Celtics (0-0) at Knicks (0-0) Game #1 10/20/21

[Somebody]

A lot of Grant defenders today which is nice to see but he looked like junior varsity against Randle. Maybe Randle was just especially deep in his bag last night and no one could've slowed him down but I am curious what it means for how Udoka will handle his rotations as a head coach.

Almost 32 minutes from Grant and not a second for Hernangomez, Fernando, or Kanter. I couldn't help but think that Fernando would've been the best physical matchup against Randle but never saw him. Is that because Udoka loved the other things Grant was doing too much? Or is a shorter rotation part of his philosophy? Or s my thinking that Bruno deserves even 5 minutes on the floor misguided?

To be honest with you, after Randle hit contested sidestep and stepback threes to start the game I knew it would be a long morning for us trying to stop him

[Kuberski33]

Tatum can’t dribble. He’s still a star but he can’t dribble. Why he doesn’t do this or that is because he can’t dribble better. Simple as that.

Teams throw multiple guys at him once he dribbles out on the perimeter so the league is obviously aware. They actually did the same with Paul Pierce as I recall. Both had more than their share of opponents stripping them of the ball.

[Kuberski33]

I saw so many good things tonight:

Brown, no practice in 10 days, just back from Covid and using an inhaler went for a career high 46 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and could have had another 4-5 assists if people could hit wide open shots. I don't want to hear about the missed dunk. His legs were jelly and he was trying to make a statement dunk to demoralize the Knicks.

Timelord went 45 minutes, didn't miss a FG, shot 6-8 from the line(75%) and, oh yeah, had 10 boards 3 assists, 3 steals, 5 blocks and 16 points. He was the 2nd best Celtic on the floor tonight.

Smart played within himself, brought back his All-Defense quality defense, was 5-11 from three with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

I liked what Grant Williams gave the team. He was matched up with an All-NBA PF and a center that is 7 inches taller than him. He gave the team 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and stretched the floor going 3-5 from 3. A Timelord/Horford/Grant/Tatum front court rotation, mix and matching as needed is going to be good. Grant got himself in shape, is hitting his threes and is moving much quicker in all directions. Except up, unfortunately.

Romeo showed he is no bust. Even with Richardson here, he will need minutes.

Schroder is going to be that Jordan Clarkson type scorer off the bench that can also set up others. I love the addition.

Tatum, Nesmith and Pritchard are all way better than they played tonight. When they start playing better, watch out, I think this team can go places.

Especially since, this team didn't roll over and quit. They would have last year. There's definitely a different vibe to this team.

Looking back on the game, I actually feel a little better about it. There were some good things. And Tatum stunk yet they still almost pulled it out. To me the overlying positive is that they played hard for Udoka - and that one of the key guys - Jaylen - has obviously bought in.

[boscel33]

One nice line from the game, the 16/10/5 that Timelord put up!

If he can do that regularly, we're in better shape for sure!

[Celtics4ever]

Grant looks way better than last year but he definitely struggled against Randle.   He still lacks size.   But the effort and more mobility than last year.    Of course, it would be better for him to come off the bench.

I'm not a big fan of the switching off-ball screens philosophy. It burned them last night.

They made an adjustment from switching 1-5 to switching 1-4 to keep Timelord on Randle. While Timelord did a good job on Randle, that's exactly when Fournier went off. The other guys were still in "switch" mentality, and that's why they were running into/under screens (which is exactly what you're supposed to do when switching). However, suddenly Timelord wasn't switching out on the shooter and that is how Fournier got 3-4 wide open looks from 3 down the stretch. If your primary mentality and habits are to switch everything, it's almost impossible to turn that off mid-game as an adjustment. It's way easier to adjust the other way (from a stay with your man and fight through screens mentality adjusting to switching).

So several of us noted this,  not a fan either.   Teams can adjust to this philosophy and target it for mismatches.

