Post Game 3 - Utah League vs Spurs

They finally looked like a team.

They shot 27% after 1 but ended up @ 45%.  85 points and 65fgas in 40 minutes.  Not bad.

The 4 kids that have a shot of making the team, or is definitely making the team, all had good games.  Our top 3 scorers (Smart, Hunter and Rozier) all had more points than San Antonio's top scorer.

1.  Smart ended up with 22 points with 15 in the 2nd quarter.  He made great passes, steals and just everything.  He was the best player on the floor for either team today.  9-14.  Finally, a nice fg%.  7 assists.  3 steals.  4-6 from 3.

2.  Rozier had 16 points on 5-13.  7 assists with only 2 TOs.  He has an excellent crossover dribble, 1 or 2 dribbles and he's at the front of the rim.  QUICK.  That crossover will work in the NBA.

3.  RJ Hunter was the #2 scorer with 18 points.  Finally, the kid took shots.  4-7, 4-4 from 3 and 6-6 from the line.  He's trying to show off his smarts and his court vision with his passing, but he needs to set that aside for now and just shoot.  A really, really quick release.

4.  Mickey rebounded (9 in 22 minutes, 2 offensive), 9 points on 4-8.  4 of those points came from running the fast break.  Loved that.  He also missed to baby hooks from 3' out.  That's ok.  I just want him to keep taking them from point blank. He also hit an 18' jumpshot.

5.  CJ Fair didn't have a big scoring game but he had 7 boards.  This kid deserves a job somewhere.  He has been the most consistent player this summer league to-date.

21 assists on 29 fgm.  Nice.


So much for Utah Summer League.  On to Vegas and, thankfully, a different set of announcers.


bob


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For some reason Hunter looks the most like an NBA player of the rooks. Even in the first two games there was something about the way he moved on the floor. More mature. Less deer in the headlights than most rooks at this stage. Maybe because he's a tad older? And he seems to be the kind of player who makes things happen. Rozier and Mikey both have athletic skills but not NBA ready. Thornton is lost but maybe he will settle down. When Hunter shoots he shoots like he expects it to be nothing but net. And he shoots with more confidence than Young. He might be the kind of knock down shooter we need.

Its only SL, but if your playing you should use these games as a scrimmage to work on your game and improve. I'm seeing alot of improvement in Marcus Smart's game, in a dismal offseason so far, he was a joy to watch. Glad he can dominate at this level, thats got to be good going forward. My favorite Celtic for years was Paul Pierce, you'd always wait for that time in the game when he would go into one of his zones and he'd score on drives, 3's, some clever post ups and viola, he'd have a monster stretch or quarter!! Great to see Marcus can get into a zone.

RJ Hunter showed me why he was slated as a mid first round pick, guess the jitters finally wore off and he just played....great stroke. Kid has ideal size for a 2 guard and a really sweet stroke, I want to see more of this kid, a coaches son, he could get it and really help us in this 3 ball era.

Hey I'm not so grumpy and liked Mickey's contributions too.

Yes, a coach's son helps to explain the way he seems to know where to go when others don't.

Smart and Hunter both made notable blocks too.  Hunter has pretty good defensive skills.  In tonight's game, he shot more like he did in some of the draft-time videos.  In those earlier videos, he shot from 3-4 feet behind the college arc.  Last night, he shot 3-4 feet behind the pro arc.  Smooth as silk.  I believe it could come down to Hunter vs. Young for a roster spot; and, so far, sayonara James.

What a joy to see these guys passing the ball like a real team.  Also constantly pushing the ball, even after made baskets.

Rozier's 7 assists should not be overlooked.  When he drives to the basket, he resembles a somewhat taller Isaiah Thomas.

What happened to the guys who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn door from distance?  12-20 (or 60%) on threes.  And those 12 buckets came from only four guys: Smart (4), Hunter (4) Rozier (2) and Holmes (2).

If they had to win only one of three in Utah, I'm glad it was the third one.  One could see the confidence coursing through the veins of some of these guys, an Vegas should be fun.

Go Celtics.

Sam

I think Bradley should be looking over his shoulder, he is in the same
boat as Sully, very tradeable. If either of the rookiies shines  I believve he will be traded.  No one on this team is untradeable as far as Ainge is concerned, he would trade his mother if he could get something valuable for her!
Those two announcers in Utah were unreaal. you are right Bob, thank God that is over with.. Bring back Johnny Most if you want an impartial announcer!

Rosalie

Hi,
The first half of the SL is done.
I wasn't looking at it from a team standpoint - mostly from an individual player standpoint. So far, the 3 players (I don't count Smart - he's not a rookie) that looked most impressive are the usual suspects: Hunter, Mickey and Rozier.
I know that the 2nd round isn't guaranteed but I really hope they will take Mickey: he runs, he's got moves, despite his toothpick frame tries to box out bigger players from a rebound.
I agree with those who bet on Hunter in Hunter vs Young. Even if we take all other parameters being equal Hunter has much more brains than Young.

AK

The reason why James Young didn't go back in the game in the 2nd half is because he took a fall and bruised his left hip.  He's having it examined today.  His availability for action is unknown.

