5 takeaways from the Boston Celtics loss vs. the Dallas Mavericks
CBSSports.com
The Boston Celtics lost a heartbreaker last night. After an extremely slow start, they came out firing in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Luka Doncic had other plans for the C’s. He hit an insane buzzer-beater to win the game at the end of the game. There were definitely a bunch of positives, but the end result was obviously not ideal. What are some of the top takeaways from the contest?
Takeaways from the Boston Celtics loss vs. the Dallas Mavericks
1. The real Jayson Tatum has returned
Jayson Tatum put on a show last night. He looked great vs. the Mavericks and it was his first really solid game of the season. Tatum ended the night with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists while shooting 12-19 from the field and 6-8 from three-point range. After a small injury scare, he came out with a vengeance. He looked like the Tatum from last season who put up 60 points in a single game. With Jaylen Brown injured, Tatum was able to step up in a big way.
2. Marcus Smart was great until he wasn’t
For the large majority of last night’s game, Marcus Smart looked great. He was playing elite defense, wasn’t taking stupid shots, and playing his role to perfection. Unfortunately, a late-game error wiped away most of the good things he did. Smart decided to foul Luka Doncic with around 11 seconds left in the game, but it reset the shot clock. This meant that instead of the Celtics having the last shot, Dallas was able to take it. From there, the rest is history.
3. Josh Richardson’s revenge
After missing the previous game, Josh Richardson looked great last night against his former team. He finished with 13 points on 6-12 shooting. Richardson was everywhere and each time the C’s needed a bucket it just seemed like he was always there to take care of things. He played great minutes for the Celtics.
4. Should Dennis Schroder start regularly?
Dennis Schroder has been making a serious case to earn a starting spot lately. Last night continued that trend. He scored 20 points, grabbed four rebounds, and tallied six assists as a part of the starting lineup for the Celtics. With Brown sidelined, Schroder got the nod from Coach Ime Udoka, and he showed exactly why he deserved to. Schroder has been one of the few consistent bright spots for the Celtics this year. He might have to be a regular face in the starting lineup if he keeps playing this way.
5. Robert Williams is still elite
Robert Williams has been somewhat quiet so far this year. With how well Al Horford has been playing, Williams has taken a back seat to some degree. However, Williams put on a great display of energy and intensity last night. The big man ended the night 16 points, eight rebounds, and shot 7-8 from the field. The intensity he displayed on the boards was amazing, and at least a few of his rebounds were tap-outs that led to easy shots for the Celtics.
Boston’s next game isn’t for a few days. This is their longest break of the season so far. They take on the Toronto Raptors this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). The game can be streamed on NBC Sports Boston and NBA League Pass.
