The Boston Celtics continue to cruise through summer league, this time making short work of the summer Sixers, beating Philadelphia 100-80. The Celtics seem set to cruise into the championship game based on their 4-0 record and tremendous point differential, which is the tiebreaker for this year’s summer league.
Here are the high and low points from the game.
HIGH POINTS
CARSEN EDWARDS
Once again, Edwards shows that when he can get 30-plus minutes per game, he can find his way into a flow. One difference for Edwards here is that he did it with the ball in his hands more often. Without Payton Pritchard (he has an excused absence from the team) or Yam Madar (right groin straight, day-to-day) to run point, Edwards ran the offense a bit more than usual.
“I see it as exciting just to be able to learn new stuff and to take on a new role” he said after the game. “Even when I am playing combo and at the 2, I’m still making decisions. So then now it’s just the ball in your hand, trying to make everyone around you better, seeing guys make shots and stuff. That's something I look forward to, want to continue the work, watch film, see my mistakes.”
So here’s where I am with Edwards: This preseason will be the last test for him in Boston. It’s pretty clear that he can be good with time to play and feel out the game. His biggest challenge has been the “microwave” role in the NBA; coming off the bench and finding the flow in 30 seconds versus 30 minutes.
This is Edwards’ biggest challenge. If he’s going to always be the 30 minute guy, then he’s going to have a tough time in the NBA, because he’s not going to be good enough to be afforded the time to find that flow. That opportunity probably exists in a different league.
If he can be the 30 second guy, then he has a role somewhere.
“(I’m just trying to) figure out the best way to be able to help my team and be effective, where they need me every night, whether that's here or it’s another team,” Edwards said. “Just trying to find my way, man. It's not easy, but if it matters enough to you, you’ll find whatever you can to figure it out.”
ROMEO LANGFORD
I toyed with putting him in the so/so category but I’m feeling generous. I guess his second monster dunk of summer league swayed me a little.
ROMEO THROWS IT DOWN 😱 pic.twitter.com/Bb6KJmSfnx
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 14, 2021
The reason why I wanted to go so/so with him was the dichotomy between his first and second half performances. In the first half, he was ... okay. He hit some shots but nothing about his game stood out to me.
Then in the second half, he turned aggressive and attacked. I asked summer league head coach Joe Mazzulla after the game if someone had spoken to Langford about his level of aggression, and he pushed back on my assessment of the first half.
“I think sometimes people mistake Romeo’s passivity for just playing the right way,” he said. “The one thing he does a great job of is he is always physical defensively. He waits for the right play to come to him and he does a good job of being patient. I thought they were a little physical with him on the dribble hand-offs and I thought he matched that physicality in the second half.”
OK, fair enough. The game evolves and opportunities to drive aren’t always there. However, I was personally looking for a little more drive and aggression from Langford this summer.
“There are times when he’s passive, maybe,” Mazzulla admitted on a follow-up question. “But regardless of whether it’s summer league or a league game, he’s going to be in the right spot and make the right read. He’s going to be a physical defender on and off the ball and it’s something he has to continue to work on.”
So parts of Langford’s summer league have been great, some have been not-so-great. I’m starting to settle in on an opinion that Langford might play well off NBA stars but not so much on his own. He’s very much still a work in progress.
ZACH AUGUSTE
Oh like I’m not going to shout out the local Greek dude (born in Cambridge, went to high school in Marlborough and New Hampshire)?
He had a team-high 18 points on 7-9 shooting. He could get a camp invite and an exhibit-10 contract, but he’s also been playing for Panathinaikos in Greece, one of premier teams in the country and a member of the Euroleague (also a team whose colors are green and white with a shamrock), so he might be better off sticking with them for a bit. But hey, great game, kid.
“Zach’s like the ultimate team player,” Mazzulla said. “He joined us in training camp and he’s been great. At the five he’s able to switch defensively and communicate, make some energy plays. Tonight we got to see a different side of him with his 3-point shooting. He deserves that.”
Every game in Vegas is an audition of some sort. Maybe he made enough of an impression to get on someone’s radar.
BRUNO FERNANDO
Mazzulla wanted this shoutout.
“They have to be ready to be flexible and that’s what young players have to do, and I think they are learning that. And you can’t forget about Bruno and Zach as well, their effort,” he said. “Bruno has been great for us in that as well. Nobody asked a question about him, just make sure someone mentions him. I think it’s important.”
Fair enough. Fernando has been fun and physical. He deserves some flowers for his play this week.
THE DEFENSE
The Celtics blocked 12 shots in this game. I don’t think this means much moving forward. This isn’t some Ime Udoka-fueled defensive system that will give us a preview of the upcoming season. It’s just an acknowledgement of the work these guys did in this game. The defense was stifling.
LOW POINT
YAM MADAR’S INJURY
What a horribly-timed groin injury. I hope he’s ready for the next game on Tuesday because Payton Pritchard’s absence is a prime opportunity for Madar to seize the spotlight ... at least for one game.
Sure, he had the summer opener, but he’s had nothing since. It’d be nice to give him one high-usage game on his way out of Boston.
