With the season opener 4 days away, Joe Mazzulla wished to deal with Friday’s preseason finale like an everyday season sport, a trial run as he continued to determine rotations and minutes for his regulars.
On a wierd evening at a buzzing Bell Centre in Montreal, the Celtics coach received a superb check however was most likely glad it was only a tune-up. Jayson Tatum was given a uncommon preseason ejection, Malcolm Brogdon left the sport harm and the Celtics couldn’t overcome O.G. Anunoby’s 32 factors and Scottie Barnes’ 25 in a 137-134 time beyond regulation loss to the Raptors, although Mazzulla has lots to course of earlier than Tuesday’s opener.
“I feel like we saw a couple things that are better for us for the regular season, some things that we can get better with,” Grant Williams instructed reporters after the sport. “It’s a type of issues that you just use that chance, that point to simply get higher. It’s preseason for a cause, it’s preseason for everyone. …
“I feel like we’re really prepared. I think we know what will make us great and what will hurt us. So it’s just a matter of making sure that we don’t beat ourselves, making sure that we take advantage of opportunities that are available for us and play with one another consistently. We look good out there most times, so we just have to finish plays, finish defensive rebounds. Teams are going to try and punish that, so we just have to be more physical. Be the more physical team.”
Takeaways from Friday’s preseason-ending loss:
– Because Mazzulla was treating Friday like an everyday season sport, it appeared seemingly that Tatum would play within the fourth quarter. But the world won’t ever know now.
With lower than a minute to play within the third quarter, Tatum – who had already been assessed one technical foul earlier within the interval – picked up a routine private foul however picked up his second technical foul and was ejected after showing to wave off an official sarcastically. That kicked off a complicated sequence by which Williams additionally received a technical and the Celtics got one other technical for a delay of sport as a result of Tatum didn’t go away the ground instantly. The Celtics have been main 98-93 however after the mud settled, the sport was tied following 5 free throws by the Raptors.
“It’s preseason, so you can’t get mad at officials for that,” Williams mentioned. “We’re all taking this ahead. … We have to manage our feelings higher after which we gotta do a greater job of simply understanding conditions. In that situation, we have now to do a greater job of perhaps getting J.T. off the ground and I’ve to do a greater job of simply holding my tongue and never commenting that and I feel it can assist our group.
“That’s what the preseason is all about. You have to learn and understand your mistakes, and I think that’s something that we’ll improve on and not carry over into the regular season.”
Tatum was having a superb sport to that time. After scoring two factors within the first quarter, the C’s star went off for 13 factors within the second on some sizzling capturing and powerful drives to the basket. He completed with 21 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
– Mazzulla performed a nine-man rotation for the primary half and a lot of the third quarter as his anticipated regulars for the beginning of the season got here into focus. Tatum joined Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Marcus Smart and Al Horford within the beginning lineup whereas Brogdon and Williams have been the primary to come back off the bench earlier than Sam Hauser and Blake Griffin because the C’s went with small lineups for lengthy stretches.
Payton Pritchard didn’t enter the sport till there was 1:34 remaining after Brogdon left the sport.
Brown – who led all Celtics with 33 minutes – completed with 23 factors on 9-for-15 capturing as he accomplished his robust preseason on one other excessive be aware. Tatum performed 29 minutes earlier than his ejection, whereas Smart additionally performed 33 minutes, White performed 26 minutes and Williams performed half-hour off the bench.
– If White goes to shoot it like this, the Celtics are going to be even more durable to cease offensively.
White earned his fourth begin in 4 preseason video games – making it appear seemingly the guard will take Rob Williams’ spot within the beginning lineup within the middle’s absence to start the season – and he continued his robust preseason. White went 4-for-4 on 3-pointers within the first quarter and made his first 5 makes an attempt from lengthy vary earlier than lastly lacking one within the third quarter. White labored on his capturing type within the offseason and it’s already paying off. And surrounded by Tatum and Brown, he’s sure to get loads of attractiveness.
– Rebounding continued to be a problem for the Celtics, particularly after they went to smaller lineups. That was obvious on their first defensive possession of the sport, after they gave up two offensive rebounds earlier than the Raptors took a 2-0 lead. The C’s have been outrebounded 56-44 on the evening because the Raptors secured 22 offensive rebounds.
– The Celtics introduced at halftime that Brogdon wouldn’t return to the sport on account of a sore proper leg. Mazzulla mentioned after the sport that he was eliminated for precautionary causes. The level guard, who has a historical past of well being points, was having one other robust sport because the Celtics’ sixth man with eight factors and a pair of assists within the first half.
– Luke Kornet was obtainable on Friday evening however didn’t play as he recovers from an ankle sprain.
Source: www.bostonherald.com