Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Here's Who Shined and Who Disappointed in Celtics' Loss vs. Knicks
A day after rallying for a 114-106 victory vs. the 76ers, the Celtics fell 114-107 to the Knicks on Monday.
But the outcome is the least important part of preseason action. Boston's reserves showcased plenty to get excited about when considering the roles those who suited up against New York will have when the games start counting.
Adding to that is the hosts deploying everyone in their rotation except Josh Hart. Granted, Jalen Brunson logged only six minutes of floor time.
Of course, there were some underwhelming performances, including from a valuable member of the Celtics rotation.
Now, a deep dive into what stood out in Monday's matchup at Madison Square Garden.
1. With this being the second half of a back-to-back, strange preseason scheduling for the Celtics, who play three exhibition contests in four nights, facing the 76ers in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Joe Mazzulla gave Boston's top six Monday night off.
In the absence of Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, the visitors started Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Dalano Banton, Oshae Brissett, and Luke Kornet.
2. Banton, who tied Svi Mykhailiuk for a team-high eight points in the first frame and finished with 20, impressed by utilizing his length and change-of-pace dribbles, e.g., a stutter-and-go, to get to the basket.
While Banton's been a point guard for most of his basketball journey, at six-foot-seven, his ability to make plays off the catch and as a cutter make him a more versatile and, therefore, increasingly valuable player.
3. Speaking of Mykhailiuk, he fared well in his first preseason action. The former Kansas Jayhawk drilled 3/7 threes (42.9 percent), including swishing a shot from 28 feet. He also elevated to finish off an alley-oop from JD Davison.
Mykhailiuk, who ended the night with 15 points on 5/9 shooting, also capitalized on no one boxing him out, bolting to the basket for a put-back slam in the fourth quarter.
4. Regarding Davison, who's on his second two-way deal with the Celtics, the former University of Alabama floor general did a great job pushing the pace in the first quarter. His teammates responded favorably to his up-tempo approach, running the floor with him, leading to multiple baskets at the rim.
Davison dished out three assists in under three minutes in his first shift. He ended the night with five points, four rebounds, and three assists in 14 minutes.
5. On a down note from the opening 12 minutes, like Sunday's game vs. the 76ers, Kornet struggled on the defensive glass. The Knicks snagged five offensive rebounds, with Mitchell Robinson grabbing three of them, leading to New York producing six second-chance points in the period.
It was an issue that also resurfaced in the second half for Kornet, who finished with two rebounds, corralling only one at the defensive end.
The backup big man is an effective screener and facilitator, and he registered two rejections on Monday. But when the regular season arrives, he'll have to prove more impactful at keeping the opposition off the boards.
6. While Jordan Walsh, who air-balled his first shot in his preseason debut, may have had some jitters initially, he settled in and showed well.
That included a sequence where Brissett walled off Julius Randle, and the rookie swooped in for a steal, then took off down the court and finished at the cup.
7. Lamar Stevens, who's on an Exhibit 9 deal and fighting to make Boston's roster -- this author projects he'll claim the team's 15th and final opening -- had an impressive performance, building off him making the most of getting in with under six minutes left in Sunday's game against Philadelphia.
The former Cleveland Cavalier's defensive versatility was on full display in a sequence where he prevented Knicks guard Miles McBride from driving to the rim, forcing him to give up the rock. At the other end, he got the ball in the right corner, attacked off the dribble, and went behind his back before knocking down a fadeaway jumper over center Jericho Sims.
Then, back on defense, Stevens quickly rotated off Sims to stonewall Mitchell Robinson, who was rolling to the rim intending to finish above the cylinder.
The former Penn State Nittany Lion didn't stop there, crashing the glass on a missed three by Banton, resulting in him earning two points via goaltend.
8. Fresh off a four-year, $30 million contract extension and erupting for 16 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday, propelling Boston to a come-back victory, Payton Pritchard showcased some of the other skills he brings to the table on Monday.
The former Oregon Duck held up well against Jalen Brunson defensively in the latter's six minutes of floor time, and he effectively orchestrated the pick-and-roll throughout the night, including delivering a pocket pass to a rolling Luke Kornet and connecting with the seven-footer on an alley-oop.
9. Brissett's impact as a cutter was evident through Monday's matchup at Madison Square Garden. That included an instance where he flashed from the opposite wing as Pritchard drove, gathered the ball at the left elbow, utilized a power dribble, and then finished off the glass as he got fouled. The former Syracuse University standout then tacked on the free throw, converting this into an old-school three-point play.
Ideally, Brissett's shooting well from three, but his off-ball activity is valuable and one way he'll bring energy off the bench this season.
10. The preseason's been unkind to Hauser. The sharpshooter went 0/6, missing all six of his three-point attempts in a scoreless performance against the Sixers. He then went 2/9, again taking all his shots from beyond the arc, in a six-point performance vs. the Knicks.
Don't overreact, especially with Hauser more confident about handling slumps, including from a mental standpoint, after his two-month drought last season. But his disappointing play through two exhibition contests, even while getting an extended run on Monday, is far from the desired outcome.
11. The final takeaway is about Neemias Queta, an athletic seven-footer who's mobile defensively and runs the floor well.
The former Sacramento King registered seven points, four rebounds, and a block in 14 minutes against New York. He also picked up five fouls, reflecting the need for him to play with more discipline, but the tools that made him an appealing option who the Celtics want to work with were on display.
Further Reading
The Latest on a Potential Celtics Extension with Jrue Holiday
Sensing Celtics' Excitement, Intensity, Paul Pierce Believes Jrue Holiday's 'The Missing Piece'
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
