The Summer time League Celtics dispatched Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, profitable 87-78 to enhance to 3-1 in Las Vegas.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the victory:
1. Jordan Walsh regains his composure
Walsh was whistled for seven private fouls within the Celtics’ second Summer time League recreation, then was ejected from the third after selecting up two technicals in a seven-second span. The third-year professional delivered a way more managed efficiency in recreation No. 4, punctuated by a highlight-reel windmill dunk in transition that helped Boston put the Lakers away late.
It was one in every of two fast-break slams for Walsh, who additionally went 2-for-4 from 3-point vary to guide all Celtics with 17 factors on 6-of-11 capturing. He added six rebounds (three offensive), one help and two steals, ending with two fouls and no turnovers.
Walsh was the participant of the sport for Boston.
2. Hugo Gonzalez improves
After enduring some harsh rising pains in Monday’s loss to Miami (3-for-12, 1-for-7 from three, six turnovers, seven fouls), Gonzalez responded nicely in his third recreation in Celtics uniform.
Boston’s first-round draft choose made three of his first 4 pictures Thursday evening, together with a pair of 3-pointers, to hit double figures earlier than halftime. Gonzalez dealt with strain higher than he did in opposition to the Warmth and was efficient at attacking the basket with out the ball, each as a cutter and as a rebounder (two offensive boards).
Hustle performs like these are what the Celtics will anticipate from the 19-year-old in no matter NBA minutes he earns this season. And outdoors of the one tough outing, he’s additionally displayed encouraging effectivity as an out of doors shooter, which was not his sturdy go well with throughout his time with Actual Madrid. Gonzalez, who made simply 25.0% of his threes in his remaining Spanish league season, went 3-for-5 from deep in his Summer time League debut and 2-for-4 in opposition to LA.
Inside ending was a distinct story — Gonzalez missed 4 of his six pictures contained in the restricted space Thursday — and he dedicated a couple of ill-advised turnovers, however general, this was a promising bounce-back for Boston’s youngest participant. His remaining line: 13 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, one block, two turnovers, three fouls in 29 minutes.
3. Extra Baylor Scheierman capturing struggles
Scheierman (9 factors, six assists, 5 rebounds) has made a constructive influence as a passer and defender in his second NBA Summer time League. However boy, has his shot been erratic.
The 2024 first-rounder tried 11 3-pointers in Thursday’s win and made simply two of them, persevering with a pattern that’s endured all through his keep in Sin Metropolis. Scheierman is capturing an unpleasant 20.5% from past the arc, going 1-for-8, 1-for-7 and 4-for-13 within the three earlier video games.
Scheierman, who’s vying for a bigger position after breaking out late in his rookie season, was equally inaccurate in his first Summer time League (29.4% from three).
4. No extra Charles Bassey
Bassey was arguably the perfect participant on the ground in his first two video games with the Summer time C’s, however he didn’t stick till the top of the match. The 24-year-old huge man solely signed to play in Boston’s first three video games attributable to different commitments, in line with the staff, so he left the squad forward of Thursday’s contest.
Bassey opened Summer time League by placing up 14 factors, 11 rebounds and two blocks in opposition to Memphis days after becoming a member of the staff, then had 22 factors, 13 boards and three rejections in opposition to New York. The Celtics outscored their opponents by 35 factors with Bassey on the courtroom over these two video games.
Bassey’s remaining look was much less spectacular (10 factors, 9 rebounds, minus-15 in a loss to Miami), however his play in Vegas put him on pundits’ radars as a possible asset for the Celtics’ depleted frontcourt. Boston lacks proven talent at the center position after shedding Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and sure Al Horford, with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza presently topping the depth chart.
It’s unclear whether or not the Celtics have any plans to ask Bassey to coaching camp, the place he might compete for a 15-man roster spot. The 6-foot-10 Western Kentucky product spent the final three seasons with San Antonio, showing in 90 video games with three begins.
5. Kenneth Lofton Jr. stuffs the stat sheet
With Bassey gone, Lofton was the headline-grabbing huge for Boston on this one.
The MVP of the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation final season, Lofton has not been probably the most constant performer in his return to NBA motion, however he made performs as a scorer and passer in opposition to the Lakers, tallying 12 factors on 5-of-8 capturing (2-of-4 from three) and 5 assists, together with a heads-up inbounds move that arrange Walsh’s aforementioned windmill.
The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Lofton (who is just not associated to the previous baseball star) additionally got here up with seven rebounds and three steals in his 20 minutes. He coupled these with 5 turnovers and eight fouls, nonetheless, leading to an uneven however productive outing for the burly 22-year-old.
It’s laborious to see a match for him on the Celtics’ roster, however Lofton is a enjoyable participant with a particular offensive fashion.
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