2021 Celtics LVSL Game Thread

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,016
Begarin has a lot of areas to tighten up, but he's a really intriguing prospect.
 

SteveF

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
1,930
Auguste is growing on me for that second 2 way.

Edit: Check that...would he even be eligible for a 2 way? Maybe not.
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,758
Auguste is growing on me for that second 2 way.

Edit: Check that...would he even be eligible for a 2 way? Maybe not.
Auguste is 28, and with his Greek heritage and dual citizenship, makes a good living playing there. He only got 11 minutes per game this past season, and doesn’t shoot the three.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
32,618
Auguste is 28, and with his Greek heritage and dual citizenship, makes a good living playing there. He only got 11 minutes per game this past season, and doesn’t shoot the three.

How do teams go about filling their summer league roster? Why is a 28 year old involved?
 

SteveF

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
1,930
I think a lot of other leagues use the Summer League to scout. I guess the South Korean league even holds their draft at NBA summer league. So guys are here maybe trying to get into better paying, higher skilled leagues. Some players are there as favors to agents, purportedly. All of my information comes from Hollinger.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
32,618
I think a lot of other leagues use the Summer League to scout. I guess the South Korean league even holds their draft at NBA summer league. So guys are here maybe trying to get into better paying, higher skilled leagues. Some players are there as favors to agents, purportedly. All of my information comes from Hollinger.

Thanks, I was going to say “is this a favor to agents” but I couldn’t even understand the angle, like what is the favor? With other leagues having such an interest it makes more sense to me.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
How do teams go about filling their summer league roster? Why is a 28 year old involved?
Keith Smith mentioned that the Celtics had a tough time getting bigs this year, everyone knew there were no roster opportunities in BOS. So you needed guys willing to play SL (instead of staying overseas for workouts and pre-season) and do so for a team with no chance of a contract. That's mostly just gonna be guys who really want to be seem by coaches for the G-League or another league that is scouting (probably less than normal given Covid, like I'm pretty sure SK isn't bringing in any foreigners who aren't already in-country).
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,758
Thanks, I was going to say “is this a favor to agents” but I couldn’t even understand the angle, like what is the favor? With other leagues having such an interest it makes more sense to me.
All but a couple of Auguste’s agent Adam Pensack’s clients play overseas, with him scoring Christian Wood a nice deal last summer as his highest profile client.

Auguste can’t shoot. He shot 41 from the FT line last season
 

SteveF

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
1,930
Begarin really seems comfortable in that deep two range. I'd assume he can stretch that out to the three point line eventually.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,678
Begarin has a lot of areas to tighten up, but he's a really intriguing prospect.
He reminds me of Brown when he was coming out of Cal. Super-athletic, super-long, and really strong. He seems a lot more advanced on the defensive side than Brown was. But he’s really raw offensively. But you can teach Begarin to play basketball, you can’t teach Yam Madar to be 6’5” and hyper-athletic.
 

Imbricus

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 26, 2017
4,810
Juhann had his second emphatic chase-down block today. He sometimes gets spun around too easily on defense, but overall, I like him. Near the basket, he gets his arms straight up and tries to hold his position.

Romeo has been disappointing. He should be dominating this league. Instead, he just has moments, but doesn't look that advanced compared to the others.
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,758
Juhann had his second emphatic chase-down block today. He sometimes gets spun around too easily on defense, but overall, I like him. Near the basket, he gets his arms straight up and tries to hold his position.

Romeo has been disappointing. He should be dominating this league. Instead, he just has moments, but doesn't look that advanced compared to the others.
The word I think of to describe Romeo is reticent.
 

