With the top 6 out, the backups and deep bench guys lost against a NY Knicks team that played their starters, but they were impressive in keeping it close.
Pritchard started at PG and immediately showed why he is a backup, as Jalen Brunson (who only plated 6 minutes) repeatedly took him to school, scoring 10 points on 4-5 shooting. Pritchard also struggled offensively while Bruson was torching him. But as the Knicks got past Bronson and deeper into their bench, Pritchard recovered some, ultimately scoring 21 points on 7-15 from the field and 4-11 from three and leading the team with 5 assists.
The Celtic who made the best impression was Dalano Banton, the 6'7" guard, who, like Pritchard, showed the good and the bad of himself in this one. He scored 20 points on 8-19 from the field (1-5 from three) and added 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a turnover. He played a team high 30 minutes, including against the Knicks starters, and was a team low -17. The good: while the Knicks starters were schooling the Celtics early in the game, Banton was the only thing keeping them in it, scoring 8 of 16 Celtic points in 9 first quarter minutes. He did it almost exclusively by showing an ability to drive and get to the rim repeatedly against the Knick starters. The bad: he wasn't a great finisher at the rim in traffic (some of his driving layups looked like they had no shot coming out of his hand) and his outside shot was pretty lousy. A lot of room for improvement there. Though he's been listed as a PG at times in his career, he had only 2 assists and I don't trust the handle to bring the ball up against pressure. Also, he did a lot of driving and getting to the rim but not a lot of dishing the ball on his drives. So, there are things he needs to improve, but what he did do - penetrate and get to the rim - looks like a carrying skill for him, something that will ensure his NBA employment for a few years. Before we ever saw Romeo Langford, he had the reputation of being able to drive to the rim but havign a questionable shot. Last night, that is what Banton loked like - but he showed more ability to get to the rim against NBA starters in one quarter of one game than Langford did the whole time he was here. He also made a nice adjustment on one drive where instead of forcing his way to the basket he set himself up for a 14 footer which he hit. For this year, I think the questions for him are can he improve some in his weaker areas and how does he do in a more structured situation alongside our better players? Porzingis talked about how much attention Tatum draws in the offensive end and how he was able to play off of that. If Banton could do the same he could see some bench minutes this year.
Another guy who made a good impression was Svi Miykhailiuk, henceforth 'Svi.' The only Celtic who shot over 40% from 3 (3 of 7), Svi scored 15 points in 26 minutes. In addition to shooting, he showed an ability to get up and finish lobs. Not much in sceondary stats (3 rebounds, 1 assist), but he definitely looks like a guy who will put pressure on Hauser.
Speaking of Hauser, he has his second straight bad shooting game. He shot 2-9 from three, making him 2-15 on the preseason. That won't get it done. He did lead the team with 8 rebounds in 25 minutes. Much less athleticism than you see from Svi, so if he's not hitting his shots his minutes are vulnerable. But, he might be the guy who benefits from the attention the starters draw to get wide open catch and shoot looks.
JD Davison played only 14 minutes, but he flashed when the Celtics were in transition. In 14 minutes, he was 2-4 from the field, scoring 5 points, 4 assists, and getting 3 rebounds. Just one turnover and was a -1. We knew coming in he was a great lob thrower; in this game he also showed that he makes good decisions in transition. He was leading one break, with defenders back, but had 2 Celtics filling lanes slightly behind him. He slowed and moved to his right at the top of the key, creating a lane for Brissett to fill, and then fed Brissett for an open dunk. On the other hand, he looks no better than he did last year running a halfcourt offense.
Brissett and Stevens might be competing for the same "energy guy" type of role. Today, Stevens was better. Brissett had 10 points, 5 rebounds in 23 minutes, but also had 3 turnovers and missed all four of his three attempts. Two of the turnovers were on attempts to pump fake and drive which nearly always get called traveling. Stevens scored 11 points on 5-12 shooting (1-5 from three) in 27 minutes and tied Hauser for the team lead with 8 boards. But, Brissett played his minutes against the Knick starters. Which guy is better in a regular bench role? I still lean Brissett for now.
Jordan Walsh got his first action and played 19 minutes agaisnt the Knicks bench. He was not great but he flashed a few different things and looks like a worthwhile project. For the game he scored 4 on 2-5 from the field, missing both his threes, and turned it over twice. But he had 7 rebounds and 2 steals. One of the steals was a play where Randle had the ball and was working on Brissett art the top of the key and Walsh picked him, then went coast to coast and finished with a difficult layup in traffic. Later in the game, he ran a pick and roll and got to the rim with a nice finish. I like what I see from him, though I think this will be a developmental year where he doesn't play much.
Queta played 14 minutes and scored 7 points, had 4 rebounds, and picked up 5 fouls. Doesn't look like an aggressive to the rim guy such as Kabangele was last year, seemed like he was playing a bit slower than the competition. On one play, whether through luck or skill, he was matchup one on one with a Knick PG (not Brunson) and managed to shuffle the feet and stay in front of him. This is purely a developmental guy - I don;t see him pressing Kornet for minutes anytime soon - even though pressing Kornet minutes are right there for the taking.
Gabriel only played late, and he had 1 point, 4 rebounds, and 4 fouls in the final 10 minutes. Where Queta looked a step slow, Gabriel was all over the place as if he was playing at 1.5 speed and out of control/unproductive. He needs to settle in before he can be evaluated. Looking like he did today, he, too, is not pressing Kornet.
Kornet didn't look great in this one. 20 minutes, 2 rebounds, on a team that projects to e weak on the boards. Four points and 3 assists and 2 blocks.
All in all, backup C looks like a real problem for the Celtics, especially if Mazzulla wants to use a lot of 2 big looks.
Brissett/Stevens and Hauser/Svi look like interesting competitions for spots in the rotation. With no additional moves there is room for all to make the 15, but who plays may depends on who is a better lineup fit.
Backup PG is also a potential issue, in the sense that - as we've known - Pritchard can be exposed on the defensive end.
If Banton can round out his game and/or fit well alongside regular rotaton players, he could be a sneaky find. Walsh looks like a project but one with great potential.
