Maine Celtics, 2024-25 – Loss in the EC Finals

[Hal14]

Clearly this is a philosophical difference of opinion and no one is changing their minds. So no point to go back and forth. But I high-lighted 1 part. Yes Miami may play young players "out of necessity" but they develop and in many cases quite fast and well.

Carry on Gents..

Developing quite fast as you put it is relative. Vincent and Strus didn't become everyday rotation player for the Heat until their third season there (and they were 25 at the time). Robinson also didn't become a rotation guy until he was 25 (although to be fair it was only his second season). Caleb Martin came to the Heat at 26 with 2 years and 1000 minutes of NBA experience. Jordan Walsh is a 19 year old rookie.

You want to believe that Walsh would be better served being on the fringes of the Boston rotation instead of playing in Maine, that's fine. But don't try to defend that position by saying it's what Miami would do when we have years and years of evidence that it's actually the complete opposite of what they do.

Really?? undrafted but older Rookie Kendrick Nunn started the season as a starter over previous season's all star guard G Dragic. D Robinson had 1 game started the previous year and almost no NBA game experience when he started the season as a starter over highly touted and promising Rookie Tyler Herro. Gabe Vincent was also thrown into the Mix over former All star Kyle Lowery at ome point. Max Struss barely had any NBA experience when he was thrown into the starting lineup near the start of the season with Miami. Yes they were all older than our Rookie but they all played over many far more Proven NBA players on Miami while having Proved almost nothing on the NBA level. How much NBA experience did Highsmith have last year when he was thrown in the playoffs over Kevin Love at times.

If your argument it was due to "G League experience" and being older than Walsh than so be it.

Nunn - played an entire season in the G league before ever playing a game for the Heat..and was 24 when he first got mins for Miami
Martin - started out in the g league and was 26 before playing for miami
Highsmith - Played 3 seasons in the G league, then got picked up by Miami and started playing for them at age 25
Gabe Vincent - started off in the G league, then began getting mins for Miami at age 24
Duncan Robinson - played basically his entire first season in the g league, then began getting rotation mins for miami in his 2nd season - at age 25
Max Strus - started off in the g league, then began getting rotation mins for Miami at age 24
Tyler Herro - was contributing for Miami right away as a rookie, but he was a lottery pick
Jaime Jaquez - drafted 20 spots higher than Walsh and played 3 more seasons of college ball than Walsh

How does bringing up any of these guys help support your opinion that Walsh (19 yr old drafted in the 2nd round) should be thrown right into the fire on a title contender instead of starting off getting reps in the G League?

If anything, Miami is simply proof that the ideal path for 2nd round picks and UDFA guys is to develop them in the G league first and then slowly ease them into rotation mins with the big club.

Bringing up Tatum and Brown (both were top 3 picks in the draft) is also not very relevant to a discussion about a kid who was the 8th pick in the 2nd round..

These guys are the closest thing there is to an apples to apples comparison with Walsh. All of them were recently picked in the early to mid 2nd round, and were all drafted at a similar age to Walsh. Also included is 1 guy who was the last pick of the 1st round (Watson)

Josh Minott - played basically his entire rookie season in G league last year
Leonard Miller - he's a rookie now, in the G league
Peyton Watson - played basically his entire rookie season in the G league. Now, in year 2 is in Denver's rotation
Patrick Baldwin Jr - played basically his entire rookie season in the G league..then got traded to Washington
Nikola Jovic - played basically his entire rookie season in G league
Amari Bailey - on a 2-way, playing in the G league as a rookie
Kendall Brown - played basically his entire rookie season in G league..was on a 2-way
GG Jackson - on a 2-way, playing in the G league as a rookie
Rayan Rupert - rookie, similar player to Walsh. has played like 3 MPG in a couple of games so far for Portland which is basically nothing. Meanwhile, he's getting 30 MPG for the Blazers G league team.
Sidy Cissoko - has only played in 1 game so far this season. He played 29 mins...for the Spurs G league squad
Isaiah Todd - played pretty much all of his first 2 seasons in the G League..then got traded twice during the 2023 offseason, and then got waived

Maxwell Lewis is older than Walsh (he recently turned 21, while Walsh is still just 19) and Lewis played 2 seasons of college ball - only 1 for Walsh. But they're wings who both got drafted around the same spot in 2023..and both got drafted by teams who lost in the 2023 conference finals. Are the Lakers throwing Lewis into their rotation right away as a rookie? Of course not. He's riding the bench..and he just played 28 mins in a G league game the other night.

