Coaching camp battle: Jordan Walsh vs. Baylor Scheierman

Jordan Walsh is getting into his sophomore season within the NBA after spending most of final 12 months in Maine. Baylor Scheierman is the primary first spherical draft decide of the Celtics in 4 years. Each gamers will struggle for minutes off Joe Mazzulla’s bench subsequent season.

As a result of Boston Celtics roster depth, it’s unlikely we see each Walsh and Scheierman earn a job within the rotation. If we’re being trustworthy, each guys may spend nearly all of their time within the G-League.

Nonetheless, within the spirit of the offseason and the enjoyable that debates can deliver, Adam Taylor and latest CelticsBlogger Robby Fletcher have sat down to debate which of the younger wings may probably impress the teaching workers sufficient to be a part of the rotation.

Picture by Monica Schipper/Getty Photographs

Who has the sting on offense?

Adam: You may as effectively give me the early benefit right here.

There’s no contest on who brings extra to the offensive finish. Scheierman is a elegant three-level scorer, can create for himself and others off the bounce, and is a invaluable flooring spacer as each a spot-up and motion shooter.

In accordance with Synergy, Creighton used Scheierman as a spot-up shooter on 4.5 possessions per recreation, with every possession price 1 level (technically 0.96, however we’re rounding up.)

Creighton additionally ran Scheierman off screens as an off-ball menace on 3.3 possessions per recreation; these possessions had been price 1.04 factors. He shot 53.4% when ending transition assaults and generated 1.3 factors per possession as a pick-and-roll handler.

Check out this play. Creighton runs an NBA-level set out of a sideline-out-of-bounds (SLOB) motion with Scheierman inbounding the ball, chopping to the weakside elbow, earlier than coming out to the strongside slot for the catch-and-shoot three. That’s the kind of mobility and flexibility Mazzulla likes from his offensive threats.

Scheierman’s multi-faceted offense will permit him to fit into no matter position Mazzulla envisions whereas giving him scope to counter defensive coverages, close-outs, or mismatches. I can’t see how Walsh tops that when contemplating Scheierman’s NBA-level upside on this facet of the ground.

Robby: That is the world the place Baylor’s edge is most evident.

It’s additionally an space the place Walsh should show lots of people flawed. He pressed lots in his second Summer season League, typically forcing awkward jumpers off the dribble in addition to drives into oncoming site visitors that left him with little various than to throw the ball up and pray.

Nonetheless, a modest 27-game pattern out of the G-League warrants some optimism. He was a good 36% shooter from past the arc on 5.7 makes an attempt per recreation at that stage, displaying confidence from the perimeter that simply wasn’t there in his Summer season League play or temporary NBA minutes.

In these temporary minutes up with Boston, solely the Charlotte recreation late within the season confirmed that very same confidence from deep, as demonstrated by a pleasant raise up from the wing that resulted in a 3-pointer off the catch late within the first quarter.

Walsh can be a succesful cutter that may generate offense off the gravity of extra dependable scoring choices, of which there’d be lots on the ground surrounding him ought to he discover himself inside Mazzulla’s rotation. He’s proven a pleasant understanding of his off-ball duties throughout a number of ranges of the sport, profiting from over-helping defenders to flash into house close to the dunker spot.

Would he be operating a lot offense? Extremely unlikely, however Walsh has put numerous work into his off-the-dribble potential, and he overtly admitted he was urgent a bit too arduous to seek out his shot this summer season. The story’s a bit totally different when defenses are tasked with forcing the ball out of the palms of a Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.

Adam: My regular push-back right here can be that capturing 36% within the G-League is totally different to doing it within the NBA, however as I’m defending a rookie contemporary out of faculty, that will be hypercritical of me.

What I’ll say, although, is that Walsh’s position is well-defined. He’s a corner-spot-up shooter who must evolve his decision-making when trying to assault off the dribble. I worth the flexibility that Scheierman brings right here. He can fill the identical position as Walsh however has the skillset and polish to broaden that position based mostly on coverages. He got here into the league as a 39% 3-point shooter in faculty and had a dependable 82% free-throw conversion fee.

Walsh has loads of upside on offense, however for a contending staff, if one in every of these two are wanted within the bench rotation, Scheierman’s offense is clearly a stage or two above the place Walsh is at proper now.

Who has the sting on protection?

Robby: The clearest advantage of inserting Walsh into the rotation comes on the defensive finish.

A 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-foot-3 wingspan offers a ton of alternatives for a staff that’s greater than keen to modify matchups and reside with the outcomes.

Even amidst his general offensive Summer season League struggles, Walsh’s mixture of size with a growing higher physique permits him to deal with stronger wing assignments together with switch-outs to extra interior-oriented scoring threats.

I feel Scheierman proved to be a capably above-average defender on the faculty stage, notably in his paint protection, however I do fear about his potential to deal with the faster slashers off the wings. In Oshae Brissett’s absence, this staff may use a jolt of vitality on that facet. Walsh fills that position, particularly in his display screen navigation, the place you see his lateral quickness and outrageous wingspan on full show.

Adam: I’ll give it to ya. Walsh has the benefit on protection, particularly by way of point-of-attack and passing lanes. Nonetheless, Scheierman brings a dependable presence on the glass. He ended his collegiate profession averaging 7.8 boards per recreation, and grabbed 9 per evening in his ultimate season. He has the dimensions and positioning to assist ease the stress when groups want to crash the boards and management the tempo.

I additionally agree with you on Walsh’s benefit when guarding faster wings who look to slash off-ball or by way of catch-and-drive alternatives. Nonetheless, Mazzulla has already carried out a failsafe in these conditions, having his gamers peel swap to make sure any benefit is shortly eliminated.

