BSJ Game Report: Raptors 107, Celtics 105 - C's regulars look good, fringe guys look bad

Everything you need to know about the Celtics' preseason loss to the Raptors, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

The pace was noticeably different from the Memphis game, mostly because Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser sat. The Celtics did get big early performances from Chris Boucher and Payton Pritchard early on as they built a 20-point lead with a late first-half run. Simons got going in the second half, but the Raptors got hot against the hodgepodge fourth-quarter lineups and came all the way back in the fourth.

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Decidedly different: The execution was nothing like we saw in the first game. The game started more like the regular Celtics we’ve been used to seeing, with a lot more individual dribbling, a couple of screens to try to free that player up. 

- Turnovers: 21 second-half turnovers for Boston, leading to 26 Raptors points. They had 10 for 13 points in the 4th quarter. This was mostly the backups and two-way guys, but none of them could handle the Raptors' pressure. 

- Preseason revenge game!: Chris Boucher looked great, even it was once again against the backups (Toronto sat all their regulars). He was active and attacking the offensive glass. He shot well. He made plays on both ends. I don’t know what Joe Mazzulla has planned for this season, but he should start Boucher in every game against Toronto.

THINGS I LIKED

- Individual scorers: Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons played much more iso basketball in this game, which was part of why the pace was so different. But they both did what they do best. 

- Chris Boucher: You could tell he wanted to play well right away. This is how his night started. 

He could end up being a really nice spark off the bench this season. He and Pritchard led the team with 19 points. 

- Joe’s early substitutions: After the game, he said it was all about pushing tempo. I think that was him covering for his guys because the subs came off the bench every time someone botched a defensive rebound. 

- Josh Minott: It was good to see the consistency in him from the first to the second game. I still want to see it against good competition, so I hope all the Cavs play on Sunday, but I feel pretty good about what we can expect from Minott. I think he’s seizing his opportunity. 

- Luka Garza: Similarly consistent from game to game, putting up 12 points, half of which came from the line. His screening remains great, so we can expect him to be a big part of the plan this season. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- The turnovers: I can appreciate the Raptors turning up the defensive pressure, but the collective wilting from the fringe guys was terribly disappointing. No one could bring the ball up? No one had the composure to make a pass, set a screen, and run some offense? I don’t expect much from a lot of these guys, but they still had to prove they were worthy of the NBA. That was not a good showing. 

Baylor Scheierman: He had five of those turnovers himself, including a couple in a disastrous stretch that allowed the Raptors to score eight points in 21 seconds. He’s not a point guard, but he should be better than what he showed. 

Neemias Queta: He had five turnovers as well. I didn’t like what I saw from him at all. I need to see him with Brown and White on the floor and the Celtics playing their promised style. I need to see if he can play with them because not having them there was bad for him. 

Defensive rebounding: A game after putting up an abysmal 66% defensive rebounding percentage, Boston grabbed just 68.5% in Toronto. I know the Celtics were shorthanded, but all of their bigs were available. Queta grabbed just 10.5%, lower than everyone except Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons. 

HIGHLIGHTS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- We need to see real competition. 

This has been fun and all, but how about a little tune-up against some real competition, huh Cleveland? 

I can appreciate guys needing rest and taking this opportunity to try different lineups, but how about one half of the best-in-the-East Cavs at full effort, so we can see what the Celtics really have? 

And that means the Celtics should send out their real starters for 24 minutes just to see what real competition does to their timing and physicality. 

I feel like I have a decent grasp on a few things, but we’re nowhere close to any real evaluations yet. Mazzulla’s a big “test yourself” kind of guy, so let’s see that in action. I’d rather know right now if the Celtics have miles to go or if they're a few tweaks from their fully realized selves. 

Next up: The Celtics play their first home game of the preseason Sunday night against the Cavs.