Ten takeaways from the Celtics loss to the Raptors

1. Large Jordan Walsh Minutes

Going into the ultimate preseason sport, one of many ultimate questions for the Celtics was who was going to fill the Oshae Brissett position for the Celtics this season and final night time, Jordan Walsh might need gained the job.

Walsh was part of the primary spherical of substitutions for the Celtics coming off of the bench early on this sport, seemingly gaining the belief of Joe Muzzulla. Walsh was taking part in heavy minutes with the starters early on within the 1st quarter and was trying to discover his position however struggled just a little bit. Then within the 2nd quarter, Walsh was part of an enormous 25-2 Celtics run and have become a contributor. He bought a steal on Scottie Barnes that led to a layup by Luke Kornet and hit a 3 on the wing on an help from Payton Pritchard.

Walsh didn’t do something within the third quarter, however within the 4th quarter he was part of a comeback try by the Celtics and hit an enormous layup to tie the sport with 48.8 seconds within the quarter.

With the sport on the road and the Celtics down 1 with 11.7 seconds to go, Jordan Walsh had an opportunity to win the sport with the ultimate shot however bought denied (and arguably fouled) on the rim.

It wasn’t an ideal night time by any means for Walsh as he completed with 7 factors on 2-6 taking pictures from the sector and 1-3 from three, however he did play some strong minutes with the starters and might need performed his method into the common season rotation.

2. Jayson Tatum performed sport regardless of the taking pictures numbers.

For those who checked out Jayson Tatum’s ultimate numbers, the title for this takeaway could possibly be deceptive. Tatum completed with 24 factors, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9-22 taking pictures from the sector and 5-13 taking pictures from three. Not one of the best taking pictures numbers however for those who watched the sport all through the primary half, Tatum was rolling.

Tatum began scorching, splashing a clean step again three in Jakob Poeltl’s face and delivering a nasty poster dunk on former teammate Bruno Fernando.

He completed the primary quarter with a dunk off a steal by Jordan Walsh and had 7 factors total. Tatum continued his scorching taking pictures into the second quarter the place he hit two threes and a buzzer beating mid vary shot over Jonathan Mogbo.

On the half Jayson Tatum had 15 factors on 6-12 taking pictures and 3-6 from three, however within the second half he struggled to search out his shot because it appeared like he was forcing up loads of contested threes and it killed his effectivity utterly. It did seem like Tatum was simply making an attempt to take as many pictures as he might earlier than Joe Mazzulla subbed him out for the sport, so I’m keen to over look it.

The principle factor to remove from this sport was the truth that Jayson Tatum’s leap shot continued to look good and he was not afraid to search for his shot at any time of the sport. If his shot can proceed to hit all through the season with consistency, whereas persevering with to get his teammates concerned, we could possibly be seeing one of the best model of Jayson Tatum this season.

3. Double Massive Lineups could possibly be making a comeback

With Kristaps Porzingis being out to start out the season, the depth on the massive man place for the Celtics goes to be extra necessary than ever. We now have seen loads of minutes from Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemis Queta all through the preseason, and with Al Horford taking part in simply his first preseason sport tonight, the Celtics went with some double massive lineup seems to be. The outcomes: fairly strong.

The most effective seems to be from the double massive lineup got here with the lineup of Pritchard-Walsh-Tatum-Tillman-Kornet to start the second quarter the place the Celtics proceeded to go on a 19-0 run. Tillman and Kornet have been locking up the Raptors on protection which led to quick break transition threes by Pritchard and Tatum.

The Celtics performed round with a bunch of double massive mixtures with Tillman/Kornet, Horford/Kornet, and Horford/Queta. I’m very to see if Joe Mazzulla throws out extra double massive lineups with Tatum on the small ahead this season.

4. Luke Kornet for many improved participant of the preseason

Going into the start of final preseason, there wasn’t lots of people very excessive on Luke Kornet. Kornet was identified for his humorous postgame interviews and signature celebrations on the court docket after a making a basket and being an okay third string heart. However over the course of the offseason, Kornet has put loads of work in on his sport and turned himself right into a participant the Celtics won’t be capable to dwell with out.

Within the 4 preseason video games he’s performed this 12 months, Luke Kornet is taking pictures 17-23 from the sector and going 5-5 tonight. It felt like he was at all times in the fitting place on the proper time for the Celtics and appeared extremely comfy with the beginning lineup. Kornet improved his rebounding and protection as nicely, changing into a fairly serviceable anchor for the Celtics protection.

