Pleased New Yr, everybody. It’s been an eventful first few months of the season for the Celtics, who go away 2024 behind with one final late-afternoon contest in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
Being a Celtics fan in 2024 was fairly nice, and even with the group within the midst of a tough patch to shut out December, we’ve seen some wonderful basketball all through the 2024-25 season. And I’m right here to spotlight these moments for each participant in a single grand, overlong article. So let’s delve into this subjective show of memory, and discover every participant’s most full and memorable efficiency of the season thus far.
Jayson Tatum: Chicago Bulls (Dec. 21)
Personally, I didn’t see something presumably topping Jayson Tatum’s season-opening assertion in opposition to the Knicks. After which the Bulls sport occurred.
In an all-time Celtics efficiency, Tatum grew to become the second participant in franchise historical past to report a 40-point triple-double. Nothing beats that, and for the season Tatum is presently having, that’s saying one thing.
No sport plan, matchup adjustments, or halftime changes might cease what Tatum did to the Bulls on this sport. Full three-level scoring, full management operating the offense, it was merely a masterpiece efficiency.
Ultimate Statline: 43 Factors, 15 Rebounds, 10 Assists
The Defining Play: 3Q – 2:02 – Tatum dunk on Jalen Smith
This might actually simply be “the ultimate 3 minutes of the third quarter (unedited) if we’re being trustworthy. Every sequence ramps up nearer and nearer into legendary territory in entrance of a principally silent Chicago crowd.
On this explicit poster, I nearly really feel just a little dangerous for Jalen Smith, who goes as much as meet JT and stands no probability in opposition to the charged-up Tatum.
Jaylen Brown: Indiana Pacers (Dec. 27)
In an identical state of affairs to Tatum, I believed I had a fairly good thought of the place to go along with this choose for JB.
The three-point Timberwolves barrage, the 37-point night time versus Atlanta within the NBA Cup, his 28-point and 9-assist sport in opposition to Detroit, there have been some locations to actually discover Jaylen’s most spectacular sport of the yr, till the reply fell proper into our lap final Friday.
Not solely did Brown pour in over 40 factors with a combination of 3-point capturing and rim-destroying willpower, he did it by means of his protection, scoring 8 factors off Celtics steals. A type of steals was his personal, a takeaway from an unsuspecting Myles Turner that resulted in a windmill jam. It got here lower than a minute after Brown discovered a runway to the ring and delivered a demolition throwdown over Turner halfway by means of the second quarter.
Ultimate Statline: 44 Factors, 5 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 4 Steals
The Defining Play: 2Q – 6:22 – Brown dunk over Myles Turner
Identical to with Tatum’s Bulls play, all roads result in the poster. Earlier within the sport, Brown didn’t absolutely decide to the lower throat taunt, however he didn’t have to. This dunk mentioned all the things that motion wanted to say. Brown was coming for the Pacers on this sport, and with a transparent lane and one man to beat, he made that assertion loud and clear.
Derrick White: Atlanta Hawks (Nov. 12)
I do know, I do know, horrible loss, complete lure, and so forth. Reality of the matter is, Derrick White was phenomenal on this sport, even when it ended poorly.
A season-best 31 factors, an ideal 5-for-5 from the ground within the fourth quarter, 7-of-12 from three, and he dished out 5 assists. White has been distinctive in quite a lot of Boston’s greatest video games, however in a single the place they actually messed round and discovered the laborious means simply how powerful Atlanta may be even with out a number of starters, White nonetheless gave this group all the things he had with a purpose to win it. The identical goes for the primary Pacers loss the place he hit 8 of his 9 shot makes an attempt and helped shut the hole to ship it to extra time.
White’s been so good this season that a number of video games can definitely make robust best-of circumstances in their very own proper: his 24-point exhibiting within the Knicks opener, his efficiency in an in depth win over the Wolves, his 23-point sport consisting of all 3-point makes in opposition to Detroit. I’m open to any of these, however I believe even in a fairly dangerous loss, White nonetheless gave us one unbelievable night time to shine the highlight on for this checklist.
