Celtics (1-0) at Knicks (0-0) Preseason Game #2 10/9/23

[ozgod]

Does Walsh look like he could give us 8-10 minutes of high energy defense during the regular season ?

He seems kind of unpolished at this point…I couldn’t see him doing it regularly. I thought Banton, Brissett and Stevens looked pretty solid defensively.

[Goldstar88]

Pritchard with another solid game

[blink]

Besides PP, the best Celtic I've seen tonight is Banton. He can't make 3's but with the guys he'll play with, he won't have to. He's probably the 4th guard right now but he'll get minutes on nights when they're resting someone.

Yup if D White or Jrue is out, looks like Banton may be getting some minutes at least at the start of the season.
I like Banton.  He needs to learn the def better, but he has good hustle, good ball handler, great length.

[RPGenerate]

I like how Banton looked tonight. Looked like a solid all around player, so maybe he can be a rotation player. I think Scal mentioned Shaun Livingston, which I think is an interesting comparison, even if that's his ceiling.

[Kuberski33]

I'm not impressed with any of the new bigs so far. They're about what I figured - athletic enough, and they hustle but no real skills.

[Vermont Green]

Banton did look better. Still think he has a ways to go.

[hpantazo]

Queta and Gabriel are not going to help at all. Our big man depth is our main issue.

I like what I saw from Banton, Svi and Brissett though. Those three and Stevens are going to be very nice wing depth. Davidson looked pretty good too, I just don't see much opportunity for him on the current roster.

[Atzar]

Fun game despite the loss.

Pritchard was clearly the best player in the active lineup tonight.  Of the non-Pritchard guys who played, I liked Stevens the most.  Banton had a decent game too but I don't think his game translates well to a smaller role.  Looks like he needs the ball in his hands to play his game and that won't happen on the Celtics.

Don't particularly like the look of any of the bigs. 

[Kuberski33]

Queta and Gabriel are not going to help at all. Our big man depth is our main issue.

I like what I saw from Banton, Svi and Brissett though. Those three and Stevens are going to be very nice wing depth. Davidson looked pretty good too, I just don't see much opportunity for him on the current roster.

I think the key with Davison is going to be his shot. He was 31% from 3 in the G League last season. He's got to get that up to 35-36% - i.e. average. This will be an important season for him. The rest of his game is decent.

[Who]

Does Walsh look like he could give us 8-10 minutes of high energy defense during the regular season ?

No. Stevens and Brissett will get the minutes. He's nowhere close to being ready to contribute.

I don't see them as in the same boat.

I see L Stevens and Brissett as big bulky forwards. So mostly PF/SF minutes. I view J Walsh more as a SG/SF. He has a skinny frame that is better suited to tracking slimmer quicker perimeter players. So the first two for bulky forwards and Walsh for quicker ball-handlers (combo guards, some point forwards) & off-ball movers (like Klay Thompson running off of screens).

There is overlap there (SF) but also differences as well (SG/SF vs PF/SF). So I see Walsh as able to define a role for himself separate from the other two. His superior speed, quickness & agility gives him a different defensive skill-set. All defensive role players but not the same type of defenders.

Sort of like Tony Allen (Walsh) vs James Posey (Brisset, L Stevens).

[ozgod]

I will say, I enjoyed Drew’s commentary. Mike will always be Mike, but Drew did pretty well, didn’t jibber on too much, had good knowledge, and good banter with Scal.

[Atzar]

I will say, I enjoyed Drew’s commentary. Mike will always be Mike, but Drew did pretty well, didn’t jibber on too much, had good knowledge, and good banter with Scal.

Agreed, liked him in his first game.

[hpantazo]

Scal was a lot more tolerable with Drew. Being next to a younger guy brings out the composure and maturity that Scal needed to show.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Does Walsh look like he could give us 8-10 minutes of high energy defense during the regular season ?

He seems kind of unpolished at this point…I couldn’t see him doing it regularly. I thought Banton, Brissett and Stevens looked pretty solid defensively.

As others were seeing in the game, Walsh is already really good at not being picked. That's an NBA skill. When you add in his disuptive length and rebounding, there's a lot to like.

Brissett and Stevens were both brought in for the same role, but Walsh will be given the opportunity. I love the idea that we could bring a guy like that off the bench to play "4" next to Zinger, Tatum, Brown, and Holiday. The lack of shooting doesn't really hurt us that much because we have 4 other shooters on the court. Those guys can focus on defense, moving the ball, and playing with high energy.

Then, you can bring White back in the game with Pritchard and Horford for Brown, Zinger, and Holiday. White and Pritchard can be aggressive an fresh in their minutes there, and the court is still open with a shooter like Horford.

Like others, I do agree that our other bigs haven't looked good yet. Certainly a concern for me. If we see it, I'm sure Stevens does too.

[Goldstar88]

Kornet with 4 points and 2 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. How can you be a 7’2” Center and get only 2 boards playing that many minutes… Pretty worried that he’s in the rotation and the first big off the bench…