Boston Celtics: R.J. Hunter Is Ready For The NBA
The Boston Celtics impressed with their opening preseason game in Italy, and even though his numbers might not say a lot, R.J. Hunter showed that he should be ready to immediately impact the Celtics next season. Hunter was the first rookie off the bench for the team, and he ended up shooting 1-of-4 from the field with three points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
His stats do not jump off the page, but he impressed because he showed how smart of a basketball player he is.
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College did not tell us that much about Hunter
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In college at Georgia State, Hunter was asked to do just about everything on the offensive end for the team. He had to score in a variety of ways, and he was double-teamed often, which is why his field goal percentage was not too good in college. He sometimes forced tough shots because the team needed him to score.
When the Celtics took Hunter, they knew he could shoot from anywhere and that he has great length for a shooting guard/wing, but it was hard to tell that he was a smart basketball player if you watched him in college.
Watching Hunter during Summer League was interesting because his role was much different than it ever was at Georgia State. Hunter has the ability to disrupt passing lanes, he has great speed to cover wings and guards, and he is a gifted passer.
These things were hard to see in college because he put so much effort in on the offensive end, and sometimes he would not show his best effort on defense. During his time in Summer League he showed every part of his game, and that he can help the Celtics in many ways, especially since he will not be the go-to scorer for the team this season.
The Celtics do need shooting, which is why Hunter will get the most minutes as a rookie this season, but he can do a lot more than just shoot, as he has shown in Summer League and his first preseason game.
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Hunter will be the top rookie on the Celtics this season
Hunter should impact the Celtics in a big way this upcoming season because the Celtics are going to need his great shooting and length on the perimeter. Hunter must add on a little more weight, but his length and shooting has gotten him pretty far already.
The Celtics are going to call upon Hunter right from the start of the season because he has showed that he is much more than just a shooter, even though shooting is what he will be primarily used for. Hunter can also play great defense, disrupt passing lanes, and he is a above-average passer, which makes him a key reserve off the bench for the Celtics.
Hunter is also a player that is ready for the direction that most NBA teams are heading because of his ability to shoot and space the floor.
Many teams passed on Hunter in the first round of the NBA Draft, and the Celtics are more than thrilled that he fell all the way to the end of the first round because he going to help the Celtics in many ways this season.
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