2022 - 2023 POST GAME DETROIT - AWAY

Celtics Wrap: Jayson Tatum Leads Boston To Sixth Straight Win
Tatum and Marcus Smart were pivotal in the second half


NESN by Jason Ounpraseuth

The Celtics won their sixth straight game after beating the Detroit Pistons, 117-108, at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night.

The Celtics move to 10-3 on the year, the Pistons dropped to 3-11.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Pistons looked to make Saturday’s matchup a tough battle as both squads were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. The Celtics were down Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, but MVP contender Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston. The All-Star forward carried the Celtics offense, scoring 43 points in 41 minutes. Detroit was up two at halftime, but a strong second half from the Celtics helped them win their sixth game in a row. The game turned into a 3-point contest with Boston shooting 18-of-49 compared to the Pistons’ 16-of-37, which helped keep Detroit in the game until the final buzzer, but Tatum helped the Celtics maintain enough of a cushion.


STARS OF THE GAME
— Tatum had a double-double of 43 points and 10 rebounds. The forward shot 14-of-28 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Tatum also added in four assists and one steal and block apiece.

— Smart helped shoulder the load for Tatum on offense, scoring 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting in 43 minutes. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year also notched five steals and 10 assists.

— Bojan Bogdanovic played his part in keeping the game close for Detroit. The forward led the Pistons in scoring with 28, along with six rebounds and four assists.

UP NEXT

The Celtics return to Boston to play the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on Monday. Tipoff is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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I can’t believe how much better Jayson Tatum got, to be able to carry the team on his back and come up with this level of performance and energy in the 2nd game of a b2b is phenomenal. He was everywhere all over the floor both ends, his defense and rebounding were just great. He made the right play or scored everytime we needed it, just amazing. He actually was Bird like in his complete dominance all over the floor, scoring in so many varieties and on the stat sheet it shows.

A lot of things going on and with a SEGABABA hard to keep up! More observations:

1. Whatever Jayson Tatum is eating for breakfast, and I'm guessing it's Wheaties, I want some of that! The shots he is taking, the moves he is making, way he is scoring is wearing out the rewind button on my remote! "I can't believe what I just saw!" This year's rise for him is approaching meteoric to say the very least.

2. Yes, worcester, we're having fun now!! And the scary thing is we're doing it with all the regular injuries of the season that come to and through every team. I counted 5 out last night including Brown, Horford, Brodgen, RWIII and Galinari. And we still won. It appears it takes us about 3 quarters to get warmed up no matter who we are playing, but the end result is the same. The steamroller just takes a while to really get going.

3. The 3rd quarter of this game is one to watch again. Just watch the whole quarter and see for yourself how things came together. Marcus is on a huge tear. Another Double-Double. Keep it coming, Marcus. You may have finally found your groove.

4. This was not the best shooting night for us yet we find ways to win the game. It's like opponents hang in there and then around the end of the 3rd, beginning of the 4th, they just realize what Boston keeps putting out there is just too much and they throw in the towel. This is ridiculous, Gus. And again, this was with 5 guys missing for us.

5. Pritchard is a man possessed. Didn't have a great scoring game but he was a +16 and the highest of any Celtic. Closest was Vonleh at +11. P-Squared is earning brownie points. Whatever he did to put himself in CJ's doghouse is for the most part forgotten. Put me in, coach. I'm ready to play (clap, clap, clap, clap) TODAY!!

6. Low TO's again. That will never hurt you and always helps. Assist/FGM still very nice around 70%. Sam is smiling. Wish he were alive to see this. His historical perspective would be amazing at this juncture.

7. Doogie just needs more PT and rhythm adjustments.
Little off the last two games and I'm not smart enough to know or see what he's doing differently and why the shots aren't falling lately. Anyone see anything in his release? I'm no shot analyst but I play one on TV.

OK. That's good. Let's get those guys that are out with small injuries back on the court Monday with OKC coming to town.

db

JT is just tremendous. Getting better everyday. Def looks like an MVP. Great team effort all around, considering how short handed we played.

A frustrating game for me, because I felt like we never played like we took this game seriously, but then I remembered that we did it without Jaylen, Al, Brogdon and RWill.  That's 4/5 of a pretty damn good playoff-headed starting 5 in the NBA, and we still won by 9.  Is the now 3-11 Detroit Pistons a contender?  No, not even close, but they are an NBA team and can, therefore, beat any other team on any given night.  Theoretically, at least, and definitely possible with us on the back end of a SEGABABA except for one thing.  

