Celtics (2-1) vs Kings (1-2) Vegas SL Game #4 7/15/26

[smicker16]

Hugo is a strong rebounder.

The starting lineup I think will need someone who can guard the other teams best perimeter player. JB did do that quite often and that?s not a burden we will want to put on Tatum, PG or White. I do not think Pritchard or Hauser can be that guy so that is where I expect it will come down to Walsh Hugo or Baylor.  Unsure who it will be but I think Walsh is probably at the bottom of that group although I do like him too.

I think Baylor is getting the nod at the 2.  I think they'll keep PP coming off the bench with Hugo.  One not about Hugo, before the 24-25 season started and early into that season, he was projected to be drafted in the teens, so I think over the past two years, Hugo and Cenac, we've had potential late lottery picks fall into our laps.

Yeah I also think it will be Baylor to start, however I think the hope is that it eventually is Hugo at some point this year because I think he brings what they would want to the starting lineup with rebounding, hustle and defense.  Baylor I think is a better offensive player though especially as a reliable shooter and I do think that will give him the edge to start at the beginning of the year. 

[Who]

There is 2 other guys Cenac reminds me of. These are lower end comparisons. Both played in GSW and that is Kevon Looney & Trayce Jackson Davis.

Kevon Looney

Cenac reminds of Looney because Looney came in more as a forward as opposed to a legit big man (like Cenac). Looney was multi-tool forward but had limitations as a shooter / scorer. Cenac already far beyond Looney in this regard. But Looney reinvented himself as a smaller center in order to get on the floor. He wasn't skilled enough to play PF in the NBA. It is that idea of Cenac reinventing himself from a multi-tool forward to a center in the NBA that reminds me of Looney.

Cenac with his height / length has much more upside as a shot-blocker / rim protector and his superior shooting ability gives him more upside as an offensive player.

Looney had to double down on physicality / strength as an undersized center which Cenac will not have to do. It also cost Looney some of his multi-tool offensive skill-set as he lost some quickness / mobility by adding all that muscle.

Trayce Jackson Davis

It was Cenac's general mobility and size that reminded me of TJD. Cenac is a little taller but he is not strong yet. In that way, Cenac is still an undersized center despite his height / length. TJD has made a nice career for himself as a mobile backup center. A mobile defensive big / mobile rim runner on offense. Cenac has a similar skill-set. Similar physical qualities albeit more raw physical potential. 

How well Cenac can develop his strength and become comfortable using physicality will decide whether he remains a mobile backup defensive big (like TJD) or whether he could truly become a high quality defensive big man who can start.

[Who]

I was impressed immediately by Hugo last year. I thought he would get regular playing time that season because he was so smart, hard working and well rounded [despite his shooting limitations].

I am not as convinced by Cenac. I do not see the smarts yet. He relies on physical talent rather than fundamentals on defense. A lot of poor footwork / positioning which will be exploited by better opponents in the NBA vs SL. Cenac is not that cerebral an offensive player in terms of finding where to fit in. He has more physical talent / upside / shooting than Hugo but he also has more flaws / weak-points than Hugo that need to be addressed.

I also think Cenac will suffer from the quality on this year's team. Getting M Robinson in limits available center minutes. If M Robinson were not here - or when M Robinson gets injured - Cenac would have / will have a better chance at getting playing time.

I think Cenac will be behind Hugo, Hauser, J Walsh for the backup forward minutes. Those players can fit in more seamlessly than Cenac. They are more advanced / more knowledgeable. Cenac has more work to do first. To get ready. To get to their level. 

However, PG13 gets injured a lot too. That could free up some bench minutes for Cenac although they could probably get by without him. They have enough cover with those random wings not to use Cenac even if PG13 is injured. So maybe, maybe not.

Injuries look like Cenac's best chance at playing time next season. I do not expect him to be regular rotation player like Hugo was last year. I think we will have to wait more to Cenac's 2nd season before he threatens that.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I was impressed immediately by Hugo last year. I thought he would get regular playing time that season because he was so smart, hard working and well rounded [despite his shooting limitations].

I am not as convinced by Cenac. I do not see the smarts yet. He relies on physical talent rather than fundamentals on defense. A lot of poor footwork / positioning which will be exploited by better opponents in the NBA vs SL. Cenac is not that cerebral an offensive player in terms of finding where to fit in. He has more physical talent / upside / shooting than Hugo but he also has more flaws / weak-points than Hugo that need to be addressed.

I also think Cenac will suffer from the quality on this year's team. Getting M Robinson in limits available center minutes. If M Robinson were not here - or when M Robinson gets injured - Cenac would have / will have a better chance at getting playing time.

I think Cenac will be behind Hugo, Hauser, J Walsh for the backup forward minutes. Those players can fit in more seamlessly than Cenac. They are more advanced / more knowledgeable. Cenac has more work to do first. To get ready. To get to their level. 

However, PG13 gets injured a lot too. That could free up some bench minutes for Cenac although they could probably get by without him. They have enough cover with those random wings not to use Cenac even if PG13 is injured. So maybe, maybe not.