Ultimate Statline: 31 Factors, 5 Assists, 6 Rebounds, 1 Steal
The Defining Play: 4Q – 1:57 – White 3-pointer
This sequence is a very nice instance of Derrick White’s all-around offensive package deal. He’s a risk to have an effect on the sport in so some ways. On this case, you see a number of of them wrapped into one fast clip, the place he attracts two defenders to the baseline, feeds in a move to Horford, then relocates to his favourite spot within the slot to knock down a go-ahead three.
Kristaps Porziņģis: Detroit Pistons (Dec. 4)
It appeared like Detroit had no solutions for the mere of presence of Kristaps Porziņģis being on the ground. On an evening the place JB Bickerstaff experimented with Tobias Harris on the 5, the Latvian large man merely dominated his option to his greatest scoring efficiency of the season, flattening three pictures from past the arc, re-sparking the Cookies & Cream reference to Jaylen Brown and performing as a deterrent on the rim with two blocks, the primary being an enormous denial of a Tobias Harris dunk within the opening minute of play.
Porziņģis had two robust performances in opposition to the Bulls that warrant consideration for his greatest efficiency, each of which he scored 20+ on capturing effectivity above 50%, however the best way KP fed off the group’s vitality and delivered buckets throughout the ground in opposition to the Pistons makes this the highest choose for his greatest outing in 11 video games performed.
Ultimate Statline: 26 Factors, 9 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 2 Blocks
The Defining Play: 1Q – 11:38 – Porziņģis block on Tobias Harris
Speak about a tone-setting defensive cease. Tobias Harris actually thought he was doing one thing on this drive, placing the ball on the ground to get previous White right into a dunk try. Too dangerous the final man to beat was a 7-footer.
Payton Pritchard: Milwaukee Bucks (Oct. 28)
Selecting something over Pritchard’s 29-point explosion over Chicago feels incorrect, and perhaps it’s incorrect, however this Bucks efficiency felt just like the introduction into a brand new period of Payton Pritchard’s Celtics profession.
This sport, for a second, was an actual off-night for Boston, who actually couldn’t get a lot of something going from past the arc within the first half. That’s, till Pritchard stepped foot on the ground, sinking 5 first half threes and eight in complete on the night time to assist information the group previous the Bucks.
We’ve seen Pritchard do quite a lot of nice issues off the bench this season, however this appears like the most important thus far. It was a direct jolt to Boston’s lackluster begin that become an all-time bench efficiency, full together with his patented late-clock bucket. It has all of the components of a fantastic PP sport, and one that we’ll all assume again on when (not if) Pritchard is called this yr’s greatest sixth Man.
Ultimate Statline: 28 Factors, 5 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Steals
The Defining Play: 3Q – 0.4 seconds – Pritchard 3-pointer
The play that sunk Doc Rivers right into a despondent hunch. There’s nothing fairly like a Pritchard three earlier than the buzzer. Anybody who has been fortunate sufficient to expertise one dwell has a narrative to inform relations for generations to return. This was a particular basket, and a vital one within the grand scheme of the sport’s last quarter, which Boston ran away with 119-108.
Jrue Vacation: Milwaukee Bucks (Dec. 6)
Jrue Vacation loves taking part in the Bucks. It is a reality, as evidenced by three critically productive performances that helped Boston ship a season sweep over Milwaukee.
The final of the three was Jrue’s most quintessential efficiency of the season, a 34-minute image into what makes him one of the crucial efficient two-way guards within the sport.
Vacation had his fingerprints throughout this clutch time victory, benefiting from a Bucks protection that was stretched to the perimeter in opposition to Boston’s 5-out offense with eight first-half factors and 5 assists. On protection, he was all over the place, at one level defending Giannis all the best way up the court docket, grabbing the board on that very same possession, and pushing the ball down the ground for a Sam Hauser three in transition.
Within the fourth quarter, it appeared like he had a hand in each main Celtics play, closing the ultimate 5 minutes with a layup because the curler, grabbing a defensive rebound and once more aiding on a pace-pushing three (this time to Horford), and delivering the dagger within the type of an elbow runner with 25.6 seconds left and the shot clock sounding off. Jrue Vacation made profitable performs all night time. That’s simply what he does.
