#1 – Payton Pritchard’s pick-and-roll sport
Effectively, sure, Pritchard solely made one bucket final evening, however his offensive efficiency was nonetheless constructive general. Whereas he couldn’t convert from three, his passing shone at TD Backyard, particularly in pick-and-roll conditions.
Within the play under, Neemias Queta’s display brings two defenders to the ball. Pritchard patiently crosses his defenders whereas Queta runs to the rim and finds a passing lane above the protection to present the Portuguese large man a straightforward shot on the rim.
Somewhat later, in a Spain pick-and-roll, he was once more in a position to maintain the ball alive lengthy sufficient earlier than discovering Luka Garza within the paint. Anfernee Simons’ second display created sufficient confusion, and Pritchard exploited it for one more paint contact and one other help to an enormous man near the rim.
His scoring gravity confirmed up properly on this sport, because the protection was extra centered on stopping him with the ball, with a number of gamers drawn to him. On the following play, following a Garza display, Jordan Walsh benefited from that gravity and spacing to chop to the rim for a straightforward dunk.
These few examples are encouraging heading right into a season during which Pritchard could have plenty of offensive duties.
#2 – Will Queta be the brand new Celtics defensive anchor?
One of many most important query marks going into the season is Queta’s stage on each ends of the ground. After Luke Kornet, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford’s departures, Queta seems to be the most effective inside defender and rim protector — which may very well be regarding.
Nonetheless, he confirmed final evening some flashes of why he may have a breakthrough season subsequent yr. For many of the sport, he was in drop protection, defending the paint whereas letting the on-ball defenders go over the display.
On this protection, Queta struggled final season, because it requires nice defensive reads plus exact footwork and positioning. On this primary instance, he will get caught by Jakob Poeltl’s Gortat display… however his distinctive mixture of size and mobility is sufficient to block the shot on the rim!
This encapsulates fairly properly the query of what stage he’ll attain subsequent season. His basketball IQ and reflexes can typically be a bit wacky, however his physique and eye-hand coordination can compensate. Plus, taking part in large minutes commonly will assist him develop, and this may very well be a fantastic improvement season for the Portuguese large man — much more so if he brings the identical vitality on offense.
#3 – Queta performed his half on offense
What stood out about Queta’s sport final evening was the hole he created along with his screening and the way the Celtics exploited it. On this Jaylen Brown drive, the display gave the 2024 Finals MVP a ton of house to work with.
Within the second quarter, one other excessive pick-and-roll with Queta stood out much more. His display compelled Poeltl to observe Simons on the ball. With the house he created, Queta rolled to the paint, acknowledged the collapsing protection, and located Josh Minott with a good looking short-roll go.
On prime of his passing and screening, he was as soon as once more dominant on the offensive boards, grabbing 5 offensive rebounds.
#4 – Simons’ offensive struggles
One participant nonetheless trying to discover his groove on offense is Anfernee Simons. In opposition to the very aggressive Toronto Raptors protection, the previous Path Blazer wasn’t capable of finding gaps and restricted himself largely to leap photographs. Over 32 minutes, Simons generated solely two photographs from drives whereas taking 10 jumpers.
The Raptors shortly recognized that Simons was struggling below strain and made certain to place a physique on him early in possessions. This resulted in six turnovers that would have value the Celtics the sport.
Simons’ on-ball sport doesn’t appear robust sufficient in the meanwhile to present him main ball-handling duties, and the Celtics teaching workers should discover extra methods to leverage his off-ball expertise.
#5 – Derrick White wanting like an all-star
Whereas Brown was compelled to depart early and Simons struggled with the ball, Derrick White seemed like an all-star: 33 factors, six assists, 4 blocks, and two offensive boards. As all the time, an enormous general influence with out a lot waste. This drive — with the eurostep end regardless of heavy ball strain and a number of our bodies within the paint — was probably the most spectacular play of the sport.
He appears prepared for the common season, and I ponder how typically we’ll see him take 17 three-pointers like he did final evening. With out Jayson Tatum, and when Jaylen Brown rests, we may see plenty of Derrick White offense — and I’m curious to see the way it appears in opposition to actual competitors.
#6 – Double groups to guard the smaller guys
On protection, we’re seeing one thing new brought on by the numerous departures from final season. This yr, the Celtics will continuously have no less than one potential mismatch on protection with Pritchard, Simons, and even Sam Hauser.
Because the Raptors performed tall, they have been in a position to goal a few of the smaller Celtics, creating a number of double groups.
It labored out fairly properly, because the Raptors are a poor taking pictures workforce. Nonetheless, this won’t be as efficient in opposition to stronger offenses later within the season. The Celtics’ protection isn’t as bulletproof as earlier than, and it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how Joe Mazzulla and his workers defend the smaller gamers whereas nonetheless protecting the three-point line and defending the paint.
#7 – Turnovers and transition protection issues
The Raptors scored 26 factors off Celtics turnovers, in comparison with solely 13 for Boston, as each groups struggled to guard the ball. With out robust ball-handlers, the Celtics might want to discover methods to guard the ball higher and dash again on protection with extra urgency this season.
Final yr, the Celtics have been the second-best workforce at limiting turnovers and the most effective at limiting factors per possession in transition. To maintain that aggressive edge, they’ll have to search out new methods to worth possessions and outrun opponents after they lose the ball.
Hugo Gonzalez’s field rating wasn’t probably the most spectacular final evening, however the juice and depth he introduced on each ends have been notable.
The Spaniard is exhibiting nice issues on and off the courtroom if we imagine White’s postgame interview. The Celtics guard talked concerning the rookie’s willingness to work arduous and study — mentioning his fixed questions and eagerness to develop.
Watching the younger Spanish guard develop within the NBA after already taking part in at a excessive stage in Europe will probably be fascinating. How lengthy will it take for him to adapt to the velocity and physicality of the league? Will he have a constructive influence in his first season? We’ll discover out quickly sufficient.
#9 – Xavier Tillman, mister clutch
Docteur X waited for the final 4 minutes to attain, however he was there to safe the win for the Celtics. Within the fourth quarter, he performed a bit over 9 minutes, scored seven factors, grabbed six rebounds, and added an help. His scoring down the stretch was precisely what was anticipated from him when the Celtics traded for him. First, a pleasant taking pictures contact from a pick-and-pop state of affairs.
Then, from one other pick-and-pop, he confirmed his means to maneuver with the ball — a worthwhile talent for a middle in a five-out system. In a great spacing setup, Tillman drove to the rim to present the Celtics a 10-point lead.
And eventually, within the chaos of the final minute, Baylor Scheierman discovered him after Josh Minott drew two defenders away, and Tillman delivered with a pleasant floater!
#10 – Will we see Jaylen Brown on opening evening?
After just a few minutes, the Celtics needed to play with out their chief, who left the sport as a consequence of hamstring tightness. The Celtics star didn’t return, and we’ll be wanting ahead to updates on his standing for opening evening subsequent week in opposition to the 76ers at residence.
