Baylor Scheierman is one of the few faces at Celtics training camp this week after the team selected him with the No. 30 overall pick. The former Creighton standout also looks a bit different from his time in Summer League in Las Vegas, sporting a more muscular frame. Scheierman explained that shift occurred over the past two months, acknowledging he had put on an additional 10-15 pounds to his 205-pound frame.
“I think from summer league to now I spent a lot of time on my body, working on my body, trying to put on a lot of lean mass,” Scheierman said Thursday at the Auerbach Center. “I’ve been able to gain 10-15 pounds in that area. Also just working on my shot, continuing to tune up things, try to get it off quicker.”
The decision to add some muscle mass was a directive from that Celtics after Scheierman wrapped out Summer League.
“That’s something that we sat down and talked about,” Scheierman said. “Things they wanted me to improve on and that was something that they thought was important for me coming up to this level and they’re very pleased at how I’ve progressed in that area.”
Boston’s push for him to add weigh could be related to the team’s depth chart to begin the year. With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined for the first two months of the year, the team could need him to guard up a position in certain matchups if he breaks into the rotation.
Scheierman credits the team’s staff for helping him make the shift to his body with such a quick turnaround before training camp.
“I changed my diet,” he said. “Shout out to Steve in the kitchen, helping me figure out things. It’s nice to have the kitchen here, something that I’m able to take advantage of while I’m in the facility, able to get two or three meals in here a day. Then also just taking Creatine, I’m trying to shed off some of that fat.”
Joe Mazzulla has kept the focus on Scheierman’s defense early in training camp since that will be the area that teams try to pick on the 24-year-old when he’s on the court. So far, he’s been pleased with the progressions he’s seen from the first-round pick so far in camp.
“I think Day 1, it’s very difficult to adjust to NBA defense,” Mazzulla said. “I thought from Day 1 to Day 2, he made the physical adjustment, and he had some great physical defensive plays today. So I think that’s the trajectory [you want]. Any young player coming into it, the most important thing is: Can you play defense, can you execute a defensive system and can you rebound? And he got better at that from Day 1.”
Despite the change, Scheierman is pleased with how his body has handled the transition.
“It feels pretty normal to me but I’m able to hold up my own, especially if a bigger guy posting me up or what not, trying to attack me,” Scheierman said. “I feel like I’m better at holding my ground.”
Scheierman will get his first chance to show off his improved strength next Friday as the team opens up their preseason schedule against the Nuggets.
