6 takeaways from the Boston Celtics win vs. the Houston Rockets
Bostonherald.com
The Boston Celtics earned their first win of the season last night, beating the Houston Rockets 107-97. They started off looking rough but managed to turn it around in the last three quarters. Ime Udoka got his first win as a head coach in the NBA and the team celebrated by showering him after the game in the locker room. All that being said, what are the top takeaways from the performance?
Takeaways from the Boston Celtics win vs. the Houston Rockets
1. Jayson Tatum is back
After struggling during the preseason and in the first game of the year, Jayson Tatum is finally back. He posted 31 points on 12-24 shooting. His performance reminded fans why people called him a dark horse MVP candidate coming into this season. With Jaylen Brown sidelined, Tatum stepped up in the exact way the team needed him to. It was great to see Boston’s star player play like a star player again.
2. Al Horford’s defense is crucial
Al Horford was ice cold from three-point range, but his defense has been amazing thus far. In the two games he has played with the team his defense has shined through as one of the bright spots of the roster. Jayson Tatum said it best after the game last night - Horford looks like he’s 30 years old. This is exactly the type of defense the Celtics were getting from him during his first stint in Boston. He may not be as quick as he used to be on the perimeter, but he’s a lockdown artist in the post. He had three blocks and three steals vs. Houston, and the double bigs lineup is looking strong so far this year.
3. Grant Williams is the best shooter on the team
The haters can eat their hearts out because Grant Williams is the best catch-and-shoot three-point shooter on the Celtics’ roster. He went 5-7 from deep last night, setting a career-high in threes in a single game. The performance improved his total on the season to 9-13 from deep this year - a staggering 69.2%. Williams never hesitates anymore when he catches the ball behind the three-point line. At this rate, they might as well count it as three points before he even shoots it. Aside from the fact that he tackled Kevin Porter Jr., he had as close to a perfect game as it gets.
4. The rotation is set
It seems as though Ime Udoka has narrowed down his regular-season rotation to 11 players - Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Al Horford, Grant Williams, Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, and Payton Pritchard. Those are the only 11 players who have played significant minutes so far this season. Unlike Brad Stevens, it doesn’t look like Udoka is going to experiment much.
5. Aaron Nesmith needs a point
So far this season Aaron Nesmith has yet to score a point. He played super well during Summer League and all throughout the preseason, but he just can’t get on the board in the regular season just yet. All it will take is one three and then the floodgates will open. Until then, Nesmith is going to have to impact the game in other ways.
6. Dennis Schroder showed up big-time
Dennis Schroder struggled in the first couple of games, but he looked great last night. He looked like the player who nearly won a Sixth Man of the Year award a couple of years ago with Oklahoma City. He finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Schroder wasn’t hot from outside, but he attacked the paint super well. He did everything with a purpose and made a real case to be in the starting lineup on a more permanent basis.
The Boston Celtics play again tonight on night two of a back-to-back. They take on the red hot Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, as Gordon Hayward plays his former team for the first time since leaving. He was hurt both times the two teams squared off last season. The game is set to tip-off at 7:00 p.m. (EST) and can be viewed on NBC Sports Boston and NBA League Pass.
