The Boston Celtics enjoyed a successful preseason stint in Abu Dhabi, sweeping the Denver Nuggets 2-0. It was an awkward start to the year, as they had to travel over international waters to get there, but Boston lived up to the billing of being the reigning champs. Plus, Joe Mazzulla got a good look at his roster.
Jayson Tatum and the rest of the starting lineup didn’t play too much. They were out by halftime in both of the contests, and Al Horford didn’t even suit up. But that meant Mazzulla got a nice long look at some of the guys who could be filling the gaps this year.
But not everyone was on the top of their game. Here are three players who improved their stock in Abu Dhabi and three who flopped.
Improved stock: Payton Pritchard
Last year, Payton Pritchard established himself as a crucial part of the Celtics’ rotation just one season after he was almost completely left out of the every-night lineup.
His three-point shooting was essential, and he even had a couple of highlight plays in the NBA Finals, nailing a pair of half-court shots to give the Celtics some serious momentum.
In Abu Dhabi, Pritchard proved that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. He’s been red-hot from beyond the arc, displaying some elite shot creation skills as well.
Pritchard can afford to carry the load in Boston a bit more than he has been, and the Celtics should trust him with that responsibility.
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Flopped: Baylor Scheierman
Summer League was a bit up-and-down for Baylor Scheierman, and the Celtics’ trip to Abu Dhabi proved to be rocky for the rookie as well.
He didn’t get a ton of minutes, so it may have been difficult for him to find a rhythm, but Scheierman has a tough time making shots against the Denver Nuggets.
At this point in his very young career, any playing time at all will be useful for Scheierman, so soaking up the experience will be very important.
That said, it seemed unlikely that Scheierman would play in the regular season before the preseason began, and his chances won’t have improved much after Abu Dhabi.
Improved stock: Luke Kornet
Through the Celtics’ first two preseason games, Luke Kornet has played well enough to warrant regular minutes and spot starts throughout the course of the regular season.
With Al Horford sidelined, Kornet has been playing with the starters, and he’s been excellent. It’s clear the Celtics trust him, and rightfully so.
Kornet’s ability to make plays out of the short roll has stood out, and the rest of the team looks super comfortable with him on the floor. His screening and rebounding have been stellar as well.
Kristaps Porzingis is going to miss a lot of time, but Kornet looks more than ready to fill the gaps.
Flopped: Neemias Queta
This is probably a bit harsh for Neemias Queta. He wasn’t terrible in Abu Dhabi, but he wasn’t impressive enough to steal the show from Kornet, which is something to note.
In the first game, Queta’s minutes with the Celtics regulars weren’t ideal. He ran into some foul trouble and wasn’t able to make a noticeable impact on the game.
Once he got into his minutes with the end-of-the-bench guys, Queta found a rhythm. He didn’t commit any fouls in the second game and found some success cutting to the rim with ease.
However, if Queta’s goal this season was to supplant Kornet in the rotation, he’s not off to a great start. (And it’s not completely his fault, as Kornet has been great.)
Improved stock: Xavier Tillman
Boston re-signed Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman over the summer, and so far, Tillman has looked like a steal of a contract, especially since they only traded a second-round pick for him at last year’s deadline.
Tillman’s versatile defense will get him on the court, but his three-point shooting will keep him there, and that popped up in Abu Dhabi.
He looked confident from behind the arc, and if he can keep that up during the regular season, he should be able to fill in for Al Horford at times.
Obviously, he still has plenty of room to grow, and consistency will be key, but Abu Dhabi was a great start for the 25-year-old.
Flopped: Lonnie Walker IV
The Celtics signing Lonnie Walker IV toward the end of free agency was a move that made waves across the NBA. But through two preseason games, Walker hasn’t done much.
Walker didn’t get a lot of playing time in Abu Dhabi, as he was one of the last few players off the bench in both outings.
And to make matters worse, once Walker did in the game, it was clear that he was trying to force shots up, and nothing was falling for him.
Before Abu Dhabi, Walker already had an uphill battle to make the Celtics roster. Now, it feels like he’s staring down Mt. Everest.