Celtics Reveal Intriguing Weapon In Preseason Win Over Cavaliers image
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The Boston Celtics opened their preseason Thursday with a 124-113 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Luka Garza finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Carter added 17 points, while Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman contributed 16 apiece.
Those performances provided plenty of reasons for optimism.
But one number from Boston's victory might be more interesting than the final score. The Celtics collected 18 offensive rebounds. For a team experimenting with its frontcourt rotation, that statistic deserves some attention.
Boston's Frontcourt Makes Early Statement
Garza received the starting assignment with Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson unavailable. He responded with a double-double, adding three blocked shots and two assists in 27 minutes. His shooting wasn't particularly efficient. Garza made six of his 17 field-goal attempts and three of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc. Still, his willingness to remain active around the basket helped Boston generate additional opportunities.
The Celtics finished with 18 offensive rebounds, an encouraging sign for a team that will need production from several different frontcourt combinations. Preseason rebounding numbers don't automatically translate into regular-season success. But the effort required to pursue missed shots is something coaches can evaluate regardless of the opponent or the circumstances.
And Boston's performance offered evidence that its younger players understand the importance of those possessions.
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Celtics' Depth Gets An Early Opportunity
The win also demonstrated how many players could contribute to Boston's offense. Carter scored 17 points, while Walsh and Scheierman combined for 32. The Celtics received 52 points from their bench, giving the coaching staff several encouraging performances to evaluate.
Boston also scored 71 points in the first half, building an advantage that helped withstand Cleveland's third-quarter push.
Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Derrick White did not play, making the performance of the supporting cast particularly important. There will be much tougher challenges once the regular season begins.
Garza won't necessarily receive 27 minutes every night, and the rotation will look different when Boston's established players return. However, Thursday offered something valuable.
The Celtics demonstrated that they can generate offense without depending entirely on their biggest stars. Their next preseason game comes Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
If Boston continues attacking the offensive glass while receiving contributions throughout the rotation, Joe Mazzulla could have some interesting lineup decisions ahead.
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