It’s uncommon nowadays to have an early November recreation that appears like a playoff recreation. This Warriors staff introduced it in each manner although, and the TD Backyard crowd was locked in for all of it.
Final yr, the Celtics performed the Wolves in an early season matchup that had an analogous really feel to it. That is the kind of recreation that the Celtics and Warriors often discover themselves in, however you might sense that Golden State had an additional gear. Buddy Hield mentioned so himself:
Was this a giant common season win for the Warriors in Boston?
Buddy Hield: “What do you suppose? It is a assertion. If we do not win, all people says, ‘Oh, they ain’t performed no one.’ You gotta come make a press release, proper?”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 7, 2024
You clearly can’t low cost the truth that Boston was lacking two starters, however the Warriors confirmed indicators of a staff that’s able to make some noise within the playoffs once more.
2. Derrick White, the 2nd choice.
White obtained the Celtics scoring began early and helped them soar out to a fast lead.
He’s persevering with to construct on a powerful begin to the yr as a scorer. With out Brown, White has comfortably stepped in because the offenses #2 choice. He’s not hesitating in any respect, and appears like he needs as many photographs as he can get. It’s a fairly stark distinction between the extra cautious participant the Warriors confronted in ‘22.
There was some creation off the dribble within the mid-range, however a majority of his spectacular night occurred past the arc. He most likely launched sufficient 3’s to make James Naismith flip in his grave, however it’s straightforward to just accept when he knocks down seven of them.
He sadly ran out of juice on the finish of the sport, however he was making the Warriors pay for giving him any area in any respect. Even the tightest of home windows don’t hassle him a lot if the defender doesn’t have a hand up.
He introduced his typical excellence on the defensive finish as properly. There was a stretch within the 2nd quarter the place he took a cost, stole a move from Draymond and hustled again to interrupt up a full courtroom move.
The competitors at his place makes it a tall process, however White’s two-way play offers him a respectable All-Star case. That’s to not say he’ll make it, however to this point he’s been one of the crucial productive guards within the East whenever you think about either side of the ball.
3. Neemias Queta is a revelation.
Queta was referred to as on because the beginning heart, and he delivered one of many extra spectacular performances of his profession.
When he was within the recreation, good issues occurred. That’s a reasonably simplistic view, however the Celtics gained his minutes and didn’t look fairly the identical when he was on the bench.
He appeared comfy switching on the perimeter, even matched up with Curry on just a few events.
Queta did a few of the little issues, like being an efficient screener and dealing the glass. He additionally did the big issues that you might really feel by the TV display screen.
Video games like this present the explanation this group continues to put money into his growth. Queta nonetheless has issues to wash up, however he grows with every minute he spends on the ground and continues to offer Mazzulla no alternative however to play him.
4. The opposite bigs.
Queta was nice on this recreation, that a lot was extraordinarily clear. What was additionally noticeable was the truth that no different Celtic huge may match his influence on this recreation.
Horford’s counting stats have been stable, and he offered about what you’ll count on from him on most nights at this level within the season. Mazzulla made the choice to shut the sport with him although, when it appeared like Queta because the lone huge ought to’ve been the way in which to go.
Kornet didn’t have something for this matchup both. He was on the ground for a powerful near the third quarter, however in the end appeared a step sluggish. He wasn’t in a position to make a distinction vs the Warriors ball display screen actions, and appeared to be extra of a strain level for them to push on. In Kornet’s protection, Kyle Anderson confidently getting into and drilling a number of 3’s shouldn’t be one thing that you just typically need to account for.
With Luke’s subpar efficiency, it was attention-grabbing that Tillman’s title was by no means referred to as. He appeared like a extra helpful choice when switchability and lateral motion is a necessity. He hasn’t seen a lot taking part in time these days although, and has been leaped within the rotation by Queta.
Within the 20 minutes with Queta off the courtroom, Boston had a stunningly dangerous -47.7 Web Score. That jumps as much as a 21.1 Web Score in his 28 minutes. It’s been an thrilling stretch of video games for Queta, and the Celtics might be in nice form if they’ll get extra impactful heart minutes from others to help him.
5. Tatum figured it out ultimately.
There have been expectations, truthful or not, that Tatum was going to have a giant efficiency as a revenge recreation of kinds for Steve Kerr benching him within the Olympics.
