BSJ Game Report: Raptors 137, Celtics 134 - C's wrap up preseason with weird loss

Everything you need to know about the Celtics loss to the Raptors in their final preseason game, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics came out hot but they gave up too many second chances to the Raptors, who were able to keep it close. A weird end of the third-quarter sequence led to Jayson Tatum getting ejected, and things got weird from there. The starters all left the game by crunch time, and the reserves nearly pulled it off, but the Raptors were able to hold on for the win. 

Box Score

HEADLINES

Celtics offense was clicking: Early on, the Celtics were able to get the ball out on the break and it led to open shots. When Tatum was crashing the boards and pushing the pace, the Celtics' offense was crushing. The starting lineup seems set with Derrick White joining the other regulars, Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford. It might be an offense that can score in big bunches, especially if they can get out in transition. 

Coffee is for closers: However, the Celtics' defense has to be better at closing out possessions. The Raptors had 22 offensive rebounds, which contributed to their 68-40 points in the paint advantage. The Celtics also gave up 26 points off 19 turnovers, so that pumped this ridiculous number up as well. If the opponent can pull Horford away from the rim like they did in this game, then there's no rim protection and no rebounding in this starting lineup unless everyone is 100% on point with their rotations and they box out every possession. 

Good defense without grabbing a rebound is bad defense, and it’s a waste of energy. Close out possessions.

Tatum tossed: This was ridiculous. I’ve been critical of Tatum for his histrionics on the floor, but this was in no way demonstrative or excessive. This, to me, felt like an official who knew the situation and that it wouldn’t matter if Tatum picked up his second tech of the night, so he got some satisfaction in getting to throw a star player out of the game. 

It didn’t matter at all, but it was a pretty ridiculous moment that should warrant a review by the officiating higher-ups.  

Brogdon leaves game: He seemed fine heading into halftime but the team held Malcolm Brogdon out of the second half due to a sore right leg. He was on the bench in uniform afterward, and word is that it’s not serious. 

TURNING POINT

I’ll call that ejection the turning point because it wasn’t just the tech on Tatum, Grant Williams picked one up for telling the official to “referee the game, not your emotions.” And then the Celtics picked one up because Tatum didn’t leave the floor fast enough. That was three freebies for Toronto plus the two free throws on the shooting foul Tatum was protesting. Boston was up 98-93 at that point, but went into the fourth quarter tied. 

THREE UP

Jayson Tatum: He was driving with real purpose, which is one of this preseason’s most promising developments. Tatum has attacked the front of the rim through contact rather than gliding past contact and trying to long-arm shots off the glass. His attacking this preseason is exciting. He finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

Jaylen Brown: He played the first half like this was Game 3 of a first-round series. He tailed off a bit in the second half when the whole team spent most of the third quarter kind of going through the motions. He finished with 23/4/3. 

Derrick White: Bottle this performance, please. He only missed one of his six 3-pointers, and it was the one he didn’t take from the corner. He was the biggest beneficiary of the C’s pushing the ball early.

THREE DOWN

Sam Hauser: It will come back, but the magic shooting touch took the night off in Montreal. He finished shooting 1-7 from deep. He wasn’t all bad, adding 6 rebounds and 2 assists to prove he can do more than just gun from deep. He had some good defensive possessions, but his job is to knock down shots, and he didn’t. 

Payton Pritchard: The same goes for Pritchard, oh went oh-fer on the night. Toronto is a tough matchup for him, though. Everyone on that team outside of Fred VanVleet seems to be 6’9” with a plus wingspan. This isn’t the place for Pritchard to thrive. 

Grant Williams: Luckily he’s okay after he blew out his shoe on an early drive. It felt like he was trying to do too much at times. 

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL REGRET LATER

- I’m confused by Joe Mazzulla’s lineup decisions 

I’m not sure what he was trying to accomplish. We didn’t see Luke Kornet at all, which is a bit confusing because the Celtics seemed to have a lot of faith in Kornet and we didn’t even see a second of him in the preseason finale when he was finally healthy. 

The Celtics put a lot of faith in Kornet. Why not get him out there against some live action to gather some data? Even if it was a couple of five-seven minute stretches, we could have at least seen some of what that lineup offered. 

Then he reinserted his regulars in a close game in the fourth quarter but then held them out down the stretch. 

What did he accomplish there? 

I didn’t want guys back in the fourth quarter, but I could have accepted it if they closed out the game and it was all about crunch time reps. But throwing Al Horford back onto the floor for a few minutes in the fourth for seemingly no reason makes no sense. 

- The Bell Centre was not ready for basketball

The league should have stepped in and stopped this game when it was clear the floor was not safe. Guys kept slipping on condensation, and it might cost Marcus Smart some time. He said after the game that he hurt his groin on his slip and fall, and he should be fine but he won’t know until the adrenaline wears off in the morning. 

The number one priority is keeping people safe. Those were unsafe conditions.