Miles Norris: short-term opportunity, long-term potential

Each time a star participant is injured, that absence has a ripple impact on a whole group.

The detrimental facet is clear, because the setback regularly yields fewer wins and probably complicates that participant’s trajectory.

The optimistic facet is often much less clear and infrequently comes within the type of silver linings. Whereas nobody can really and totally substitute that standout, their absence gives an opportunity for everybody round them to step up.

Each participant has to perform a little bit extra, at somewhat bit greater of a degree, and typically, that chance is all that participant must grow to be a fixture the next season.

Within the case of the Celtics, with Jayson Tatum out for the foreseeable future, everybody else on the roster may have an opportunity to assist fill that void as a lot as potential. Nobody can substitute his 27 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, effectivity, versatility and face-of-the-franchise swagger, however every participant has a shot to indicate his value – significantly on the small ahead place.

With a guard-heavy roster, Jaylen Brown should spend extra time on the 3 and shoulder much more of the load. Georges Niang should modify shortly to a brand new surroundings. Sam Hauser should proceed to showcase his improved playmaking skill. Jordan Walsh should defend with out fouling, persistently hit pictures and discover his rhythm.

Everyone knows about these guys, however there’s one less-heralded participant who may find yourself making a reputation for himself: Miles Norris.

Norris, a Brewster Academy product with loads of upside, has the ability set NBA groups (the Celtics, particularly) covet. He’s a legit 6 ft, 7 inches, has a excessive basketball IQ, areas the ground effectively, is disruptive defensively and may actually shoot it.

He suits in stylistically with the Celtics and enhances Brown, Derrick White, Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard completely. You possibly can simply image White or Brown sneaking into the paint, drawing a double and spraying it to the wing.

When Niang and Hauser are on the bench, Norris is totally able to serving as a kind of threats. I’m not saying he’s going to common 15 factors per sport and win the Three-Level Contest, however I do assume he has what it takes to search out some enjoying time this 12 months and emerge as a gradual participant long run.

The Celtics signed Norris to a two-way contract in March – an indication that they consider in him and are intrigued by his promise. A university teammate of Pritchard’s at Oregon, Norris continued to excel within the G League with the Memphis Hustle, averaging 17.1 factors and 5.5 rebounds per sport whereas capturing 38.6 p.c from distance.

Norris, 25, hasn’t been good in Summer time League, however few are. He’s displayed his potential with a dependable exterior shot, power throughout and a terrific really feel for the sport. He scored 11 factors in opposition to the Lakers on 5-of-11 capturing Thursday, doing it on each ends as a 3-and-D man and exhibiting he’s greater than only a sniper.

The subsequent steps have gotten much more environment friendly from 3, bettering his driving skill and sharpening his positioning defensively, and he’s totally able to doing all three.

Each success story begins someplace. All it takes is one alternative, and with Tatum out and everybody shifting up a spot, Norris has that probability. If he performs effectively on the finish of lopsided video games, he may find yourself cracking the rotation.

Solely time will inform, however he has all of the instruments he wants, and it’s as much as him to grab the second.