After a sluggish begin, and a whole lot of consideration from the protection, this didn’t appear to be a recreation that Tatum was going to go away his mark on as a scorer. As soon as once more although, he exceeded 30 factors on an environment friendly 10/20 from the sector.
This appears like an indication of his maturity to have the ability to navigate powerful coverages and powerful defenders with out forcing up photographs. There was a few of that early on, however he appeared to appropriate it and play inside the circulation of the sport.
As soon as he obtained right into a rhythm with three straight catch & shoot seems, the sport began to open up for him. He started to play with extra confidence attacking his matchups and had much more success attending to his spots.
It wasn’t an impressive evening for him, however that claims much more concerning the sort of requirements he’s held to, as a result of it was nonetheless recreation general.
6. The Warriors protection is legit.
On a associated notice, the Warriors are versatile and bodily defensively. Positive, the physicality bordered on fouls more often than not, however it wasn’t any completely different than what they’d see within the postseason.
They pressured the Celtics into some uncomfortable positions, which isn’t one thing you may often do towards this staff. Aggressively trapping the choose and roll didn’t really feel like one thing Boston was ready to deal with, and Golden State defaulted to that as typically as they may. There have been instances the place they managed to pressure Boston to retreat extraordinarily far again, which even resulted in a pressured backcourt violation.
Wiggins, Gary Payton II and Draymond are a tough trio to dribble round, they usually perceive protection at an especially excessive stage. They have been a giant a part of the explanation why Boston was held to simply 40 factors within the 1st half.
This makes it extra spectacular that the Celtics put up 72 factors within the 2nd half, behind some significant changes. They dealt with traps higher, giving the ball up faster and making good reads on the quick roll. This made it a much less viable protection for the Warriors, and allowed Boston to take again management of their offensive method.
The Celtics in the end got here up quick, however GSW’s protection is hard to crack they usually almost did so with out two of their most vital offensive weapons.
7. That is Celtics basketball.
Boston wanted one thing to actually get the gang behind them. With 7:30 left within the third quarter, they put collectively one of many extra thrilling possessions you’ll see from a staff.
This sequence has every part. Great passing, unimaginable hustle on the offensive glass, effort to maintain the play alive and a Tatum 3-ball to cap all of it off. You possibly can see a glimpse on the finish of that clip, however the followers totally appreciated that show of pure Celtics basketball.
A couple of minutes later, Payton Pritchard prompted one other eruption from the gang:
8. Conserving tabs on Vacation.
Vacation completed the sport with a close to triple-double, recording 6 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists. He stuffed up the stat sheet, however it was a quieter evening for him than these numbers would point out.
For one factor, he shot 3/11 from the sector together with 0/6 from 3PT vary. Boston sometimes has the luxurious of permitting Vacation to fill within the gaps and be extra selective along with his photographs. In a recreation with out Jaylen although, there’s an expectation that Vacation would be capable of step into a bigger offensive position. He tried to make issues occur often, however by no means discovered a scoring rhythm.
It’s not one thing that worries me, contemplating everyone knows what Jrue is able to. It’s extra of an expectation based mostly on his skills that he ought to really feel assured sufficient to step up and name his personal quantity when wanted.
9. Pritchard 6MOTY momentum.
Payton has had extra productive video games than this one, it was one other stable scoring output for his Sixth Man of the 12 months marketing campaign although. Pritchard wasn’t very environment friendly, however scored 16 factors, marking the seventh time in 9 video games that he has scored 15+.
Even for those who have been excessive on Pritchard’s probabilities to crack the 6MOTY dialog, he has exceeded most affordable expectations. Within the early levels of the season, he has emerged because the betting favourite for the award.
If he can keep this stage of manufacturing, Pritchard might put himself within the working for the NBA’s Most Improved Participant award too. Because it stands, he’s raised his scoring common by almost six and a half factors per recreation in comparison with final season.
10. Steph can’t damage us anymore
Steph took over a essential stretch of the 4th quarter to offer the Warriors the lead, and reminded Celtics followers of his greatness. I’m right here to say that it merely not stings as a lot because it used to.
The Finals loss in 2022 was brutal, and Steph inflicted harm that I wasn’t certain may very well be let go. That ache was lifted the second Boston gained recreation 5 towards the Mavericks, and it’s reached the purpose once more the place I can watch a Curry takeover not with bitterness, however with admiration.
