WALTHAM, Mass. -- Whether it was final exams in class or the final seconds of a close game, R.J. Hunter typically saves his best for last.
That’s why with less than a week before the Celtics have to trim their roster down, Hunter has been at his best in practice and in preseason games, but is it too little, too late?
Most indications are that either Hunter or Young will be waived by the Celtics, the latter having been a tad bit more consistent and effective thus far in the preseason. The gap between Hunter and Young appears to be closing quickly, however, with Hunter looking and playing like we haven’t seen since he was a star at Georgia State.
In the last two games, Hunter has averaged 11.5 points in just 14.5 minutes per game. In addition, he has provided solid play as a defender. Hunter wasted no time in Boston’s 120-99 win over Brooklyn on Monday to assert himself as a scorer immediately.
Only seven seconds had passed off the clock when he drained a 30-foot 3-pointer. I asked him about his mindset when the ball found its way back to his hands so early in the shot clock.
“I should be like that more, really,” he said. “I love that transition (3-pointer) and Terry (Rozier) hit me with a great pass so I got enough space to get it up.”
He came into the NBA with the reputation of being an excellent shooter, but he’s out to show that his game involves more than just the long ball.
In addition to constantly looking at ways to improve his long-range shooting, Hunter said he has been working to find other ways to score. During a conversation earlier with CSN analyst and Naismith basketball Tommy Heinsohn, Hunter was encouraged to work on his mid-range shooting game as well as dropping floaters in the paint.
“I spent a lot and it’s not just the mid-range; it’s floaters, shot-fakes, all types of things,” Hunter told CSNNE.com. “It really opens up your game. Once I get into the lane, people don’t expect me to shoot floaters or go in for a lay-up. That just opens my game up even more.”
And the time for his game to open up, is now.
“I’ve always been a late-bloomer in every aspect,” Hunter said. “School, life, basketball. I’m starting to get a nice rhythm. As far as training camp, I’m excited the season is coming up. I have a bigger battle to fight than my individual needs of making the team. I just have to keep getting better.”