Everything you need to know about the Celtics' 108-87 win over the Hornets with BSJ insight and analysis
HEADLINES
C’s pick up Kemba Walker during his homecoming: The Celtics got their sixth straight win of the year on Wednesday night and it ended up being their easiest as they controlled the better part of 48 minutes against the Hornets in a 108-87 win. Kemba Walker struggled early on in his Charlotte homecoming but recovered with 11 second-half points to post 14 points and 6 assists on the night. In the face of those early woes, Gordon Hayward (20 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) and Jayson Tatum (23 points, 9 rebounds) picked up the slack, setting the pace for five Celtics in double figures including Jaylen Brown (12 points) in his return to the line. Strong defense in this one kept the Hornets from ever threatening in the second half as they were limited to just 38 percent shooting from the field and 19 percent shooting from 3-point range. No Hornet struggled more than Terry Rozier who managed just three points (1-of-11 FG) in his first matchup against his former team.
Javonte Green makes a meaningful impact: The rookie swingman did not see the floor until the second half but provided some life for the second unit in his stint, getting a chance over Semi Ojeleye in the rotation. He scored his first NBA bucket in the third quarter and did not slow down from there, piling up 12 points in 12 minutes to help the C’s bench score a season-high 34 points. For a unit that was just averaging 21 points per game entering the Hornets game, it was evident that Brad Stevens was in search of some scoring further down the bench. He may have found a surprising source for it in Green over the long haul after watching his impact in this one.
Six straight wins put C’s back on top of NBA: It’s been a friendly schedule in the past week with dates against New York, Charlotte and Cleveland but the Celtics are winning the game they are supposed to and find themselves on top of the NBA because of it. With a 6-1 record, they remain on top of a crowded East standings in the early going. The road gets much together later in the month with a five-game West Coast trip so every win this team banks now could mean a lot in the long run with a tight race expected all year long in the Eastern Conference.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics took a nine-point lead into halftime but broke things open in the third quarter with an 11-3 run immediately after intermission to push the lead well into double digits. The Hornets never cut the deficit below 12 points over the final 20 minutes as Boston’s defense held Charlotte to a season-low 87 points.
TWO UP
Hayward: He was fantastic out of the gate yet again with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in the first quarter alone. He led the C’s in both rebounds (10) and assists (6) for the second straight game while posting another efficient scoring line (20 points on 9-of-16 FG). This hasn’t just been the Utah version of Hayward lately, it might even be better than that guy.
Jayson Tatum from 3-point range: The third-year forward knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc Thursday night, which lifted his 3-point shooting percentage to 45.8 percent for the year. That number becomes even more impressive when you consider the fact that he’s averaging nearly seven attempts from deep per game, a career-high.
TWO DOWN
Semi Ojeleye: The defensive-minded forward was the last man off the bench in the blowout win as Brad Stevens gave a chance to Javonte Green, Brad Wanamaker and Carsen Edwards in the rotation ahead of him. With the second unit desperate for scoring most nights, this is a trend that could continue with Green delivering 12 points.
Carsen Edwards: He started the game ahead of Brad Wanamaker in the rotation but is still a bit of a rollercoaster ride on the offensive end right now. He missed all of his three shots in 12 minutes, which led to Wanamaker getting a chance over him in the second half at backup point guard. Edwards did draw a charge but he’s getting a chance in these games for his offense and he’s not producing consistently in that department right now.
TOP PLAY
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— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 8, 2019
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Kemba Walker didn’t force things in his homecoming and that was a refreshing sight: This doesn’t come as a big surprise given the type of player he was, but it was still encouraging to see nonetheless. In an emotional homecoming for the All-Star that included a terrific video tribute before the opening tip, Walker understandably came out slow out of the gate. However, he didn’t make this game about him at all. He deferred early, letting Tatum and Hayward handle the heavy lifting for the offense and didn’t try to force shots that were there. He eventually knocked down a few shots in the second half (11 points) but his willingness to take a bad seat when others are rolling is a refreshing part of his game. He appreciates the fact that he has help surrounding him and that has enabled him to make this a very smooth transition to a new home in Boston.
Terry Rozier may be a backup guard by next season again: The former Celtic has been given all the opportunity in the world in Charlotte but it did not translate in this one as he delivered a complete dud (1-of-11 FG, 4 turnovers, 3 points) in his first matchup against his former mates. With just two assists in 26 minutes, the same problems that plagued Rozier in Boston are still a big part of his game here (lack of vision, inability to finish at the rim). The Hornets have actually had a few brights spots behind him on the bench, including second-year point guard Devonte Graham. Rozier will keep getting his minutes for at least the first year of his pricy three-year contract but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him give up that leading role eventually if he doesn’t start showing more progress in running an offense as a floor general.
