Celtics Thought Bubble: Lessons & Takeaways From Win vs. Nuggets
Some thoughts and analysis from the Boston Celtics preseason win over the Denver Nuggets
It might have felt like an eternity, but we finally got there. The Boston Celtics got their preseason underway with a 107-103 win over the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi. Both teams went deep into their rotations, managing their starters' minutes while testing out potential bench combinations for the upcoming season.
Preseason games are rarely pretty — especially the first one. Guys are still getting their legs back under them. There’s no rhythm. And sometimes, things get a little scrappy. Still, it’s basketball, and for a game-starved fanbase, anything is better than nothing at all.
Let’s dive in.
The big man depth is encouraging.
No Kristaps Porzingis? No Al Horford? NO PROBLEM.
Luke Kornet was the starter with Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta operating off the bench.
Here are my two cents from what we witnessed.
The Celtics will use their non-shooting bigs on the perimeter as screeners, playmakers and short-roll threats.
There’s plenty of competition for minutes behind Horford.
Let’s focus on the first point.
Last season, the Celtics utilized Porzingis and Horford as playmakers at the top of the perimeter - an action known as "delay" - where the center has possession at the top of the perimeter in a five-out offense.
A common play we saw from these delay setups was the "keep" action. Here, the big man feints a dribble hand-off, instead allowing the cutting player to curl toward the paint for a potential pass.
To illustrate this, let's look at a play from last season's matchup against the Nuggets. Porzingis initiates the delay, holding the ball at the top while the team maintains perimeter spacing. Brown cuts toward Porzingis then curls into the paint after the "keep" action (where Porzingis retains possession instead of handing off).
In Friday's game, we saw the Celtics run similar actions with their bench bigs. Here's an example with Queta operating in the delay:
On Friday, the Celtics ran similar actions with their bench bigs. Here’s an example of the same action with Queta operating in the delay.
Hauser takes on Brown's role in this instance, but the concept remains unchanged. The floor stays spaced, Queta handles the rock on the perimeter, opts against the hand-off, waits for Hauser's curl toward the paint, then looks to make the pass.
While this play resulted in a turnover, that's not the key takeaway.
The significant point is that even with Queta and Kornet—typically seen as non-shooting bigs—the Celtics have found ways to maintain spacing and run an offensive system similar to what Horford and Porzingis enable.
And there's more to explore. Let's look at other examples of how Kornet and Queta operated on the perimeter during the game.
Queta DHO (Zoom action)
Queta’s size and motor align with him slotting into a rim-runner role similar to what Robert Williams comprised during his time with the Celtics. However, finding ways to ensure he fits into the system is essential. As he continues to work on his passing and ability to make reads, having him initiate more uncomplicated hand-off actions is logical.
Here, the Celtics go to another one of their common five-out actions known as “Zoom or Chicago” which is where a pin-down is set for a shooter to curl out of the corner and receive a hand-off at the top of the perimeter. Easy read for Queta to make, and his size allows him to set a solid screen after the hand-off has occurred.
Luke Kornet short-roll secondary playmaking
Kornet is a more developed passer than Queta. So, it makes sense that his role is more focused on creating out of the short-roll of being a secondary playmaker on or around the nail.
The action starts with a concept that worked wonders during the playoffs. Kornet is situated in the weakside slot, allowing him to space the floor without being directly involved. This is known as the 5-slot and is a way to space non-shooting bigs.
As the ball gets swung to Jayson Tatum, Kornet sets a screen, slips as the big hedges and then short-rolls into the paint. From there, Kornet can offer a passing outlet for Tatum or Jrue Holiday. Once he receives the rock, he redirects it back out to the perimeter with pace, finding an open White with the defense in rotation. The ball then pings around until an open shot is found.
There are all types of spacing. Mazzulla is excellently leaning into different aspects and using his non-shooting bigs to generate quality shots.
Kornet roll
There’s a lot happening in this clip. Let’s break it down
Kornet sets a cross exit screen for Pritchard
Kornet sets a “slice” screen for Jordan Walsh.
Hand-off between Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser
The ball is reset to the top of the perimeter, putting Kornet in the delay
Split cut between Pritchard and Hauser
Pritchard cuts toward Kornet for the DHO, creating an empty side action
With no low help in the strong side corner, Kornet rolls to the rim
Big man defender is up high, so there’s no tagger to slow the roll
The weakside defender rotates to tag on the catch
Kornet absorbs the bump but misses the close-range shot
Again, the missed shot is inconsequential. The action itself is the focus. Kornet spent 90% of that play on or near the perimeter. He set screens. He initiated plays. He took what the defense gave him and read the lack of low help on the roll.
To wrap up this section, here are some fleeting thoughts on what we saw from Kornet, Queta and Tillman.
Kornet looked solid, considering this was the opening preseason game.
He moved well. Set solid screens. Made quick reads on the fly.
His interior scoring left something to be desired, but overall, he was a solid step-in for Horford and Porzingis.
Solid work on the glass, ending the night with 11 boards.
Queta, while serviceable, was underwhelming
He didn’t pressure the rim the way we’ve come to expect
His work on the glass was disenchanting, ending the night with just three rebounds in 12 minutes.
He’s got to find a balance between fitting within the system and leaning into his strengths as a rim runner — vertical spacing is a thing and can be just as valuable.
Defensively, he’s still jumping too much on pump fakes, but most young athletic bigs have this problem.
Tillman
We haven’t really looked at Tillman today. He played a couple of different roles, to be fair.
He looked good as a screener.
Encouraging signs from the perimeter, going 2-for-3 from deep
Good work in the lanes, pilfering the rock twice
Could have a big role to play off the bench this season.
Preseason P, Playoff P, Buzzer Beating P - what can’t he do?
