Baylor Scheierman helped change the game in the Boston Celtics' 125-124 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
He did it without scoring. The third-year wing from Creighton only took five shots. His lone basket came on a corner 3 that helped the hosts outscore their visitors 16-5 in the final six minutes of the third frame.
When the Celtics drafted him, much of the attention was on the former first-round pick's shooting. However, he's a Swiss Army Knife on offense -- one who wants to make more of an impact with his on-ball reads this year. He can initiate offense, function as connective tissue, knock down shots off the catch and off the dribble, and make plays for his teammates. Defensively, he regularly takes on difficult matchups. Thanks to his work to transform his physique, he has proven effective at guarding the other team's top scorer.
Scheierman's also effective on the glass. He generates extra possessions at one end and hustles to help prevent them at the other. His shooting is valuable, but above all else, Boston needs him to impact the game in other ways besides scoring. His performance in Wednesday's win highlighted that reality.
How Baylor Scheierman starred in his role against the Nets
He and Sam Hauser brought the Celtics and TD Garden to life when they both dove on the parquet for a loose ball after Chaney Johnson dribbled it off the back of his leg and then inadvertently kicked it into the backcourt. Hauser then buried a 3 that pulled Boston within two late in the period. With both teams going scoreless for almost 2:30, that moment was a turning point.
Between turnovers and an inability to buy a basket from beyond the arc, Boston was searching for a spark. Scheierman, Hauser, and Luka Garza were the match that ignited the flame.
Their energy was contagious. Diving on the floor for loose balls, Hauser's shot-making, Garza taking a charge from Julius Randle, and Scheierman's defense against Michael Porter Jr. were essential on a night when Jayson Tatum painted a 40-point masterpiece.
Keeping the focus on Scheierman, the six-foot-six wing also did a commendable job guarding Porter. The Nets' sharpshooter finished with 27 points on 50 percent shooting. However, while the Nebraska native guarded him, he held Porter to three points and just one field-goal attempt. One shouldn't take NBA.com's matchup data as gospel. However, it matches the eye test. He did a good job of denying him off the ball.
"He defended without fouling. He was just physical. To me, it's just his presence," said Joe Mazzulla after the game. "You want guys that can impact the game without scoring, and Baylor really takes pride in that."
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