When you’re a Celtics fan, it’s been a enjoyable first three video games of the season. Who would have thought (not Jaylen Brown) that it will be the Pistons who gave us the very best check but. After the primary quarter and the beginning of the second quarter, I used to be pondering it was going to be a 30+ level blowout once more. Then Detroit went on a giant run in direction of the tip of the half which included an 11-0 run to get the sport shut.
Even within the second half, Detroit continued to make well timed baskets to maintain it inside putting distance and finally took the lead. Fortunately, we’re the very best crew on the planet and located a solution to get it executed to keep away from a nasty loss.
My rankings that are based mostly on my expectations will vary from A-F with C being thought-about an “common” recreation for that particular person participant. There’s no +/-, simply the letter.
Jayson Tatum: A
Season stats: 31 ppg, 7.5 reb, 8 ast, 1 stl, 0.5 blk,
Tonight: 37 factors, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
I’m unsure if Tatum will ever say it publicly that he’s utilizing his benching from the Olympics as motivation, however THANK YOU, STEVE KERR! Tatum by three video games has been on a mission. Once you rating 17 of the crew’s first 26 factors, you’re a person on a mission. His three-point shot seems lethal and his decision-making has been excellent.
Tatum was one of many many Celtics to go chilly within the second half which allowed Detroit again within the recreation. Nevertheless, with 29.3 seconds left, he hit a turnaround soar shot to seal the win.
With a 37-point recreation from Tatum and 6-of-13 from past the arc, he’s clearly within the early lead for MVP.
Jaylen Brown: C
Season stats: 25 ppg, 7.5 reb, 2 ast, 2.5 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 24 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks
After his feedback concerning the Pistons, I anticipated Brown to blow up off the blocks, however he did something however that. Jaylen struggled offensively and didn’t do a lot of notice on the defensive finish till the tip of the sport. Brown shot 6-of-24 from the sector and it was simply his worst offensive outing by three video games.
These rankings are for the entire recreation and never the ultimate 4 minutes and with that stated, Brown did flip up his protection when the sport received to crunch time and made clutch free throws down the stretch. He additionally made up for his poor offense with 10 rebounds.
Derrick White: A
Season stats: 21.5 ppg, 3.5 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 17 factors, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 3 blocks
Considered one of my keys to the video games was to win the rebounding matchup and I believed White did an incredible job on the glass ending with six boards.
White was aggressive on offense, didn’t simply stand within the nook. He ran the courtroom and made some well timed cuts; one led to free throws when the Pistons had been on a giant run within the second quarter.
Within the third quarter, White appeared like the one one making pictures to maintain Boston within the recreation.
Though he did get dunked on by Cade Cunningham at first of the second half, White did get a pleasant block on him within the first half on the rim after which one other monster block with 49.9 seconds left on the rim to protect the lead.
Jrue Vacation: C
Season stats: 12.5 ppg, 3 reb, 2.5 ast, 0.5 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 7 factors, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 steals, 1 block
It wasn’t his finest recreation. He was tasked with guarding Cunningham so protection was all the time going to be his focus. It simply felt he by no means received in an offensive rhythm. To start out the sport, he compelled a few pictures and by no means actually received a straightforward shot to go in early.
Within the fourth quarter, he got here to life. His first two buckets had been back-to-back threes. His first three was within the nook to chop the result in three with beneath 4 minutes left. Then on the following possession Vacation tied the sport at 112 with a deep triple. Then he had a giant strip with 1:30 left when the sport was tied.
Al Horford: B
Season stats: 5.5 ppg, 4 reb, 3 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.5 blk
Tonight: 17 factors, 5 rebounds, 1 help, 3 steals, 0 blocks
Sturdy begin for Huge Al making two of his first three threes. I used to be apprehensive after his tough taking pictures within the ultimate preseason recreation in opposition to the Raptors (the one preseason recreation he performed) that it’d take a couple of video games to get his shot flowing. Possibly I underestimated how a lot of a professional Horford is and will have identified that he can be prepared as soon as the season got here.
Seventeen first half factors is far more than I anticipated from Al, however with Porzingis out till December, there’ll should be video games the place Horford is scoring 16+ factors.
Within the second half, Horford was quiet. Can’t blame him as the entire crew was flat. I do assume he helped transfer the ball extra when he changed Kornet late within the fourth. Total, it was a stable recreation from Al.
Payton Pritchard: C
Season stats: 9 ppg, 2.5 reb, 3 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 19 factors, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks.
Made two threes early within the recreation which received him into an early rhythm that carried him for the remainder of the half. Everyone knows Payton Pritchard is prompt offense and tonight Detroit witnessed it first hand (for 2 quarters). Payton had 10 first-quarter factors adopted by back-to-back threes early within the second quarter for a fast 16 factors.
Pritchard was one other participant who went lacking within the second half after being on a heater within the first. This was the toughest grade to present, however I settled on a C. The primary half he was at the least a B, however the second half introduced it down.
Luke Kornet: D
Season stats: 4 ppg, 3.5 reb, 1 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.5 blk
Tonight: 0 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Luke struggled at occasions. Detroit is a bodily crew and didn’t assume Luke matched the depth wanted. He set some good screens to unencumber folks, however I believe he was beneath par tonight.
Xavier Tillman Sr.: B
Season stats: 5 ppg, 4 reb, 1.5 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk
Tonight: 3 factors, 3 rebounds, 1 help, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Stable recreation from Tillman. I believed he defended properly and made a giant three when the sport was tied at 88 on the finish of the third quarter. These are the sorts of pictures he must be able to take and it was good for him to see one go in.
Early within the fourth quarter, Tillman had an incredible sequence the place he received a steal, then grabbed an offensive rebound and assisted Payton Pritchard for a nook three. He was one of many few to have performed properly from begin to end.
He stays undefeated in opposition to the Pistons.
