The Toronto Raptors are back in Boston Wednesday, making them the first team to make a return trip to the TD Garden this season. The first one ... didn’t go so well.
“That game left a nasty taste in all of our mouths,” Robert Williams said of the 115-83 loss. “Obviously along with coach’s game plan, we plan on going out and playing our hardest, you know, get revenge for sure.”
Things have changed a lot for the Celtics since then, with the Celtics improving in a lot of areas in which Toronto excels.
“They're one of the more physical, aggressive teams,” Ime Udoka said. “They're one of the top offensive rebounding teams. They'll really junk it up. They're one of the top transition teams offensively, isolation teams, I think third overall. So we gotta be ready to guard as far as that.”
It’s a much different scenario this time around for Boston. Instead of a double-overtime game two days prior to their matchup, the Celtics have enjoyed three days off since their last game to prepare this time.
“We looked refreshed after a day off,” Udoka said. “Carryover from what we did well on the road, touching up on some of those things. Diving into some areas defensively and offensively that we can improve on after 10 games. The guys were good, high energy, looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”
The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown this time around, but considering the first time they faced each other was easily Brown’s worst game of the season, they barely had him for that one too. Still, Brown is the team’s leading scorer and has been a huge part of Boston’s wins.
“Spacing is a big thing,” Udoka said of his Jaylen-less offense. “We were touching on our spacing, worked on blitzing that some teams have done with Jayson (Tatum) with Jaylen being out. ... The actual fact we’re passing and finding guys has been good.”
One different element from the first game will be the return of Pascal Siakam. He played in is first game of the season two nights ago after a lengthy absence with a shoulder injury.
“We have to have our attention on him, as well. I think they've got four guys averaging 15 points, so they're well-rounded,” Udoka said. “Add Siakam back in the mix but they're a well-balanced team. ... Have to be strong with the ball, knowing that they're coming at random angles and try to pick it apart like we have in other games."
SCHRÖDER STAYS STARTING
The Celtics will once again go with Dennis Schröder in the starting lineup in place of Brown.
"He's done a great job with whoever's been out, multiple guys this year so far,” Udoka said. “He just kind of plugs the gap and does a lot of things. Another guy that can initiate and score the ball. ... He just adds some pop to the starting game and pushes the pace and tempo, which we don't always have to start the game."
Robert Williams has been very impressed with Schröder.
“Dennis’ game is unique to me,” he said. “Arguably one of the fastest players I've ever seen play on offense and defense. It’s amazing how can drive the ball and get out passes. So whenever his presence is on the court it’s appreciated for sure.”
Another reason Udoka like Schröder in the starting lineup is how it keeps his bench in order.
“It's an opportunity for Payton (Pritchard) and Romeo (Langford) and Grant (Williams) and those guys. We like to keep them in that spot,” Udoka said. “Against Miami and Orlando, our young guys came in here and did a great job. Looking forward to seeing them continue to grow and help us out while Jaylen is out."
CAPTAINS “IN THE REARVIEW”
Before the season started, Udoka said he had planned to name a couple of captains. He hasn’t yet, and the way he’s talking now, it doesn’t sound like he will.
“That's probably in the rearview now,” he said. “It was a focus until guys were missing with Al (Horford) and Jaylen going out (in the preseason). Then, the focus became figuring out lineups and rotations and all that. As I mentioned, they all do it in different ways. Jayson is a guy who does it on the court everyday here, maybe not as vocal as other guys but Al and Marcus do it in their own way and Jaylen brings some as well. It's something I haven't thought about as much as far as initially in the season due to the circumstances. That's probably in the rearview, honestly.”
We can take this at face value for now, but let’s also put a pin in this. I feel like there’s more to this story.
My quick take: He had an idea for naming two captains and then pulled back fairly quickly. I’m not buying that figuring out rotations is what derailed it.
SAM HAUSER IN TOWN
Hauser is one of Boston’s two-way guys and he started both games this season for the Maine Celtics. He scored 27 to lead the team in their first game and then 17 in consecutive wins over the College Park Skyhawks. He’s 11-20 on 3-pointers over those two games.
“I was very satisfied, but I think it has a lot to do with how we were playing in Maine,” Hauser said. “Everybody was sharing the ball and teammates were looking for each other. They found me when I was open and I was able to knock them down.”
Hauser will be in Boston for tomorrow night’s game against Toronto, adding a depth piece if necessary in Brown’s absence. The plan right now is to send him back to Portland for two home games this weekend.
“I think just being able to play basketball in real live game settings only gets you better,” Hauser said. “Being a rookie with a really veteran team, sometimes it's tough to get reps in practice while I'm here. So it's good for me when I go down there to fully practice, get a lot of minutes in the games and just really work on my game. Trying to take what I do in practice into the game setting and I think it's really valuable.”
