What Celtics Proved Through Their First 20 Games

The Celtics reached the 20-game mark with a background as fitting as any for their 11-9 start to the season. They faced a Cavs team missing Jarrett Allen, utilized nearly their entire roster and, in a more recent development, won without starting center revelation Neemias Queta and Derrick White in Boston’s first night down two starters.

It also came in crunch time after the Cavs rallied and reached within two points with less than one second left, 117-115, making it less representative of how Boston has won 11-of-17 since an 0-3 start. The Celtics fell to 4-7 in the clutch the previous night in Minnesota. In Cleveland, they lost the shot margin from the field and the three-point line, turned the ball over more than the Cavs, allowed 16 offensive rebounds and 20 made threes. Yet for the first time this season, the Celtics won the free throw attempt battle — and did so in overwhelming fashion, 29-13.

Jaylen Brown finished 12-for-16 at the line after sounding off about how he’s officiated the previous day. That tied his career high.

The first 20 games left three lessons. Boston will compete, rarely win two games the same way and doesn’t stink like some of the more pessimistic projections for their season held. Three quarters of the year remain, and long-term injuries or other developments could still alter their outcome, but the Celtics stabilized following their slow start with the 11th-best net rating (+4.2) behind a fourth-ranked offense and 18th-ranked defense. They fought in every game save for a loss at the Knicks where they faded early and an uncompetitive fifth game in seven days against the Rockets.

Boston saw mostly Eastern Conference teams in the first quarter of the season, and numerous opponents without their best player, whether New Orleans without Zion Williamson, the Grizzlies down Ja Morant or the previous Cavs game where Donovan Mitchell never looked right while playing through hamstring pain. Then, they stunned the Pistons on their 13-game win streak to score a signature win last week following their worst loss against the rebuilding Nets. On the latter night, Brown challenged teammates and Joe Mazzulla stressed that the Celtics could lose on any night that they don’t display maximum intensity and focus.

“At our best, we have to play at such a different level,” Mazzulla said earlier this month. “Physically, mentally, we have to play at a different level to be at our best. And if you don’t play at that level … we could lose any night, to anybody.”

Brown met practically all expectations to start the year, including staying available through all 20 games. He averaged 28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 49% shooting while instilling his imprint by making the Celtics one of the top teams in mid-range shot attempts. His offensive consistency also helped the team overcome slow White and Payton Pritchard scoring starts. On Saturday, with Pritchard rolling towards 42 points in his breakout performance that fell just short of a career-best, Brown stepped aside and let Pritchard ice the game by attacking and shooting over Darius Garland.

The win also featured the unexpected lineups followed by rotation twist-and-turns that Mazzulla touted as the team’s identity. Xavier Tillman Sr. returned from nine DNP-CDs over his previous 10 games to start at center, score nine points over 29 minutes and record three steals that nearly all turned into scoring plays if his baseline jumper after swiping the in-bounds counted before halftime. Jordan Walsh posted a double-double in his eighth straight start after beginning the year playing sparingly when he did. He stole a rebound back from De’Andre Hunter early in the fourth that drew two free throws and praise from Mazzulla as the play of the game.

“I thought you saw the best version of what he is on both sides of the floor,” he said. “He can be that every night and he’s learning that, but that’s the Jordan that we need if we want to get to a different level this year … I thought the play for him that was different, it wasn’t a jump ball, he just took it from (Hunter) and got to the free throw line.”

Hugo González recorded a steal and hit a three upon his first entry in the fourth quarter. Two-way big Amari Williams made the decisive stop at the buzzer on Evan Mobley. All those little plays made a world of difference in a game decided by two points.

Elsewhere on the roster Anfernee Simons received more offensive creation duties playing in lineups without Brown, White and Pritchard. He scored an efficient 18 points. His role and future in Boston remain works in progress ahead of the deadline. Baylor Scheierman continued to grow his positives from small playing time pockets into signs he can play a substantive role. Sam Hauser returned to the starting lineup and played well.

Josh Minott looked like a game-changing starter earlier this season and Luka Garza mostly filled the team’s backup center minutes to begin the year. Only Chris Boucher fell out of the mix entirely until Queta’s injury last Sunday, which opened up 14 minutes for the veteran.

There’s plenty we don’t know. Crunch time, a crapshoot according to Mazzulla that he also admitted can swing a season, challenged Boston even in close games where they held on. The Celtics beat the Clippers and Pistons on the final possessions while botching their execution of an intentional foul. A dropped Brown rebound cost Boston at Philadelphia earlier this month. Cleaning the Glass considers the Celtics’ record as 1.1 wins below what their efficiency would’ve projected.

This looks like a different Celtics team than recent ones. And not just for the roster. They’re fouling more, forcing turnovers and rarely rebounding in their defensive end. Rotation changes happen constantly. And yet, when coaches came to Boston to start the year, they still paid respect to what the Celtics were, and still are to some degree.

“I think they’ve done a great job of giving guys opportunities,” JB Bickerstaff said before Celtics-Pistons. “Unfortunately, obviously, with the injuries and things, but guys are prepared to play when their number’s called. They are younger, guys who are hungry, guys who are scrappy, guys who get out and run. They defend you at a high clip. It’s a different look, obviously, than the established guys that we’ve been used to, but the young guys, I think, have been really well prepared. I think Joe does a good job with the total team and not just focusing on the heavy minutes guys.”