Jay Scrubb has taken an unorthodox path to his probability on the NBA. But he is aware of he has an ideal alternative proper now, and he’s hoping to show it into one thing important throughout Summer League with the Celtics.
Scrubb took a street much less traveled as he performed two seasons at John A. Logan College, a junior faculty in Illinois. But the 6-foot-5 guard did sufficient there to be observed and earn a range by the Nets within the second spherical of the 2020 draft. After just a few stops – and a few NBA minutes – he landed with the Celtics this summer time.
“It was a crazy transition for me, going from junior college to the league, but I feel like my talent speaks for itself,” Scrubb stated Sunday in an interview on NBA TV. “I can compete with the best, and I’m here.”
Scrubb turned some heads over the Celtics’ first two Summer League video games this weekend with an array of spectacular scoring strikes. Coming off the bench in each video games, Scrubb scored 17 factors in Saturday’s loss to the Heat earlier than scoring 15 – together with 12 within the first half – of Sunday’s loss to the Wizards. He had the play of the day on Saturday with a steal and transition dunk within the first half and continued to get to the rim comfortable on Sunday. He’s making an early case to stay with the Celtics doubtlessly on a two-way contract if he can proceed to play like this over the following week.
“Just confidence in myself, there’s a lot of great guys out here competing,” Scrubb stated on NBA TV. “I just want to show that I’m one of the best players here. That’s all I really want.”
Davison indicators two-way deal
The Celtics introduced throughout Sunday’s recreation that time guard J.D. Davison – their second-round decide in 2022 – was signed to a two-way contract for his second season.
Davison was additionally on a two-way deal final season as he spent nearly all of his rookie yr with the Maine Celtics, and the C’s will hope their younger level guard can proceed to develop in his second season. He’s been up and down throughout Summer League play thus far. He dished out 11 assists on Saturday, however dedicated 10 turnovers to 9 assists in Sunday’s loss.
Pierce talks store
Paul Pierce was within the constructing in Las Vegas for the Celtics’ Summer League recreation on Sunday, and the C’s legend shed a few of his ideas on his group within the wake of the commerce that despatched Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies and introduced Kristaps Porzingis to Boston.
“The roster looks good,” Pierce stated on NBA TV. “The main thing is you got Jayson (Tatum) there and hopefully Jaylen Brown signs a long-term deal, you bring in Porzingis. So, I’m a little disappointed in getting rid of Smart but maybe some change was needed. But hopefully it can help them get over the top.”
Pierce was requested how the Celtics fill the void left by Smart.
“It has to be filled from a number of guys,” Pierce stated. “I think it’s time for Jayson Tatum to step up to a bigger leadership role along with Jaylen Brown and be a bigger voice in the locker room. I think it’s that time and I think if he’s able to do that, it’ll carry the team a long way.”
And it was no shock who Pierce thinks is the early favourite to return out of the Eastern Conference subsequent season.
“No bias, it has to be the Celtics,” Pierce stated. “I mean, I think they got the best player in the conference. Between Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum. Hopefully you bring back Brown and add Porzingis, a guy who really had a great year for Washington last year, so I have to say the odds-on favorite has to be the Celtics.”
In-season event revealed
The particulars of the NBA’s inaugural in-season event – coined the NBA Cup – have been introduced this weekend. The competitors consists of two levels, starting with group play – all 30 groups have been randomly drawn into teams of 5 inside their convention based mostly on final season’s standings – after which the knockout stage. Each group will play 4 designated group play video games – two house, two street – with the six group winners advancing to the knockout spherical together with two wild card groups, The knockout stage will encompass single-elimination video games beginning with the quarterfinals on Dec. 4 and 5 earlier than the semifinals and championship on Dec. 7 and 9, which can happen in Las Vegas.
Every group will proceed to play a traditional 82-game common season schedule. All in-season event video games will rely towards the common season standings aside from the championship.
The Celtics have been drawn into East Group C, which additionally consists of the Nets, Raptors, Bulls and Magic.
Williams says goodbye
Grant Williams posted farewell messages on his social media channels this weekend following his commerce final week to the Mavericks after he performed his first 4 seasons with the Celtics.
Williams posted on Twitter: “To the Celtics, the city and my brothers: Thank you for your belief in me and support through all of our seasons of basketball and life. I’m beyond grateful to have been a part of this organization & will forever have love for the people that surrounded me in this experience.” …
The Celtics have been amongst a number of groups who attended a personal exercise for veteran free agent level guard John Wall on Sunday, in keeping with The Athletic. The 32-year-old Wall, a five-time All-Star, is hoping to land with a group after spending final season with the Clippers.
Source: www.bostonherald.com