Ultimate Statline: 20 Factors, 6 Assists, 5 Rebounds, 1 Steal, 1 Block
The Defining Play: 4Q – 25.6 seconds – Vacation floating bounce shot
Take a second and actually watch each a part of Vacation’s course of throughout this game-sealing play. On the high of the possession, he politely strikes Brook Lopez to set him into his standard drop protection place, opening the door for a Lopez swap onto Tatum.
With Tatum working to create a bonus and the shot clock winding down, Vacation lifts into open area to the slot as Tatum reaches the left block on his drive, giving him a neater path to kick it out. It’s a unbelievable sequence from Vacation, who makes this long-distance runner look rather a lot simpler than it really is.
Al Horford: Cleveland Cavaliers (Nov. 19)
Nice Al Horford video games, you always remember them. And this, my associates, was a fantastic Al Horford sport.
In among the best NBA Cup video games this season, Horford was an otherworldly two-way drive that helped knock off the final undefeated group standing. This sport had all of the components of a basic Horford end.
He was elite from past the arc (4/5), defended the hell out of the paint (3 blocks) and made a number of game-changing performs down the stretch, scoring 5 factors with two blocks within the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Cavs shot 9/24 (37.5%) when Horford was the closest defender, together with two clutch time blocks on layup makes an attempt from Darius Garland and Georges Niang.
Identical to Sport 5 of final yr’s Japanese Convention Semifinals, it’s laborious to fathom how completely different these two particular person outcomes may need been if not for the profitable play of Boston’s gracefully getting older large man.
Ultimate Statline: 20 Factors, 7 Rebounds, 3 Blocks
The Defining Play: 4Q – 4:36 – Block on Darius Garland
Holding onto a five-point lead with underneath 5 minutes to play, Horford took on the extraordinarily troublesome swap task of maintaining with Darius Garland, staying hooked up all the best way to the cup to ship an enormous block that instantly resulted in a Derrick White 3-pointer on the opposite finish. That, proper there, is a profitable play from a profitable participant.
Sam Hauser: Detroit Pistons (Dec. 4)
It hasn’t been fairly the identical stage of success off the bench for Sam Hauser this season, who has handled some accidents together with inconsistent capturing nights, however a pleasant stretch early in December confirmed a participant that was beginning to discover that capturing contact once more.
He was a flamethrower in opposition to Detroit on this contest, flattening 7-of-12 shot makes an attempt and 5-of-10 3-point tries. In his second begin of the season, Hauser acquired going early, stealing an inbounds and pulling up from deep on a sequence that was so fast even the Celtics broadcast missed it.
Off the catch, off the dribble, off handoffs, it didn’t matter what Hauser did on this sport, that shot was pure coming off his fingers regardless.
On high of all that was a stable night time defensively. On the Cade Cunningham matchup, Hauser held the star guard to 1-of-4 capturing with one turnover.
Ultimate Statline: 20 Factors, 3 Rebounds, 1 Steal
The Defining Play: 3Q – 4:22 – Hauser layup plus the foul
It’s just a little bizarre that Hauser’s defining play is actually not associated to his 3-point capturing, however this was simply an distinctive coast-to-coast end by means of the contact. Not often will we see Hauser take it upon himself to cost to the rim, and he was rewarded for his efforts right here with a candy reverse layup previous a fouling Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
Luke Kornet: Miami Warmth (Dec. 2)
At this stage within the season, simply eight gamers have registered a sport with six or extra blocks (Victor Wembanyama, miraculously, has achieved it 5 instances). A type of belongs to Luke Kornet, who stepped in for a 27-minute effort with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined.
Certain, this might have gone to Kornet’s 19-point effort in opposition to the Hornets earlier within the season, a worthy contender contemplating his excellent capturing from the sector and from the free throw line, but it surely doesn’t fairly stack as much as the marvel of Luke’s rim-protecting masterclass in opposition to a hated rival.
On the tail-end of a back-to-back with neither group at full energy, the Celtics had been principally in command of this one except for a poor begin out of the gate within the third quarter, however Kornet was merely at his greatest all through. This was a kind of uncommon cases the place drop protection was noticeably wonderful all night time, each for Kornet and Neemias Queta. It was additionally an evening the place Bam Adebayo’s capturing hit an Error Code 404, ending 6-of-18. Kornet greater than held up in that matchup, with Adebayo capturing 5-of-13 with two turnovers when defended by the Celtics large.