I’m very excited to see what Luke Kornet brings this season for the Celtics and he would possibly turn out to be their most necessary participant coming off of the bench.

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5. Payton Pritchard continues to amaze

Payton Pritchard has had an unimaginable preseason thus far and was within the beginning lineup at present alongside aspect White, Brown, Tatum, and Horford with Jrue Vacation out for relaxation and he continued to placed on a present.

In the course of the 19-0 run to start the second quarter, Pritchard was the principle catalyst of the scoring, hitting again to again threes and attacking the offensive glass which arrange second probability alternatives.

Pritchard completed his night time with 15 factors on 5-11 taking pictures from three, persevering with his string of wonderful three level taking pictures all through the preseason as via 5 video games, he shot a complete of 21-44 (47.7%) from past the arc.

Payton Pritchard will play an enormous position for this group and will likely be prepared for any state of affairs he’s thrown in to. He stated it himself after Sunday’s win, he’s a winner and he’s going to play his position to assist the Celtics win video games.

6. Toronto dominated the glass

These takeaways aren’t all constructive, as we’ve got reached the most important weak point of the Celtics sport which was getting out rebounded 57-36 by Toronto. This led to the Raptors destroying the Celtics in second probability factors 24-5. Boston was getting simply out muscled by Jakob Poeltl who grabbed 16 rebounds and it was an total sloppy effort on that entrance.

This is perhaps a really slight trigger for concern transferring ahead as we’ve got seen prior to now with a participant like Myles Turner within the Japanese Convention Finals for instance, doing just about no matter he needed down low on the Celtics with out Porzingis on the ground. If this Celtics group had an Achilles’ heel, getting out rebounded by a extra bodily heart could possibly be it.

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7. No minutes for Jaden Springer or Lonnie Walker

Jaden Springer and Lonnie Walker weren’t part of the Celtics rotation at present as for the primary three and a half quarters of the sport Joe Mazzulla ran a 9-man rotation consisting of Pritchard, White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Kornet, Walsh, Tillman, and Queta. Then for the final 6 minutes of the 4th quarter, Ron Harper Jr, Baylor Scheierman, and JD Davison bought in alongside Walsh and Queta.

This comes off of the heels of a small debate amongst Celtics followers over the potential of perhaps buying and selling Springer to place Walker on the roster. Springer has been just a little underwhelming this preseason as he hasn’t gotten loads of minutes and when he has they haven’t been very spectacular together with Jordan Walsh seemingly taking a leap. Walker nonetheless is coming off of a 20-point sport vs. Raptors on Sunday so him not taking part in might imply the potential of him not making the group. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see what occurs with Springer and Walker heading into the season.

8. JD Davison’s insane 4th quarter

When JD Davision checked into the sport with 5:11 left within the 4th quarter, the Celtics have been down 108-100. Davison would proceed to attain 8 straight factors for the Celtics highlighted by a layup off of a steal and loopy and-1 three to place Boston inside putting distance.

Down 2 with 26.4 seconds left, JD Davison hit a loopy step again three to present the Celtics the lead.

Sadly it wasn’t the determined shot as he could be referred to as for a foul with 11.7 seconds left, sending D.J. Carton to the road who hit each free throws to win the sport for Toronto. Even with the error on the finish, Davison has proven actual enchancment within the restricted time he’s had within the preseason. If he has one other good season in Maine, he might discover himself on the roster sooner or later.

9. Al Horford shaking off the rust

This was the primary preseason sport Al Horford performed this season and you could possibly inform he was shaking off the rust just a little bit. Horford completed with solely 2 factors on 1-6 taking pictures from the sector and 0-4 from three. The seems to be have been there for Horford, however the pictures simply weren’t falling.

I don’t suppose that is trigger for concern in any respect as I feel Horford will likely be tremendous as soon as the season begins but it surely’s one thing to say none the much less.

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10. The Celtics won’t ever be out of a sport

This sport was an ideal show on how regardless of how a lot they’re down, the Celtics at all times have an opportunity to win a sport. The Celtics began out gradual, permitting the Raptors to attain 46 factors within the first quarter. To counter this explosion by Toronto, the Celtics opened the 2nd quarter on a 19-0 run and tied the sport, erasing a 24 level deficit, and main on the half. Within the third quarter the Celtics couldn’t hit a shot, solely scoring 19 factors however bounced again once more within the 4th quarter as they nearly made a comeback in the long run.

This confirmed me that regardless of who’s on the market climate it’s the starters or the reserves, this group won’t give up, even within the preseason. That’s the Joe Mazzulla mindset at work and it makes me joyful to see everybody has purchased in.

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