Of their first sport again at TD Backyard since profitable Recreation 5 of the Finals and clinching Banner 18, the Celtics crushed the 76ers 139-89 in a 50-point blowout.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla began a well-known opening 5 — Jrue Vacation, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Luke Kornet all began in each video games in opposition to the Nuggets in Abu Dhabi. For the visiting 76ers on the second night time of a back-to-back, Nick Nurse went with Ricky Council IV, KJ Martin, Jared McCain, Jeff Dowtin Jr, and in a pleasing October shock, former Celtic and fan favourite Guerschon Yabusele.
Towards Denver, the Celtics put up a whopping 108 three-pointers down within the UAE. That shouldn’t shock followers. They lead the league in makes an attempt final yr and have been second in 3FG%.
“The purpose is rarely to only shoot them. The purpose is to seek out the very best shot,” Mazzulla mentioned in his pre-game presser.
“Within the two Denver video games, the large was up they usually have been serving to from the weak aspect nook and we made the go go to the nook three. We’re by no means going to go these up. They have been engaged on their system, we have been engaged on our system, and people have been the pictures that we’re out there due to the execution.”
Tonight was one other spectacular displaying for Mazzulla Ball. They caught fireplace within the first half, hitting 10 of 23 from behind the arc and contributing to 71 factors after two quarters. They completed the sport making almost half of their 47 makes an attempt (48.9%) and 38 assists on 53 made discipline targets.
With the workforce slow-playing Al Horford’s preseason, it certain appears to be like like Kornet might be their beginning middle heading into the October twenty second opener in opposition to the Knicks. He’s proven a capability to create from above the break as a succesful screener and passer and his 7’1 body makes him an enormous lob menace and cutter. Kornet completed with 15 factors (11 within the first quarter), 8 rebounds (5 offensive), and two assists.
“I bought plenty of dunks. That was enjoyable,” Kornet instructed NBC Sports activities Boston’s Abby Chin at halftime.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum seem like they’re in mid-season kind, too. Albeit in exhibition, they appear to be enjoying with a freer spirit and elegance on either side of the ball. On protection, they fly round like free safeties on the perimeter and bodying smaller gamers like defensive ends. Offensively, they’re attacking extra and spraying it round to shooters.
Brown completed with 18 factors (7-of-12 from the sector) and 4 assists. Tatum almost had a triple double with 16 factors, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The blowout wasn’t simply Boston’s regulars beating up on Philly’s third string. Rotation standouts sans Horford confirmed out, too. Sam Hauser made 5 three pointers for 15 factors. Payton Pritchard contributed 11 factors with eight assists. Xavier Tillman made all three of his threes and grabbed seven rebounds.
Sadly, we received’t do that for actual till December 25 at 5 pm EST. Each groups can be about thirty video games deep into their common season schedule and can have a greater sense of the place they’re at internally. For the Celtics, the power may dramatically shift although. That Christmas Day sport may coincide with the much-anticipated return of Kristaps Porzingis.
Nevertheless, on this October preseason sport in opposition to Sixers scrubs, the one factor to glean from it’s that the Celtics appear prepared for the common season to start out.
