Celtics (0-0) vs Raptors (0-0) Las Vegas SL Game 1 7/10/26

[Phantom255x]

Hugo did everything well except the shooting lol, but overall that was encouraging especially from Cenac, Tonje and Amari too

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Cenac with 14-10 and 4 blocks. He played well for his first game. He was good on defense and demonstrated decent feel early. He made some mistakes early, but he learned throughout the game and didn't make those same rotation mistakes again. He committed some fouls screening, but I like that he's getting called for that so that he will learn it now. He also almost had a ridiculous dunk in the first half that would have been a top ten play of the year. Made a couple huge 3s too.

Hugo was awesome. His shot wasn't falling, but he was near unstoppable going to the rim. You have to remember the new single free throw shot rule, so his 6-9 was really more like 10-15. He had a great two-man game with Amari, both giving and receiving good setups for shots. 17-10-8 with really, really active defense.

Amari looked like he looked in the G-league. He was dominate at times. 23-13 with 2 blocks. He could have had much more than 2 assists if guys made shots too.

Tonje made some shots, but what really impressed me what how he got after it on defense. He may end up being an NBA player.

I think when Uzan settled into the game as the point guard (instead of Jones), the team settled down and started to get better looks. I didn't think he looked like an NBA player, but his defense at the point of attack was impactful and he acted like a floor general.

Mitchell's box score doesn't look that good - 4-3-2-2, but he had several "wow" plays. He was disruptive on the perimeter on defense. He looks longer than I thought he would. But he's a negative on the wing offensively. He's not a shooter, and I don't see him as a driver either (even with his electric athleticism). His future would be playing the Gary Payton Jr. role, and you could easily see how effective he could be if he was put in the short corner instead of the wing, used his athleticism on the offensive boards to get extra possessions for the team, and could be disruptive on defense.

[Phantom255x]

Cenac with 14-10 and 4 blocks. He played well for his first game. He was good on defense and demonstrated decent feel early. He made some mistakes early, but he learned throughout the game and didn't make those same rotation mistakes again. He also almost had a ridiculous dunk in the first half that would have been a top ten play of the year.

Hugo was awesome. His shot wasn't falling, but he was near unstoppable going to the rim. You have to remember the new single free throw shot rule, so his 6-9 was really more like 10-15. He had a great two-man game with Amari, both giving and receiving good setups for shots. 17-10-8 with really, really active defense.

Amari looked like he looked in the G-league. He was dominate at times. 23-13 with 2 blocks. He could have had much more than 2 assists if guys made shots too.

Tonje made some shots, but what really impressed me what how he got after it on defense. He may end up being an NBA player.

I think when Uzan settled into the game as the point guard (instead of Jones), the team settled down and started to get better looks. I didn't think he looked like an NBA player, but his defense at the point of attack was impactful and he acted like a floor general.

Mitchell's box score doesn't look that good - 4-3-2-2, but he had several "wow" plays. He was disruptive on the perimeter on defense. He looks longer than I thought he would. But he's a negative on the wing offensively. He's not a shooter, and I don't see him as a driver either (even with his electric athleticism). His future would be playing the Gary Payton Jr. role, and you could easily see how effective he could be if he was put in the short corner instead of the wing, used his athleticism on the offensive boards to get extra possessions for the team, and could be disruptive on defense.

TP, nice breakdown

Cenac to me looked like a PF tonight, but a freakish one. I won't go overboard saying he's already Giannis lol, but the flashes are there with his athletic ability inside. But yeah, he may not be a traditional center, but still a great frontcourt guy in the future

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'd say Hugo's bad shooting was partially because he was covered when he took his shots. He forced up some shots because the offense wasn't flowing and someone needed to shoot it.

I'm not bothered at all by the shooting, because he was so, so good getting to the rim and distributing this game. He was also every bit as good on defense as we've come to expect.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Cenac with 14-10 and 4 blocks. He played well for his first game. He was good on defense and demonstrated decent feel early. He made some mistakes early, but he learned throughout the game and didn't make those same rotation mistakes again. He also almost had a ridiculous dunk in the first half that would have been a top ten play of the year.

