The Boston Celtics have invested a lot into their most recent “youth movement” by using all four of their draft picks in 2019: Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards, and Tremont Waters.
Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards have been with the Boston Celtics all season long, while Tremont Waters is on a two-way contract with the Maine Red Claws and Romeo Langford has been injured for a majority of the season.
I compiled the stats of the Boston Celtics’ last seven away games (Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks) with the focus being on the production of Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards. How are the rookies producing on the road this season?
In the Celtics’ last seven games on the road, Grant Williams has gone 6-20 from the field, and including 0-6 from behind the arc, for a total of 2.1 points per game in six games (did not play at Sacramento).
Williams’ high basketball IQ puts him in the correct positioning on both ends of the court, but he isn’t as consistent offensively as the C’s would prefer him to be. It is noted the forward connected on his first three-pointer in the NBA Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Boston.
https://twitter.com/JoeGiza/status/1201953993586397184
Defensively, Williams matches up well with physical players and has proven to be very durable in the paint as we’ve seen him get beat up down in there from time-to-time. Even though he is considered to be “undersized”, he definitely doesn’t play like it.
Grant Williams with not one, but TWO help-defense blocks at the rim. Kid has an uncanny ability as a rookie to be in the right place at the right time. pic.twitter.com/ckeUSY6leb
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 19, 2019
In the last seven road games, Carsen Edwards has shot 4-23 from the field, 3-14 on three-point shot attempts, and has averaged 2.1 points per game in the last six away games (did not play at Los Angeles).
After an impressive Summer League performance from the Purdue product, expectations elevated to astronomical preparations as we learned he can be a sniper from behind the arc and can be a great scorer for the second unit. But he hasn’t been able to do it in the regular season just yet.
Edwards is poised to be a great contributor for the Celtics’ bench this season. More work with Kara Lawson will be great for the combo guard, as he becomes a more confident shooter and overall player in the NBA. In this video you can see Danny Ainge coaching up Edwards with Kara Lawson.
Way in the background there, you'll see Danny Ainge giving Carsen Edwards some kind of advice pic.twitter.com/DY9zuyKUTb
— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) December 4, 2019
Defensively the 21-year-old is a player who plays fetch and follows the ball. He can be pestering to opposing ball handlers and cause turnovers. During his time here early on in Boston, Carsen Edwards should look to be a sponge to Marcus Smart and absorb some of his defensive knowledge.
The Boston Celtics will need Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards to be able to produce on the road; especially down the stretch. Both players are in the big-picture for the Celtics. We’ll have to wait and see if the 2019 NBA Draft will pay off for the green and white.
(** This post was scheduled prior to last night’s contest against the Indiana Pacers **)