Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown obtained some additional relaxation because the Celtics stars sat out their second consecutive preseason recreation, giving a number of the workforce’s reserves one other probability to show themselves on Wednesday evening towards the 76ers.
Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Al Horford all returned to the lineup and performed the primary half collectively earlier than the backups led a 112-101 victory in Philadelphia. Payton Pritchard, as soon as once more, led the way in which with 17 factors as his spectacular preseason continued but it surely was a notable evening for some gamers vying for roles on the workforce.
Some takeaways from the Celtics’ victory:
– White emerged final season as among the finest defenders within the NBA – named to the league’s All-Defensive second workforce – after he led all guards in blocks, and it seems like he’s choosing up proper the place he left off. He recorded three blocks in 17 minutes within the first half and was all over the place on each ends.
The most spectacular sequence got here within the first quarter, when he raced again to report a block of Tyrese Maxey on the rim in transition earlier than pulling down a 3-pointer on the following play. He completed the half with 11 factors, 4 assists, three blocks and a steal, and appears very prepared for the common season to start out. The transition to sharing a backcourt with Holiday has seemed seamless to date, too.
– Porzingis was the star of Sunday’s preseason opener and seemed sturdy in stretches once more on Wednesday. He pushed the Celtics to an early 7-0 begin behind a cease on the rim of Paul Reed adopted by a deep 28-foot 3-pointer. He even showcased his put up recreation capability – one thing the C’s wish to make the most of – by rising over Reed for a 12-foot turnaround but it surely rimmed out. Porzingis completed with 11 factors and 5 rebounds, however was a little bit bit sloppy with three turnovers.
With each Tatum and Brown out, it gave Joe Mazzulla one other lengthy take a look at the Celtics’ two-big lineup of Porzingis and Horford. While it appears probably Horford will come off the bench when the common season begins, it’s clear Mazzulla will make the most of the two-big lineup usually.
“They’re both really good 3-point shooters, they’re both really good passers, they both can play off the dribble a little bit on a close-out, so I think when you have size and versatility, it makes a lot of sense to try to take advantage of that in some capacity,” Mazzulla advised reporters in Philadelphia. “I think just having those two guys out there is different than what we’ve ever had as far as double-big lineups when it comes to shooting and skill, and so we just try to take advantage of that.”
– Dalano Banton had a robust exhibiting in Monday’s loss to the Knicks as he constructed a case to be within the rotation, and he was seemingly rewarded by being the primary participant off the bench Wednesday and getting minutes alongside the starters. But Mazzulla made an instance of him with a transparent educating second within the second half.
Banton began the second half however was all of a sudden eliminated 36 seconds in. As Lamar Stevens went into the sport, Mazzulla ripped into Banton. Upon additional evaluate, it appeared Mazzulla was upset as a result of Banton didn’t dive to the ground for a unfastened ball when he had an opportunity to get it. The play resulted in a leap ball, which gave the Sixers one other alternative.
“There’s nothing more important than holding people to a high standard, especially when you believe in them and know they can be really, really good,” Mazzulla advised reporters. “We have a roster of 1 through 17 that I truly believe in. It was just a good learning opportunity. There was a loose ball there and I thought he could have gotten it. Credit to him that he was able to take coaching and he responded really, really well. He has a chance to be a really good player in this league, and I just love the mentality that he brought to being coached and then responding. That’s super important, and thankful that he allowed me to coach him.”
– Wednesday was a giant bounce-back evening for Sam Hauser, who struggled taking pictures within the first two preseason video games. Hauser obtained the beginning and shook off a 2-for-15 begin to the preseason by scoring 15 factors on 4-for-9 taking pictures from deep. He additionally added three assists and was stable defensively with a block and steal.
“When you see one go down, your confidence goes up,” Hauser advised NBC Sports Boston. “Shooters keep shooting, so eventually they’re going to start falling.”
– Perhaps no Celtic has raised their inventory this preseason greater than Svi Mykhailiuk. The guard adopted up Monday’s sturdy 15-point debut by scoring one other 15 factors on 3-for-4 taking pictures from lengthy vary on Wednesday. Mykhailiuk’s take care of the Celtics is partially assured however his chance of incomes a spot on the workforce is trying higher by the day.
– The Celtics’ frontcourt depth is the workforce’s greatest query mark after the sudden departure of Robert Williams and it’s left loads of room for alternative for the bigs on the coaching camp roster. Neemias Queta seemed primed to take benefit.
Queta signed a two-way contract with the Celtics previous to camp however the 24-year-old seven-footer is constructing a case to be a possible frontcourt choice for Mazzulla. He has given the Celtics a dose of vitality and toughness in each of his preseason appearances. On Wednesday, he had 10 factors and three rebounds in simply eight minutes, which included cleansing up a Pritchard miss for 2 and ending a lob from Banton. Queta will not be a 3-point risk however there might be a task for him if he continues to crash the glass and make robust performs inside.
Source: www.bostonherald.com