Celtics declare in-season event win over Raptors: 10 takeaways

Whether or not or not Brown is ok going ahead is irrelevant (and there’s no guarantee he will probably be). This may’t occur! The league is attempting to indicate potential broadcast companions a enjoyable, well-branded new product, and that’s clearly a constructive, however doing so can’t put gamers in danger. These particular courts are eye-catching and generate some buzz on their very own, however the tone will shift shortly if gamers begin getting harm, and doubly so if the participant is pretty much as good as Jaylen Brown.

The NBA might need one thing percolating with the in-season event. The least the league can do — actually, the least — is ensure the flooring are protected, and it wants to take action earlier than its enjoyable little side-show event impacts the actual factor on the finish of the yr.

2. The Celtics seemed like they have been floundering a bit within the fourth quarter, and Friday’s outcome appeared very a lot unsure down the stretch. A few issues occurred that confirmed the Celtics’ resilience and improved roster, nonetheless.

First, the Celtics took benefit of their measurement, forcing a number of uncomfortable switches for the Raptors together with Dennis Schröder (extra on him in a minute) on Kristaps Porzingis because the Celtics traded baskets with the Raptors and saved tempo.

Second, they began executing successfully once more at precisely the fitting time after the Raptors sped them up for almost two quarters. With the sport tied within the last minute, Jrue Vacation backed a defender down and fired a cross to the nook, the place Derrick White buried the triple.

The Celtics now not have to depend on mismatches or isolation basketball. Mismatches abound in all of their finest lineups, which suggests easy execution ought to — on virtually any night — end in an awesome look.

3. Earlier than he acquired harm, Brown performed a very strong recreation — a team-high 23 factors on environment friendly 9-for-14 capturing, together with an enormous layup down the stretch towards Jakob Poeltl. Curiously, Brown appeared to take his matchup with Schröder personally every time he had a possibility to take action. Brown backed his former teammate down with enthusiasm and despatched Schröder packing with one notably emphatic blocked shot.

4. Pascal Siakam did the Celtics an infinite favor by committing three fouls within the first quarter. To double the difficulty for the Raptors, Siakam referred to as for a problem on the third one, which the Raptors misplaced (thereby costing them each their problem and a timeout). With Siakam sidelined for a lot of the primary half, the Celtics constructed a 16-point halftime lead.

With Siakam again within the lineup within the second half, the Raptors rallied again and took the lead a number of occasions. He completed the sport +17 regardless that the Raptors misplaced by three.

5. By the way, after seeing Jrue Vacation restrict Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, and numerous different stars who ostensibly can be mismatches, we could have discovered one participant who he struggles to protect. Vacation can push again towards stronger defenders with out situation, however Siakam’s slithery size and contact gave him suits.

Watching a participant get one of the best of Vacation’s rock-solid protection was jarring, which is to say it hammered house how elite he has been on that finish of the ground each different night time.

6. Kristaps Porzingis had an enormously impactful recreation: 14 factors, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and three blocked photographs. The Raptors attacked him repeatedly, which was gutsy however silly — he performed an enormous position in limiting Toronto across the rim. His two-way efficiency has been revelatory this season.

7. Much less nice on the Porzingis entrance: He picked up his seventh technical of the season arguing the shortage of a name within the second half. Earlier than Wednesday’s recreation towards the Sixers, Porzingis told reporters technicals are “undoubtedly one thing I’m engaged on.”

“This can be a little bit uncharacteristic for me, that many who early, however I need to blame that on the fervour,” Porzingis stated. “I’m right here enjoying and having fun with enjoying with this staff. … There’s a pair I ought to have prevented, and I’ll going ahead.”

Porzingis famous that the technicals he acquired from hanging on the rim have been “nonsense” and whereas we might largely agree, Friday’s name falls into the class that Porzingis in all probability ought to have prevented. He’s now 9 technicals away from a one-game suspension. The date is Nov. 17.

8. Tatum had an off night time (17 factors and a brutal 1-for-11 efficiency from behind the arc), which flies fully off the radar given each the standard of the win and the truth that seven Celtics gamers scored in double figures to make up the distinction.

Tatum did, nonetheless, dap up Drake postgame.