The Boston Celtics looked like themselves for the first time since the first half of the season on Tuesday night. In a 132–109 win over the Sacramento Kings, the C’s looked dominant and in sync both offensively and defensively.
Boston weathered the storm and fought back each time Sacramento attempted to cut into their second-half lead. A critical issue with which the Celtics have recently struggled.
But what does this win tell us? Here are five takeaways from the Celtics’ recent play.
No. 1: Derrick White should remain in the Boston starting lineup
Derrick White has started majority of the games this season due to injuries, but in his time as a starter, White has played some of his best basketball in his career. In Tuesday’s win, White finished with 20 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds on 6/11 shooting. The guard was +18 in his time on the floor. This isn’t White’s first performance like this either.
White has taken a back seat in the C’s few fully healthy games this season, falling out of the starting lineup in favor of Robert Williams III or Marcus Smart, depending on injuries. In these cases, White has even fallen out of the Celtics’ closing lineup in certain games.
It’s clear the impact White makes when he’s on the floor. He is one of the C’s best perimeter defenders, an outstanding playmaker who tends to make the right read over and over again, and his improvement on his 3-point shooting allows the Celtics offense to reach new heights.
No. 2: The Celtics missed Robert Williams III
Robert Williams III made his return to action against the Kings after missing two and a half weeks following a strained hamstring. In his absence, the Celtics struggled tremendously with their defense inside and rebounding.
In his return against Sacramento, Williams III showed how important his defensive presence was for the Celtics, along with his natural instinct for rebounding. Williams pulled down seven rebounds in just 21 minutes.
Another thing the Boston Celtics missed while Rob was out was the big man’s ability to create second-chance opportunities for the team on the offensive side. Williams only had two offensive rebounds in his limited minutes, but his hustle led to multiple offensive rebounds.
As Williams III ramps his minutes back up, the C’s will look to pick up where they left off with Timelord in the lineup.
No. 3: Marcus Smart’s playmaking can elevate the Boston Celtics offense
Marcus Smart has always been the Celtics’ X-Factor, but it is often due to his defensive tendencies and hustle. However, Smart has proven to be more than just a defensive player. The 29-year-old has made it clear in the past that he believes he is the perfect point guard for this team. When Marcus is given the opportunity to make plays for his teammates, he more often than not elevates the Celtics offense to new heights. The Oklahoma State product has a unique tendency to draw the defense where he wants them to make the right play. Smart is showing that this season with a career-high 6.4 assists per game.
When Smart has the ball in his hands, his only major flaw is that he tends to shoot his way out of slumps and can find himself forcing the offense while playing hero ball when Boston is trailing in games. This was something former head coach Ime Udoka did a great job of getting Marcus to buy into the offense last season, break the habit, and limit these mistakes. Now, head coach Joe Mazzulla looks to do the same.
If Mazzulla can continue to put Marcus Smart in position to succeed as a playmaker, the Celtics offense could continue to ascend and be even more of a threat come playoff time.
No. 4: Sam Hauser’s minutes are in jeopardy
Sam Hauser has shown promise in his sophomore season with the Celtics. The sharpshooter is averaging a career-high 6.1 points per game, shooting 44.9% from the field and 41.5% from 3-point range. The Virginia product has done a great job for Boston when his name has been called upon, but as the playoffs near and the Celtics get healthy, Hauser may end up with the short end of the stick.
In the C’s win over Sacramento, Hauser played just three minutes in garbage time. While it may be due to matchup reasons, it’s hard to overlook the obvious: the 25-year-old struggles defensively, which may restrict him from being a big part of the playoff rotation.
With Robert Williams III healthy and Grant Williams’ ability to stretch the floor and play defense despite his offensive inconsistency this year, Hauser may be the odd man out as the postseason closes in.
No. 5: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Are in Playoff Mode
The Jays scored 63 points in their rout of the Kings on Tuesday. The two stars didn’t miss a beat in the victory, and with nine games left in the regular season, now is the time for these two to find their groove.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have made it clear since the season began that they intend to return to the NBA finals. After a long and exhausting season, the postseason approaches, and the Celtics’ duo has their sights set on the prize, knowing the journey will not be easy.
But as the leaders of the team, it’s only fitting for the duo to be leading their squad into the final stretch with confidence.