Celtics
The Celtics confirmed loads of promise of their preseason opener.
The brand new-look Celtics opened their preseason slate Sunday in opposition to the 76ers with a spirited 114-106 victory.
Listed here are the takeaways.
1. Kristaps Porzingis was as marketed offensively — an intriguing mix of floor-spacing and flexibility at an absurd peak. He buried the primary field-goal try of the sport from 24 ft out, dropped Danuel Home Jr. to the ground with a jab-and-go that led to an enormous two-handed slam, and threw down this lob from Derrick White all within the first quarter.
Defensively, the Celtics might want to work by some points together with his drop protection, which allowed Tyrese Maxey to interrupt free for a few open 3-point makes an attempt out of the pick-and-roll, and Joe Mazzulla known as for Porzingis to be extra of a rebounder postgame (Porzingis completed with 5 in 25 minutes).
However Porzingis made the Sixers take into consideration any shot across the rim, and his early returns are very promising for the Celtics’ offense, which now has a lot of fascinating new seems to be and a 3rd scorer who can punish opposing defenses.
2. The Celtics introduced Jrue Vacation off the bench in favor of a beginning lineup with Porzingis, Al Horford and White, and whereas Mazzulla brushed the choice away postgame — noting that the preseason as an entire is an experiment — it made for an fascinating dynamic.
Vacation shot poorly, ending 2-for-10 from the sphere, however he did knock down a step-back 3-pointer, and he ripped away a pair of steals. The massive takeaway was that he didn’t look notably comfy but, however that’s hardly surprising on condition that lower than two weeks in the past, he was nonetheless a resident of Wisconsin. Vacation has loads of alternatives to get acclimated to his new teammates earlier than the regular-season opener on Oct. 25.
3. Payton Pritchard had a memorable day. Previous to the sport, information broke that he and the Celtics agreed to a four-year, $30 million extension — a team-friendly deal that also makes certain Pritchard shall be very comfy for the foreseeable future. After a tricky yr final season, Pritchard — who requested a commerce hoping for extra enjoying time — ought to now discover himself squarely within the Celtics’ rotation with loads of alternatives to show himself.
He obtained off to an awesome begin on Sunday. Pritchard scored 16 of his 26 factors within the second half because the Celtics pulled away late, and TD Backyard obtained regular-season loud on a number of events — notably after his dagger step-back triple with lower than a minute remaining.
4. To briefly rain on what was in any other case a superbly cheap night, the Celtics do appear to be a crew that might battle on the glass, which was to be anticipated. Neither Porzingis nor Horford has ever been a very high-level rebounder, and the Celtics have a lot of Derrick White-Vacation-Jaylen Brown seems to be that can depart them fairly small. Placing an finish to possessions will have to be some extent of emphasis shifting ahead.
5. Each Brown and Jayson Tatum began sluggish, and Tatum specifically struggled to seek out his vary — 3-for-13 from the ground, 0-for-4 from three. In typical Tatum style, he did nonetheless fill out the field rating with 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Brown, in the meantime, broke out with 9 of his 17 factors within the third quarter, together with a 3-pointer earlier than the starters have been eliminated that secured a win for the Celtics’ predominant unit.
Regardless of further star energy Brad Stevens added this offseason, most Celtics video games this season will revolve round Tatum and Brown. Sunday’s sport was a uncommon exception.
6. We are able to’t make certain precisely how all of Tatum’s new muscle will have an effect on his offense (is he making an attempt to be Giannis Antetokounmpo with a extra superior bag now? Will the majority harm his beforehand silky jumper? Can he common nine-plus free throws per sport?), however two performs early within the second quarter have been a constructive signal.
The primary was a post-up in opposition to Kelly Oubre Jr., who has usually struggled in opposition to Tatum up to now however has no probability defensively in opposition to this new iteration. Tatum backed Oubre down aggressively, and a number of Sixers defenders meandered over to assist. Pritchard floated to open area in Tatum’s field of regard and was rewarded with an open three for his consciousness.
A couple of minute later, Tatum labored his approach into the lane, missed two makes an attempt shut the rim, then grabbed a 3rd alternative and completed it off. The Celtics need him to play bodily, and regardless of the taking pictures numbers, he was forceful on Sunday.
7. The Sixers have been very excessive on Maxey for years, and on Sunday, he seemed greater than able to step up because the crew’s second-best participant behind Joel Embiid (who didn’t play). Maxey completed with 24 factors in 29 minutes and displayed improved management over his appreciable pace and tempo.
Given how good Maxey seemed (and, to a lesser extent, the constructive contributions of gamers like Jaden Springer, who had a number of good moments together with a nasty block in opposition to Tatum), it’s onerous to think about the entrance workplace will permit the James Harden drama to proceed for much longer. The Sixers have high quality gamers who look prepared for larger roles now and buying and selling a distraction like Harden might be addition each by addition and subtraction.
8. Like most preseason openers, the fourth quarter was bereft of starters. It was, nonetheless, very dramatic and loads of enjoyable. The Celtics gained the interval 33-26 and completed it on a 17-5 run over the past 5:22 as Pritchard exploded.
However Pritchard wasn’t alone in his heroics. Dalano Banton hit a 3 and performed onerous. Oshae Brissett completed with seven factors on 3-for-6 taking pictures, and each Brissett and Lamar Stevens each crushed put-back slams that introduced the gang to their ft. Stevens’ slam counted (and he was awarded a free throw), however Brissett was (accurately) whistled for a foul. Joe Mazzulla made a veteran determination to problem the decision on Brissett’s behalf, though the decision was unlikely to be overturned.
The Nov. 8 showdown between these two groups, in fact, carries considerably extra weight than a preseason opener sans Joel Embiid. However Sunday’s sport crackled with the sort of power that might ship New England followers out into the evening with a small smile regardless of anything which will or could not have occurred earlier within the day.
9. Filed underneath “it’s preseason even for the celebrities,” Brown appeared to come back out for the primary quarter with his shorts on backward.
10. NBC Sports activities Boston launched new play-by-play announcer Drew Carter, who will take over Mike Gorman’s on-the-road duties this season and his full-time duties subsequent yr. Carter has a implausible play-by-play voice and a assured air, and watching how he builds chemistry with Brian Scalabrine shall be an fascinating facet mission this season.
We want Carter the perfect of luck. Changing Mike Gorman is a process taller than Porzingis.
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