Baylor Scheierman might have been the Celtics’ most improved player this season.
Baylor Scheierman might have been the Celtics’ most improved player this season.Erin Clark/Globe Staff
First in a two-part series assessing the Celtics’ roster, focused on the reserves:
Luka Garza: When the Celtics signed Garza as a free agent last summer, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the big man’s advanced numbers in a limited sample size in Minnesota caught their eye. But the Celtics might have had to squint.
Garza appeared in just 92 games over four seasons with the Timberwolves, averaging 6.3 minutes. But he showed his value as an offensive rebounder, and the Celtics believed Garza was a better long-range marksman than his 30.8 percent shooting suggested.
This season, Garza emerged as one of the Celtics’ most pleasant surprises. He gobbled up a team-high 12.9 percent of available offensive rebounds, shot a career-best 43.3 percent from the 3-point line, and served as a high-level screener who helped Boston efficiently get into its actions.
Baylor Scheierman: Scheierman might have been the Celtics’ most improved player this season. He came into the NBA as a 24-year-old rookie a year ago and sometimes appeared overwhelmed. And although he was an elite shooter in college, that did not initially translate.
But this season, in an expanded role, his confidence seemed to grow by the night. The lefthander showed elite range with his 3-point shot and made 39.9 percent of his attempts. He also shot 90.3 percent from the foul line. Inside the arc, he had a knack for hitting seemingly awkward, off-balance running floaters.
But Scheierman showed that he is more than a scorer, too. He became a tough, physical defender who could hold his ground against bigger players. Coach Joe Mazzulla’s faith in him swelled, as evidenced by Scheierman’s playing time increasing from 14.4 minutes per game before the All-Star break to 25.9 after.
Jordan Walsh: Walsh received as much tough love from Mazzulla as anyone on the team. The third-year wing recently recounted a story about how Mazzulla told him earlier this season that his career had essentially been “dead in the water” before Walsh revived it with his determined play.
Walsh was often deployed to smother the opponents’ top scoring option, regardless of position. He had strong moments against 76ers speedy guard Tyrese Maxey in Boston’s first-round playoff loss.
Walsh shot the ball poorly during his first two seasons, so for much of this year teams essentially dared him to fire away from the corners. But this time, he made them pay.
Walsh smashed his career highs in every shooting metric. He connected on 50.9 percent of his shots and 38.4 percent of his 3-pointers. Over time, opponents began to charge toward him when he caught the ball beyond the arc, and although he showed progress, there is still room for improvement attacking close-outs.
Hugo Gonzalez: When the Celtics drafted Gonzalez in the first round of last June’s draft, many assumed the then-19-year-old would spend much of this season in the G League. But it became obvious that he would be an asset for the big club.
Gonzalez’s impact is best exemplified by his performance in the Game 7 loss to the 76ers. Although he missed all three of his shots and both free throws, the Celtics outscored the 76ers by 3 points with him on the floor because his defense and energy changed the game.
Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) may have to alter his aggressive style as his career progresses.
Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) may have to alter his aggressive style as his career progresses.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Gonzalez plays as if just launched out of a cannon. But that style will have to be tweaked as his career progresses, partly because it is an injury risk, and partly because of his extremely high foul rate. Nevertheless, Stevens highly praised Gonzalez on Wednesday, calling him a “critical” part of the team’s future.
Ron Harper Jr.: Raise your hand if you thought the former two-way contract player would start Game 7 of a playoff series this season? Put your hand down if you’re lying.
Mazzulla’s choice of starting Harper, Garza, and Scheierman was certainly unusual, and in the moment it backfired, with the Celtics falling into a quick double-digit hole. But it was an example of the trust he had in this journeyman guard.
Harper had his two-way deal converted to a standard contract in April, and produced whenever he was called upon during the regular season. He is a strong guard with good court awareness, and a solid defender. He’s 26, so there probably isn’t a massive runway for growth despite his inexperience. But he’s a very solid option for an end-of-bench piece on a minimum contract.
Amari Williams: Williams, a rookie second-round pick, had his two-way deal converted to a standard NBA contract after a slew of midseason trades created roster spots. The big man played just 146 minutes but showed promise as a passer and shot-blocker.
Max Shulga: Like Williams, Shulga also had his two-way contract converted to fill an empty roster spot. The rookie played just 36 minutes with the Celtics.
Dalano Banton: The Celtics signed Banton to a 10-day contract in February before signing him to a standard contract to fill their final roster spot entering the playoffs. He appeared in just four games.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.