Celtics' Matt Reynolds details attention-getting growth from Hugo Gonzalez

Boston Celtics fans must maintain patience and perspective regarding the growth of Hugo Gonzalez.

The 19-year-old first-round pick is coming from a dramatically different style of play in Spain. There, possessions are methodical. Teams milk the shot clock, and there's constant cutting in hopes of forcing a defensive breakdown.

In the NBA, the pace feels like it has never been faster. Sometimes, the best look comes early in the shot clock. Players are encouraged not to pass those up.

Gonzalez was also in a situation where he averaged 11 minutes and was often out of Real Madrid's rotation. They fielded a roster featuring 10 former NBA players and won the ACB championship.

As he acclimates to the NBA game and the Celtics' system, their Summer League head coach, Matt Reynolds, shared with Hardwood Houdini what caught his attention about Gonzalez's growth during his stint in Las Vegas.

"I think, particularly, with the offensive system we're running, [it] is probably something unlike he had been used to playing," said Reynolds after Boston capped Summer League with a 101-80 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

"So whether that's just playing with the pace and freedom that our group kind of really pushed or, in the half court, kind of some different reads, whether it was on-ball, switching off-ball, different ways that our offense, I thought was really effective, and I think he became more comfortable in that."

At the other end of the floor, Gonzalez is a defensive menace. He'll apply full-court pressure, is difficult to dislodge with a screen, and has the size, mobility, motor, and basketball IQ to guard multiple positions and playing styles effectively.

"Defensively, he's a high-energy player, and we wanted to really accentuate those strengths," Reynolds conveyed. "I think with each game, he became more impactful on that end as well."

What Aaron Scott noticed about Hugo Gonzalez

Gonzalez is hard on himself. That comes from a good place. However, he'll hit himself, mutter a few words in frustration, and look despondent when he makes a mistake.

To his credit, as Summer League progressed, those acts nearly disappeared. Perhaps, it's an encouraging sign of his ability to learn and apply the lessons that come his way quickly.

But after the Celtics' stay in Sin City ended, teammate Aaron Scott shared, "When he gets a little mad, he speaks a little Spanish, and I don't know what he's saying, but you can tell he's mad."

Like Reynolds, the former St. John's forward is impressed by what he saw from Gonzalez as he adapts to a new system and style of play.

"He's learning so much," stated Scott. "I know he's young, but he's going to continue to get better."

That's what Boston is banking on. His rookie season will feature plenty of growing pains. However, if he continues implementing them at the rate he did at Summer League, then the Celtics should feel good about the home-run swing they took with their first-round selection.