Injuries look like Cenac's best chance at playing time next season. I do not expect him to be regular rotation player like Hugo was last year. I think we will have to wait more to Cenac's 2nd season before he threatens that.

I agree with parts of this. I don't think Cenac plays much this year. I expect his playing time to be like Queta's first year in Boston behind Zinger, Horford, and Kornet. He may flash some, but won't be considered ready to help win games.

I also agree with you on his offensive awareness. He's not completely lost there, but he doesn't have natural feel like some guys do. That will take a lot of reps, a lot of experience, and a lot of coaching to get there (like Queta).

However, I disagree with your assessment about his defensive positioning. It was much better than I expected. I thought he was really, really good defensively. I thought his helpside was awesome. I thought he did a good job in teh pick-and-roll baiting the ball-handler further into the paint while guarding the big rolling. I thought he did well on the perimeter against ball-handlers when isoed.

Obviously he wasn't perfect, but I thought he looked awesome defensively. On top of that, he was awesome clearing rebounds in and out of his space.

[Jiri Welsch]

I was impressed immediately by Hugo last year. I thought he would get regular playing time that season because he was so smart, hard working and well rounded [despite his shooting limitations].

I am not as convinced by Cenac. I do not see the smarts yet. He relies on physical talent rather than fundamentals on defense. A lot of poor footwork / positioning which will be exploited by better opponents in the NBA vs SL. Cenac is not that cerebral an offensive player in terms of finding where to fit in. He has more physical talent / upside / shooting than Hugo but he also has more flaws / weak-points than Hugo that need to be addressed.

I also think Cenac will suffer from the quality on this year's team. Getting M Robinson in limits available center minutes. If M Robinson were not here - or when M Robinson gets injured - Cenac would have / will have a better chance at getting playing time.

I think Cenac will be behind Hugo, Hauser, J Walsh for the backup forward minutes. Those players can fit in more seamlessly than Cenac. They are more advanced / more knowledgeable. Cenac has more work to do first. To get ready. To get to their level. 

However, PG13 gets injured a lot too. That could free up some bench minutes for Cenac although they could probably get by without him. They have enough cover with those random wings not to use Cenac even if PG13 is injured. So maybe, maybe not.

Injuries look like Cenac's best chance at playing time next season. I do not expect him to be regular rotation player like Hugo was last year. I think we will have to wait more to Cenac's 2nd season before he threatens that.

I agree with parts of this. I don't think Cenac plays much this year. I expect his playing time to be like Queta's first year in Boston behind Zinger, Horford, and Kornet. He may flash some, but won't be considered ready to help win games.

I also agree with you on his offensive awareness. He's not completely lost there, but he doesn't have natural feel like some guys do. That will take a lot of reps, a lot of experience, and a lot of coaching to get there (like Queta).

However, I disagree with your assessment about his defensive positioning. It was much better than I expected. I thought he was really, really good defensively. I thought his helpside was awesome. I thought he did a good job in teh pick-and-roll baiting the ball-handler further into the paint while guarding the big rolling. I thought he did well on the perimeter against ball-handlers when isoed.

Obviously he wasn't perfect, but I thought he looked awesome defensively. On top of that, he was awesome clearing rebounds in and out of his space.

One thing I was struck by when reading up on Cenac after the Celtics drafted him: It seems like one of the reasons he chose Houston was because they would allow him to experiment with his game in order to expand it and become a better all-around prospect.

He's obviously 6'10/6'11'' with a 7'5'' wingspan, so I think he played a lot of back to the basket in high school. But I guess in Houston he was their 4th scorer and really put an emphasis on his outside game. He also made a point to expand his defensive capabilities by guarding wing guys at times.

I think all of this experimenting with his game could explain the inconsistency folks saw in physicality at Houston. I also think once he joins the Celtics and they decide (for example): We're going to try to develop him into a JJJ-type player, or a John Collins-type, or whatever they think, it will help him focus his well-rounded skillset.

But definitely see next year as a developmental year. It's just tougher for bigger guys to jump in and get consistent minutes while still having clear weak spots. It seems to have more of a direct impact on the team's ability to win games.

[Goldstar88]

The kids we've drafted in the last two years are doing pretty much exactly what you'd hope for against summer league competition.  All four of them have been encouraging at various times. 

Less enthusiastic about the invitees and UDFAs we've collected - I guess a spot is probably coming down to Uzan and Tonje, and I'm not all that interested in either tbh.  But Hugo, Amari, Cenac, Mitchell?  Sure, I see it.

Tonje has been shooting the lights out. 48% from the field, 46% from 3pt. He also has good size for a guard at 6?5/220lbs. They need to give him a 2-way

[Chief]

The kids we've drafted in the last two years are doing pretty much exactly what you'd hope for against summer league competition.  All four of them have been encouraging at various times. 

Less enthusiastic about the invitees and UDFAs we've collected - I guess a spot is probably coming down to Uzan and Tonje, and I'm not all that interested in either tbh.  But Hugo, Amari, Cenac, Mitchell?  Sure, I see it.

Tonje has been shooting the lights out. 48% from the field, 46% from 3pt. He also has good size for a guard at 6?5/220lbs. They need to give him a 2-way

He's really shooting the ball well. Id keep him.