The Celtics couldn’t have asked for a better time for Baylor Scheierman to finally step up and deliver.
It’s just been that sort of week for the C’s.
Boston was essentially rolling with the junior varsity squad in Thursday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, as Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis all missed the game with various injuries and illnesses.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla called on his rookie to fill some of those lost minutes, and Scheierman made it count, turning in the best performance of his career by knocking down a trio of three-pointers and more than doubling his career point total.
It’s what he did after a couple of those triples that got people’s attention, though.
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Scheierman blew kisses toward the opposing bench, admitting he wanted to stick it to the 76ers.
“I mean, every time you shoot by the bench they’re always saying, ‘Hell nah,'” Scheierman explained postgame, as transcribed by Brian Robb of MassLive. “I’m having to turn around and give ’em a little kiss.”
Scheierman hasn’t exactly been the most consistent member of the “stay-ready group” during his rookie season, but was able to showcase the scoring punch he can provide on Thursday. Boston’s lone rookie scored a career-high 15 points in 30 minutes of action.
“He was great on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said, per Robb. “I thought he passed up a couple early shots when he was open, and then he got them in rhythm, and he was able to make a couple. But another guy, regardless of how well he shoots, he’ll be defined by the other stuff that he does, the rebounding, the defense, the loose ball that he chased down, the charge that he took, and the crashing. I just thought he played a well-rounded game.”
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Who knows? Scheierman might have earned himself a permanent stay with the big club after his performance.