Ultimate Statline: 6 factors, 4 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 6 Blocks
The Defining Play: 3Q – 8:39 – Block on Tyler Herro
In simply his best defensive show of the night time, Kornet took the swap onto Tyler Herro, pressured on him by an Adebayo display screen on the high of the arc. Herro naturally bursts by Kornet as quickly because the ball hits his fingers, however Kornet miraculously recovers to disclaim what ought to have been a clear layup try.
Neemias Queta: LA Clippers (Nov. 25)
There’s a robust argument available that Neemias Queta’s most impactful (and most rim-rocking) efficiency got here in opposition to the Golden State Warriors, however I’d argue his sport in opposition to the Clippers was his most full.
Whereas the return of Porzingis and the 3-point barrage that led to a direct beatdown had been the main headlines on Nov. 25, it was Queta’s all-around efficiency off the bench that I’ll bear in mind probably the most from the primary a part of his season.
Queta successfully defended the rim in opposition to smaller matchups like Terance Mann and Kobe Brown, did his half in protecting the ball flowing on offense, managed the glass with 9 rebounds and delivered three monstrous dunks.
In opposition to a group that basically lacks frontcourt choices off the bench, Queta flourished in one among Boston’s greatest beatdowns of the season.
Ultimate Statline: 12 factors, 9 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Blocks
The Defining Play: 4Q – 5:38 – Give-and-Go Dunk with Derrick White
This lovely instance of unselfish, off-schedule basketball is simply as a lot a Derrick White spotlight as it’s a Queta one. This sequence that sees White save an extended rebound and take part in a passing back-and-forth with Queta had the Clippers steps behind as Queta skied up for a two-hand slam.
Jordan Walsh: Indiana Pacers (Dec. 27)
Neglect greatest efficiency earlier than the New Yr, this was Jordan Walsh’s greatest efficiency as a Celtic.
A late addition to the checklist, Walsh (and the group collectively) delivered an emphatic blow to the Pacers, a response to a tough patch that noticed them lose three of their earlier 4 contests.
It was a efficiency the place we noticed all the things Walsh is able to, however haven’t constantly seen. He shot the ball confidently on open appears, he walled up defensively, crashed the glass and supplied glimpses of on-ball creation. Every of those components of his sport had been seen at completely different factors within the preseason, however we acquired all of it wrapped collectively on this 21-minute package deal.
Ultimate Statline: 9 Factors, 5 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steal
The Defining Play: 4Q – 1:03 – Help to Xavier Tillman
This play didn’t have a lot impact on the result, however boy did it add to the optimistic vitality surrounding this win.
Getting a uncommon alternative to create on the drive, Walsh flashed a crossover transfer to get into the appropriate aspect of the paint and delivered a laser kickout into the nook to Xavier Tillman, who knocked down a late three to push the Celtics over 140 factors on the night time. The move flung proper between the outstretched arms of Jarace Walker like a kick by means of the uprights.
Drew Peterson: Detroit Pistons (Dec. 12)
After three rubbish time appearances by means of all of November, Drew Peterson quickly discovered himself thrust into the rotation for a handful of early December contests. Every one offered some optimistic minutes, some confidence capturing from the perimeter and a few succesful defensive effort, making this a three-horse race for his greatest night time of the season.
Between his prolonged appearances in opposition to Cleveland, Miami and Detroit, his Pistons sport was his lowest scoring output and the one one the place he didn’t join on a 3, but I believe it was nonetheless his greatest total look.
Peterson was a part of the connective tissue that made the offense hum on this sport, delivering two assists simply by means of a belief within the system. Together with contributions on the glass, three free throw makes and a clean step again midi late within the sport, it was Peterson’s solely sport of the three large appearances the place his +/- was optimistic (+12). He seemed like he belonged on the market within the rotation, and that’s about as a lot as you may ask for out of a two-way participant that’s getting into an enormous position with two wings out for the night time.
Ultimate Statline: 5 Factors, 2 Assists, 3 Rebounds
The Defining Play: 4Q – 3:37 – Peterson step again bounce shot
I’d wish to think about a big majority of Celtics followers tuned into the ultimate minutes of this all-but-over Thursday night time matchup with Detroit misplaced their collective minds when this shot went down.
