8 takeaways from the Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic preseason opener
AP Photo | Charles Krupa
The Boston Celtics opened up their preseason against the Orlando Magic last night and just managed to squeak by with a 98-97 win. Romeo Langford stole the show in the final seconds, nailing the would-be game-winning three on Boston’s final possession.
While this was only a preseason game, there is still a lot to learn from this performance. A lot of different players got the chance to play, and a new face even entered the starting lineup. Juancho Hernangomez got the nod alongside Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Robert Williams. It was far from a perfect performance, but that just means there are plenty of things to take away from this one.
Takeaways from the Boston Celtics preseason opener vs the Orlando Magic
1. Jaylen Brown looked phenomenal
After missing the end of last season with a wrist injury, Celtics fans finally got to see Jaylen Brown back on the court again in this one. Luckily for the C’s, it looked like he never missed a beat. He ended the contest with a game-high 25 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Brown looked extremely confident and even went over the crowd at one point to yell “I’m back” after an and-one bucket. The young star is in fact back, and he’s looking better than ever.
2. Jayson Tatum is super strong
Jayson Tatum only ended up having 18 points on the night, but he looked like an absolute beast. It was clear to see that he put on some weight this summer, and he played like it. He was completely unafraid of contact and seemed to be barreling through opponents with ease. While it wasn’t his most efficient outing, it was fun to see what a jacked Tatum can play like.
3. Aaron Nesmith is great
By the end of last season, Aaron Nesmith was finally getting comfortable. Well, he won’t need any time to get warmed up this season, because it seems as though he is already hot. He finished the game with 10 points (third-most on the team), shooting 2-3 from deep. His shooting is going to play a huge part in the success of Boston’s bench this season. Not to mention the fact that he still hustles more than almost anyone else in the league.
4. Is Grant Williams is back to being Grant Williams?
A lot of fans were disappointed in how Grant Williams performed last season. After a great rookie season, he seemed to have taken a step back. Well, he looked like his old self vs the Magic. Not only does it look like he slimmed down, but he was also making all of the hustle plays fans grew to love him for.
5. Al Horford is a Celtic again!
Okay, so this isn’t much of a takeaway, but it’s just so great to see Al Horford back in green again. The city missed him, the Celtics missed him, and the fans missed him.
6. Dennis Schroder looked like Rajon Rondo
They said it on the broadcast, but it’s just too true not to bring up. Dennis Schroder kind of looked like Celtics Rajon Rondo at times. Obviously, he wasn’t as dominant as Rondo was in his prime, but he showed flashes of a similar playstyle. The way he handled himself on the court was very Rondo-esque. If he can be even half the player prime Rondo was this season, fans would be absolutely ecstatic.
7. Robert Williams and Marcus Smart were a bit shaky
It seemed like Robert Williams missed more shots last night than he did in the entirety of last season. He was missing dunks, mid-range jumpers, and easy shots at the rim. It was just completely unlike Williams. As for Marcus Smart, it just looked like he was forcing things at times. It was almost as if he was so anxious to get started as the starting point guard that he began to force passes that weren’t there. In the case of both of these guys, though, let’s just chalk it up to start-of-the-season nerves.
8. Boston’s defense took a second to settle in
The Magic are not on the same level as the Celtics, yet Boston’s defense still seemed to be giving up easy baskets early on. The C’s were not crowding the paint nearly enough and it was leading to easy buckets, as well as some second-chance opportunities. They were switching everything and it was leading to mismatches which in turn led to points. However, once the C’s settled in, they managed to string together some stops and take home the win. It was just a preseason game, and Ime Udoka will have plenty of time to iron things out on that side of the floor before the regular season tips off.
The Celtics’ next game is this Saturday, October 9 against the Toronto Raptors. It is in Boston once again, and tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m (EST).
