3 Celtics who improved their stock, 3 who flopped on Abu Dhabi preseason trip
By Jack Simone
The Boston Celtics enjoyed a successful preseason stint in Abu Dhabi, sweeping the Denver Nuggets 2-0. It was an awkward start to the year, as they had to travel over international waters to get there, but Boston lived up to the billing of being the reigning champs. Plus, Joe Mazzulla got a good look at his roster.
Jayson Tatum and the rest of the starting lineup didn’t play too much. They were out by halftime in both of the contests, and Al Horford didn’t even suit up. But that meant Mazzulla got a nice long look at some of the guys who could be filling the gaps this year.
But not everyone was on the top of their game. Here are three players who improved their stock in Abu Dhabi and three who flopped.
Improved stock: Payton Pritchard
Last year, Payton Pritchard established himself as a crucial part of the Celtics’ rotation just one season after he was almost completely left out of the every-night lineup.
His three-point shooting was essential, and he even had a couple of highlight plays in the NBA Finals, nailing a pair of half-court shots to give the Celtics some serious momentum.
In Abu Dhabi, Pritchard proved that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. He’s been red-hot from beyond the arc, displaying some elite shot creation skills as well.
Pritchard can afford to carry the load in Boston a bit more than he has been, and the Celtics should trust him with that responsibility.
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Flopped: Baylor Scheierman
Summer League was a bit up-and-down for Baylor Scheierman, and the Celtics’ trip to Abu Dhabi proved to be rocky for the rookie as well.
He didn’t get a ton of minutes, so it may have been difficult for him to find a rhythm, but Scheierman has a tough time making shots against the Denver Nuggets.
At this point in his very young career, any playing time at all will be useful for Scheierman, so soaking up the experience will be very important.
That said, it seemed unlikely that Scheierman would play in the regular season before the preseason began, and his chances won’t have improved much after Abu Dhabi.