Halftime Hot Takes: CALL THE WE’RE (sort of) BACK DEPARTMENT

We’re one-half of the best way via the Boston Celtics’ preseason opener towards the Denver Nuggets and issues are going alright. Denver leads 63-56, but it surely’s merely thrilling to be watching Boston play basketball once more.

After an extended summer season of nothingness, prepare for some halftime sizzling takes, buddy.

In the beginning, the brand new NBC Sports activities Boston scorebug is totally hideous. I’ve a sense that there’s nonetheless some work to be executed on the design, however because it stands — YEESH.

Simply to pile on the published a bit extra, I didn’t encounter this, however many individuals gave the impression to be experiencing an audio delay in the course of the first half.

Tough begin.

The Celtics clearly function on Japanese Time irrespective of the place they’re enjoying.

We’re not lengthy faraway from the times when the Cs have been seemingly popping out flat each time they performed a sport whereas the solar was out. With at this time’s noontime Japanese tip, it appears to be like like they’re again to their previous tips.

Boston scored simply 9 factors earlier than the primary TV timeout on Friday and a few of their misses have been ROUGH. On prime of that, they gave up just a few possessions with three early turnovers.

They did, nevertheless, reply properly after a fast breather, capturing a 21-20 lead forward of the second timeout.

Sadly, they’d rating simply 4 extra factors for the complete quarter, trailing 32-25 by the buzzer.

Sizzling Wings clearly had no impact on Jaylen Brown

My goodness, Jaylen Brown hasn’t stopped successful since June when he captured a pair of sequence MVP awards. This week, he picked up proper the place he left off within the spring. He graced the duvet of “Time” journal, then made fairly the impression throughout an look on “Sizzling Ones” In the present day, regardless of the group’s slower begin, he regarded as sharp as ever within the first quarter. JB shortly piled up seven factors, together with a loud slam via site visitors. His protection was simply as vociferous, as he rudely pinned a Vlatko Cancar layup to the glass.

That success didn’t come and not using a worth, although. Brown appeared to harm his hand or wrist (perhaps his “groin”) in the direction of the tip of the primary, however did wind up returning to the ground earlier than halftime.

‘Preseason P’ is probably the most sure factor about this Celtics group

After averaging 15.6 factors per sport within the preseason final 12 months, Payton Pritchard is as soon as once more making his presence identified. Somebody in our “How ‘Bout Them Celtics” pregame stream chat stated that the road on PP to drop 30 was like +875.

That may wind up being FREE.

The newly-married man exploded for 14 factors within the opening 24 minutes. It may be time for all of us to start out speaking about “husband energy” the best way that we discuss “dad energy.”

Notable Absences

To date at this time, we haven’t gotten to see any of Boston’s new faces take the ground simply but. Each rookies, Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson, in addition to late-summer signee, Lonnie Walker IV, have been all glued to the bench within the first half.

There was loads of buzz surrounding all three males, however I’ll have to carry off on any sizzling takes for now.

Additionally lacking have been Al Horford (presumably relaxation) and Neemias Queta. Queta is a little bit of a shocking snub, contemplating that he ought to be within the working for some additional minutes within the early stretch of the season with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined.

Notable Appearances

On a extra optimistic word, we’ve gotten to get a take a look at Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and second-year wing Jordan Walsh. Kornet began at heart with Horford out, which can say one thing about his standing with Joe Mazzula.

Each Tillman and Walsh performed a wholesome dose of bench minutes. It shouldn’t go unnoticed that as quickly as X checked into the sport Boston ran a play to get him an open three. As for Walshy, he regarded way more snug than he did in Summer time League, particularly on protection. He had just a few good stands towards the Nuggets, together with a block on a fastbreak.

Additionally, Kevin Garnett and Steve Harvey are in the home!