[Fencer reregistered]

Clearly this is a philosophical difference of opinion and no one is changing their minds. So no point to go back and forth. But I high-lighted 1 part. Yes Miami may play young players "out of necessity" but they develop and in many cases quite fast and well.

Carry on Gents..

Developing quite fast as you put it is relative. Vincent and Strus didn't become everyday rotation player for the Heat until their third season there (and they were 25 at the time). Robinson also didn't become a rotation guy until he was 25 (although to be fair it was only his second season). Caleb Martin came to the Heat at 26 with 2 years and 1000 minutes of NBA experience. Jordan Walsh is a 19 year old rookie.

You want to believe that Walsh would be better served being on the fringes of the Boston rotation instead of playing in Maine, that's fine. But don't try to defend that position by saying it's what Miami would do when we have years and years of evidence that it's actually the complete opposite of what they do.

Really?? undrafted but older Rookie Kendrick Nunn started the season as a starter over previous season's all star guard G Dragic. D Robinson had 1 game started the previous year and almost no NBA game experience when he started the season as a starter over highly touted and promising Rookie Tyler Herro. Gabe Vincent was also thrown into the Mix over former All star Kyle Lowery at ome point. Max Struss barely had any NBA experience when he was thrown into the starting lineup near the start of the season with Miami. Yes they were all older than our Rookie but they all played over many far more Proven NBA players on Miami while having Proved almost nothing on the NBA level. How much NBA experience did Highsmith have last year when he was thrown in the playoffs over Kevin Love at times.

If your argument it was due to "G League experience" and being older than Walsh than so be it.

But I Hate to remind you we did just lose the conference finals to a team with 7 undrafted players who clearly had Less experience than our team as a whole and by a lot.

Experience is fine, but a bit overrated IMO. Just look at how much NBA and playoff experience we had with Tatum Brown Al and Smart vs Miami and how that mattered for nothing. Sometimes you just have to get the young player in there.

Thank God our team didn't have Tatum the 19 year old rookie come off the bench considering we were a playoff team the year before. Kyrie Smart Rozier J Brown Horford and recently signed Gordon Hayward all were there day one with Tatum.

Yes I know Tatum was a talented Lottery pick. But at the same time was thrown right in and responded awesomely. All I ask is give our other talented 19 year old a small but steady role and I believe good things will happen.

Damn the most I have replied in maybe ever... and I want out of this circular debate.

Venus showed promise of good looks
Don Juan was a budding gallant
And Shakespeare's plays showed signs of talent
The Arctic winters are rather coolish

-- Ogden Nash

[return2glory]

Watch on YouTube

Maine with the win tonight.

Big games for Davison and Nathan Knight.


https://gleague.nba.com/game/lin-vs-mne-2052300048?view=box-score

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Not the most efficient night for Walsh but if the highlights are to be believed he made every play down the stretch so there's that.

I know a lot of people are down on Davison after his summer league showing but (three game sample size alert) he is rebounding more, assisting more, shooting better from three and the line and doubled his scoring outpput to over 26 points per game.

[Hal14]

I know a lot of people are down on Davison after his summer league showing but (three game sample size alert) he is rebounding more, assisting more, shooting better from three and the line and doubled his scoring outpput to over 26 points per game.

I believe we can't keep a guy on a 2-way for more than 2 years. I think it's realistic that if JD keeps developing, he could make the roster next season as a deep bench guard..he could be a guy who comes in for spot minutes, gives some energy, athleticism, really pushes the pace, throws some lobs and then comes out..

