Boston Celtics: Hunter and Jackson on Outside Looking In
Things look bleak for R.J Hunter and Demetrius Jackson following the first preseason game
There is still plenty of time left in the preseason for new players to make their claim at a final roster spot for the Boston Celtics, but both R.J Hunter and Demetrius Jackson seem to be in the least favourable position after their performance against the 76ers. Even without Gerald Green in the lineup, the two of them were barely given an opportunity, and took advantage of nothing.
The two of them combined for a grand total of zero points, zero rebounds, zero assists and two turnovers on three shot attempts. They were unproductive and were often liabilities on the court, and there was nothing in the first preseason game to suggest they will be a part of the second unit rotation this season.
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This is not the end of the world for either of them. They are both young and need time to develop. Missing out on a roaster spot this season is not a definitive reflection of what can be expected of them with the Celtics, but their lack of production was not the only issue.
They lacked aggressiveness while on the court. They did not find any way that they could contribute and Stevens is struggling to find reasons to give them minutes, even in the preseason. The two of them had the least amount of minutes for anyone that saw the court against the 76ers, and the Celtics were at their worst with them on the court.
Despite just 11 combined minutes played, they combined for an awful -23 on the day. The two of them could not have been more disappointing in the limited minutes they were given, but the good news is that it should not be their last.
For now, the priority in the preseason is clearly the top end of the second unit. Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier were the team leaders in minutes, and while that should be a trend throughout the preseason, it will not be that way throughout. Hunter and Jackson should expect a shot at redemption, but they took an awful step back in that first preseason game.
The Celtics also do not need to take chances on these fringe guards. They have phenomenal depth at the guard position, and they will not waste their time with players that will not be able to contribute even in limited minutes. The Celtics will continue to be patient with Jackson and Hunter but their back court stability is too strong for fringe players that cannot be productive in the preseason.
Nothing definitive can come out of one preseason game, but things were not looking great for Jackson or Hunter even before that game. the top four in Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Smart and Rozier are the strongest unit on the team, and they have dynamic back court options behind them in Green and Brown. James Young was similarly given fewer minutes than all those guards ahead of him, but he was the only one to impress in his limited time.
The Celtics will not be able to carry all these guards but they still have this opportunity to earn a final roster spot. Young will need to continue to prove that he can score, but all of these players need to do more in order to get a real role on the second unit. The Celtics need shooting but that has never been enough to get a roster spot. The lack of shooting can potentially be overlooked for Jackson and Hunter, but their lack of production in any other phase of the game will not be tolerated.
It will be interesting to see how many more minutes Stevens will invest in Hunter and Jackson. Even if they managed to make the roster, it will be in the most limited role and other players need the preseason playing time in order to get comfortable in what can be a crucial role. If the Celtics feel as though the likes of Jackson or Hunter have lost their chance at any kind of role in the NBA, there will not be much sense in giving them any kind of increased minutes.
A lot remains unsettled for Boston’s second unit but early indications are that Stevens has a decent idea of what he believes the back court should look like. Unfortunately, there is very little chance that vision includes Jackson or Hunter. The front court, on the other hand, remains a much bigger mystery. No one in the front court separated themselves and that is where it is more important for the Celtics to keep their options open.
Next: Second Unit: Aggressive and Inefficient
Even if Hunter or Jackson can prove that they are better options than the back end of the front court, the Celtics need to keep their options open in the front court, and that will leave little roster room for Hunter or Jackson to earn a role.