The Celtics are about to get their first live tune-up of the season, and even in a four-game preseason slate, there’s plenty to watch. Boston had a busy summer, and these exhibitions should offer the first clues about how Joe Mazzulla plans to piece everything together before the regular season begins.
The biggest question might be what the offense looks like this time around. In recent years, Boston has leaned hard on the three-point shot, but the addition of new personnel into larger roles makes this preseason worth watching closely. After back-to-back early playoff exits, Mazzulla has to show that the system is getting at least some kind of adjustment.
Paul George is another major storyline. He may not see heavy minutes in the preseason, and he could even sit out a game, but this will still be the first chance to see him in green. The Celtics are hoping to get the version of George who finished last season strongly, and there’s also curiosity about how he functions with the second unit when Jayson Tatum is off the floor.
Derrick White enters the preseason with a different kind of spotlight on him. His defense was once again excellent last season, but the offensive inconsistency was hard to miss. A few preseason stretches should help reveal where he stands heading into the year, especially now that a healthy Tatum and a deeper supporting cast should ease some of the burden he carried last season.
The younger end of the roster deserves attention too. Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., and others are in position to fight for larger opportunities in this new era of Celtics basketball. Preseason minutes can be messy, but they’ll matter for players trying to separate themselves.
And then there’s the frontcourt rotation. The addition of Mitchell Robinson adds another wrinkle to how Boston handles Neemias Queta and his minutes. Preseason may not settle the issue completely, but it should at least show whether Mazzulla is leaning toward different starting combinations and which big man looks best early on.
In Other News...
Jayson Tatum Sees One Immediate Difference With Celtics Big Man
Mitchell Robinson is already giving the Celtics something they have long valued in the frontcourt, and Jayson Tatum noticed the difference quickly. After signing a three-year contract with Boston, Robinson brings a reputation for defensive disruption, physical rebounding and the kind of interior presence that can change how opponents attack the rim.
Tatum pointed to Robinson's defensive skills, his work on the glass and the broader impact he can have on the group, which fits neatly with what Boston has wanted from its big men. Robinson has built his name as one of the league's better offensive rebounders, and the Celtics will be counting on that edge to show up every night, especially once the games start to tighten and the margin for error gets smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Jayson Tatum Already Sounds Comfortable With A New Celtics Frontcourt Fit
Bostons final training camp practice in Charleston, South Carolina, offered a first real glimpse of how Jayson Tatum is beginning to mesh with a new frontcourt partner. With the season inching closer, Tatum spent some time discussing Mitchell Robinson and the way the Celtics can lean into his defensive presence, rebounding and screening to make the half-court offense and the overall lineup structure feel more natural.
For Tatum, the fit appears to be about more than just rim protection. He sounded comfortable with the idea of Robinson helping set the tone on both ends, and that matters for a team trying to sort out its rotations and maximize the forwards and centers around him. The early read is encouraging, even if the real test will come once the Celtics start facing live pressure and have to turn those camp impressions into something repeatable. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Are Suddenly Linked To A Knicks Move Fans Didn't Expect
The Celtics already made one notable Knicks-related splash this offseason by bringing in center Mitchell Robinson, and now their front office is being tied to another big name from New York. This time it is Karl-Anthony Towns, whose contract situation has quietly become a talking point around the league as Boston looks for ways to keep stacking talent around its core.
A Towns deal would not be simple and it would not come cheap, but the fit is easy to understand for a team that values spacing, size and versatility. The possibility only exists if contract talks in New York go sideways, which remains a long shot given the Knicks recent championship, but the mere mention of Boston in that conversation is enough to make the idea worth watching. [Read more 🡒]