On one hand I say "this is the worst possible thing to happen for him.  He was set back not playing in summer league last year, he's not having a good summer league so far and he needs more reps to get some rhythm".  On the other hand I say "if he can't play through a sore hip then he isn't going to cut it in the physical 82-games+playoffs NBA and needs to be moved". Professional athletes, in every sport, are expected to play through some pain and general discomfort from a long season not giving their bodies a chance to fully heal before beating on them again.

Either way, it throws the door wide open for RJ Hunter for whatever minutes at SG Young might have been earmarked for and, if he can do it, 6'8", 215# CJ Fair at SF.  He's not the pure shooter Young supposedly is but he's having a very solid summer league so far and is showing a lot of versatility, hustle and headiness.


bob



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Smart played a complete game an absolute leader out there.

Hunter has a very important skill that young does not have.....handle

Rozier also played very well. There was definitely a comfort that we did not see in the first 2 games.

The Spurs were small so it was a small ball game.

The Mick can get up and down the court.

Dboss

I'm sorry about Young's injury.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone.  But a primary reason I'd like him to be at full strength is because I believe the contrast between him and Hunter would become more apparent and even stronger.  Hunter has more defensive skills, a better handle, a more energetic approach to the game, and better basketball instincts (or call them "smarts" is you wish).

Most of all, there are certain opposing players around the league who, when they have a wide open shot behind the arc, make me put my hands over my eyes and say, "Oh no!"  On the strength of the one game in which Hunter seems to have found a source of self-assurance, he looks as though he could develop into one of those semi-automatic types, regardless of distance.  Yes, I know it's a "small sample."  But, so far, Young hasn't had a sample of even one Celtics game in more than year during which he has given me a similar feeling of reassurance.  And to those who say, "You have to give him more time," no I don't.  The only thing I absolutely have to do is to breathe.

I actually hope Young will develop into a premier shooter down the road—with a team who has welcomed him as part of a trade in which they've provided the Celtics with something of value NOW.

Sam

another Gerald Green? Just too young to leave school.
I know DA likes this kid but too many injuries

Sam

I keep waiting for a switch to click on for James Young.

He plays off balance. He is a lefty that cannot dribble with his right hand. The kid Hood out of Duke drafted a few picks later has really looked good.

Hunter has deep deep range. He also has a much better feel for the game.

Shooters are going to get a lot of open looks in this offense. Hunter is a really good fit.

The clock is ticking for young.

Rosalie..Green was often criticized for his perceived low basketball IQ but he did have some skills. His handle was also questionable although that part of his game has improved. Young lacks confidence in his shot. Maybe that is just youth or maybe he just is not that good.

Dboss

In the first 2 games I noted that Hunter had good defensive instincts, opportunistically poking the ball away several times. His shot was tentative or not even taken at all. Game three - vindication. That's the real RJ. Good to see.

Rozier really disappointed me in Game 1. Thank Red and the other basketball gods that he's emerging as a player with some savvy and talent.

Mickey - a keeper.

James Young - too bad. He was fun to watch in the 2014 Final 4. Not ready for prime time.

Marcus Thornton - maybe D league.

Fair? Not fair. Above average, a B+/A-. He'll make someone's NBA roster. Good for him.

Dboss, I know what you mean about waiting for a switch to click for James.  I keep saying to myself, "A stroke that good cannot possibly miss so many shots permanently."  The switch apparently clicked on for Hunter the other night, and I'm anxious to see if that one experience can become a regular one.  Maybe Young will soon see the light (not bad....switch.....light).  I hope so for his sake.  But, right now, I've seen Hunter's similarly good stroke nestle the ball through the strings smoothly enough to give me confidence when he shoots.  I hope I can say that at the end of the Vegas League games.

Sam

sam wrote:I'm sorry about Young's injury.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone.  But a primary reason I'd like him to be at full strength is because I believe the contrast between him and Hunter would become more apparent and even stronger.  Hunter has more defensive skills, a better handle, a more energetic approach to the game, and better basketball instincts (or call them "smarts" is you wish).

Most of all, there are certain opposing players around the league who, when they have a wide open shot behind the arc, make me put my hands over my eyes and say, "Oh no!"  On the strength of the one game in which Hunter seems to have found a source of self-assurance, he looks as though he could develop into one of those semi-automatic types, regardless of distance.  Yes, I know it's a "small sample."  But, so far, Young hasn't had a sample of even one Celtics game in more than year during which he has given me a similar feeling of reassurance.  And to those who say, "You have to give him more time," no I don't.  The only thing I absolutely have to do is to breathe.

I actually hope Young will develop into a premier shooter down the road—with a team who has welcomed him as part of a trade in which they've provided the Celtics with something of value NOW.

Sam

also Young is so fockin fragile, I thought he had been lifting and gotten stronger? first game a little contact on a shot close to rim and he had to take a TO, then last game on defense he gets hit a little and hes out of the game, can barely move....toughen up, its a mans game.

Cow, it's so easy to beat up on Young (maybe in every sense of the term "beat up") that I'm desperately searching for ways to moderate the criticism.  But I'm struggling, because there's very little ammunition in that direction.  At this juncture, we're nearing the stage where he needs a miracle to deal with all of his deficiencies.

Sam

Sam

When I saw him crumble I thought whos training him? He needs some medicine ball work, just sit ups alone won't cut it, needs to get comfortable with contact....looks like hes never been hit before.

cow

Cow, I bet you could get him in shape in a New Jersey minute!

Sam