It was impossible to see it coming. On Wednesday, Carsen Edwards scored just three points in eight minutes. He didn’t even get off the bench against the Lakers on Sunday at TD Garden or Tuesday at Golden State.
But with Jaylen Brown out with knee pains, Brad Stevens gave Edwards a few initial minutes and Purdue’s second-year guard didn’t miss his chance.
Edwards’ 30 minutes were a career record and his 16 points were just two of his best. But given what the Celtics lacked and who they were playing, this looks easily the best game of their professional career. He was 5-to-8 off the ground (three to five in the 3-point range).
“Last year it was difficult to get minutes on that team. We were so sunk in the wing and so interchangeable with that group, ”said Brad Stevens. “He just kept it. He had some really good minutes and his opportunities came a few weeks ago. Even when he is not playing, he does not go down. He’s just getting ready. We didn’t win the game without it. He changed the look of the game. This is very encouraging. “
Kemba Walker, whose 24 points helped the Celtics seal the victory, pointed to Edwards.
“Carsen was incredible. It was he who brought us back to the game, ”said Walker.
Edwards, who was a top scorer for Purdue, said he is trying to be more complete in his game.
“I’m trying to learn to get into the rhythm in other ways, but when you see the ball go in, it definitely helps a lot,” he said. “I’m just trying to be consistent. I just want to try to build from that. “
While the Celtics clearly needed the attack to come from somewhere with Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart out, Edwards said he did not plan to score any more points.
“I was just trying to take pictures that were open for me. It wasn’t a total change in my mindset or anything, ”he said. “It was just, if I was open, I would shoot, if I didn’t try to make a good move or a good pass or something.”
Stevens thought Payton Pritchard was hesitant in his first game back – Payton Pritchard played 19 minutes in his first game back after being away for two weeks with a Grade 1 MCL sprain. He had eight points in shot 3 of 4 (2 in 3 of the 3-point range).
He checked in for Daniel Theis with 8:23 left in the first quarter. He avoided a defender and dropped two longs with 6:01 remaining for his first basket.
Stevens thought his newbie guard looked a little hesitant at first.
“To be honest, I thought he looked a little hesitant,” said Stevens. “I had to tell him to kick, so the next time he touched the ball, he raised one right in front of me. And he did it. I thought he was hesitant in the first half and good in the second. “
Jayson Tatum enjoyed the challenge of playing Kawhi Leonard – Tatum’s 34-point shot had an added significance because he was faced with Kawhi Leonard, who is one of the league’s best defensive players.
“I like these fights, obviously,” said Tatum. “He is one of the best players. He accomplished a lot. “
Tatum has 30 or more points in three straight games against the Clippers.
Tatum is open to the All-Star game – With stars around the league and in his own locker room, complaining that the NBA is organizing an All-Star game during a pandemic this season, Tatum, a likely participant in the March 7 showcase in Atlanta, was more open to the idea.
“I don’t know. You would like to think that they would make you as safe as possible. For the most part, they did a great job,” he said. “But I understand the concerns about that. Especially in Atlanta.”
Leonard was more direct.
“It is what it is at the moment. We all know why we are playing. It’s money at stake. It is an opportunity to earn more money. But now it is putting money above health, ”said Leonard. “We are playing now and there is still a pandemic. We’re doing all these protocols and rules, so it doesn’t really surprise me. “
Stevens experiences oversized entries – Without Brown and Smart, Brad Stevens chose to use a big lineup when Grant Williams joined Tristan Thompson and Theis on the attacking court.
The group had difficulties, especially in the attack, where the spacing and movement of the ball seemed out of sync.
“Keeping the traditional, it took us a long time to reach the snipers, so we played little in the rest of the game,” said Stevens. “
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