticipated this yr, and one of many myriad causes Joe Mazzulla (regardless of his protests on the contrary) ought to most likely win Coach of the 12 months.
“It’s a credit score to Luka to simply get a play off there,” Mazzulla, considerably predictably, stated. “However that allowed us to form of play situational basketball.”
Garza has shot a smoldering 43 p.c from behind the arc this season, and he was 3-for-6 on Sunday, so his 2-for-1 try wasn’t some form of reckless hoist. Nonetheless, even when he missed, the Celtics simply wanted a rebound to ensure themselves yet another possession.
As a substitute, his shot proved to be the dagger.
“It felt superior,” Garza stated. “Seeing it go in, simply feeling the group too, it was positively a high second for me.”
Ron Harper Jr. is a assured scorer
Harper Jr. may need had simply as massive an evening as Scheierman if he hadn’t been pressured to take a seat down with just below 37 minutes performed.
Harper was essential within the first quarter, because the Celtics stored the Magic inside arm’s attain — scoring 12 factors within the first 12 minutes en path to a career-high 27. Harper was 10-for-20 from the sector and 5-for-12 from deep, burying 3-pointers and attending to the rim with surprising poise and fluidity.
With 6:55 remaining within the fourth, Harper took a seat, and he didn’t return to the sport. He later advised reporters he was cramping, and — in a testomony to his efficiency total — the Celtics struggled enormously to attain with out him on the ground.
Scheierman and Garza are much more prone to be a part of the perimeter playoff rotation, however Harper’s 3-point capturing may earn him a spot look or two.
“This yr has simply been actually, actually rewarding,” Harper stated. “Simply having the ability to come again to Boston, earn a roster spot and be part of an excellent group. I really feel like that’s paid dividends for me in my profession.
“I’m simply actually grateful to be on this state of affairs.”
The Magic might have deserved that one
The Magic put collectively a weird rotation.
Desmond Bane performed simply six minutes earlier than returning within the fourth and sparking Orlando again into the sport with an essential 3-pointer. He scored eight factors in 17 minutes.
Franz Wagner sat down for eight minutes from the 11-minute mark within the fourth and regarded emotional as if he was injured, however then he returned with three minutes remaining, taking part in simply 26 minutes total.
Paolo Banchero, in the meantime, performed 38 minutes however was 7-for-22 from the ground and 0-for-5 from three.
It’s not fully clear what the Magic had been attempting to perform. Did they wish to relaxation their stars (even with the prospect of dropping home-court benefit within the play-in)? Did they see the Celtics’ rotation and suppose their accessible gamers ought to be capable of deal with issues?
In that case, Sunday’s sport might have been a impolite awakening for a staff that very effectively may face the precise Celtics within the first spherical.
“I feel going into the sport we had been anticipating to go on the market and compete and win the sport,” Scheierman stated. “I do know going into the sport, that was our expectation, and we’re excited that we gained.”
Mazzulla appreciated the followers
Mazzulla stated the win was essential on two ranges.
First, he lauded the followers, who exploded together with Scheierman within the third quarter and cheered on the win as if the playoffs had already begun.
“I feel the beauty of our followers is, one, they’re sensible, they know good basketball,” Mazzulla stated. “Two, they care about successful. They care about taking part in the fitting manner.”
Second, he referred to as the victory a “validation of what we’ve been speaking about.”
“It’s very simple in the event you’re consistently in an elective shoot or taking part in in a stay-ready sport, you might see as in case your job is meaningless,” he stated. “However they’ve to remain prepared, as a result of at any second, as quickly as they step on the ground, you’re held to the identical commonplace. I feel that’s what guys who’re on the courtroom at present are in search of.
“So it’s extra of a validation to the employees, however actually to the locker room, that they care about successful, they usually care about taking part in.”
A peaceful earlier than the storm
What can we make of Sunday’s sport, in a big-picture sense?
Little or no, clearly. The Celtics rested their whole beginning lineup, in addition to Payton Pritchard, Hugo González, and Nikola Vucevic for good measure. There was no cause to present Pritchard a possibility to attain 30 when he now has that chance each evening. There was no cause to present Vucevic further minutes, as a result of what he actually wants is chemistry with the remainder of the playoff rotation. Garza may nonetheless take Vucevic’s place within the playoff rotation if he struggles, however Sunday’s sport was by no means going to supply any clues on that entrance.
For the Celtics’ reserves, Sunday’s sport was an opportunity to stretch their legs and showcase the prodigious expertise that acquired them so far.
For the starters, it was a peaceful earlier than the storm — an opportunity to cheer on their mates and colleagues who backed them up and pushed them over the course of a grueling 82-game season that’s now within the rear view, earlier than the grueling postseason on the horizon.
After 55 wins, Sunday’s sport was a quick — however very well-earned — respite after an outrageously profitable common season.
Now the actual check begins.
What’s subsequent
Lastly, we discover out precisely what this enigmatic, feel-good Celtics story truly has to supply on the massive stage.
The Celtics are headed to the postseason because the No. 2 seed, which implies we don’t truly know who their opponent within the first spherical will likely be but.
We do know, nevertheless, that the opponent will likely be both the 76ers or the Magic, who face off at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday which, due to Sunday’s sport, will now happen in Philadelphia as an alternative of Orlando.
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