Paul George hasn’t needed much time to look at home in Boston. The fit has been immediate, and it’s showing up everywhere: in the way he opens the floor for Jayson Tatum, in the way the Celtics’ defense keeps getting more disruptive, and in the way Boston keeps rolling productive lineups even when its best player sits.
That kind of impact starts with talent, but Joe Mazzulla pointed to something less obvious after Sunday’s 117-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
“His open-mindedness to want to learn,” said Joe Mazzulla after Sunday’s 117-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. “The way he processes film, the way he journals, the way he sees the game.
The conversations he has with the coaches during the game. I think just his willingness to push himself.
It’s fun to watch.”
George has been saying versions of that since he got to Boston. At his introductory press conference in September, he made it clear the Celtics’ style felt built for him.
“The freedom that they have to kind of operate and playing off one another, it always just felt like they were a step ahead. And I feel like I’ve always played that way, from a cerebral standpoint,” said George at his introductory press conference in September. “I feel like I can really thrive in a system like this.”
He’s backing that up on both ends.
Defensively, George is giving Boston a real edge. He’s averaging 2.3 steals per game, which ties him with Scottie Barnes for third in the league among players who have appeared in at least seven games and played at least 25 minutes per outing. He’s also averaging 5.1 deflections a night, third-most in the NBA, using anticipation, screen navigation, and that six-foot-11 wingspan to blow up actions before they can get comfortable.
His 4.6 percent stop percentage is in the 100th percentile, according to Databallr, a number that reflects steals, offensive fouls drawn, and blocks recovered by the defense out of 100 possessions. That kind of activity fits neatly with a Celtics defense that already ranks in the top 10 in turnovers forced and points off those giveaways.
And on the other end, George has been exactly the kind of connector Boston needed next to Tatum. The 36-year-old wing is a reliable catch-and-shoot threat on kick-outs and swing passes, takes care of the ball, and can still punish a defense in isolation when the possession calls for it. He’s done that before in different roles, whether alongside Kawhi Leonard or in stretches when his own name was in the MVP conversation with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
What makes this version different is the hierarchy. There’s no tug-of-war here.
George has made it clear from the start that his job is to make life easier for Tatum, and the numbers back that up. When the two share the floor, Boston is scoring 120.5 points per 100 possessions, per Databallr, with a +11.1 net rating in those minutes.
That includes the tough closing stretches, too.
The Celtics are also thriving when George is out there without Tatum, posting a +24.7 net rating in those minutes. That matters just as much. It means Boston can keep winning while Tatum rests, and it gives the team a second gear that doesn’t depend on its star being on the floor.
Taken together, it’s the kind of partnership that looks natural from the start. George’s game, his processing, and his willingness to fit into the flow of what Boston already does have made the transition look easy. And right now, the Celtics are getting exactly what they hoped for.
In Other News...
Celtics Keep Sending An Early Message The East Cant Ignore
Bostons trip to Milwaukee offered another early-season reminder that this group is already playing with the kind of edge the rest of the East has to notice. After falling behind early, the Celtics settled in and steadily took control in a 117-97 road win, getting a strong scoring night from Paul George and another solid contribution from Jayson Tatum as they moved to 8-2.
The bigger takeaway was how quickly Boston flipped the game once it found its rhythm, especially over the middle two quarters when the Bucks had no answer for the Celtics pace and shot-making. It is still early, but wins like this are the kind that travel well, and Boston will get another chance to keep building momentum Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. [Read more 🡒]
Payton Pritchards Celtics Role Just Got More Complicated
The Celtics rematch with the Bucks offered a small but telling look at how Boston is handling its backcourt rotation. In the 109-102 win, the team opened with Mike Conley in the starting lineup as a nod to the veteran, while Payton Pritchard stayed in his familiar spot leading the second unit. It was the kind of tweak that does not change the overall shape of the roster, but it did underline how much trust Boston still places in Pritchards role off the bench.
Still, the setup invites a bigger question about whether Pritchard could eventually be tested in a different lane. His value as the sixth man is clear, but the Celtics also have reason to wonder what his game might look like with a starters minutes and responsibilities. For now, Boston is keeping things where they are, and that leaves Pritchard in a role that works well even as the conversation around it gets a little more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Let Another Promising Start Turn Into A Brutal Celtics Reality
The Bucks came out with a good early push, but Boston settled in quickly and turned the game into its kind of grind. Paul George led the scoring with 27 points, while Jayson Tatum, Mitchell Robinson and Derrick White all made their presence felt as the Celtics answered the opening burst with steadier shot-making and a more connected approach on both ends.
Mitchell Robinsons night stood out in particular, with a well-rounded performance that showed up in the box score and in the flow of the game. Bostons defense tightened in the second quarter and changed the tone before Milwaukee could fully build on its start, leaving the Bucks to deal with a familiar problem: a promising opening that never quite held up once the Celtics found their rhythm. [Read more 🡒]