Justin Jackson strengthens case for Celtics roster spot in win over Hornets

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/justin-jackson-strengths-case-for-celtics-roster-spot-in-win-over-hornets.html



Justin Jackson strengthens case for Celtics roster spot in win over Hornets


Updated: Oct. 08, 2022, 12:52 p.m.|Published: Oct. 07, 2022, 11:11 p.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



The Celtics could certainly use one more wing with size to round out their 15-man roster this year. It’s an understandably thin area on the depth chart since there just aren’t that many minutes available behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The team also shipped off young wing Aaron Nesmith to the Pacers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon leaving the bench relatively bare behind their star wing duo. Brogdon will likely be playing and guarding some small forwards thanks to his 6-foot-5 stature but there is certainly one more wing to be added to the roster for depth purposes.


Justin Jackson, Jake Layman and Brodric Thomas are the chief names in contention for a potential spot on the 15-man roster but Jackson had done nothing but hurt his cause in the competition through his first two preseason games, including a disastrous outing in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Raptors on Wednesday night.


The struggles continued for Jackson in Greensboro during the first half against the Hornets on Friday but the tide thankfully turned for the 27-year-old forward. Suddenly, Jackson was hitting everything, knocking down three consecutive 3s in one stretch in the third quarter on his way to a 4-of-8 outing from beyond the arc.

When all was said and done, Jackson finished with 16 points in 23 minutes, while adding a nice hustle block on a fast break in the second half. The odds are highly against the Celtics actually needing Jackson or any other potential wing for meaningful action in the regular season but Jackson certainly showed off the most intriguing offensive upside of the bunch.

He showed out well during Summer League as well with this group and provides the type of size (6-foot- that should fit well with Boston’s switching defensive schemes.


Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ front office still have one more week of practice along with a preseason finale before making final cuts. However, Jackson’s impressive second half against the Hornets could leave a lasting mark. The team is likely to carry 15 players with Danilo Gallinari and Rob Williams sidelined through 2022 and Jackson looks like one appealing option to round out the team’s depth chart.


Bob
MY NOTE:  I may have pre-judged him but I still don't see why we need him.  Are we lacking depth at 3?  I don't think so.  We have Jaylen, Grant, Sam and even Jayson.  At big we have RWill (when he's healthy), Horford (when he's not being held out because he's old), Blake (an adequate back up big, for sure) and Luke (borderline adequate big).  Vonleh?  I suppose he's a big, but does he play big or does he play smaller than he actually is?  A lot of our success last year came from playing big, starting RWill and Al.  I'd like to play more of that and RWill and Al's availability over the course of the 82 game season makes me nervous.


.

I know Vonleh's been kicking around the league for years and keeps being traded or released and picked up again, but I haven't seen him much. I did like what I saw yesterday. He slid from one pick to another seamlessly, had,  I think, 13 rebounds against a big team, and cluttered up the paint defensively. I think he has more to offer than Blake, at this point in time. I can't see Layman making the team. I f he does, and sees significant playing time,god forbid,  judging by yesterday's performance, he might set a league record for being blocked at the rim.Broderick Thomas, to me, is a G league+ player. I'm not advocating for him, but given the lack of scoring ability of some of the bottom of the bench guys, I could see Jackson making the 15.

Justin is a career 32% shooter from deep.  If a wing can't shoot he better be a lock down defender.  He is not a lock down defender either.

I'll pass.  Brad can hit the flea market and see if some guys that have been cut by other teams may be of value.