The preseason is over for the Celtics, and, frankly, they seemed much more dominant than they did most of final 12 months.
No, the competitors wasn’t fairly as stiff, and sure, they did lose to the Raptors, however the total product was crisp and aesthetically pleasing. For these naively frightened a couple of championship hangover, I believe it’s protected to say this preseason ought to quell these doubts.
Star gamers, function gamers and gamers preventing for a spot all confirmed one thing all through the 5 video games. Listed below are preseason grades for every participant (and sure, they’re going to be largely be excessive – the Celtics are good at basketball).
Jayson Tatum
Tatum has nothing to show anymore. He has the ring, the celebrity and the clout. Every thing from right here is just an opportunity to cement and increase his legacy even additional.
Maybe essentially the most encouraging improvement is that his exterior shot seems to now not have a hitch. Tatum was aggressive from 3-point vary, making an attempt 9 per recreation and hitting 38.9 p.c within the preseason. In any other case, it was just about establishment for among the finest gamers on the planet.
Grade: A-
Jaylen Brown
Brown had some moments of brilliance, however he seemed a bit shaky at instances as properly. Whereas he does seem to have placed on some further muscle, he shot 19 p.c from 3 and turned it over 2.3 instances per recreation in simply 22.6 minutes.
It’s nothing to fret about, however grading him within the A spread based mostly solely on this wouldn’t be correct.
Grade: B
Jrue Vacation
Vacation has earned the proper to basically chill within the preseason. He performed simply 16 minutes per recreation over three contests and shot 52.9 p.c. He managed to common a steal per recreation and put fixed stress on the ball.
He stays a very excellent match for this staff.
Grade: B+
Derrick White
White continues to dam pictures at a ridiculous charge. He averaged 1.3 per recreation whereas enjoying a median of 24 minutes.
He was a bit careless with the ball at instances (1.5 turnovers) and didn’t shoot it too properly (37.8 p.c from the ground), however his vitality and tempo have been instrumental in Boston’s success. I’d wish to see a stat for what number of runs a participant sparks, as a result of I’m fairly certain White could be close to the highest of the league.
Grade: B
Al Horford
Horford performed only one recreation and seemed a bit rusty, nevertheless it’s nothing to fret about transferring ahead. As soon as the lights are brighter, and he will get in a rhythm, he’ll be simply effective. Giving him a grade feels foolish, as a result of the pattern dimension is simply too small and he’s Al Horford.
Grade: N/A
Payton Pritchard
They don’t name him Preseason P for nothing. The factor about Pritchard is that whether or not it’s a pickup recreation, a preseason recreation, a regular-season recreation or a playoff recreation, his depth will all the time be there. Joe Mazzulla has to like teaching a man like that.
Pritchard averaged 16 factors, a team-high six assists and three.4 rebounds per recreation. He hit well timed pictures, made life simpler for his teammates and barely turned the ball over. It might be a protracted shot for him to win Sixth Man of the Yr, nevertheless it’s not inconceivable.
Grade: A
Luke Kornet
Very like Pritchard, Kornet is all the time prepared when he will get the chance. Whether or not he performs 10 minutes or half-hour, chances are high these minutes are going to be fruitful.
His type meshes completely with Vacation, White, Brown and Tatum. With Kristaps Porzingis out, and Horford not enjoying each night time, the Celtics have somebody they will belief to begin of their place. Don’t be shocked if Kornet scores in double figures on a considerably constant foundation.
Grade: A
Sam Hauser
Confidence has all the time been a staple of Hauser’s recreation, and it seems he’s extra assured than ever getting into this season. Why wouldn’t he be? The man doesn’t miss.
He shot 45.8 p.c from 3-point vary within the preseason and in addition showcased an improved capability to beat defenders off the dribble. If you hit a pair in a row, the protection has no selection however to swarm. Make the proper learn, take a couple of dribbles and hit the open man or stick a jumper. He’s doing simply that.
Grade: A
Xavier Tillman Sr.