Scheierman has the polish, expertise (as a five-year faculty product) and dimension to thrive as a system defender who elevates the staff’s general rebounding whereas being consigned to the weakside nook whereas his defensive skillset catches as much as his offense.

I feel he does deliver some upside to that facet of the ground, and having somebody with an outlined defensive position isn’t unhealthy for a staff filled with pitbull defenders.

Robby: All legitimate factors, notably in Scheierman’s potential to crash the glass.

I feel throughout the pre-draft course of, that was an space that was most stunning in his recreation, definitely not one thing I had observed an entire lot of throughout reside video games. Below the microscope, he performs lots greater than your common perimeter wing. It’s one thing that might simply swoon the teaching workers past his multi-faceted scoring potential.

I, nevertheless, stay on Staff Walsh for this specific space. And there’s nothing you are able to do to cease me.

Who suits higher within the Celtics system?

Adam: That is the hardest space for me…I imply, we’re speaking about two very inexperienced gamers attempting to earn minutes on the perfect staff within the NBA. Nonetheless, I feel Scheierman has a substantial benefit over Walsh, right here.

Hear me out.

Mazzulla likes his gamers to be two-way threats. He needs them to have a dependable offensive presence but in addition contributes on the defensive finish. Scheierman is nearer to a ready-made two-way expertise than Walsh.

Sure, Walsh is a greater defender, however his restricted offensive recreation actually shackles his general recreation. Scheierman, alternatively, can match right into a system protection, rebound, assist, entice, and so on… He’s additionally a dependable offensive possibility as each an off-ball and on-ball weapon, and that’s earlier than he begins trying to create for others.

Mazzulla would probably worth that sort of manufacturing on each side of the ground, and it will permit Scheierman to take part in a number of rotation combos and substitution patterns.

Robby: I agree, that is definitely a tricky space to find out, particularly as a result of they’re each such totally different gamers.

Mazzulla does in truth worth a two-way participant, one thing that matches extra in-line with Scheierman’s present skillset. I imply, the best way he flies off screens feels reduce from the identical fabric of a younger Sam Hauser. It’s clear what he offers within the speedy future. On that finish, it’s a little bit of a thriller field with Walsh, an space the place rising pains could be widespread. And I feel that’s okay. Surrounded by an unbelievable supporting forged permits him room to develop, particularly within the earlier months of the season.

Add within the aforementioned defensive versatility that undoubtedly suits their id and I feel it’s a match that possibly isn’t fully good proper now, however in time could make sense for what they want out of an eleventh or twelfth man.

Even with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined to begin the season, the Celtics have the luxurious of 10 actually high quality gamers locked into spots inside the rotation. That doesn’t depart a ton of minutes to both Walsh or Scheierman. In these minutes, I feel I worth the defensive vitality Walsh brings just a bit bit extra. Each may simply have success round a roster this good, however I preserve considering again to what Brissett supplied final 12 months, and that relentless vitality positively influenced just a few notable video games, like their early contest in opposition to Miami on Oct. 27, and even Sport 2 of the Convention Finals with Indiana. It’s hardly flashly stuff, however it’s the form of soiled work I wish to see out of a twelfth man, and one thing I really feel Walsh may present in 12 months 2.

Adam: You make some truthful factors. Walsh is arguably higher suited to “energizer bunny” position. Nonetheless, I feel in terms of general impression, I desire a man who can provide some upside on protection and work as a launch valve on offense. It additionally makes extra sense to me for the Celtics to spend the small variety of developmental minutes on somebody who can develop into a much bigger position long-term — and for me, that’s Scheierman.

Walsh is stable on protection, however his body doesn’t fill me with confidence that he can cling bodily, and he has proven that his positioning wants work, too. Once I’m taking a look at an impact-now possibility with real upside for the long run, Scheierman is my winner, primarily as a result of he comes into the staff with a excessive flooring and decrease ceiling. He doesn’t want as a lot growth as Walsh, and for a contending staff, that’s exactly what you need.

Okay, in spite of everything that, can we agree on a winner?

So, in spite of everything of this, has both of you managed to sway the opposite?

Robby: Effectively…possibly.

It’s arduous to disclaim the extra balanced skillset of Baylor Scheierman. If I had been to put cash on it, I’d in all probability say Mazzulla prefers that possibility as effectively. I’d say you’ve made the suitable factors on his match, so I’ll allow you to take the win there. I nonetheless have hope for Walsh, and possibly one other 12 months with prolonged G-League motion isn’t out of the query, however I’d wish to see his progress in 12 months 2 play out in Boston.

Adam: VICTORY!!

Solely joking 🙂

You made some sturdy factors on Walsh. I needed to sit again and actually take into consideration this debate and whether or not I nonetheless had my spot on Scheierman island. Seems that I do. I’m considering of buying some real-estate right here. Perhaps a condominium with a pleasant boat and a pool out again.

Jokes apart, Walsh has all of the instruments to be a real three-and-d position participant within the NBA. I simply don’t assume he’s prepared but, and that position will not be with the Celtics as a result of competitors for enjoying time. Baylor joins the staff as a ready-made addition and nonetheless has room to enhance his recreation.

It is smart to present Scheierman no matter developmental minutes are on provide. And if you’d like a deeper dive into what he brings to the roster, I’ve a size scouting report from a month or two again.

I wish to see Walsh get a chance, so long as it’s not at Scheierman’s expense. And it doesn’t matter what, I’ll be watching a bit nearer after the sturdy argument you made for him.

Now, although, I wish to open this debate as much as the feedback and see who the readers would select between these two and whether or not our factors have helped sway their minds…