Swedgin

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2013
701
How do teams go about filling their summer league roster? Why is a 28 year old involved?
Hollinger talked about on the last pod with Duncan. Basically you have three tiers. First the guys the team has control over/draft rights. Second, guys who the team has a genuine interest in seeing up close. Three, the remainder of the roster - basically favors to agents.
 

johnnycomelately

New Member
Apr 14, 2006
41
Romeo has been disappointing. He should be dominating this league. Instead, he just has moments, but doesn't look that advanced compared to the others.
The word I think of to describe Romeo is reticent.
I wonder if Romeo should almost be fed minutes and told to dominate. With the injuries the last few years, maybe he's lost his confidence and/or is aware of the others who want to shine.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
He reminds me of Brown when he was coming out of Cal. Super-athletic, super-long, and really strong. He seems a lot more advanced on the defensive side than Brown was. But he’s really raw offensively. But you can teach Begarin to play basketball, you can’t teach Yam Madar to be 6’5” and hyper-athletic.
Do you think if Begarin waited a year he'd be a Lottery pick?

They should send Begarin/Madar back overseas, start their clocks next year.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,678
It would have depended on how well he performed in France’s A league. It’s always tough to judge guys when they have the sort of athletic advantage he had in Serie B (think Jay Scrubb competing against JuCo players).
 

BringBackMo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,316
I mean, it's good that he works hard... but this is literally their job & even guys like Edwards are making $1.5m to do it.

I make a fraction of that & I was in the office this morning by 4:15 - albeit admittedly writing legal briefs & posting here is a bit easier than NBA workouts.
What point are you making with this post? I’m genuinely curious.
 

BringBackMo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,316
I was going to make an almost identical post earlier but jumped in the shower to get to the poker room instead. Great points throughout. He needs to figure out how to use his quickness and shotmaking skills to slow the game down. I’ve said it before but these things take time and usually requires bouncing around the league for awhile.
Which rooms do you play, HRB?
 

Rustjive

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2009
1,048
Do you think if Begarin waited a year he'd be a Lottery pick?
Post-draft, Givony said he would've been 'projected top-20'.
Post-Draft Analysis
Juhann Begarin has outstanding physical tools, standing 6-foot-6 with a shredded 214-pound frame and a near 7-foot wingspan despite not turning 19 until August. His offensive game is a work in progress, particularly his ball-handling and shot-creation ability, while his jumper is prone to streakiness. When engaged, Begarin can be an outstanding defender, capable of slowing down guards and wings alike, although his intensity level fluctuates and he can still be somewhat naive off the ball.

Few players in his draft range share his upside, as he likely would have entered this upcoming season as a projected top-20 pick had he elected to withdraw his name from the draft at the deadline. Instead, Begarin intends to come to the NBA immediately and work his way up through the G League, unless the Celtics can convince him to reconsider that after summer league. -- Jonathan Givony
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,282
What point are you making with this post? I’m genuinely curious.
My main point was that I was tired & grumpy & it's good that he's working on his game, but it would be even worse if he didn't & all professional athletes should work on their games.
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,282
That they are a shitty lawyer despite working hard like Carsen is a shitty NBA player despite working hard.
Carsen would be a better basketball player if he had my height & outside shooting & I'd be a better lawyer if I had Carsen's swag & natural charisma or whatever it is, so we're both exceptional in our fields, but not so much that we will ever be one of the top 300 in the world at our craft?

Who knows?
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
I wonder if Romeo should almost be fed minutes and told to dominate. With the injuries the last few years, maybe he's lost his confidence and/or is aware of the others who want to shine.
That isn’t Romeo’s game though. I spoke on this prior to the league beginning in that him playing here doesn’t really do much in this type of event. The things he will be doing for the Celtics is defending the 3/4 and catch-and-shoot 3’s. I wanted to see him hitting those shots and he did look much better in doing so.
 

Over Guapo Grande

panty merchant
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,459
Worcester
I've got to say. Following the Summer League hear with you all is much more enjoyable than it was 20 years ago, when a fax would come to my boss, and after he made a few hushed phone calls, gave the results to me. I can clearly remember sitting in a dingy office in Westboro just looking at the box scores before my pager beeped.
 

