The future is bright and green.
The Celtics went 3-0 this week, and fans are starting to see this team’s potential.
I mentioned last week that the first week is an unfair way to judge the team, and people tend to overreact.
Now, as the season progresses, overreactions turn to hot takes, and then eventually the truth. Let’s look back on a successful week for the Celtics.
10/26 // W, 134-99 vs Chicago
An utter beatdown that honestly is difficult to write about. So I’m gonna focus on Chicago, since I have plenty to say about Boston. Caleb Wilson, as we’ll discuss later, is already their best player and is cinema to watch. The UNC lottery pick is nothing short of electric. While the 3 wasn’t there at Chapel Hill, it has potential in the association. I think my prediction of them being a bottom-tier team out East was not harsh enough; I could see them being 15.
This was a balanced scoring night, no one over 30, but Pritchard stole the show. After an article detailing his offseason antics dropped Monday morning, he lived up to the hype and Allen Iverson hype. He was on one from 3 and forced multiple Bulls timeouts to stop the bleeding.
Mitchell Robinson, however, has not lived up to the praise the signing received. +4 in a 35-point win is questionable, especially with Chicago missing their center, Nic Claxton. Robinson has struggled to rebound in green, which was his calling card as a Knick.
10/27 // W, 125-124 vs Brooklyn
This overtime thriller was everything to love about basketball.
I really enjoyed the defensive tape from this game from Jordan Walsh and Paul George.
Tatum had a 40-point bomb (disregard the 18 made FTs) and had a game-winner sure to be remembered for the time being.
George is leading the league in deflections and is playing his role perfectly as a Celtic. It’s a breath of fresh air after the Brown-Tatum drama. Having a levelheaded costar next to JT is refreshing.
There’s been way too many early conversations about trade candidates for this team, but this game showed the dark side of Derrick White. His 3 just hasn’t been there since March, and it’s concerning how his contract will age if he loses that aspect. His defense and game sense won’t go, but I’m praying his 3 falls. He went from the king of the fourth to me, hoping he passes the ball. If we had to trade one guy, I’d go Sam Hauser, but not because I want to. He’s been blistering hot from 3 to open the year, and an underrated defender. He’s not top-notch, but he’s serviceable. Any contender would want a guy like Sam on their squad, and I’m glad he’s under such a good deal.
Last time (probably not), I went after Robinson. -17 and 5 rebounds in a 1-point loss? C’mon man. He also missed the 2 free throws to ice the game.
Mikel Brown had the green light to shoot and had a cold game to go to OT, but essentially threw it away down the stretch. Brown got the ball on an inbound with the clock ticking down up 1 and made the poor decision to take a contested layup. After a rebound and timeout, Jayson Tatum happened. The former Cardinal fits weird on this Brooklyn offense, but that might just be part of the Julius Randle experience. The criticism after the 2025 Draft for the Nets was that they drafted 3 point guards, but now they all feel like shooting guards, with Nolan Traore the only one close to a 1. Brown is a solidified 2 but has the highest scoring ceiling. His game sense needs improvement.
10/30 // W, 125-111 vs Chicago
A rematch from Monday yielding the same result. The NBA Cup is on, and the Celtics, who haven’t made it out of the first stage since the inaugural Cup, are 1-0. Watching Friday ball means supporting the Cup, even if you don’t favor it. The concept is silly, but why not give the players something to buy into early? It gives insight into who’s legit and who succeeds with pressure, and even revealed the NBA Finals champion months early last year.
I’d talk about Wilson again, but this page isn’t Caleb Wilson Nation. He had one ridiculous sequence: a block, then a poster dunk that honestly seems irreplicable by most players in the league. He was my ROTY pick before conventional wisdom made me shift to Boozer.
The final score doesn’t tell the story of the match; it was a blowout in the middle quarters. The Celts had 44 points in the first quarter and looked to smash the scoring margin that is pivotal for NBA Cup eliminations.
This game might be the end of the Jordan Walsh experience, as he was benched in the Orlando game. I was personally pro-Walsh in the starting 5 for the spark and rebounding he provides. I can see the appeal of bringing in a better shooter, like Scheierman or Hauser. But the blue-chip guy who will take the toughest assignment every game deserves to start.
Despite what I said, Paul George is asserting himself as our best perimeter defender with 3 steals and multiple crucial deflections against Chicago. Chalk it up to experience; George has double-digit more seasons than Walsh. I really can’t give him enough flowers because he has played better than people imagined, even the most optimistic.
The last guy I’ll mention is Pritchard, who had 30 and took 17 shots. I’m all for an aggressive Payton who shot above average in the paint. For some reason, PP shines against 6’10 and up defenders and is a maestro from the elbow. Again, back to contract speak, his extension to keep him through the 2020s felt like an underpay despite the $20 million salary. It’s not easy for a 6’0 guy to be this prolific on both ends, but that’s why he trains in apocalyptic temperatures on the Cape (per ESPN).
11/1 // W, 108-97 vs Orlando
This was a gritty, close game that, like the one before, doesn’t tell the full story by the final score.
It was dangerously close throughout, and right before the end it felt like the lead would be blown; Tatum’s heroics pushed the C’s past the crippled Magic.
The Celtics’ offense is noticeably slower when Pritchard is off, and that showed tonight. The Magic always play us tough and physical, and Payton made 3-for-11 and no threes. I want to see two solid back-to-back games from the former Duck.
I feel as if Tatum hasn’t been mentioned enough in this article, but I think this could be the year he secures the MVP. Bias? Yes. Realistic? Maybe. No one is as well-rounded as Tatum; he shines in grittier skills more than flashy dunks and deep bags. That’s the basis of his entire slanderous campaign led by casuals. Even if his shots don’t fall, which was not the story of this game, he makes an impact, and that means an MVP.
Tatum led the scoring with 32 and looked effortless on mid-range shots as well as in the pick-and-roll game with Neemias Queta. Queta, thrust into the starting lineup because Robinson rested, had a productive night. I don’t know what to make of him attempting a 3-pointer a game, but if he feels confident, then I’m here for it—more optionality for Joe Mazzulla to scheme around.
Luka Garza, who I worried would fall to DNP status with Robinson’s addition, has played sparse minutes all year but finally got a backup role. He’s dangerous coming downhill with his patented slo-mo step and feels due to hit a couple 3s a game. He’s a whole lot of fun in one chaotic package, and it’s awesome watching his emotions come out every game. Guys like that on your bench make a world of difference in motivating the rest of the team.
Looking Ahead
Boston takes on Houston on the road in what will be a cinematic display of two contenders and a potential Finals preview Monday night. Then they face the young Bucks at home before heading back on the road for a week-long stretch.
These stretches are vital to at least go above .500, especially against weaker opponents like Milwaukee.
Look for improvement from Mitchell Robinson and more connection between him and Tatum in the pick-and-roll, as well as which bench players can fill the rotating starting spot Jordan Walsh held.