Hugo was awesome. His shot wasn't falling, but he was near unstoppable going to the rim. You have to remember the new single free throw shot rule, so his 6-9 was really more like 10-15. He had a great two-man game with Amari, both giving and receiving good setups for shots. 17-10-8 with really, really active defense.

Amari looked like he looked in the G-league. He was dominate at times. 23-13 with 2 blocks. He could have had much more than 2 assists if guys made shots too.

Tonje made some shots, but what really impressed me what how he got after it on defense. He may end up being an NBA player.

I think when Uzan settled into the game as the point guard (instead of Jones), the team settled down and started to get better looks. I didn't think he looked like an NBA player, but his defense at the point of attack was impactful and he acted like a floor general.

Mitchell's box score doesn't look that good - 4-3-2-2, but he had several "wow" plays. He was disruptive on the perimeter on defense. He looks longer than I thought he would. But he's a negative on the wing offensively. He's not a shooter, and I don't see him as a driver either (even with his electric athleticism). His future would be playing the Gary Payton Jr. role, and you could easily see how effective he could be if he was put in the short corner instead of the wing, used his athleticism on the offensive boards to get extra possessions for the team, and could be disruptive on defense.

TP, nice breakdown

Cenac to me looked like a PF tonight, but a freakish one. I won't go overboard saying he's already Giannis lol, but the flashes are there with his athletic ability inside. But yeah, he may not be a traditional center, but still a great frontcourt guy in the future

Yeah - a little John Collins-ie or Jabari Smith-ie. I think that's the ideal archetype. I liked his effort a lot and defensive instincts a lot.

[radiohead]

Mitchell had a nice putback dunk but didn?t really do anything else. He looks very raw. I?d give him a 2 way at this point and see how he develops.

[Celtics2021]

I'd say Hugo's bad shooting was partially because he was covered when he took his shots. He forced up some shots because the offense wasn't flowing and someone needed to shoot it.

I'm not bothered at all by the shooting, because he was so, so good getting to the rim and distributing this game. He was also every bit as good on defense as we've come to expect.

Agreed.  Hugo was shooting shots he would never take in a real game with NBA players around him.  It would be nice if he finished better at the rim, but he did a great job of getting there, and was running the offense a lot.  He made a ton of great passes, and was running as hard as anyone in overtime despite playing 37 minutes when no one else on either team got more than 30.

[Celtics4ever]

This game was a lot of fun to watch.  Every entertaining with all those leads changes in the fourth.

It?s preseason and Doris is already irritating.

She is always irritating and she makes me glad I have a mute button.   I feel like she is always rooting against us in the broadcasts especially the playoff games last year against Philly.

[Vermont Green]

Hugo was not great.  He was having trouble hitting shots against summer league players, he still has work to do before you can expect him to make them vs. actual NBA players.  I believe that he is great prospect, I think he is the second youngest on the summer league team (Cenac the youngest).  No need to get ahead of ourselves with him.  I am not expecting a super leap this season, but I am still very high on Hugo.

Amari Williams looked better to me (I only saw the first half), but still not quite there in terms of regular NBA minutes.  He flashes amazing ball handling and passing skills at times, but still kind of drifts other times.  He is more than 4 years older than Hugo, but less developed (he started much later).  It could be he continues to develop or it could be that the development started too late, we'll see I guess.  He is only 1.5 years younger than Queta but many years behind him in development.

I liked how Chris Cenac looked.  Moved well, seemed more than comfortable with the speed of the game.  He might already be better this season than Boucher was last season (which I know is not saying much).  Early in the process to be making final conclusions, but I liked what I saw so far for sure.  He might even carve out an actual role on the team this season.

