Carsen Edwards nearly saves Boston Celtics; Boston eliminated from summer league tournament

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/07/carsen-edwards-nearly-saves-boston-celtics-boston-eliminated-from-summer-league-tournament.html



Carsen Edwards nearly saves Boston Celtics; Boston eliminated from summer league tournament




Posted Jul 13, 6:45 PM




By John Karalis | JKaralis@masslive.com




LAS VEGAS -- The Boston Celtics went cold at the wrong time, but Carsen Edwards broke out of the slump in the fourth quarter to nearly lead the summer C’s to a comeback.

The Memphis Grizzlies led by as many as 16, but that lead was cut down to 1 with 37 seconds left. It could have been tied, but Edwards missed the first of two free throws with Boston down two. From there, a turnover and offensive rebounds allowed sealed the win for Memphis.


Grant Williams as negative in plus/minus for the first time in Las Vegas, finishing a -10. Robert Williams followed up his 16 point game by only scoring one point, but he did grab 12 rebounds. Tacko Fall only played 6:32.


1. Carsen Edwards has icewater in his veins

Edwards went into the fourth quarter shooting 6-for-19, including 3-for-10 on 3-pointers. He was 3-for-4 from 3 in the fourth, though, shaking off the earlier struggles.

He’s definitely a scorer. The mentality is there. His cold shooting was part of the reason why Boston was down, but his hot fourth quarter was the main reason Boston had a chance at the end.


2. Boston settled for a lot of 3′s

The Celtics lost this game in the second quarter where 14 of the 18 shots they took were from 3. They sat back and jacked up the first bomb they could. They were cold in the first quarter (2-for-10 from 3) but they had a lead. They were worse in the second (2-for-14 from 3) and they were outscored by 15.

They attacked much more in the second half and used drives to set up their 3′s. Unsurprisingly, the Celtics shot a lot better (7-for-14) in the second half.

This was a good lesson for them to learn. Summer league was looking easy for a lot of these players and they unraveled in their fifth game. Summer league results are meaningless, but the lesson of playing hard and not taking anything for granted has value.


3. The defense was nowhere near as good as it had been

The Celtics allowed drives, were out of position often, and had trouble recovering

https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/1150142362615607296
Memphis Grizzlies

@memgrizz
**airplane mode activated** @brandonclarke23 | #GrizzSummer

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10:38 PM - Jul 13, 2019


https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/1150161893891272704
Memphis Grizzlies

@memgrizz
**taps mic**@brandonclarke23 is cleared for TAKEOFF #GrizzSummer

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11:55 PM - Jul 13, 2019


This is the first time all week the Celtics have looked this disjointed defensively. They had done a very good job all week of getting up into perimeter players, forcing turnovers, and getting out in transition themselves. In this game, the perimeter defense was less effective.

It’s not hard to help a guy who got burned in summer league, but what is difficult is the series of rotations after that. That’s where a lack of chemistry really comes into play. The Celtics got torched behind the helper over and and over.


4. Tacko Fall didn’t play much

Just 6:32 of playing time for Fall and it all came in the first half. It was a tough end to a fun summer for Fall.

The next step will be training camp, and the question of whether he can earn a roster spot.


5. Tremont Waters played

https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1150148128173113346/phobob1
NBA on ESPN

@ESPNNBA
Tremont Waters wrote a message on his sneakers in memory of his father, who passed away on Thursday.

2,393
11:00 PM - Jul 13, 2019


Basketball players find sanctuary between the lines. We saw it with Isaiah Thomas a couple of years ago, and we’re seeing it now with Waters.

In the face of tragedy, he’s doing maybe the biggest thing that bonded him and his father. It may be hard to understand, but it’s both tribute and grieving for the young guard.



bob
MY NOTE:  Some see Tacko not playing as a mistake.  I see it as evidence of a Celtic front office decision.  Danny and Brad had already decided what to do with Tacko and didn't need to see more of him.  I don't know what that decision is, but if they hadn't made one they could have easily pulled Scott Morrison aside at halftime and told him to showcase him more.

"Carsen Edwards has icewater in his veins".  This makes my heart glow.  You can be a great shooter but not be able to hit the big ones.  Remember Robert Horry?  Not a great shooer, but adequate, right?  What's his nickname?  "Big Shot Bob".  Some people (TJ?) might take me to task for this but if I had to choose who took a game/series winning shot, Kobe Bryant or Robert Horry, I might have to go with Big Shot Bob.  What made Horry even more valuable is that everybody knew he wasn't the first, or maybe even the the second option, but God help you if you left him uncovered and he gets a good look.  If that's Carson Edwards, WOW!!  He'll have LONG NBA career because coaches love predictability in players and players who deliver under pressure (think Marcus Smart) are the poster boys of "go to" players.


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