Very like Kornet, Tillman matches this staff completely. Additionally like Kornet, the Celtics can belief him when their high bigs are out. He seems extra snug total, and notably from 3-point vary, the place he shot 54.5 p.c within the preseason.
Tillman additionally averaged 0.8 blocks per recreation in 17.2 minutes an evening, which is a promising signal for the Celtics.
Grade: A-
Jordan Walsh
The only strategy to sum it up is that Walsh seemed like an NBA participant on the market. He has a excessive ceiling, and his ground seems to be decrease than some initially thought.
His bucket within the ultimate minute Tuesday was very spectacular, and even on the final shot, he had the proper concept as he zoomed to the rim. For him, it’s all about confidence, rhythm and shot choice. The instruments are there. The following step is persistently placing all of it collectively.
Jordan Walsh confirmed actual flashes all through this preseason. This is what stood out to me:
– Persistently performed at managed tempo
– Persistently made good choices
– Improved launch from 3
– Reputable burst/first step on drives
– Excessive-level defensive potential pic.twitter.com/Vxo7Rc6I0R— Marc D’Amico (@Marc_DAmico) October 16, 2024
Grade: A-
Neemias Queta
Queta is an attention-grabbing one, as a result of he has some moments the place he seems great and others the place he seems a bit misplaced.
Whereas he does not naturally slot in fairly in addition to Kornet and Tillman stylistically, he does supply a shot-blocking ingredient that few backup bigs within the league present. His size is spectacular, and the subsequent step is offensive footwork and fluidity.
Grade: B
JD Davison
Davison has moments of brilliance and others the place he regresses and elicits a Cheez-It industrial “Not prepared” stamp. His shot seems higher, he’s a dependable dribbler and he performs onerous on protection, however shot choice, decision-making and turnovers are nonetheless a problem.
He’s actually proper in between a daily function participant and a G-League standout. This season might be a pivotal one for him long run.
Grade: B+
Drew Peterson
Peterson has improved lots. Give him credit score. The fact is that he’s a poor man’s Hauser in the mean time, so it’s going to be onerous for him to carve out a real function. Having stated that, he deserves reward for a way a lot he’s labored on his recreation.
Grade: A-
Lonnie Walker IV
Walker is an NBA participant, interval. Whether or not that’s with the Celtics or with another staff, he deserves to be within the league. I personally would maintain him on the roster and let him present a spark as wanted off the bench.
Grade: B+
Jaden Springer
I anticipated Springer to get a bit extra run within the preseason. He performed simply three video games, averaged 13.8 minutes and albeit didn’t present an entire lot whereas he was on the market. Springer’s protection is elite, and his offense is coming alongside, however time could also be ticking.
Grade: B-
Baylor Scheierman
The true Celtics Weblog diehards might be aware that I used to be extraordinarily excessive on Scheierman when the Celtics drafted him. I’m nonetheless extraordinarily excessive on him, however I’ll confess that it might take a while.
Taking pictures, test. Passing, test. Dribbling, test. Determination-making, test. Now, it’s about adjusting to the tempo of the NBA and determining tips on how to convey these abilities his naturally has to the forefront.
He shot simply 17.6 p.c from 3, so something lower than a C wouldn’t be correct, however don’t lose hope simply but. He’s nonetheless studying, and I’m assured he’ll determine it out.
Grade: C
Dmytro Skapintsev
Alright, we’re actually stepping into it right here. This man’s not unhealthy! Shades of a much less cellular Dino Radja (OK, perhaps not fairly). However hey, he makes good choices, has delicate palms and finishes higher than anticipated. Who is aware of…
Grade: B
Anton Watson
I additionally thought Watson would play extra. He averaged simply 7.7 minutes so it’s onerous to grade him precisely. He ought to fare properly within the G-League this season.
Grade: N/A
Ron Harper
Similar for Harper, who blended in Tuesday night time however didn’t do a lot else. He performs onerous, which definitely counts for one thing.
Grade: N/A
