The Boston Celtics had a dramatic attack on Friday night against the Washington Wizards, but were able to hold back to take their fourth consecutive victory.
Once again, it was the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way for the C’s. Tatum had 32 points in the night, and Brown had 27 points and 13 rebounds.
Celtics-Wizards highlights: C’s wait until victory, 116-107
Although Tatum and Brown were the stars, there was much more to take from Boston’s victory. Here’s what we’re exaggerating when the Celtics improves to 7-3.
1. Tacko Fall needs more minutes.
If only the Celtics were playing in front of a crowded TD Garden on Friday night.
Tackomania would have been wild, as the 2.13 meter phenomenon has advanced on a large scale for the shorthanded Cs. With Tristan Thompson, Robert Williams and Grant Williams all due to health and safety protocols, Fall had extended minutes. He made the most of it.
The fall ended with four points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes. One such block was a denial of former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook.
The great man showed that he has the potential to play significant minutes for the C’s when called. There is no doubt that he has earned the trust of coach Brad Stevens, so we will have to wait and see if we have more Tacko Time over the course of the season.
Verdict: overreaction
2. Semi Ojeleye is becoming a solid rotation player.
Ojeleye, like Fall, was called on to play big minutes with the Celtics shorthanded. He was a starter and, although he was not strong at the start of the game, he was a major contributor in the third quarter.
The 26-year-old finished with eight points and five rebounds in 27 minutes and scored +23 on the floor. He has been a pleasant surprise in recent games and has played with much more confidence and aggression than in previous years.
At this point, it is difficult to deny that Ojeleye is becoming a reliable rotation player for this C’s team. That says a lot after he was considered in the bubble of the squad towards the campaign.
Verdict: It’s not an overreaction
3. The Celtics have a problem in the second part.
Sure, the Celtics took the W, but what happened in the fourth period was an abomination. In the blink of an eye, a 28-point lead narrowed to four against one of the NBA’s worst defensive teams.
That neglect in the second half has been a problem for the Celtics since last season. The turns are also not helping (21 on Friday). All of this needs to be discovered for this team to be a real candidate in the East.
Verdict: It’s not an overreaction