After his group blew out the Hornets with a 41-point preseason-opening win, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was excited concerning the check a playoff group just like the Raptors introduced Wednesday at TD Garden.
Mazzulla definitely preferred what he noticed, even when the evening ended with a loss that can finally show to be meaningless.
The Celtics constructed a 19-point fourth-quarter lead that they blew in any case their starters and regulars have been pulled – finally dropping 125-119 in time beyond regulation – however there was lots extra to love about Mazzulla’s group that can take the court docket for actual video games in lower than two weeks, as Jaylen Brown, Malcolm Brogdon and Sam Hauser all shined once more.
Takeaways and notes from Wednesday’s preseason loss:
– The season opener continues to be 12 days away, however Jaylen Brown appears to be like like he’s prepared for the season to begin now. Brown, who was the most effective Celtic through the NBA Finals in June, has picked up the place he left off within the first two preseason video games.
After a sizzling begin in Sunday’s opener, when he scored a game-high 24 factors, Brown was at it once more on Wednesday. He scored 12 of the Celtics’ first 18 factors – which included a powerful play on a driving left-handed layup to begin the sport – and continued to seek out his shot as he went 9-for-14 from the sphere and 3-for-6 on 3-pointers. His solely hiccup got here within the second quarter, when he inexplicably missed three consecutive free throws after being fouled taking pictures a 3.
– Malcolm Brogdon continued to seem like a game-changer coming off the Celtics bench. The level guard, not anticipated to be a group’s major scorer after holding that position for 3 seasons with the Pacers, appears to be making a seamless transition because the Celtics’ sixth man and chief of the second unit. Brogdon completed with 9 assists – a lot of them on kick-out 3s – giving the guard 18 helpers over the primary two preseason video games.
– Several of Brogdon’s went to Sam Hauser, who rewarded the guard’s unselfishness by catching hearth from 3-point land – once more. After going 4-for-5 from distance in Sunday’s blowout, Hauser adopted it up with an excellent higher efficiency as he went 5-for-7 from past the arc as he continues to strengthen his case to be a taking pictures risk off the bench within the wake of Danilo Gallinari’s harm.
– Grant Williams got here up hobbling after showing to show his ankle whereas going for a rebound on a play on the finish of the third quarter, however appeared to be positive.
Williams had one other strong recreation off the bench because the fourth-year ahead appears to be like to construct on final season as he produced eight factors and 5 rebounds. In addition to flattening a pair of 3s, he had a powerful bucket on a hesitation drive within the second quarter, a play that signifies the work he’s placing to broaden his recreation and ending skill on the rim.
– Blake Griffin, who signed and had his first apply with the Celtics on Monday, didn’t play. The ahead performed a light-weight scrimmage at Wednesday morning’s shootaround and whereas Mazzulla left the door open pregame for him to make his debut, he opted to attend as Griffin continues to get acclimated inside Boston’s system. Griffin went via warmups however got here out sporting a white Celtics hoodie and sat on the bench throughout Wednesday’s recreation. It’s doubtless he’ll play in Friday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Hornets in Greensboro.
Luke Kornet missed Wednesday’s recreation as he continues to get well from a sprained left ankle. The middle continues to be day-to-day however is getting higher, in keeping with Mazzulla.
Source: www.bostonherald.com