Celtics takeaways: Bench gets minutes in scrimmage loss to Rockets

The Celtics closed out their three scrimmage NBA bubble slate in Orlando with a 137-112 loss to the Houston Rockets. Next stop: Well, still Orlando, but this one will count. Friday night the Celtics open their eight game seeding schedule with a tough draw: The NBA’s top team so far this year, the 53-12 Milwaukee Bucks.

It looked more like a Summer League game than a matchup of two of the NBA’s best teams, and that’s because only one team put their best guys on the floor. Celtics coach Brad Stevens gave his entire starting crew the night off — Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, as well as big men Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter.

Houston’s Mike D’Antoni took a different approach, leaving his regular rotation in well into the second half. The results were predictable. NBA scoring leader James Harden (off his 36.1 ppg pace of a year ago, but still netting 34.4 a night) lit up the overmatched Celtics for 30 by halftime and finished with 35.

Here are key takeaways from their last tune-up match:

Youth showed flashes — Most of the young Celtics getting their longest looks of the season Tuesday night weren’t actually competing against the Rockets — they were competing with each other. There are eight games to go before the playoffs begin, and that’s really all that matters now. The seven guys Stevens rested are the Tier 1 rotation who will get the bulk of playoff minutes. But another two or three guys will be important situationally depending on matchups. There are some playoff games those guys could be called on to contribute more than garbage-time minutes. Based on the eye-test Tuesday, those guys could well be:

Brad Wanamaker — No surprise here; Wanamaker has been a steady contributor off the bench all season, playing in 63 games, being deadly at the stripe (93.1%) and most importantly, playing the point. A lot is riding on Kemba Walker’s left knee, and if there are any recurring issues, Wanamaker’s role could grow as Marcus Smart’s relief. Carsen Edwards wound up top scorer for the C’s with 19 points over 32:07 and made a case. Early in the third period he showed some fearlessness, flying down the right wing and cramming a left-handed slam over James Harden and Russell Westbrook. G-League Rookie of the Year Tremont Waters flashed his enormous potential, but probably isn’t ready to see a lot of action.

Grant Williams — His talent has enticed all season, and he did nothing to dispel the hopes in a 15-point outing. Williams has been a spot starter (five GS) this season and clearly is still someone Stevens believes in.

Romeo Langford — He led all Celtics with 32:28 played, and contributed a Marcus Smart-like performance that looked better than stats would indicate. Still just 20, he remains raw, but his energy has to be a wild card. Arrow points up.

Planting seeds — The pace is aggressive after the 6:30 p.m. Milwaukee game Friday: Portland Sunday afternoon, a huge game with Miami Tuesday evening, Brooklyn Wednesday, Toronto next Friday, Orlando Aug. 9, Memphis Aug. 11 and Washington Aug. 13. Seeding might not matter as much since no one will face hostile crowds such as in Milwaukee or Philadelphia. Or Boston.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/33b1LCy