Celtics
The Celtics defeated a slew of fringe NBA players wearing Philadelphia 76ers jerseys to assert a 139-89 victory of their third preseason game on Saturday.
Here are the snack bars.
1. We won't elaborate on this point, so let's state this as clearly as possible at the highest. Heck, we'll even put it in a brand new paragraph so you possibly can't miss it.
Saturday's game was essentially a scrum. Everything we write through the preseason comes with the caveat that it's just the preseason, but this game was hardly the identical.
The Sixers — a team that employs Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey — began Ricky Council IV, KJ Martin, Guerschon Yabusele, Jared McCain and Jeff Dowtin Jr. after playing the Timberwolves in Iowa on Friday. The Celtics were rested and jumped to the lead almost immediately. As their starters sat, their bench bombarded the replay of the Sixers, who also took the ground.
“It’s about us,” Jaylen Brown told reporters afterward. “So every time we step on the floor, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is.”
As long because the Celtics maintain this mentality, they’ll win a number of games, and if at any point Nick Nurse decides to begin Yabusele as a substitute of Embiid, the Sixers could possibly be in trouble.
1B. A really fast supporting player, good for Yabusele – the Celtics' former first-round pick was excellent for France within the Olympics and now has one other shot at an NBA contract.
2. The Celtics aren't frightened a couple of delay in game warning if a more timely warning leads to shortening the pregame high-fives.
Presumably there will likely be fewer players to salute because the roster shrinks, in order that situation won't arise when the regular season begins and…yes, we're analyzing the high-five line before the sport. No, we won't proceed.
3. Luke Kornet's candidacy for the starting role with Kristaps Porzingis injured got some momentum in the primary half – Kornet scored all 15 points in the primary two quarters and finished the sport 7 of 10 from the ground. He scored 11 points in his first stint and even handed Jayson Tatum a “1” and a “0” at one point after he scored his tenth point.
“Gotta love the cornet festivities,” Jaylen Brown quipped afterward. “Where would we be without these?”
So should Kornet start? He definitely has a number of continuity with the starters and lineups with Kornet last season arrange ridiculous numbers that outscored opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions.
Kornet within the starting lineup would also keep Al Horford (who missed Saturday's game after missing each contests in Abu Dhabi) on the bench longer, and it could reduce the temptation to play Horford more minutes than he did earlier within the season should when the games happen They will not be quite as essential because the games in May and June.
Saturday's game probably wasn't the deciding think about this regard. Nevertheless, Kornet played great.
4. Brown delivered 4 assists in the primary half, including this absolute gem after he rocked Council with a nasty dribble.
Brown also scored his first two baskets of the sport within the post – one on a fadeaway jumper (complete with the “too small” sign) and the second by pushing Jared McCain out of the way in which en path to a layup and a foul .
5. Tatum, meanwhile, made 3 of 8 from behind the arc after going 3 of seven in the primary two preseason games together with his latest 3-point form. These totals won't grab any headlines, but they're consistently very acceptable, which is maybe even higher news than a 6-on-8 performance – getting more consistency from Tatum as a 3-point shooter (and maybe less of it). high highs and low lows) can be an enormous boost.
6. Sam Hauser can get incredibly hot on occasion, and he looks like he's ready to begin the season with flying colours, which is an amazing sign for the Celtics. When Hauser hits 3-pointers, they're essentially unbeatable – attempting to cope with the Stars is difficult enough without bringing in a game-winning shooter who can space the ground and rating nine points in two minutes. Hauser finished 5-for-6 from behind the arc, including two smooth three-pointers within the third quarter that were more harking back to Steph Curry than Duncan Robinson.
7. We don't wish to alarm anyone, but take a have a look at Jordan Walsh shooting 3 points.
That's a shocking improvement after watching Walsh rating three points in Summer League. The 20-year-old caught a pass from Lonnie Walker right in his shooting pocket, quickly got his feet into position and delivered an ideal, smooth shot that whizzed through the online.
So was this an isolated incident? Not in any respect – Walsh went 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and all three looked similarly smooth and snappy.
Much more evidence is required that Walsh can shoot like that against NBA competition, but Saturday was a particularly encouraging performance.
8. Walker had his first promising game for the Celtics, shooting 4 of seven from the ground, scoring nine points and doling out seven assists. On a team stuffed with snipers, Walker did job of distributing the ball and moving into the paint to create passing lanes.
If he makes the ultimate roster, Walker would (after all) be well out of the rotation – at this point, it looks just like the competition for the tenth man role is between Walsh and Springer, and Walsh probably has a small one Gained a lead Saturday.
But having one other guard option on the bench, especially someone with some NBA experience, wouldn't hurt as a backup in case Derrick White or Jrue Holiday should miss a while.
9. Xavier Tillman rounded out the parade of long-distance scorers and continued his stellar begin to the preseason from 3-point range, shooting 3-on-3 from behind the arc. Tillman, who shoots 26.7 percent from behind the arc in his profession, appears relaxed and assured.
10. The Celtics return to the court on Sunday once they tackle the Raptors at TD Garden. Don't be too surprised if the team that plays the Raptors looks just like the Embiid-George-Maxey-less Sixers, who arrived in Boston on Saturday.
image credit : www.boston.com