Things the Celtics should be worried about:
- Jayson Tatum’s wrist.
- The ease of Sunday’s 103-86 victory lulling them into believing this playoff run could be as simple as last year’s.
Things the Celtics do not need to be worried about:
The Magic came in with a great game plan and used the momentum created by their play-in round win as a springboard to start the game playing confidently.
They erased an early Celtics’ 12-point lead and showed off the defense that made them the NBA’s leader in regular-season points and 3-pointers allowed. The Magic were great on the glass and used their physicality effectively.
It worked for a half.
But the 49-48 intermission lead was their high-water mark. The Celtics adjusted, sped the game up, and delivered an efficient third quarter that snuffed out whatever optimism the Magic felt at halftime.
The Celtics won despite ho-hum scoring efforts from Jaylen Brown (16 points) and Tatum (17 points, 14 rebounds). Neither shot well (combined 14-for-36) or scored much by their lofty standards.
Still, it didn’t matter. The Celtics were plenty good enough to avoid any anxious moments in the fourth quarter.
Derrick White was terrific with 30 points, including seven 3-pointers on 7-for-12 shooting. Jrue Holiday turned into Playoff Jrue Holiday and was outstanding, especially on defense. Payton Pritchard provided a spark with 19 points.
Most importantly, everyone played their roles.
“We’ve got a million different ways we can win, a lot of different things we can throw at teams,” White said.
The Celtics were solid, but nowhere near their zenith and they didn’t need to be. Tatum will be better. Brown will be better. Kristaps Porzingis has more to give offensively.
The Magic, however, got 36 points on 14-for-27 shooting from Paolo Banchero with 11 rebounds. Franz Wagner had 23 points. It’s not reasonable to expect either to give more than they did, and still the Magic would have lost by 20 if Boston hadn’t emptied its bench late in the final minutes.
“That’s what makes us so dangerous,” Tatum said. “We have a really well-balanced team. It could be different guys on any night. Everybody else figures out their part to make sure we win.”
Orlando gave the Celtics their best shot and Boston flicked it aside. If this series lasts five games, the Magic should be excited. It’s a mismatch.
The Celtics players obviously shouldn’t be beyond Game 2 on Wednesday, but if Joe Mazzulla wanted to whisper to his assistant coaches that they can increase the intensity of video preparation for potential second-round opponents (the New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons), that wouldn’t be premature.
Of course, that’s all presupposing the Celtics stay healthy. At least healthy enough.
Tatum getting injured is the nightmare scenario. So when he came up holding his right wrist after a hard foul, there were concerns. It didn’t help when he missed two free throws immediately after the fact.
Boston fans know all too well that there could be more banners hanging if Celtics teams hadn’t faced untimely health issues in 1987 or 2010.
With Brown, already hampered by an unknown percentage by a bone bruise on his right knee, Tatum’s health becomes more important. Boston doesn’t need peak Tatum to dispatch Mickey Mouse’s neighbors in the first round, but it will help to have him. But the longer they go, the more they’ll need him.
The already physical Magic aren’t likely to take it easy on him and might see further denting Tatum as their only chance. So being careful is a good idea.
For now, the Celtics are downplaying concerns. Tatum stayed in the game and knocked down a 3-pointer, which backed up their claims.
“I just landed on it. It was throbbing for a minute and it kind of went away,” said Tatum, who said a precautionary X-Ray created no concerns. “It’s clean. It’s good.”
If that’s true, the Magic can start booking tee times.