After a 2-2 start in the bubble, the Celtics were looking to gain some momentum heading into the playoffs with a big win over the second-seeded Raptors. The Celtics did just that, blowing out Toronto 122-100 on Friday night. This was a momentous win for Boston, as it put the Raptors and the rest of the league on notice.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 20 points, but it was a collective effort for Boston, as eight different Celtics finished in double figures. The Celtics win almost guarantees them the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Praise Jaylen
Jaylen Brown has been red hot since the season resumed in the Orlando bubble. He had 20 points and six rebounds on 7/14 shooting Friday against the Raptors. He also was +28 for the game while playing excellent defense and shooting 50 percent from the field and from three.
This is becoming a normal thing for Brown, as he has posted scoring totals of 22, 30, 18, 21 and 20 in his five bubble games, so far. Brown has looked good both with the ball in his hands and off of the ball.
Last offseason, Brown focused on improving his left hand, his isolation game and his three-point shooting. This showed during the season, but it seems like he polished these tools even more during the NBA hiatus. Brown will look to keep the production going as he knows he is a major part to a deep Celtics playoff run.
Kemba Looks Good Despite Knee Concerns
Kemba Walker has been a concern for Celtics fans heading into the bubble. After a long layoff, many thought Walker’s knee would be 100 percent when the NBA returned. That was not the case, however, as Walker missed practices and is said to be on a minutes restriction. But the restriction is unclear, as he logged 27 minutes against the Heat but has been under 24 in all of the other contests. His lack of playing time hurt the Celtics, too, as Walker was unable to close key games which resulted in losses to the Bucks and Heat.
He played 23 minutes against the Raptors, but this came after sitting out the second night of a back-to-back. Despite limited court time, Walker looked good, pouring on 17 points and four assists. His health will be a concern going forward despite the restrictions and positive play.
Other Key Takeaways
Another key takeaway from this game was the fact that Enes Kanter received zero minutes. Robert Williams had a fantastic game against the Nets which led to him receiving the back-up center minutes. He had another productive night Friday, posting 10 points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
Williams is an excellent defender and lives above the rim while Kanter is good on the offensive glass and has a polished offensive game. Overall, Williams could make more of an impact for the Celtics down the stretch being a more athletic and better defensive option.
Semi Ojeleye had an interesting game, as well. After not playing the whole game, he came in and shot the ball confidently, going 4-6 while adding 11 points in the fourth quarter. It was garbage time, but Semi may have earned some minutes going forward. The Celtics victory is definitely one to build on going forward.
The Road Ahead
The Celtics are now 3-2 in the bubble and have just three “regular season” games remaining. The matchups include the Magic, Grizzlies and Wizards. All three should be victories, and a nice five-game winning streak heading into the playoffs would be great momentum. The games should offer rest for some Boston starters and banged up players. The Celtics will also be paying close attention to the Heat, Pacers and 76ers to see who they draw as a first-round matchup.
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