Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman set a physical tone in Celtics preseason defense

Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman have drawn attention for their defense as well as their scoring through Boston’s first two preseason games. In an October 12 report for the Celtics’ official website, Taylor Snow noted that each player had drawn three offensive fouls, accounting for all six the team had forced.

Five of those fouls came while the pair fought through illegal screens. Coach Joe Mazzulla connected that activity to reading the game and being willing to play physically.

Practice partners learning from each other

Gonzalez said he and Scheierman regularly practice together. He praised Scheierman’s defense and shooting, describing him as someone he could learn from while improving his own game.

“We just try to compete against each other to make each other better,” Gonzalez said in Snow’s report.

Mazzulla said the two players were willing to stay attached to opponents, disrupt screens and absorb contact. His comments described their approach, rather than announcing a change to Boston’s rotation.

Early defensive activity, not a season verdict

The official report also highlighted Boston’s 16 steals and 22 deflections in its preseason win over Philadelphia. Gonzalez said aggressive defense becomes easier when all five players share the same understanding of the coverage.

It is a small exhibition sample. The value of the report is the specific work Gonzalez and Scheierman are doing, not a prediction that two preseason games establish their production for the coming season.

Our Celtics-76ers recap covers the result.