For those who’re a Celtics fan, it’s been a enjoyable first three video games of the season. Who would have thought (not Jaylen Brown) that it might be the Pistons who gave us one of the best take a look at but. After the primary quarter and the beginning of the second quarter, I used to be considering it was going to be a 30+ level blowout once more. Then Detroit went on an enormous run in the direction of the top of the half which included an 11-0 run to get the sport shut.
Even within the second half, Detroit continued to make well timed baskets to maintain it inside hanging distance and ultimately took the lead. Fortunately, we’re one of the best workforce on the earth and located a option to get it finished to keep away from a nasty loss.
My scores that are primarily based on my expectations will vary from A-F with C being thought-about an “common” recreation for that particular person participant. There’s no +/-, simply the letter.
Jayson Tatum: A
Season stats: 31 ppg, 7.5 reb, 8 ast, 1 stl, 0.5 blk,
Tonight: 37 factors, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
I’m undecided if Tatum will ever say it publicly that he’s utilizing his benching from the Olympics as motivation, however THANK YOU, STEVE KERR! Tatum by way of three video games has been on a mission. Whenever you rating 17 of the workforce’s first 26 factors, you’re a person on a mission. His three-point shot seems lethal and his decision-making has been very good.
Tatum was one of many many Celtics to go chilly within the second half which allowed Detroit again within the recreation. Nonetheless, with 29.3 seconds left, he hit a turnaround soar shot to seal the win.
With a 37-point recreation from Tatum and 6-of-13 from past the arc, he’s clearly within the early lead for MVP.
Jaylen Brown: C
Season stats: 25 ppg, 7.5 reb, 2 ast, 2.5 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 24 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks
After his feedback concerning the Pistons, I anticipated Brown to blow up off the blocks, however he did something however that. Jaylen struggled offensively and didn’t do a lot of notice on the defensive finish till the top of the sport. Brown shot 6-of-24 from the sector and it was simply his worst offensive outing by way of three video games.
These scores are for the entire recreation and never the ultimate 4 minutes and with that mentioned, Brown did flip up his protection when the sport bought to crunch time and made clutch free throws down the stretch. He additionally made up for his poor offense with 10 rebounds.
Derrick White: A
Season stats: 21.5 ppg, 3.5 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 17 factors, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 3 blocks
Considered one of my keys to the video games was to win the rebounding matchup and I assumed White did an ideal job on the glass ending with six boards.
White was aggressive on offense, didn’t simply stand within the nook. He ran the courtroom and made some well timed cuts; one led to free throws when the Pistons have been on an enormous run within the second quarter.
Within the third quarter, White appeared like the one one making pictures to maintain Boston within the recreation.
Though he did get dunked on by Cade Cunningham originally of the second half, White did get a pleasant block on him within the first half on the rim after which one other monster block with 49.9 seconds left on the rim to protect the lead.
Jrue Vacation: C
Season stats: 12.5 ppg, 3 reb, 2.5 ast, 0.5 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 7 factors, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 steals, 1 block
It wasn’t his greatest recreation. He was tasked with guarding Cunningham so protection was at all times going to be his focus. It simply felt he by no means bought in an offensive rhythm. To begin the sport, he pressured a few pictures and by no means actually bought a simple shot to go in early.
Within the fourth quarter, he got here to life. His first two buckets have been back-to-back threes. His first three was within the nook to chop the result in three with beneath 4 minutes left. Then on the following possession Vacation tied the sport at 112 with a deep triple. Then he had an enormous strip with 1:30 left when the sport was tied.
Al Horford: B
Season stats: 5.5 ppg, 4 reb, 3 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.5 blk
Tonight: 17 factors, 5 rebounds, 1 help, 3 steals, 0 blocks
Robust begin for Huge Al making two of his first three threes. I used to be fearful after his tough taking pictures within the last preseason recreation towards the Raptors (the one preseason recreation he performed) that it’d take a number of video games to get his shot flowing. Possibly I underestimated how a lot of a professional Horford is and may have identified that he could be prepared as soon as the season got here.
Seventeen first half factors is far more than I anticipated from Al, however with Porzingis out till December, there’ll must be video games the place Horford is scoring 16+ factors.
Within the second half, Horford was quiet. Can’t blame him as the entire workforce was flat. I do assume he helped transfer the ball extra when he changed Kornet late within the fourth. Total, it was a strong recreation from Al.
Payton Pritchard: C
Season stats: 9 ppg, 2.5 reb, 3 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 19 factors, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks.
Made two threes early within the recreation which bought him into an early rhythm that carried him for the remainder of the half. Everyone knows Payton Pritchard is instantaneous offense and tonight Detroit witnessed it first hand (for 2 quarters). Payton had 10 first-quarter factors adopted by back-to-back threes early within the second quarter for a fast 16 factors.
Pritchard was one other participant who went lacking within the second half after being on a heater within the first. This was the toughest grade to offer, however I settled on a C. The primary half he was not less than a B, however the second half introduced it down.
Luke Kornet: D
Season stats: 4 ppg, 3.5 reb, 1 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.5 blk
Tonight: 0 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Luke struggled at instances. Detroit is a bodily workforce and didn’t assume Luke matched the depth wanted. He set some good screens to release individuals, however I feel he was beneath par tonight.
Xavier Tillman Sr.: B
Season stats: 5 ppg, 4 reb, 1.5 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 3 factors, 3 rebounds, 1 help, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Strong recreation from Tillman. I assumed he defended nicely and made an enormous three when the sport was tied at 88 on the finish of the third quarter. These are the kinds of pictures he must be able to take and it was good for him to see one go in.
Early within the fourth quarter, Tillman had an ideal sequence the place he bought a steal, then grabbed an offensive rebound and assisted Payton Pritchard for a nook three. He was one of many few to have performed nicely from begin to end.
He stays undefeated towards the Pistons.
