Boston Celtics rookie point guard Carsen Edwards is a bucket. Let’s go ahead and get that conversation out of the way.
Averaging 24.3 points per game for the Purdue Boilermakers last season, Edwards showed an ability to get his points in a variety of ways and showed a prowess for scoring off-the-dribble that doesn’t come along every day.
With that said, it shouldn’t be surprising that Edwards — who knocked down five threes on his way to a team-high 20 points — led the Celtics to their first victory of the Las Vegas Summer League circuit as Boston outscored the Philadelphia 76ers throughout the contest, with a final tally of 96-82.
Rookie forwards Grant Williams and Javonte Green scored in double-figures as well, with 12 points each.
Following the game, Williams — one of the draft’s strongest prospects — would discuss his physicality, sounding like man-child he didn’t know his strength:
“…I knocked like five guys onto the ground today. Normally it doesn’t really happen, but with the spacing you have to be able to tag and get back to your man. So I didn’t realize you had to hit guys pretty hard to get back.”
Williams also had two blocks and knocked down two of his four three-point attempts, showing the two-way play and promise as a three-point threat that the Celtics are hoping will allow him to be a major piece of Boston’s rotation.
His communication on defense will certainly help him stay on the court and while mic’d up during the contest, Williams’ vocal leadership was on full display. With veteran big man in Marcus Morris and Al Horford gone, the team needs to replace two of the team’s top defensive communicators and Williams is a ready-made fit to replace Morris — who was an on-again, off-again starter for Boston — in that vein.
Edwards would focus more on his previous night, telling reporters that the earthquake that stopped the Summer League matchup between the New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night was the first earthquake he ever experienced and “[he] thought [he] was about to die.”
It might have been comical if he hadn’t been so serious.
Next up for Boston is a matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, July 8.
