The new NBA season is open! The Boston Celtics won their opening game against the Philadelphia 76ers with 105:87. With Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Theis, three players made their comeback – but the best man was a two-year professional.
The two Atlantic Division rivals opened the 73rd NBA season as expected: In the Celtics, Brad Stevens first brought Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford onto the scene, while the Sixers opened with Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid.
In the first minutes of the game the tension was noticeable – on both sides only the defense was acceptable at first, offensively the teams acted wildly and overhasted. Tatum, however, did not, the youngest Celtic was quick to reach operating temperature and scored 9 of his team’s first 11 points. Tatum brought a 15:3-Run for his team on the way, at the end of the run it was still 21:21, because Boston lost the thread over the last minutes again and conceded a 0:7-Run.
In the second quarter Hayward attracted attention for the first time with two jumpers, Marcus Smart netted from outside and gave Boston a 7:0 run. It did not remain however again with this high flight, because above all Simmons became stronger now and could not be stopped in transition. After a late Tatum jumper, Boston nevertheless went into the half-time break with 47:42.
Both teams then opened the second half as announced with a new line-up and again Boston got the better start, after a Baynes threesome the Celtics took the lead with 11. With Marcus Morris scoring 8 points in this run alone, Boston held that lead until the final quarter (77:66) – and there it quickly grew to 15, then 17 points. Again Philly reared up, but could only shorten to 9 points – then Tatum made the decision by bank shot over Embiid and Rozier by three, at just three minutes before the end and +14.
Topscorer Bostons was at the end Tatum with 23 points (9/17 FG) and 9 rebounds, Morris came on 16 and 10, Brown (12) and Rozier (11) scored double digits. Hayward made a comeback with 10 points (4/12 FG), Irving came 7 (2/14), but distributed 7 assists. Daniel Theis was substituted for the first time in the third quarter, but played only 4:08 minutes (1 rebound).
In the Sixers, Embiid (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Simmons (19 and 14, plus 8 assists) came on double doubles. Redick scored 16 points coming from the bench. Fultz scored 5 points (2/7 FG).
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers 105:87 (BOXSCORE)
It may be that Tatum in a now fit Celtics team gets a little less possibilities – but if he uses them so effectively, it won’t harm his numbers. Even more than in the playoffs, Tatum always radiated the self-confidence to be able to earn a throw, his handling has become even better over the summer (possibly also by working with Kobe Bryant). Impressively sovereign and strong performance of the 20-year-old.
It wasn’t the Swingman’s game that was supposed to spawn Philly’s Starting Five (together with Saric). He scored two of his seven threes, but was often almost scared, although Boston gave him plenty of room. Defensive, after all, with a good performance. The partly hair-raising embiid ball losses are also mentioned here.
Both coaches are not finished with their final rotation for the coming season yet, Philly also because with Wilson Chandler an important newcomer is still missing. But Boston is still working: Hayward currently has a minute limit, which is why Brad Stevens lets him start, but opens the second half with Baynes – Hayward should get the opportunity to play Crunchtime without exceeding his limit. And against Philly the Move has the added value that Baynes is by far the best physical matchup against Embiid and can defend the Camerooner quite effectively alone.