Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over the Raptors, with BSJ insight and analysis
IN A NUTSHELL
Jaylen Brown dominated the first quarter, putting up 15/5/3 to pace a 15-point lead. The teams played even in the second, with Luke Kornet chipping in 10 and carrying his production into the third quarter. But once again, the quarter was basically even with Boston losing it by just two. The Raptors opened the fourth on a monster 18-3 run and the teams traded the lead a few times the rest of the way. Derrick White made some huge buckets in the final moments, and Boston was able to hold on.
HEADLINES
- A win is a win: Missing three key guys, Boston rolled out some unique lineups at the start of the second and third while Brown sat. The fourth quarter stretch was almost disastrous, but they still managed to find a way after they’d given up their lead.
“I thought they went to some unique lineups, which was a great move by them for their switching to slow us down,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Then we were able to go to the horns action with Derrick, Jrue (Holiday) and Jaylen. We were able to create some separation, create some indecision, and we did a better job of defending. So that's the thing that we're looking at, is, ‘How do we play against switching, on-ball, off-ball, and we felt we found a good frequency, and I thought our team executed that down the stretch.”
- Derrick White, closing again: He scored 12 points through the first three quarters, then managed to drop nine in the fourth.
“Today I missed a lot but all of them felt really good,” White said. “So just continue to trust that and just continue to stay aggressive in there. They’re always telling me to stay aggressive, so that helps a lot.”
- Everyone pitching in: I asked Mazzulla what his biggest takeaway was. The first thing he said was “I think it's Oshae (Brissett), Payton (Pritchard), (Neemias Queta), Svi (Mykhailiuk), Dalano (Banton), I think it's those guys continuing to develop reps playing in games that matter, playing minutes that matter. I think it's different lineups that you can look at.”
Luke Kornet was really big in this game after getting the start without Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford. The bench got outscored, but they did score 23 points, and everyone who played ended up scoring.
TURNING POINT
Finding one is tough in a game like this because each team had chances to close it out and, frankly, neither really took full advantage. Things broke Boston’s way for the final time on Brown’s alley oop to Kornet with :33 to go and Dennis Schröder’s missed free throw on the next possession.
THINGS I LIKED
- Jaylen Brown’s playmaking: The alley oop to Kornet was surprising.
ANOTHER pic.twitter.com/djyTCJjDRL
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 30, 2023
Just another example of Brown passing up his own offense to make the right play. He was especially good early on. His first half was absolutely incredible. He finished with 31/10/6, his third career game with at least 30/10/5.
- Kornet’s contribution: We’ll get more into him later. He had some interesting things to say postgame. He finished with 20 points on 9-11 shooting to go along with eight rebounds.
- Svi Mykhailiuk: Let’s give the guy a mention! He didn’t play much, but he made a few plays! He hit a couple of shots, and his drive and dish to Kornet was nice.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE
- Jaylen Brown’s turnovers: His third-quarter stretch where he turned the ball over three times was a little bit of a reversion to the old Jaylen. Call me crazy, but a reminder of what old Jaylen looks like when he comes out isn't so bad every once in a while. It’s very “Frank The Tank” coming out after a few beers and going streaking.
I don’t care that he has two or three turnovers. That will happen. The four steals in the third and fourth? That can’t happen.
- The middle of the game: I was bored in the third quarter. It seemed like Boston got the 15-point lead and sat on it for a long time. Part of me was happy Toronto made a run just so we could get some juice in the building. It was quiet in there for a very long time.
HIGHLIGHTS
Jaylen Brown is going CRAZY right now! 🤯🤯🤯
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2023
He's up to 4 threes in the first quarter! pic.twitter.com/tGcVbYi3o0
Pritchard drains the three to end the first quarter 💦 pic.twitter.com/FBOkbnOtFY
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2023
Hauser just deleted OG Anunoby's shot ❌❌ pic.twitter.com/9SpNrMt2ip
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2023
This angle looks like it's straight out of a video game 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/uaze8ym5CK
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2023
MAKE WAY, HERE COMES JB ‼️ 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uFCFIBw5LB
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2023
THIS SHOT IS UNREAL! DERRICK WHITE FOR THE LEAD ‼️ pic.twitter.com/xUrWQW5ro8
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2023
ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
- Mazzulla’s coaching approach is paying off.
One thing stands out in many of the comments after these games. Instead of guys talking about running a play perfectly, or doing something Mazzulla drew up, they talk about the reads they're making and how things are flowing off that.
Obviously, Mazzulla calls plays from the sidelines and draws them up on the bench, but plays aren’t paint-by-numbers that need to be strictly followed. They are sort of guides, aimed at getting guys in certain spots. Once they get there, they can freelance as they see fit.
It’s not carte blanche to do whatever they want. It’s empowerment to read the game and make the right play.
“I think Joe has encouraged us to all think the game for sure,” Brown said. “He’s put an emphasis on that. Offensively, seeing where the mismatches are, seeing how the teams are guarding is and really making our front five think the game, be the smartest players on the floor, which I think we’ve been able to benefit from.
“So credit to Joe, he’s definitely emphasized that. And then defensively, I think that we got so much versatility, I think it goes the same kind of thing on the defensive side. Making the right read, empowering us to see the game and make decisions that make sense, but be the smartest kind of players and team on the floor every single night. I think this year, for the majority of the year, we’ve been the smarter team.”
The Celtics have been in position to lose a lot of games. They’ve only lost six, and still none of them at home. Quibble about a timeout here or there, but you don’t get this far without the coach knowing a thing or two.
Next Up: The Celtics head to San Antonio for New Year’s Eve to face the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama