Boston Celtics
Will Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Derrick White share the court?
After a long and stressful offseason spent wondering what the future may hold, Celtics fans will finally have some answers in the coming weeks.
Is Jaylen Brown ready to be the alpha? Can Payton Pritchard take the next step? Will Anfernee Simons be competent defensively? Is Neemias Queta prepared to start?
The preseason won’t provide the full picture, but it will offer a glimpse into what this season could look like.
Here’s the preseason schedule:
Wednesday, Oct. 8: at Memphis, 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10: at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12: vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 15: vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Here are five storylines to follow in the coming weeks as they ramp up to the regular-season opener Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at home against the 76ers:
What can Brown do for them?
Jayson Tatum may or may not return this season; until that point, it’s Brown team.
While Brown likely won’t log too many minutes, the preseason will offer the first glimpse into the Celtics’ potential with him as the undisputed 1A.
With Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday gone, Brown has an opportunity to take on even more of a vocal leadership role. Defenses will exert much of their energy trying to slow him down, so it will be up to Brown to make the right read and distribute the ball to shooters.
“I’m trying to expedite that chemistry building, that trust building so you guys can see a good product when we get to the floor,” Brown told reporters.
Three’s company
Head coach Joe Mazzulla will have a chance to get creative with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons. While Mazzulla made a point to say that Pritchard and Simons aren’t the same player, they do have some similar traits.
It will be interesting to see whether all three share the court together – either to start or at the end of games, in particular – or if Mazzulla feels the Celtics are too undersized with all three out there.
Simons appears to be committed defensively, but wanting to play defense and actually doing so at a high level are two different animals.
“Anfernee has just gotten better and better each day,” Derrick White told reporters. “We’re all just competing with one another and trying to get better.”
Pritchard (6 feet, 1 inch), Simons (6 feet 3, inches), and White (6 feet, 4 inches) are all on the shorter side, but it feels like a waste of resources to have one on the bench in crunch time.
The eye test should reveal whether or not it’s sustainable and how much Mazzulla will have to mix and match personnel-wise.
Center of attention
While the Celtics arguably have a surplus of shifty guards, they’re arguably a bit thin in the front court.
With that said, Neemias Queta appears ready for an increased role. At a minimum, he’s a springy and athletic big who can alter shots at the rim and generate high-quality looks for a shooters as a screener. Ideally for the Celtics, he’ll expand his offensive repertoire and add legit some post moves to his steadily improving arsenal.
Chris Boucher, a proven player with the Raptors, may also log some minutes at center if the Celtics elect to go small. Boucher is a bit undersized for a traditional center at 6 feet, 9 inches, but his 7-foot-4-inch wing span makes him a formidable presence in the paint.
No one will replace Al Horford, but the 32-year-old Boucher could play a somewhat similar role.
“I still have a lot to give the game,” Boucher told reporters. “I wanted to go somewhere where I felt like there was a winning culture.”
A closing lineup of Pritchard-Simons-White-Brown-Boucher may be a bit undersized and streaky defensively, but it would put a lot of pressure on the opposition to stop five capable shooters.
Pace yourselves
Every basketball team at every level should play to its strengths. For this Celtics team, those strengths are speed, shooting, and playmaking.
If the Celtics find themselves in a slow and sluggish defensive battle, the advantage will typically shift to the other team. If they can get out and run, and make the late great Tommy Heinsohn proud, advantage Celtics. Last year’s team was 29th in pace, and that number should skyrocket this season.
While this team may be inconsistent at times defensively and on the boards, playing with pace helps hide those weaknesses.
Preseason stats can often be misleading, but observing how many shot attempts the Celtics generate and tracking their pace of play could be telling.
“We’re definitely making it a point of emphasis to be the fastest team on the court,” forward Josh Minott told reporters.
Stepping up
While Pritchard, Simons, White, Sam Hauser, Brown, Boucher, and Queta are all locks to play barring a surprising twist, other spots in the rotation are there for the taking.
At guard, look for Baylor Scheierman to take the next step and shoot the ball more consistently. Rookie Hugo Gonzalez could also provide a spark off the bench periodically if the Celtics need a jolt of energy.
Forwards Minott, Jordan Walsh, and Xavier Tillman all have a chance to carve out a role. Tillman returning to form after a down year in which he never felt fully like himself would be huge for Boston.
Luka Garza and rookie Amari Williams are also capable of contributing. Garza is one of the more intriguing names on the roster. If he can produce defensively, to match his undeniable offensive talent, he may be a pleasant surprise for the Celtics.
“I know I can shoot the ball,” Garza told reporters. “Especially the big position, I can shoot it with the best of them. I know that, I have a lot of confidence in that, and I think with the right opportunity and the ability to get out there and let it fly, I’m going to show that.”
As always, there are other names who have a chance to pop up out of nowhere and produce – RJ Luis Jr., Max Shulga, and Hayden Gray among them.
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