It was an ugly win for the remodeled Boston Celtics last night, but a win is a win nonetheless. The Celtics took their first game of the season vs. the New York Knicks by a score of 108-104. Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis, the new number 8 for the Celtics, shined in Boston’s season opener. A lot could be said about the team’s performance last night – some good, some not so good. Regardless, many more games are ahead of the Celtics’ quest to bring another banner to Boston. For now, it is important to analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Celtics’ first game of the season.
Celtics vs. Knicks: 4 Takeaways From Boston’s Win
Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis Looked Amazing
Tatum’s 34 points and Porzingis’ 30 were enough for them to be the game’s two top scorers. In fact, Porzingis’ 30-point performance is the most ever recorded in a Celtics debut. This includes him scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter alone. Additionally, Porzingis looked good on both ends of the court, recording four blocks and grabbing seven defensive boards. Not a bad debut for the number 8.
What a debut for Kristaps Porzingis:
– 30 points, the most in a Celtics debut
– 1st player in NBA history with 5 threes and 4 blocks in a team debut
– Held Knicks to 20% shooting (3-15 FG) when contesting a shot pic.twitter.com/WFtUR9TLW1
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 26, 2023
As for Tatum, the Celtics star grabbed 11 rebounds and shot 59.1% from the field. Tatum played terrific on both sides of the court, and he could be a serious MVP candidate this year.
Bench Concerns May Be Justified
After losing Grant Williams, Robert Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon in the offseason, many considered the Celtics’ bench a weakness. Boston has arguably the best starting lineup in the league, but that may not be good enough if the second unit cannot get it done. Last night, the Celtics scored 12 points off the bench. This includes eight points from Al Horford and four from Payton Pritchard. However, Pritchard did make two free throws to ice the game late in the fourth quarter.
Interestingly, the Celtics only brought out four players off the bench in the win. Luke Kornet and Sam Hauser also saw playing time, but neither made an impact. It is likely that, with all the roster turnover over the summer, head coach Joe Mazzulla wanted as much familiarity as possible in the season opener. One thing to look forward to is how Mazzulla utilizes guys like Oshae Brissett, Lamar Stevens, and Neemias Queta among the rest of the bench in the near future.
Jaylen Brown Had an Off Night
In the offseason, the Celtics signed Jaylen Brown to a supermax contract extension, making him the richest player in league history. Last night was not a good way to start the season for Brown. On the night, Brown scored 11 points and recorded six rebounds and five assists. Brown also drew five personal fouls and shot just 36.4% from the field.
Defense ➡️ Offense pic.twitter.com/zb6Q1eb9Ha
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 26, 2023
It is easy to overreact after one game, so it is important to remember how significant Brown is to the Celtics team. Though it was not the best start to his eighth season in the league, Brown will surely shake off the rust and play at an All-NBA caliber again soon.
This Defense Can Win Some Games for the Celtics
Everybody knew the Celtics had a good defense going into this season. How they played on that side of the ball was mesmerizing. The Celtics stole the ball six times as a team and recorded 11 blocks. Additionally, Boston grabbed 39 defensive rebounds and held the Knicks to 37.1% shooting from the field. Though he had a quiet night overall, Jrue Holiday was a menace defensively and only allowed two field goals all game. Holiday also blocked three shots.
Jrue Holiday’s defense last night:
Julius Randle: 1/10 FG
Jalen Brunson: 0/4 FG
RJ Barrett: 1/4 FG(Via @nbastats ) pic.twitter.com/bjlBfatfBn
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 26, 2023
Overall, the Celtics looked great on the defensive side of the ball. Holiday and Derrick White are arguably the best defensive backcourt in the league. Plus, Porzingis showcased he can also be a great rim protector for the team. After finishing as a top-three defense last season, it should be expected for the team to repeat that success this year.
The Last Word on Celtics vs. Knicks
Overall, the Celtics looked good against the Knicks. It was a bit of an ugly win, and without Porzingis, this was almost a guaranteed loss for the Celtics. That said, it is just one game. Teams take a while to gel and get into the groove of things. Ultimately, if you are a Celtics fan, you should be pleased with what you saw last night.
The Celtics’ next game is their home opener against the Miami Heat on Friday.