I do expect our D and the coach to improve.   He is new.   This is new team and our preseason was not one in which we were really preparing hard for the season but one of teaching philosophy.   Give us Al and I think we win that game.  There was a literal layup dunk line at one point for the Knicks late in the game.

It was great to see them play in front of a crowd again.   Even if it was the knicks silent as a mouse unless we 're ahead crowd....

[Big333223]

One nice line from the game, the 16/10/5 that Timelord put up!

If he can do that regularly, we're in better shape for sure!

Yep. And he played 45 minutes, which is huge.

If he can average 30 minutes a night and put up something like 11-11 with a couple of blocks and continued smart passing, we'll be in great shape.

I actually want to see more offense run through him. He and Horford might be the best passers on the team.

[tazzmaniac]

One nice line from the game, the 16/10/5 that Timelord put up!

If he can do that regularly, we're in better shape for sure!

He also had 3 assists and 3 steals with 0 turnovers.  He could have had more points if we had better passing. 

[Mahk E Mahk]

a lot of great observations in these last several pages. great stuff, guys. a few additional thoughts:

grant looked great and seems to have embraced his role and specifically how he can contribute to this team. it’s obvious he worked his tail off in the offseason (fitness and spot up three pointers, particularly in the corner where ime likes to run the spurs’ old hammer play). the defensive mismatch was not his fault; ime will learn and adjust his rotations over time.

timelord has taken another step in his growth; great to see. he’s a game-changer when he’s active AND makes the correct defensive adjustments.

loved the wrinkle at the end of the game to essentially have JB play point. i think ime realized in the offseason that JB has the skills to be a legit #1, and has completely unleashed JB and told him he’s not bound to JT as the team’s unquestioned #1. this might be one of the more important changes that have come from removing brad from the bench.

as i’ve stated previously, tatum is a real concern. i wonder if the point above is in his head and he’s reeling from the loss of undisputed #1 now that brad is not on the bench.

[86MaxwellSmart]

45 minutes from Timelord....he should be out for two weeks after this.

[BruceBanner18]

Great comments and analysis here. Thanks everyone.

Two things that stood out to me not mentioned:

1. This team really lacks a third offensive weapon that opposing team's needs to game plan for...if one of Tatum/Brown is not playing or having an off night we are really easy to game plan against.

2. I love Brown's offensive strides and what a night BUT what I also saw was his defensive lapses and sticking to screens which allowed Fournier to get open shots, gain confidence and that allowed him to get rolling. This is an area that Brown needs to address.

[footey]

1. This team really lacks a third offensive weapon that opposing team's needs to game plan for...if one of Tatum/Brown is not playing or having an off night we are really easy to game plan against.

Yeah, someone like Evan Fournier. 

Hoping that some combo of Romeo, Nesmith and Pritchard can provide that additional firepower.  Guys going out with a mask the first time almost always suffer.

[SHAQATTACK]

45 minutes from Timelord....he should be out for two weeks after this.

I was thinking more like 2months once we really know how bad he was damaged . Both hips will be sore, swollen knees ,  taped ankles and bad back……yup …that should about cover it. 

I wanted to keep,Brown ….and I’m still upset with Brad over this blunder

[gouki88]

Why are grant and Romeo still in the league?

Apparently you didn't watch the game. They were both quite good

He has form in potting players without actually watching the game

[BruceBanner18]

1. This team really lacks a third offensive weapon that opposing team's needs to game plan for...if one of Tatum/Brown is not playing or having an off night we are really easy to game plan against.

Yeah, someone like Evan Fournier. 

Hoping that some combo of Romeo, Nesmith and Pritchard can provide that additional firepower.  Guys going out with a mask the first time almost always suffer.

It's unlikely one of those guys move the needle to contender. We need either an elite scorer like a Beal, Lillard, KAT level scorer or more ideally a vet player that can score and captain the offense like a Lowry or Paul.

[Hoopvortex]

One nice line from the game, the 16/10/5 that Timelord put up!

If he can do that regularly, we're in better shape for sure!

3 assists, 3 steals - and zero turnovers. He really “fills up the box score”.