Turnovers are an issue for JD if he has too much ball handling/initiating responsibility. But if he is in there as a secondary ball handler (with either Jrue, white or Tatum out there with him) he could be decent.

This season in Maine he should just keep working on his decision making with the ball, his shooting and defense. He does that and I think next season he could contribute for us a little bit..

[return2glory]

Not the most efficient night for Walsh but if the highlights are to be believed he made every play down the stretch so there's that.

I know a lot of people are down on Davison after his summer league showing but (three game sample size alert) he is rebounding more, assisting more, shooting better from three and the line and doubled his scoring outpput to over 26 points per game.

I just like the way Walsh plays, overall. Besides his defense, he is underrated in putting the ball on the floor and passing. He is working on his 3. You're right about him down the stretch last night. He came on strong in the 4th.

Nice to see Davison shows signs on improvement early in their season. He is averaging 21, 10 and nearly 7 rebounds a game on a respectable 35% on 3s. Still early, but it's nice to see. He is still 21.

[Hal14]

Seeing how well JD is playing to start the season (and he was decent in preseason too) is just further evidence that Summer League is almost meaningless (cause he was bad in summer league this year)..

[sam_I_am]

Seeing how well JD is playing to start the season (and he was decent in preseason too) is just further evidence that Summer League is almost meaningless.

True but it was all we had to go by. I really thought we got a steal last year. I think his terrible defense is all that is holding him back. His speed and passing ability definitely stands out. He’s got the size to defend (unlike PP) but his lateral foot speed is abysmal. I do believe he is an NBA player - hope it’s in Boston.

[playa-hater]

Watching the highlights, the one play that stood out for me is when J Walsh jumped aggressively in the passing lane, stole the ball, flew down court and made a monster dunk for the And-1. Somethings you just can't teach. His instincts and aggressive nature with those long arms are already promising enough. But adding in a good-looking shooting stroke passing and dribbling. It's clear to me that he will be a damn good one.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[Parliament10]

Maine Celtics leading by 45pts, in the 4th.

REPEAT.
Maine, leading by 45pts.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

24/6/2 for Jordan Walsh (on just 10 shots attempts since he got to the line a ton, 0 turnover)
22/4/11 for JD Davison (leads the G-League in assists at over 10 per game, nobody else is over 9)

https://stats.gleague.nba.com/game/2052300059/

[zoyathedestroya]

Lol at the +/-. So they’re basically GLeague Tatum and White.

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[return2glory]

Watch on YouTube

Maine Celtics in a blow out win.

Big games by Davison with 22 and 11 assists. Walsh with season high 24 and to go with 6 rebounds. Stewart with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Schakel with 22 points.

[ConstableGeneva]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[playa-hater]

So J Walsh's highlights didn't include any of his 3 point makes

Despite that, I will keep with my assertion that Walsh is/will be an Andre Iguodala clone with more creative abilities.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Career night for JD Davison to beat Charlotte's G-League team and avenge the main club. 38 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists. 14/22 shooting (1/3 from three and 6/9 from the free throw line). Small sample size but he's now third in the G-League in scoring and first in assists so he might be the best offensive engine in the G-League right now.

Tougher nights for Walsh (5pts, 2/10 from the floor) and Queta (although he did get 4 blocks and 4 offensive rebounds).

Boxscore: https://gleague.nba.com/game/mne-vs-gbo-2052300078?view=box-score

[return2glory]

Watch on YouTube

JD with a great game as mentioned earlier by Smart2Nesmith43.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Queta with really good game too. 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks in only 14 minutes.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

4th straight win for Maine. Tough game for JD (4/17 and 6 turnovers). Queta efficient in limited minutes (11 points, 8 rebounds in 19 minutes). 14/6/2/1/1 for Walsh on 5/11 shooting (2/6 from three, 1/1 from the line).

Boxscore: https://www.espn.com/nba-g-league/boxscore/_/gameId/401595393