Imbricus

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 26, 2017
4,810
Juhann Begarin has outstanding physical tools, standing 6-foot-6 with a shredded 214-pound frame ...
Shredded? Not seeing that. He's strong, yeah, but doesn't look like a guy with really sharply defined musculature.
 

BringBackMo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,316
Primarily Seminole Coconut Creek in FL. Mostly Mohegan when I am/was up north.
Let me know the next time you’re heading up. Mohegan Sun changed their room a couple years back (you may know this), and it’s not quite as nice, but still decent action. Nothing like the Florida craziness, though. BTW, does SOSH have a poker sub-forum?
 

BringBackMo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,316
I've got to say. Following the Summer League hear with you all is much more enjoyable than it was 20 years ago, when a fax would come to my boss, and after he made a few hushed phone calls, gave the results to me. I can clearly remember sitting in a dingy office in Westboro just looking at the box scores before my pager beeped.
This sounds like a scene out of The Sting III.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
Let me know the next time you’re heading up. Mohegan Sun changed their room a couple years back (you may know this), and it’s not quite as nice, but still decent action. Nothing like the Florida craziness, though. BTW, does SOSH have a poker sub-forum?
You can say that again about the Florida craziness. I play a bit here in NH but was down in West Palm for a week last month. Played at PBKC and Seminole Coconut Creek and it was pure insanity compared to up here.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
You can say that again about the Florida craziness. I play a bit here in NH but was down in West Palm for a week last month. Played at PBKC and Seminole Coconut Creek and it was pure insanity compared to up here.
Would have been funny if we unknowingly ran into each other. There is nothing around quite like the kennel.....if the 2/5 was deeper that would be my home base but there is too much bingo type action that takes strategy out of the equation. The Creek is less crazy but deeper game makes for more consistent results.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
27,957
Saskatoon Canada
Was at the lake so a day or so behind you guys.

Nesmith is so much better. the stuff off the bounce is what impresses me.Hard to imagine he isn't 1st guy off the bench. Playing with lots of energy.

Romeo...man I don't see it. Good he is shooting pretty well, but he still isn't very good finishing at the rim. For a guy who is supposedly hanging his hat on D, his energy is pretty low a lot of the time. Maybe he has been promised playing time already, but he doesn't seem to play with any urgency. A few times fell asleep and guys flashed and posted him, but SL Sixers don't see it. at 6'4 he has to be able to do something off the bounce. He will have to shoot quite well to get playing time. HRB, at his size I don't see him defending 4s. But he is making shots. So the defensive flexibility of Brown, Tatum, Smart to guard bigger guys allows him to guard shooters. He will need to makes 3s to have any value IMHO. I thought Semi would never be a player, so who knows.

Edwards, needs to be turned loose. Whoever said he is a scorer, not a shooter nailed it. Not sure it will be in Boston, but he could be a Vinny Johnson type. Was off the ball a fair bit last year, and he isn't very good without the ball.

Hauser may push Grant. Guy can shoot. Probably needs a year in the weight room.

August made himself some money. Not NBA money, but he looks really good.

Fernando should be able to do TT thing but finish better. Has an edge, which was one thing TT brought.

Juhann Begarin looks a year or two away. But he looks more like a next level athlete, motor than Romeo (yeah I am down on Romeo) For where he has played, and his age. Looks like a 2nd round steal. I know they want to stash him, but he is reaqdy for better than the league he played in last year. Does he have any French Canadian relatives? Asking for a friend.
 
Last edited:

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
So wild that with all of the battles of the unbeaten trying to win by a large enough point differential to play the Celtics in the Championship Game........let’s not forget that there are still EIGHT more games on the slate today!!
 

