Celtics Have a Fascinating New Problem After Explosive Preseason Performance originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics have played only two preseason games, but their new-look roster has already provided plenty of entertainment.
Saturday's 144-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers was particularly impressive. Boston overwhelmed Philadelphia offensively, controlled the rebounding battle and received productive performances from several players expected to have major roles this season. Jayson Tatum scored 23 points, Payton Pritchard contributed 25 points and seven assists, and newly acquired Paul George added 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals in his Celtics debut.
Those numbers provide an encouraging early snapshot. They also raise an interesting question for head coach Joe Mazzulla.
How does Boston maximize so many offensive options while keeping everyone involved?
Celtics Suddenly Have Several Players Demanding Attention
Tatum remains the centerpiece of Boston's offense. His ability to score, create opportunities for teammates and command defensive attention makes him the natural starting point for nearly everything the Celtics want to accomplish.
George adds another experienced scorer capable of creating his own shot. His arrival gives Boston a different look following the offseason trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. Pritchard, meanwhile, has developed into considerably more than a supporting player. He averaged 17 points and 5.2 assists last season and recently agreed to a two-year contract extension worth approximately $44.2 million.
That commitment reinforces how important the Celtics believe he will be moving forward.
Derrick White remains another significant contributor, while Sam Hauser provides perimeter shooting and Mitchell Robinson offers a different presence around the basket. The challenge isn't finding enough talented players. It's establishing combinations that allow everyone to contribute without disrupting the offense's rhythm.
MORE: NBA Experts Are Saying Same Thing About Payton Pritchard's Contract Extension
Wednesday Offers Another Opportunity to Experiment
Boston returns to TD Garden on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. ET preseason matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
The game provides Mazzulla with another opportunity to evaluate different lineup combinations before the regular season begins. The Celtics also visit Philadelphia on Friday in their final preseason contest. Saturday's victory offered several encouraging signs beyond the final score. Boston outrebounded Philadelphia 70-41 and created additional possessions through its activity around the basket.
George's five steals demonstrated another potential benefit of his arrival. His defensive versatility could allow Mazzulla to experiment with different perimeter assignments while maintaining considerable offensive firepower. Still, preseason performances come with obvious limitations. Opponents frequently rest established players, rotations change throughout games and coaches prioritize experimentation over results.
Boston won't truly know how its new pieces fit together until the regular season begins. The Celtics open that campaign against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 20.
Before then, Mazzulla has an interesting assignment. He must determine how to distribute opportunities among a collection of established players while continuing to develop younger contributors. For a team that just scored 144 points in a preseason game, that qualifies as a pretty good problem to have.