Tatum obviously wasn’t going to let Dukie Banchero upstage him this game. After Paulo got a couple of easy baskets, and Tatum did not get the call in front of his bench when he was fouled on a three point shot early, JT decided to impose his will on this game. I like this response to a non-call rather than Tatum just throwing up his hands in the back court complaining to the ref.
After Orlando played really well offensively in the first half, I thought the Celtics had a chance to lock this came up in the third quarter, when Tatum went on a scoring binge. They were up four baskets and got a stop. I know the Celtics are trying to get open three-point opportunities in early offense, but Marcus Smart, in this spot, hoisting up a three when he was one for seven from deep, four seconds into the shot clock, after Tatum just scored on three consecutive trips, was point guard malpractice. He bricked it, and bricaked another one a few possessions later, Orlando scored a couple of times, and the Celtics were back again into a dog fight. They won the game, but if they want to be the kind of team that dominates, they should’ve close this game out in the third quarter when they were on that run. Push the eight point lead to 16, and make it easier on your rotation. If Cole Anthony didn’t miss that late dunk when he was wide open, this would’ve been a one or two possession game in the final minute.
That quibble aside, I thought the Celtics responded really well on a back to back against that aggressive young team that really needed a victory. Orlando played like it was their Super Bowl, but Boston had enough veteran savvy, and enough talent to hold him at bay. Jaylen Brown had a horrible shooting night, but was the team leader in plus minus. This is the third game in a row that two Celtics have combined for over 60 points.
The defense wasn’t great, but I did notice a lot of really good switching out on the perimeter, especially in the second half. It looks like the defense is coming together. There was some good gang rebounding in this game, but the defensive glass was a little bit of a problem. It wasn’t for lack of trying. The Celtics were whistled for face guarding blockout fouls at least twice.
Grant looks so locked in offensively. Three games in, his eFG is 1.14, on 85/89/85% shooting. 12.7 points in 26.7 mpg. 8-10 from three, 4-4 from two. He looks so much better attacking close outs. I like how Coach Joe is getting Hauser acclimated to rotation minutes, although I would’ve liked to have seen him earlier in the third as a zone buster. He is 5-7 for the year from three. The PP, Hauser, GW, MB, Blake line up is a bomb squad. Brogdon will have a lot of opportunity off drives with this squad.
I have to again renew my objection to Luke Kornet. It makes little sense to me to try to develop that guy, when you have someone like Kabengele who is a live bodied big and should be able to fit their scheme better. There are a lot of opportunities for cleanup baskets, but I don’t see Kornet being the kind of guy to get them. It might’ve been just rust from him coming off his ankle sprain, but that guy looked horrible last night.