5 Lessons from Celtics Summer League loss to Heat

Some thoughts from the Boston Celtics Summer League loss to the Miami Heat.

The Boston Celtics got their Las Vegas Summer League season underway with a 119-114 loss to the Miami Heat. This time of year is always fun. We get to take a closer look at the incoming rookie class and see how some sophomores’ and third-year talents have developed over the past 12 months.

For me, the result isn’t important.

I prefer to see how players approach the game, fit within the system, and compare next to some of the more experienced talents on the floor. I also try not to place too much emphasis on how a player performs during the tournament — although it’s much more fun to get involved with the hype train.

Summer League games are often messy. Everybody is competing to impress the executives in attendance. A large portion of the players in the tournament are fighting to earn a roster spot, or a two-way deal — or even a move overseas.

However, yesterday’s game was a high-level matchup, with both teams playing solid offense and defense.

Here are five things we learned from the matchup.

5. Jahmi’us Ramsey has shades of Jay Scrubb

Last summer, Jay Scrubb was the Celtics’ best scoring option in Summer League. He had earned himself a two-way deal with Boston and put on a show throughout the tournament in Las Vegas. His ability to change pace, score from all three levels, and force defensive rotations ensured a fun viewing experience.

“Being what the team needs coming in and being that knockdown shooter, being that guy that could come in and guard and come in and be that glue piece,” Scrubb told me shortly after Summer League last season. “It’s sort of that same mindset just coming in and being that added piece that added boost for the team. That’s the main thing.”

Unfortunately, Scrubb suffered a torn ACL during a team practice and never got to fight for minutes on the main roster.

Ramsey dropped 16 points in 14 minutes of playing time. He went 6-of-8 from the field while pulling down two rebounds and dishing out an assist. He was a blur when getting downhill and displayed high-level ball control.

Credit to NBC Sports Boston for posting this clip on Twitter (X).

Ramsey is supposed to look good at this level. He’s a four-year pro. The Sacramento Kings drafted him with the 43rd pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He spent two seasons with the franchise, playing in 32 NBA games and averaging 3.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists. He spent the 2022-23 season in the G-League before playing seven games for the Toronto Raptors last season.

Given the Celtics’ current depth and the two-way spots that are being used for developmental talent, Ramsey is unlikely to stick with them. However, some strong performances could see him secure a contract elsewhere. Nevertheless, watching him play is going to be a fun experience throughout the remainder of Boston’s Summer League games.

4. It was a tough night for Jordan Walsh

Walsh struggled. He didn’t have the defensive impact we expected, and his shot abandoned him throughout the night. He will have better games. Still, the lack of impact from the sophomore forward won’t have helped his cause in fighting for the opportunity to compete with Boston’s bench unit.

Walsh went 1-of-8 from the field and registered six fouls. He did grab 5 rebounds, which was a plus. However, despite having the ball in his hands for long periods, he failed to show any creation skills — both self-creation and playmaking for his teammates.

In fact, it wasn’t until the dying minutes of the fourth quarter that I saw a play that made me think, “This is the Walsh we saw in Maine and in last year’s Summer League.’

Walsh kept pace with Maimi’s ball-handler in transition before turning the jets on to close out to a shooter once a pass was made. He quickly got into a good defensive position, forced the ball-handler to attack off the bounce and used his long wingspan to slap the ball away — he then got out in transition.

The Celtics drafted Walsh for his defensive upside. His scoring has always been a work in progress, and he has shown some good signs of development over the past year. However, this wasn’t the best showing of his improvements. Boston will want more from their second-year project, and he can rise to the challenge.

There’s no need to overreact to one Summer League game. Walsh will undoubtedly have better outings.

3. JD Davison showcased a lot of growth

Check out this clip.

When JD Davison entered the NBA, he was essentially a downhill menace who relied on his athleticism to create opportunities around the rim. The above clip shows the vast improvements he’s made to his game, specifically in terms of body control and understanding how to maximize his ability to cycle through gears on the fly.

As you watch the above play, note how Davison uses a pound dribble to bring the ball back toward his hips, giving him much more control and protection over the rock. He then goes into a deceleration step — or as Luka Doncic calls it, a ‘slow step.’ That de-cel, along with the up-fake, gets his man to bite and leave his feet.

Davison likely would have finished the play with a soft touch around the rim if it weren't for the trailing big. Instead, the shot got stuffed.

I wanted to show this clip because I thought it was a good indication of the progress Davison is making in Maine. He has far better body control, and he has begun manipulating defenders by threatening to turn the corner or put the jets on.

We also saw the third-year guard knock down some perimeter jumpers—some off the dribble, others off the catch—which is another encouraging development.

Overall, Davison went 6-of-7 from the field, dished out seven assists and pulled down three rebounds. He was one of the best Celtics on the floor, played with a personal pace that allowed him to be effective as a scorer and creator, and showed some encouraging flashes on the defensive end.

However, he needs to clean up his screen defense, as he got caught a couple of times when his man slipped out of the screening position early.

2. Baylor Scheierman showed a bit of everything