- The Kornet conversation
Luke Kornet is good, and I’m not afraid to say it.
There is a bit of resistance to the idea that Kornet is a legitimately impactful player, and it is frankly a misunderstanding about what value can look like. There is always a benefit to a player that knows his role, excels in it, and doesn’t try to be something he’s not. That is what you get from Luke: consistency.
This game was one of the more involved offensive performances we’ve seen from him. Luke wasn’t necessarily hunting for his shots, but instead, made himself available and was always in the right spots. He finished the first half with a team-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds in just 13 minutes.
Kornet isn’t the bounciest or most agile center in the league, but he is a tall and simple target for his teammates as a lob threat.
I mentioned that he wasn’t hunting for his looks, but he was feeling confident enough to attack off the dribble after surveying his options.
With the coaching staff electing to let Al Horford rest through the early portion of this preseason, Luke has been as steady so far as one could hope for. If managing Horford’s minutes continues to be a priority, it’s not crazy to think Kornet could fill in as a more frequent starter in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis.
2. Tillman and Queta are ready to step up.
Kornet is the leader, and most logical choice to be the interim starting center, but he’s not the only reserve that impressed. Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta are technically the 4th and 5th centers on this roster, but they don’t look far off from the 2nd and 3rd slot that they’ve been asked to fill.
Tillman continues to knock down three pointers with regularity and great efficiency. It’s too early to fully believe the shot is real, but I’m tempted.
It’s one thing for him to be posted in the corner; it’s another to be a legitimate pick and pop option. If this is a genuine piece of his game this season, his offensive role makes a lot more sense. With what Tillman brings on the defensive side of the ball, he’d essentially be Horford-lite, and you can never have enough Al Horford’s.
Queta likely won’t be spacing out to three anytime soon, but similar to Kornet, he gets his work done on the inside. Neemy is the rawest of the bunch and there’s enough flashes there though that you can see why the Celtics have invested in his development.
He’s a useful lob threat, and earns minutes with his energy. You can’t teach motor — it’s either something you have, or you don’t. Queta always hustles, even if he makes a mistake you can never say he took a play off. That’s the perfect type of player to have as a reserve big.
There’s a real confidence that he plays with as well. On many possessions, Queta wants the ball and will call his own number if he feels he’s got an advantage.
Queta still has room to grow, and a consistent role while spending the full year in Boston should really help his game. He’s already looked more comfortable in just three preseason games.
3. Did Jaylen Brown get better again?
There are 1,000 reasons why Jaylen could’ve felt satisfied going into this offseason. Part of what makes him so special though is the desire to improve, and the will power to see that development through.
He’s looked stronger and more athletic than all of his matchups so far, which isn’t anything new, but he seems extremely purposeful in making sure they know he’s on a different level.
Brown’s handle and playmaking shined early in this one.
He had several connections with Kornet including this pass where he looked off the defender before tossing it over the top to his big.
Jaylen continues to make strides to patch up any perceived weakness, and becoming a more impactful playmaker feels like it could be next up on the list.
4. Jayson Tatum looks ready to go.
Tatum’s tweaked jumpshot has been a big topic of discussion this summer. He didn’t rebuild his form from scratch, but his shot looks noticeably smoother. Small sample size disclaimer, Tatum is shooting 9/22 (41%) from 3PT range in preseason.
On top of three made 3’s, Tatum showed off the all-around game with 10 rebounds, six assists and two stocks. His versatility on both ends is sensational, and somehow still overlooked when it comes to his league-wide standing.
He had a weight lifted off of his shoulders after winning the championship, but the hunger is still there, and maybe even heightened.
5. The most impactful backcourt in the NBA.
Watching Derrick White and Jrue Holiday is a joy. Even in the preseason, these two make winning play after winning play, and leave their mark on the game.
It’s rare to have one All-Defensive guard that can initiate the offense, while also being elite off the ball. The Celtics have two such players, and they require very little involvement to make something happen. They’re willing, and maybe even prefer to do the dirty work.
Jrue snuck his way down to the dunker spot to give Jaylen an option, as he did constantly throughout the playoffs.
