Hugo Gonzalez showcased what mattered most in Celtics' Summer League debut

On the heels of a training camp session shortly before the Boston Celtics departed for Summer League, Hugo Gonzalez shared with Hardwood Houdini that his most significant adjustment was acclimating to the NBA three-point line.

"[The] biggest adjustment is to try to handle out with that three-point line [on the floor] and to handle with the lines," voiced Gonzalez. "I think I'm adapting myself well."

He certainly proved that in his Las Vegas debut. Gonzalez repeatedly let it fly from beyond the arc without hesitating. He did so off the catch and the dribble.

The 19-year-old from Real Madrid made 3/5 triples he hoisted. His form looked good, and so did his touch. He made it seem as if adapting to a three-point line that's further back was a non-issue for him.

"I'm pretty lucky that I got a staff that is pushing me right now to get better, to perform really good. They're just giving me confidence of shooting whenever I'm open or whenever I think that I'm not [in] a good situation," Gonzalez told Hardwood Houdini about his mindset, entering his first Summer League game with the mentality to let it fly without hesitation.

"So, I think that's the main thing. They're giving me a lot of confidence of my on-ball and my catch-and-shoot and everything. Of course, I'm working up the court, but I think that the main thing is that they are bringing me the confidence for shooting."

Hugo Gonzalez shines defensively in Summer League debut

Gonzalez and Max Shulga were defensive pests. The Celtics' Summer League head coach, Matt Reynolds, told Hardwood Houdini he credits that duo for setting the tone for Boston defensively.

Gonzalez plays with an edge. He's physical and has a high-revving motor. That translated to applying pressure in the backcourt, being difficult to dislodge on screens, and getting the better of a chippy battle with Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer that lasted much of the matchup.

Sharing his assessment of how the Celtics' first-round pick performed on defense, Reynolds conveyed to Hardwood Houdini, "I think he ended up on the ball handlers a lot, particularly down the stretch. You can see that he was kind of wearing it a little bit, but that was an excellent tone that he and our backcourt set throughout the course of the game."

Hugo Gonzalez the facilitator

Gonzalez has a sophisticated understanding of the angles to attack as a driver. His ability to get downhill enables him to create quality shots for his teammates.

As his first Summer League tilt progressed, especially after halftime, his floor vision became easier to appreciate. Gonzalez finished with a game-high five assists.

"You could just tell that he was developing a bit of a feel for the way they were guarding, the way that our team needed to play," Reynolds expressed to Hardwood Houdini about Gonzalez's increased impact as a facilitator.

"I thought that he created some advantages that we didn't capitalize on. He might have had a tough roll around the rim or a kick-out that we missed, but I thought he was really composed down the stretch."

Gonzalez tallied 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, two blocks, matching teammates Amari Williams and Charles Bassey for the most in the matchup, and one steal.

He helped steer Boston to a 92-78 win to start on a positive note in Sin City. One must caution against overreacting to one Summer League performance. However, what Gonzalez showcased is that not only is the hype about him being a defensive menace with playmaking chops legitimate, but he's also not shying from shooting without hesitation.

The latter is the skill that will primarily determine his ceiling. It makes what he displayed from beyond the arc on Friday that much more encouraging.