I believe viewers of Peterson’s faculty days and G-League work have seen some robust on-ball creation over the previous few years, however we actually haven’t seen it in his minutes up in Boston. This was a spectacular end. A cool sufficient step again to warrant an acceptable Kevin Durant shoutout on the published from Drew Carter.
Xavier Tillman: Washington Wizards (Oct. 24)
There hasn’t been a complete lot of Xavier Tillman motion all through the early goings of this season. His offensive struggles have performed an enormous half in that, but it surely’s a small shock to see him so low on the frontcourt pecking order after some robust performances all through his first half-season in Boston.
A few of it has to do together with his offensive struggles, and simply how far groups play off him, however on this early-season exhibiting in opposition to the lowly Wizards, Tillman had himself a high quality night time on that aspect of the ground, flattening a pair of threes and scoring a layup in transition.
In his 15-minute look, Tillman was a season-best +15 on the ground in a 20-point win. He’s had some good defensive jolts off the bench in restricted minutes throughout the season (together with a productive 2-block outing in opposition to the Wizards on Nov. 22), however this efficiency teased some perimeter enhancements that in the end haven’t paid off, however at the very least gave us one thing to speak about throughout the first week of the common season.
Ultimate Statline: 8 Factors, 1 Rebound, 1 Help
The Defining Play: 4Q – 10:39 – Tillman 3P shot assisted by Brown
It is a fairly simple pick-and-pop 3-pointer for Tillman, however one I believe all of us want we might see him knock down with some consistency.
Contemplating the gravity of Brown’s drive, you possibly can count on nearly all of defenses to offer this type of respect (or lack thereof) to Tillman’s capturing, however on this occasion, he made them pay for it.
Jaden Springer: LA Clippers (Nov. 25)
Alternatives have been laborious to return by for Jaden Springer this season, though he has had a number of extra appearances come alongside in December.
There’s not a complete lot to jot down dwelling about in these appearances, however his rubbish time exhibiting in opposition to the Clippers definitely stands out as one of many many motivated performances present in that specific blowout.
It was solely a 5-minute look on the ground, however Springer made his presence recognized on each side of the ground, aiding on two Jordan Walsh buckets, hounding Bones Hyland for a steal, and taking a straight-line drive to the cup for a pleasant layup. Not dangerous work for simply 5 minutes.
Ultimate Statline: 3 Factors, 2 Assists, 1 Steal
The Defining Play: 4Q – 3:02 – Steal on Bones Hyland
When Jaden Springer checks right into a sport, the 2 areas I count on to be positively influenced are rebounding and point-of-attack protection. On this case, it’s an instance of the latter.
Springer simply straight-up robs Hyland blind, actually springing into motion to grab the ball away and earn a visit to the free throw line. Facet observe: I believe it’s hilarious that Springer needs to heave the ball into the center of the stands after the layup didn’t fall his means. He actually ought to have made that even with the contact, however alas, it was a fantastic play nonetheless.
Baylor Scheierman: Miami Warmth (Dec. 2)
We’re clearly at a degree within the roster the place vital performances are more durable to return by. With Baylor Scheierman, it’s significantly slim pickings with solely 5 appearances as a Celtic, and quite a lot of time spent down on the G-League.
We’re prevailing on regardless, and his 11-minute look within the Miami sport is the clear-cut selection for the Creighton product. It’s his solely look over 10 minutes and likewise gave us two fairly candy highlights that showcase Scheierman’s potential as a secondary playmaker and as a defender.
Ultimate Statline: 1 Help, 1 Rebound, 1 Steal
The Defining Play: 3Q – 42 seconds – Help to Brown
That is such a candy spotlight for the rookie. Positioned in the appropriate spot to bail Payton Pritchard out of a nook double group, Scheierman evades two defenders himself to ship this absolute no-look dime within the reverse nook to Jaylen Brown, who completes the spotlight to ship the Celtics up 20 late within the third quarter.
Scheierman’s passing capability was one among my favourite components of his sport on the faculty stage. This was a very spectacular style of what he might convey to the desk past his rookie yr.
