Chris Cenac Jr. just had a wild night on the Summer League court for the Boston Celtics, blocking four shots in their first loss of the summer to the Hawks. But don't let those defensive flashes blind you, folks. The rookie's performance came with the worst plus-minus of any Celtics starter, a stat that tells a much bigger story than just the blocks.
The Mixed Bag Reality
Yeah, Cenac put up 13 points, grabbed five boards, and dished out two assists, which sounds solid enough on paper. But it was a total mixed bag, and those numbers don't tell the whole truth. He coughed up the ball **five times**! That's just brutal for a guy trying to make his mark. It offsets those blocks, and then some, really hurting his team when they needed him. This isn't just one bad game either; his whole Summer League has been a mixed bag so far.Why We Knew This Was Coming
Honestly, Celtics fans, this is exactly what you should have been expecting. Cenac came out of Houston with top-10 draft pick potential, but he slid all the way to 27th in the 2026 NBA Draft. Why? Because at Houston, he wasn't asked to do a ton. And when he *was* called on, his youth and inefficiency popped up too often. The guy's clearly got talent, no doubt there. His length and athleticism are killer on defense, and he can make offensive plays all over. But man, the consistency just isn't there yet.Pumping the Brakes, Hard
Look, it's super early. Nobody's writing the guy off yet, and that's not the move. But it is absolutely time to pump the brakes. The Celtics are a veteran, championship-contending squad for 2026-27. Of course, it'd be awesome if Cenac could blossom into a key piece for that run. But there's a reason this high-ranking recruit fell in the draft: he hasn't fully put his game together. His potential and upside are still huge, but let's be real, his odds of reaching that top-tier ceiling might be a bit lower than hoped. Summer League is the perfect place for him to ride the wave and get better daily. He's not the finished product, and he's got a ton of work ahead, but that's perfectly fine for a rookie. So, while the blocks were sweet, those five turnovers are the real gut punch. Cenac will be back on the court soon, and Celtics fans will be watching to see if he can clean up the sloppiness and start bringing that tantalizing potential to the floor more consistently.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.