[Kuberski33]

Observations- in general the athleticism of both teams was impressive as heck. It was an entertaining game in the sense that both teams went after it - offensively and defensively, the game was played at a frenetic pace.  Not sure whether that's just becuase these two organizations value competing on a nightly basis but fans who attended really got their money's worth.

The two guys Brad drafted this year can both jump out of the gym.  Cenac jumping over a guy, grabbing the ball with one hand and trying to slam it down in one motion was like OMG - wow - even though he wasnt successful.

Hugo was in the Scheirmann role from last summer running the show. Like Baylor he struggled though not quite as much. Like Baylor, his shooting was terrible - but he got them into their offense and his passing and playmaking were pretty good for the most part. Maybe....this had something to do with the JB trade. Hugo could be slipping into 'point' role behind Tatum and probably PP. Overall I thought he did OK.

Amari Williams was excellent. Watching the difference between him and Cenac setting picks (i.e. he knows how at the NBA level, Cenac doesn't at this point) makes you appreciate how the C's have worked with him. Excellent passer, made his FT's (shooting always being the big 'if' with him). Good defender., smart player.  Our Center depth is good.

Mitchell is raw. But I can see why they liked him. Maine will be fun to watch this season.

Tonje couldn't hit the side of a barn (along with everyone else) in the first half, but played well in the 2nd. Made some big shots and he competes on D.

Graves looks like a nice pick for them. Only 19, but he can play.

[Kuberski33]

This game fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Agreed, the first half was brutal. But the rest of the game was pretty entertaining.

[Goldstar88]

I'd say Hugo's bad shooting was partially because he was covered when he took his shots. He forced up some shots because the offense wasn't flowing and someone needed to shoot it.

I'm not bothered at all by the shooting, because he was so, so good getting to the rim and distributing this game. He was also every bit as good on defense as we've come to expect.

I don?t know how people can?t be bothered by the shooting. Hugo can?t consistently make free throws. His shooting form is not good. I hope Tatum gives him Drew Hanlens number.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'd say Hugo's bad shooting was partially because he was covered when he took his shots. He forced up some shots because the offense wasn't flowing and someone needed to shoot it.

I'm not bothered at all by the shooting, because he was so, so good getting to the rim and distributing this game. He was also every bit as good on defense as we've come to expect.

I don?t know how people can?t be bothered by the shooting. Hugo can?t consistently make free throws. His shooting form isn?t not good. I hope Tatum gives him Drew Hanlens number.

Because his form isn't bad, his rookie year was a respectable 36%, he's only 19, and he projects to be more of a slasher/energy guy/defender than a shooter and he does those things at a really good level already.

I've always thought of him in the mold of Josh Hart, Alex Caruso, Christian Braun type player, and I think he can be equally as effective outside as those guys.

[Goldstar88]

I'd say Hugo's bad shooting was partially because he was covered when he took his shots. He forced up some shots because the offense wasn't flowing and someone needed to shoot it.

I'm not bothered at all by the shooting, because he was so, so good getting to the rim and distributing this game. He was also every bit as good on defense as we've come to expect.

I don?t know how people can?t be bothered by the shooting. Hugo can?t consistently make free throws. His shooting form isn?t not good. I hope Tatum gives him Drew Hanlens number.

Because his form isn't bad, his rookie year was a respectable 36%, he's only 19, and he projects to be more of a slasher/energy guy/defender than a shooter and he does those things at a really good level already.

I've always thought of him in the mold of Josh Hart, Alex Caruso, Christian Braun type player, and I think he can be equally as effective outside as those guys.

The 36% is a very small sample size as he was attempting 1.6 threes per game and they were almost all corner 3s. I mean, he can?t consistently make free throws.

I like everything else he does, but the guys you mentioned above are much better shooters.

[Kuberski33]

It was interesting to hear Mike Zarren say after the draft that the organization is confident that it can improve shooting for individual players. Hopefully that's not overconfidence, but in Hugo's case, 36% from 3 is pretty encouraging as that's about league average. I think anyone who can shoot well in the 'run of play', so to speak can become an equally good stationary shooter.