The Legend Of Yabu Continues To Grow As The Celtics Win Their Summer League Opener
It’s crazy to think the last time we all got together to talk about some Celtics basketball, we were saying goodbye. Well, today we say hello to our first look of the 2018-19 Celtics and the good news is they are picking up right where they left off, beating the Sixers. You almost have to wonder why the Sixers keep scheduling the Celtics, because whether it’s the real NBA team or the fake NBA team, the results don’t change. I didn’t know part of The Process was self inflicted shame and embarrassment but here we are. Even knowing the Celts were going to be without many of their young promising players, there was still a level of excitement to see this team play that can only happen around this time of year. Mostly because we might only see many of these guys play during Summer League and not the regular season. Well that’s what we all thought, but then the game happened. We have a ton to get to so I won’t waste any more of your morning. If you didn’t catch the game last night, you’re a moron, but here’s what happened.
The Good
– Who the fuck else do you think we could possibly start with?!?!?!?!?
The haters, of which there are still many, are sick right now. They cannot believe that not only did Yabu show signs in his limited opportunity during the regular season, but now that he’s a focal point of the Summer League team he’s dominating more than ever. First the line: 16/7/2 on 6-14 shooting in 23 minutes. Not a outrageous opener by any stretch, but more than solid in my opinion. Granted there were things we saw him struggle with, like trying to score over 3 taller players at once at the rim, and things did look shaky at times as they almost always will.
But here’s the thing. You just have to believe. His passing was tremendous, his defense was solid and we got a nice display of his quickness, and when the game was in the balance who was it that stepped up and won this game by himself? Yabu. He showed us he can stroke it off the dribble from deep, he can attack the rim, but also you can use him in a Pick&Pop for a little midrange love. Yabu was the leader in the race for my heart heading into the summer, and last night you saw why. This team loses this game without the performance of Yabu, and there is no denying that fact.
– I imagine I was not alone in that I was also very interested to see what type of leap Semi might take this summer. With no Jaylen or Tatum playing, Semi was going to have every opportunity to really flourish from the wing position. How did he do? Well to say he dominated from the jump feels about right
We got the total package in his 16 point effort. Semi went 6-13 from the floor, made a couple of threes and was second on the team with a +16. Heading into this summer I really only was interested in seeing how his offensive game has developed, knowing that he can already defend the best of the best at the NBA level. I was pleasantly surprised to see his ability to stay in control when attacking the rim, finishing at the rim, and then still being able to stretch the floor from the outside. Those are two things that are key to Semi cracking the rotation in this system. Can you slash under control and can you help create space by being a consistent outside threat.
Semi was pretty much the offense in the second quarter with half of his points coming in his 8 minutes of action, and if I had one criticism of his night it was that he wasn’t nearly as aggressive in his 14 second half minutes. He took just 2 shots despite playing the most of anyone on the roster, and I get it, this was a time when Yabu was doing his thing, but I’d like to see him to balls to the wall for four quarters in tonight’s game.
– We all agree that Nader’s spot should be up for grabs. It’s not personal, OK well maybe a little personal, but the hope has always been that someone would step up this summer and give Ainge something to think about. Well, could that guy be Jabari Bird?
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Bird had a nice 14/8/2 in his 27 minutes of action, and was an efficient 6-10 from the field and a team high +19. We all remember the flashes he showed towards the end of the season, and you could certainly convince me he’s an end of the bench NBA player at worst.
He showed the ability to knock down shots from the outside, actually passed the ball pretty well, and he actually sort of Rozier-ish in how he attacked the rim. Bird had a big second half which was huge as the game got close leading the starters in scoring in the fourth quarter. I’m not saying I’m ready to give him Nader’s spot after one Summer League performance but I’m completely ready to give him Nader’s spot after one Summer League performance.
– A bunch of people told me leading up to this game that I would love Hassan Martin. I didn’t watch him in college so I had no idea, but considering he came into the game in the fourth quarter and was a GIGANTIC reason the Celtics pulled it out, I can see what they are talking about. First, his frame is ridiculous. Just a massive, massive human. Right off the bat we saw him bully people on the glass and finish through contact, and I’ll admit I got a little half chub. He finished with 8/2/1 on 3-3 shooting all in high pressure moments, so in terms of a Celtics debut I’d say this one was pretty damn good.
– I know it’s a fake game, but when I see the Celtics shoot 48/34% and finish with 95 points in a 40 minute game with just 10 turnovers I’m going to get excited. It’s a sickness, I know this, and I don’t really care.
– The Injury Gods are going to continue to be dicks so that’s cool, and this time they robbed us of Robert Williams’ debut. He played just 7 minutes and even though those 7 minutes included some good things
Let’s just hope he plays today because I want to see more. This was a bullshit appetizer and I need the full meal.
– Out of nowhere was a pretty solid effort from Pierria Henry. He did a little bit of everything in his 27 minutes that I didn’t even care he went 3-9 from the field.
I’ll take 8/7/8 with a couple of highlight moves you bet your ass I will. He’s just 25 and you know what I’d love to see him on the Maine roster. I like his size at 6’4 from the guard position, and he could be a player that catches the eye of some team if he continues to play like he did last night.
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– Once you get to Summer League you have to concede that what you’re going to get is going to be like 95% isolation basketball. I usually hate this because honestly the Celtics sneaky stink at it, but it really wasn’t as bad as I thought! Maybe that’s just the excitement of basketball being back talking, but this didn’t feel like the ugly Summer League quality of play we so often get. Let’s see if that continues.
– Celts never lost a quarter, I find that quite good.
The Bad
– As is tradition, some random motherfucker had the game of his life against the Celtics. In this game it was Furkan Korkmaz who torched, I repeat TORCHED the Celts for 40 points on 10-18 shooting. He went 8-14 from deep and frankly I find that insulting. Maybe read a scouting report for me one time no? Or maybe play a little tighter on him once he starts raining threes? Luckily in classic Sixers fashion he blew his load too early and missed ALL his big crunch time threes, but the point remains that the Celtics defensive approach to him was dogshit.
– I know it’s Summer League, but Yabu has to get his fouling under control. He had 7 in this game, and 5 in the first 3 minutes. Prove to the coaches you can defend without fouling and they’ll play you at the next level.
– Did anyone else know Robert Williams had tendinitis in his knee? Should I be concerned about this? Is it too late that I am already concerned? Is a doctor reading this and if so can you tell me if it’s normal for a 20 year old kid to have tendinitis in his knee? Did Ainge miss this when he told Terry they were just quickly going over his medicals? I need answers.
The Ugly
– Some might say that in a close game like this it would have helped to have a prized young point guard to help your team close it out. Unfortunately, said point guard was too busy eating fries on the sideline #TTP
The good news is the Celts are right back at it tonight against DEN, but it’s late. They don’t tip until 8pm Vegas time but it should be a pretty good matchup between two 1-0 teams. Unfortunately Michael Porter Jr isn’t playing but guys like Malik Beasley and Monte Morris are worth watching. I also advise you find a way to stay awake because you do NOT want to miss the next chapter in the Legend Of Yabu. The Celts took their first step towards their first banner of the 2018-19 season, and in my mind things could not have gone better.