He also perfectly times a cut at the exact moment his man leaves him to double team Tatum.
When these two guards play off of each other, magic happens. They’re able to force teams into rotation, or dissect them while they try to rotate.
Defensively, these two were flying around in the 3rd preseason game the same way they were in the 3rd game of the NBA Finals.
6. Payton Pritchard is overqualified for his role.
Pritchard didn’t have the most efficient shooting night overall, but he hit 3 of 7 from deep and paired that with eight assists. His ability to space the floor from several steps behind the line adds a dimension to the Celtics dynamic offense that results in countless energy shifting plays.
Payton doesn’t have much opportunity to be a primary initiator for the offense when he plays alongside any of the starters. When he’s running with the stay-ready group though, he has an opportunity to create and does a great job setting the table.
It is a luxury to have this level of talent as the 3rd point guard on the depth chart. In a larger role, Pritchard could certainly have more individual success, but his sacrifice has been much appreciated.
If the minutes shake out the right way, his 6MOTY candidacy isn’t crazy to imagine.
7. Sam Hauser makes it look easy
There’s no doubt that Sam Hauser is an elite shooter, he has consecutive seasons at every level shooting above 40% from three. The question worth asking is where exactly he ranks among that elite group. After this season, there may not be any true off-ball shooter that you could argue is above him.
He went 5/6 from three in this game and it wasn’t just catch and shoot looks, by the end he was drilling one dribble pull-ups.
Hauser has incredible footwork when it comes to getting himself on balance for a shot. Regardless of the quality of the pass or where he catches the ball, he can always naturally set his feet and rise up.
8. Lonnie Walker got his first real run.
Up until this game, it had been a less than desirable preseason with regards to Walker’s chances to make the roster. He had mostly been tossed in at the end of the Abu Dhabi games without enough time to realistically show what he’s capable of.
Tonight though, Walker played a game-high 24 minutes. He finished with a noteworthy stateline, headlined by nine points and seven assists, while also picking up two steals and a block.
Lonnie has been concentrating on adding value outside of his scoring ability, and this performance was a great step toward proving that he’s capable of that.
If you want to earn Joe Mazzulla’s trust, being a willing ball-mover and a capable defender are great places to start. These haven’t always been accurate characteristics to describe Walker’s game, but he looks more than willing to focus on these things.
He has very good athletic traits that were more visible with legitimate playing time. With the team on a back-to-back, he should have more opportunity to show what he can do before it’s time for the Celtics to make a decision on his contract.
9. Baylor Scheierman needs some time.
For the most part, there has been a collective excitement about the rookie Scheierman. I’m not here to say that anyone should slow their roll, or sell their stock. I do think it’s necessary to allow Baylor patience to grow though.
He has the potential to become a contributor eventually, but despite being older for a rookie, he still has plenty to learn. It’s going to take some time for Baylor to adjust to NBA athletes closing out on his shot, and the overall increase in game speed.
Hauser’s rookie season should serve as an example of what to expect for Scheierman early on. As a rookie, Sam appeared in 26 games for a total of just 158 minutes. What Baylor has working for him is the fact that the Celtics typically end games early, allowing for plenty of garbage time minutes.
The good news is that Baylor seems to be already making adjustments on the fly. With his defender recovering quickly, he kept the ball high and launched with zero hesitation.
If Scheierman is comfortable shooting in small windows over tight contests like this, it should make his transition a bit smoother.
10. Jordan Walsh is figuring it out.
If preseason has had a winner so far, Jordan Walsh is that guy.
The confidence and impact between now and Summer League is night and day. Walsh is standing out in a big way, and looks much further along than I expected after his disappointing stay in Vegas.
There’s some level of made shot = good involved here, but the fluidity of Walsh’s shot and his willingness to take them has been encouraging regardless of the result.
We have been waiting to see who fills the Oshae Brissett sized hole in our hearts, and Walsh definitely brings a lot of the athleticism and defense that would be missed there. If he’s able to pair that with an outside shot, he could run away with that role pretty easily.
