Baylor Scheierman gave the Celtics exactly the kind of backup wing performance they’ve been waiting for on Wednesday night.
With Jayson Tatum out and Payton Pritchard leaving early because of an injury, Joe Mazzulla had to search for answers as a big lead started to slip away in the second half. That opened the door for Scheierman, and he made the most of it.
Scheierman logged 28 minutes and turned in his best game of the season. He finished with 9 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and an assist, while knocking down 3-of-4 from three-point range. He was active on the offensive glass, disruptive on defense, and brought the kind of energy Boston badly needed when the game started to tilt.
His value wasn’t limited to the numbers, either. The Celtics were flat and looking for someone to steady things, and Scheierman helped do that with hustle plays that changed the feel of the game. He gave Boston a stabilizing presence in the closing lineup and helped swing momentum back in the Celtics’ direction.
That kind of showing matters because the Celtics have been trying to get more from their young wings all season. Last year, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez all had stretches where they looked like real rotation pieces, even without much NBA experience. Boston leaned into that trio in the offseason after trading away Jaylen Brown, hoping to build on their defense, rebounding, and energy.
But this season, none of the three has really found a rhythm. Their minutes have bounced around, the starting lineup has changed, and no one has grabbed hold of a consistent role.
That’s why Wednesday stood out. If Scheierman can build on this and give the Celtics something close to this level on a regular basis, it would ease a real problem for Mazzulla. There simply aren’t enough minutes for all three young wings to be fully featured, and so far, splitting the work hasn’t brought out the best in any of them.
A steadier role for Scheierman could be coming, but if it does, it would likely come at the expense of Gonzalez and Walsh. That wouldn’t be ideal in every sense, but it might be the direction Boston needs if it wants one of these wings to truly settle in.
In Other News...
Celtics Injury Scare Faded Fast But One Bigger Concern Still Looms
Payton Pritchards latest scare turned out to be brief, which was a relief for a Celtics team that cant afford many more health detours. After leaving a recent game because a right eye abrasion was affecting his vision, he was back in uniform for the next one, and he also spoke about a right shoulder contusion while reflecting on how the team has been progressing this season.
The bigger picture, though, still runs through Jayson Tatum. He is continuing his gradual recovery from an Achilles injury and has been taking occasional rest nights as part of that process, a reminder that Bostons long-term plans are still being shaped by his return timeline. For all the smaller bumps and bruises, the Celtics are still navigating the more important question of how quickly their star can move from rehab mode back toward being himself. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Frontcourt Suddenly Has A Bucks Game Concern
The Celtics frontcourt got a little murkier heading into their matchup with the Bucks, with Mitchell Robinson now on the injury report and his availability hanging in the balance. Robinson has been a part of Bostons rotation in the early going, appearing in eight games this season while providing the kind of rebounding and interior presence the Celtics can use in a tight Eastern Conference test.
His status is being treated as a game-time call, with the team likely waiting until closer to tipoff and pregame warmups to make a final determination. For a Celtics group that has leaned on depth up front, the uncertainty is worth watching, especially with Milwaukee bringing the kind of size and physicality that can expose any late lineup changes. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Wing Battle Is Creating An Early Roster Debate
Early in the season, the Celtics have already been sorting through a familiar kind of problem on the wing: who fits, who finishes, and who can hold up on both ends. Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser have all gotten looks in the rotation, giving Boston a small but meaningful early sample of how the depth chart might shake out as the schedule settles in.
Scheierman has made the strongest case among the younger options with his offensive production, while Hauser remains the most secure piece thanks to his shooting and defensive reliability. Walsh and Gonzalez have shown flashes on defense, but their offensive inconsistency has kept the conversation open, and that leaves Boston with an early roster debate that could keep evolving well beyond the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]