Final: Raptors 125, Celtics 119 (OT) - Starters look great, end of bench not so much

The Celtics head into their second preseason game tonight at TD Garden looking to build on some positives from their first game. 

It'll be a challenge because instead of facing the defensively-challenged Charlotte Hornets, they're going up against the long and switchable Toronto Raptors. It's a team that's been annoyingly good for too long, and even in preseason games tends to be a pain in the gluteus maximus for Boston.

That's a good thing for a team who could stand to face a greater challenge after their 41 point win over Charlotte. The Raptors believe they can make the playoffs outright without having to go through the play-in, and they have the types of players and coach that always seem to outperform expectations. 

“Yeah, really excited about playing them in the preseason," Joe Mazzulla said before the game. "When you play a team like Toronto, they test you. They test your physicality, they test your mental toughness, they test your ability to make the right play over and over again and they test your stamina to stay locked in for an entire game. And so it's a battle of wills and really excited to go against what their identity is.”

So the first thing I’d like to see out of the Celtics tonight is the same kind of spacing and intensity. They played their first preseason game like it was meaningful, so let’s see them duplicate that effort tonight and show us that all this talk about focus is real. 

I’m less worried about them making the shots that they made in the first game, but I do want to see them generate the same good looks. A lot of these guys have had a habit of settling for 3-pointers the game after they made a bunch (which is not exclusive to them. It happens to a lot of players). So the key tonight is to not just take the first available shots because they feel good after hitting a bunch against Charlotte. Work the ball around and keep that assist number high. 

Rebounding was an issue in the first game. If they don’t put forth any effort to box out, they’ll get crushed by the Raptors on the boards. Also, the Celtics turned the ball over too often against Charlotte. Joe Mazzulla said Monday that the turnovers were part of trying to make the right play, and I tend to agree to an extent, but now that just means the Celtics need to demonstrate crisper timing on offense. If I’m buying the notion that some of those turnovers will naturally get cleaned up, then let’s see some of that naturally start happening. 

I’d love to get more of a look at the Tatum at center lineups, and the Raptors could present the perfect opponent against which to unleash it because Pascal Siakam will play some center for the Raptors. It would be a great match up of super-small versus super-small. 

"We didn't practice it, didn't plan for it. It just happened," Mazzulla admitted. "But I liked the idea of it. I liked the skill. I liked the speed. And I liked the basketball IQ that was out there with that lineup, so if the opportunity presents itself to get to something like that again, I think we will try it.”

Obviously, Blake Griffin is on the roster. He went through a nearly hour-long individual film session at practice yesterday, so this could be a good chance to put some of that into practice so he can get the timing of the plays down. It will very likely be sloppy, but it will be necessary to get some of these minutes together to work that all out. Mazzulla says he's not sure if that debut will come tonight.

"Blake went a little live today said he felt good so we'll kind of see how the game goes to see if it's tonight or if it's Friday, just kind of depends on how the game is," he said. "I think we’ll kind of play it by ear and see what he’s feeling. He did some up-and-down today, so we’ll see."

From there, I just want to see duplication of the good things I saw so we can pile up the evidence that it’s sustainable. I thought Grant Williams played great in the first game, so now I want to see it again against longer, more athletic and adept defenders. The same goes for Malcolm Brogdon, though for him it’s more about just keeping up the continuity with his teammates. I know what Brogdon can do, I just want to see him keep looking like he’s played with all these guys before. 

And, finally, as with every preseason game, I want to see new wrinkles and no injuries. I wouldn’t mind a test for Joe Mazzulla somehow. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if they come out flat, just to see how Mazzulla handles it. 

However it goes, I’ll be here talking you all through it. The comments will show up below and in the comments section so feel free to chime in and watch along with me.