BillMuellerFanClub

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
1,388
Vecenie with a couple of Celtic mentions in his Summer League review:

Honestly, ranking Pritchard at No. 37 on my 2020 NBA Draft Board is one of the dumber things I’ve done logically in a while. I loved Pritchard in college. I have a Naismith Award vote and voted him as a clear finalist. He would have been my second-place vote if the ballot was a ranked-choice ballot. Simply put, he’s just gotten so much better each of the last three years, and it was obvious then that Pritchard was going to be an effective offensive NBA player. I let the worries I have about him defensively override what I knew what true about him offensively. Even if I do think the defensive concerns are still justified, that was just silly. He’s clearly going to be worthy of the first-round pick the Celtics used on him, and he has a chance to exceed that by a pretty sizable margin if his play continues.

Pritchard was the most effective player I saw at aummer league this year, which shouldn’t come as a total surprise given that he’s coming off of a season where he deservedly earned votes for the All-Rookie team. There was never a moment where he was hurried or rushed. His poise stood out to the utmost degree to the point that he almost looked bored while also trying to make dudes look ridiculous trying to defend his step-back game.

Three things really stood out. First, the range. Pritchard looked extremely comfortable shooting not just behind the NBA line, but shooting over five feet behind the NBA line. Any team that went under a ball-screen that got set even 30 feet away from the basket got punished. But honestly, we kind of knew he could do that. The improvements came in two places. Pritchard’s handle has taken another step forward. There’s another level of suddenness off the bounce. He uses deceleration well, then explodes into each move. On top of that, he can creatively string together multiple change-of-direction moves at full-speed now while maintaining total control.

More than that, though, there was not a more comfortable passer at summer league. Pritchard’s decision-making has long been terrific, but it was even better this summer. He posted an absurd 8.7 assists to 1.3 turnovers per in his three games. His live-dribble passing took a step forward, particularly with one hand. Having long been more of a jump-stop passer, Pritchard threw a couple of impressive one-handed live dribble looks with confidence that make me think he can run the show as a starting guard at some point for this Celtics core.

Everything about this was exactly the kind of performance you expect to see from a guy when you’re counting on him to take a leap the following season. And indeed, even with the Dennis Schröder signing, the Celtics need Pritchard to be useful this year, at the very least off the bench. They need secondary creation next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from the backcourt. It’s easy to feel way better about that coming from Pritchard following a standout summer league performance.


Nesmith largely has played the same role he’ll be asked to with the Celtics as opposed to the expanded role that another floor spacer above, Bane, was asked to play. However, it’s the little expansions of Nesmith’s game that have been most promising. More shots off of relocation dribbles as opposed to just hoisting contested catch-and-shoot 3s. Some little floaters and drives into the lane attacking closeouts. The former Vanderbilt wing will always be at his best keeping things simple and being a catch-and-shoot gunner, if only because he’s a terrific shooter from distance. But he needs those little counters in order to best take advantage of that shooting talent.

Nesmith averaged about 19 points per game, and looks pretty ready to be a rotational wing next year for the Celtics. He averaged about 10 points per game in his final 10 regular-season games for the Celtics this past year, and I think I’d anticipate him doing something like that again for them, acting as a floor spacer for Tatum and Brown.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
27,957
Saskatoon Canada
We have all been saying that out of Semi, Nesmith, Langford, Pritchard, Edwards, et al there is playing time for 2-2.5 guys. Pretty clear who is ahead now. If from the yong group we have two good rotations guys, that's really positive outcome.
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,758
We have all been saying that out of Semi, Nesmith, Langford, Pritchard, Edwards, et al there is playing time for 2-2.5 guys. Pretty clear who is ahead now. If from the yong group we have two good rotations guys, that's really positive outcome.
If the Celtics are going to be one of the top teams in their conference, two of that group, plus TL, have to become solid rotation players, and one of them has to become a better than average starter.

I’m looking for TL to have a breakout season, and both Nesmith and PP to be double digit scorers on 40+% shooting from three

Anything the team gets from Romeo and/or Grant is a bonus. I won’t be surprised if Grant becomes a solid three and D guy.