Jayson Tatum wasn't going to let that happen.  I kept waiting for them to overplay him, just to get the ball out of his hands.  They tried, half-heartedly, but never with any real commitment.  As a result he buried them with just amazing play.  No JB?  No problem, more shots for me.  14-28, 7-14 from 3.  50% of his fgas were 3s and he shot 50% from 3, which is 100% consistent with Joe's offensive philosophy.  He had 13 in the 4th on 4-8, 2-3 from 3.  He also had 4 ftas in the 4th.  That is an MVP-worthy performance.  His 2nd half was a 28 point, 9-16, 5-8 from 3, 5-6 from the line beauty.  Tatum's taking 9.0 ftas/game.  In 2016-2017, IT's MVP-conversation year, he averaged 8.5ftas/game.  He's in a contest with KD for most points scored.  KD played earlier and took over 1st place with a 20 point lead.  Tatum's 43 now should put him up 23.  The totals as of this morning are Tatum 420, Kevin Durant 397.  

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
about 11 hours ago
If you missed the telecast tonight, @Brian Scalabrine and I are starting a grass-roots movement to change NBA leaders, like most sports, from averages to totals, such as... NBA - MOST POINTS JAYSON TATUM 420 Luka Doncic 412 Kevin Durant 397 Steph Curry 366

I'm not surprised that Scal is pushing for this, he's such a kiss-ass, but if Grande is on board maybe there's something to say for it, especially in this era of "load management".  Why should you be given MVP consideration when you're cherry-picking your games and opponents?  Give it to the guy who goes out there every night and puts up the numbers.

Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
yesterday
Per Synergy, Jayson Tatum is 2nd in points per possession among the NBA's ultra high-usage players (25 or more possessions per game, higher than Doncic/Giannis/Shai/Booker etc.). Only player ahead of him, predictably, is Steph.




Smart with 18 points, 10 assists, 5 steals and only 1 turnover.  He has been on red hot assist streak for a week and more now.  He did one really stupid thing, he went for a showboat off the backboard pass to a trailing Tatum that he couldn't finish and it ended up an empty possession.  When the game was neck-and-neck I was thinking that Smart's boneheadedness would cost us the game but all is forgiven this morning.  I keep forgetting that athletes play better when they're having fun and trying crap like that is fun for them.  I need to lighten up a bit.  Marcus Smart is the best quarterback in New England.  I should just kick back and enjoy that more.

Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
yesterday
Marcus Smart said Tatum was yelling “off the glass, off the glass” on that botched alley-oop. Said he would do it again but the ball slipped out of Tatum’s hand. Said he had to be on good behavior after the play with Mazzulla. #Celtics #Pistons.

Good job, Joe, good job.  BTW, Marcus, the NBA doesn't credit you with an assist if it's off the backboard.  It's a rebound and a put back.

Smart's 5 steals are pure Marcus Smart doing Smarty things.  It is when I love him the most, when he's being completely disruptive. That, and when he physically abuses point guards on drives and post-ups like he did to 6'5", 195# Killian Hayes repeatedly.




27 assists on 39 fgm.  69%.  Nice.  Our ball movement was excellent last night, creating the best to produce an assist.  Joe's really got them bought into this.

Sam in a bit of a slump from 3.  1-6 last night, 1-6 vs Denver for 2-12 in his last two outings.  Now he's dropped down to 16th on the league's 3pt fg% leader board.  Boohoo, only 16th (time to wake up and smell the sarcasm).  Still over 45%.  Still one of the biggest threats from deep in the league.

42.9% for the game, 37.5% from 3 (about league average) and we still beat a team on the road without 4 key players, including 3 starters.

Some credit to Noah for 7 rebounds in only 20 minutes.  We had a total of 42 boards as a team, so 7 represents a decent chunk of them.  Do what you can do, young man.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468341


Bob


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I don't know how I could have forgotten to give credit to Grant for his 19 point, 10 rebound, 4 assist game. That's a good game for anybody not in the MVP conversation. 7-12, 3-6 from 3. Cannot ask for more. He bet on himself this offseason and it's going to pay off for him.

Grant taking Bogie off the dribble from above the arc all the way to the basket at the :28 mark. Impressive foot speed for a player not expected to be fast.




Bob


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