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Boston Celtics Show Off Passing in First Preseason Game

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 2: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics gives a thumbs up during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on October 2, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 2: during the first half at TD Garden on October 2, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 2: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics gives a thumbs up during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on October 2, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 2: during the first half at TD Garden on October 2, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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After one preseason game we can already tell the Boston Celtics are going to dominate with their ball movement

The Boston Celtics got their first look at the new roster, and it is the most talented roster of the Brad Stevens era. We knew that these players would create an offensive powerhouse, we just could not tell exactly how Stevens would run the offense with so many new faces.

The transition is far from over, and there is a lot more that needs to be defined, but that first preseason game made it abundantly clear that passing will continue to be the most important part of the offense.

You expect a lot of rust in the first preseason game, and in a lot of ways the Celtics were rusty. Nevertheless, they looked like they were in mid season form with thier passing. The ball was moving on each and every possession, and every single player was getting involved, making sure the offense was never stagnate.

There were some problems, and the players themselves mentioned how they were overpassing. The Celtics are always about making that extra pass, but with the talent they now have as finishers, it will be a problem is they are making another extra pass, and missing out on a good opportunity. They want to best possible look, but they need to balance that with the kind of pace that will allow them to run other teams off the court.

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That being said, for the first preseason game, that is the exact kind of problem they want. What is clearly indicated is that all of these players are ready to buy into this system, and they are not going to have to worry about ball stoppers or ball hogs.

There were a lot of questions about Kyrie Irving over dribbling, or Jayson Tatum resorting to isolation too much. In that first game, that was never a worry.

The Celtics may have passed up some quality opportunities, but they did not force everything. Even if there was some over passing, it was still solid passing. The Celtics need to make sure they are not putting anyone in a worse position with the ball movement, and that did not happen in the first preseason game.

The most exciting part is that we know this will certainly get better. All of these players are new and all of them need more time to get used to their teammates’ tendencies, discovering what are the best places to move the ball, and how they can get as many players as many good opportunities.

The first preseason game had an abundance of passing, but you could tell they did not have as many specifically organized systems. For now, they are still feeling out exactly how they need to use their ball movement. The best news, if that was just the beginning of what this team will do as passers, then they could be in a class of their own come playoff time.

What that passing also showed us is how comfortable everyone is off the ball. The Celtics have their primary ball handlers, but they never have that Chris Paul type ball dominant handler, that controls all the sets and dictates all the plays.

What we saw in game one was fluid motion by each and every player. The Celtics did not limit their options in who could instigate the offense. Instead, they used as many players as possible, on and off the ball, to generate the confusion that will allow the moving players to get their wide open looks.

In fact, the Celtics did a stellar job of generating those open looks in the first preseason game, and the bigger problem really was finishing. The Celtics had a lot of open shots that did not fall, but that is nothing they need to worry about in the preseason.

For the preseason and probably even beyond, the process will be a lot more important that the results. The real progression will come when they can use this kind of spectacular ball movement, with an increased pace.

Next: Will Smart Lead the Celtics in 3s?

If the Celtics use this ball movement to generate their open looks, they have more than enough players to hit the open shots. The real potential of their offense comes when they get comfortable enough with the ball movement, that they can see how much they can push the pace, and establish an ideal balance of quantity and quality of shots.

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