Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from the preseason opener
2. The Celtics will be fine defensively
By now, Boston’s roster changes over the offseason have been well documented, but this is worth revisiting. The Celtics took a big hit to their 12th-ranked defense when they lost Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder over the offseason. Those guys really led the charge with their smothering defense and toughness last season.
With that being said, Boston should be just fine defensively this season. Boston held Charlotte to just 82 points on 37.5 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc. Boston also forced the Hornets to commit 19 turnovers, and Charlotte never really found a rhythm throughout the contest.
The Celtics finished the game with 11 steals, including two from Kyrie Irving and three from Terry Rozier. The Celtics also blocked six shots and they grabbed more offensive and defensive rebounds than the Hornets, despite finishing just 27th in rebounds last season.
It’s just one game, and an exhibition game at that, but the Boston Celtics looked great on defense. They forced tough shots, turnovers and dived after loose balls. This squad has the right mentality to compete with the best teams in the league.
1. The young prospects are very talented
In the first half, the top eight or nine players on the Boston Celtics’ roster played most of the minutes. The second half however, was a chance for the younger players to shine.
Jayson Tatum, who led Boston with 32 minutes, had a great all-around game. The rookie scored nine points on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, but he also chipped in five rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. But of course, we all expect the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft to have a lot of talent.
The player of the game has to be Daniel Theis, who went undrafted out of Germany. The big man had 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists in his NBA debut, to go along with a steal and a block. From setting good screens, to catching lobs and showing off his 3-point stroke, Theis did a little bit of everything.
Abdel Nader, the forward from Egypt, also had an impressive game. The rookie scored 10 points and brought down four rebounds. He repeatedly drove hard to the bucket and he chipped in a 3-pointer as well.
Shane Larkin, the 5’11” point guard, brings a lot to the table. Shane is heading into his fourth NBA season on his fourth different team, but he should find a permanent role in a rotation some day. The 25-year-old only had four points and two assists in 15 minutes, but he seemed to really have an effect on the game.
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Larkin brings a lot of energy to the floor and he plays very unselfishly, which explains why the Celtics were a plus 13 while he was on the court. Larkin is great injury insurance for the Boston Celtics, and he could play an Aaron Brooks-type role for Boston or another team in his NBA career.