What can’t he do? Pritchard is a baller. No, he’s a hooper. No, he’s a hoopers hooper. End the game as the top scorer? Check. Most threes made? Check. Most assists on the team? Check.
In fact, Pritchard finished second behind Russell Westbrook for the most dimes in the game, dishing out six assists for his teammates while looking like the most hungry player on the court.
Here’s that delay action again! This time, Pritchard comes off a flare screen from Sam Hauser to nail a catch-and-shoot three from the slot.
Based on what we saw against the Nuggets, Pritchard is ready to go for the regular season. He’s kinda like Mazzulla in that respect, he approaches every game in the same way, it doesn’t matter if its preseason, regular season or postseason, with Pritchard, you know what you’re getting and what he brings to the table.
After the game, Prtichard noted how he’d spent this summer working on his off-the-dribble shooting on the perimeter.
“Getting more efficient off the dribble from three. I thought my finishing and my mid-range game last year took a big jump,” Pritchard said. “…Obviously, I’m always working on that stuff. But, if I can be more efficient off-the-dribble from there and the catch-and-shoot, that completes my game.”
Pritchard had a couple of threes off the bounce against Denver. I’m curious to see how much that becomes part of his overall game, especially when coming off screens in the pick-and-roll.
For now, though, we should tip our hat to how he performed on Friday and approach Sunday with curiosity as to whether he can do the same again.
A bounce back for Jordan Walsh
Walsh had a nightmarish Summer League for the Celtics. As a second-year player with some professional experience, Walsh was expected to show growth in Las Vegas. Instead, he found himself forcing the issue and struggling on both sides of the floor.
Just a few months later, he was in Abu Dhabi, earning minutes over Baylor Scheierman and Lonnie Walker IV while being trusted to bring the ball up the floor and initiate some of the offense.
I liked the above play because it featured another staple of last season’s team: The Floppy action. Two pin-down screens on one side, a potential single pin-down on the other, Hauser choosing which way to curl and coming off the screens to shoot off the catch from deep.
Walsh was the one entrusted with bringing the rock up the floor. He didn’t initiate the play — that was Pritchard — but putting the ball in his hands on multiple possessions is a sign of faith and that he’s earning some trust with the coaching staff.
Defensively, Walsh looked sound. He rotated well, switched when required, used his ridiculous wingspan to clog passing lanes and stayed with his man on the move. If he can improve his offensive efficiency and continue to develop as an on-ball threat, we could see more of him this season. Still, he’s very clearly a step or two away from being ready for the main rotation, but given the talent around him, he’s more than capable of spelling some minutes and taking those steps on the fly.
The Drew Peterson quarter
If you didn’t watch much of the Maine Celtics last season, Peterson might be a player that you weren’t too familiar with. That all changed on Friday as he had himself a fourth quarter to remember.
He scored off the catch, off the dribble and even out of an isolation possession.
I’m a big fan of the shallow cut. So, to see Peterson use it to get open on the perimeter already put him in my good graces for this possession. Seeing him call his own number and give his defender the work was the icing on the cake. Hitting his shot was the cherry on top.
I was always a big fan of seeing Peterson get to the rim out of a Celtics stapel — curling off the wide pin-down to attack the paint.
Peterson showed good body control, movement and a little sauce on the finish with the extended finger roll.
Here’s how the same play looked during the 2023-24 regular season.
Of course, there are multiple variations of what can happen after the pin-down, but we can look at those another day.
Peterson did well in the minutes he was provided and has potentially earned another chance, if not a bigger chance when the two teams meet again on Sunday. He could be another G-League gem from Brad Stevens, especially if the 15th roster spot remains open and needs to be filled later in the year—okay, this is hyperbole, but seriously, who knows?
Some quick observations
The starters played all 12 minutes of the opening quarter. Mazzulla clearly wanted to knock some of the cobwebs off. It’s also an excellent way to jolt their cardio and get them used to playing while tired. I liked it. He also kept the starters under 20 minutes, a prediction I made a few days before the game.
Tatum’s jump shot mechanics do look like they’ve been altered this summer. The release is quicker. The slight hitch before his release has gone. His whole motion is more fluid, kind of in one motion. His shooting pocket seems to be more to the front than to his hip.
It was a quiet night for the stock exchange. Both Jrue Holiday and Derrick White looked slightly off pace. Nothing major from either of them.
Jaylen Brown looked good. His shots weren’t falling, but he was playing with his usual aggression. Moved well on defense. Looks like he added significant muscle mass during the summer. Once he’s back in rhythm, he’s gonna be a problem.
Lonnie Walker IV hardly played. These are the games where he could prove he belongs in the rotation. Of course, we don’t know what he’s showing during in practice, and it’s likely pretty good stuff. However, if he’s not earning minutes in these kinds of games, where the entire rotation is getting a look, that doesn’t bode well for his chances of making the roster. Both he and Anton Watson played less than 5 minutes, with their time coming toward the end of the 4th quarter.
JD Davison played well in the fourth quarter. He helped increase the tempo when on the floor, rebounded well and got a highlight chase-down block, which he then leveraged into a lob in transition.
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Final thoughts
The Celtics looked good in their opening game. We saw a lot of the same actions that were prevalent last season. Guys were clearly fighting for minutes, and a potential role increase and the starters were taking the opportunity to improve their rhythm and fitness.
Tougher tests will await. But, considering the Celtics hadn’t beaten the Nuggets for a while, it was good to get the W, even if the game didn’t count for anything. Boston also kept hold of its undefeated record when playing overseason. It will be interesting to see what changes are made on Sunday, such as minutes distribution, role changes and how seriously both teams take the event.
For now, though, it’s another win in the Celtics column and a great start to preparations for the upcoming season.
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What did you think of the game? Let me know in the comments.