Despite resting their projected top seven rotation players on Thursday, the Celtics won their preseason opener in Cleveland behind 71 first-half points and 21 offensive rebounds, writes Brian Robb of MassLive.com.
Former lottery pick Devin Carter who’s currently signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, made a strong first impression with his new team. The 24-year-old guard had 15 points in the first half and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and was plus-22 in 25 minutes, though he did commit five turnovers.
Robb believes Carter is “in the driver’s seat” for Boston’s two-way opening after his strong performance, which included attacking the basket on drives and applying ball pressure on defense.
We have more from around the Atlantic Division:
- LeBron James’ elite passing and vision was on full display in his Sixers preseason debut, per Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports. The 41-year-old forward contributed 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in 18 minutes, and Neubeck thinks James could average 10 assists per game this season with so many talented scorers around him. Joel Embiid’s preseason debut was less encouraging, as he had seven turnovers in the first half alone (eight overall), but Neubeck notes that the oft-injured star big man has a history of slow starts.
- Which Raptor will benefit most from Kawhi Leonard’s presence on the team? Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca posed that question to 10 members of Toronto’s coaching staff and front office, and Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and I’m Kobe Walter finished in a three-way tie with three votes apiece. “How to get to where he’s at – that’s the biggest thing I’m really focused on,” Murray-Boyles told TSN. “Obviously, how to win also. He’s a winner. He’s a proven winner. So, literally just what it takes to get to his position. Obviously, I see the amount of work that he puts in. He’s working out like he’s just getting into the league, and he’s 35. He’s already proven everything. He has nothing else to prove. So, just trying to pick his brain on his mentality, what keeps him going still, and trying to be as much of a sponge as possible to all the knowledge that he has.”
- The fourth Raptors player to receive a vote in the poll was RJ Barrett whose future with the team appears murky after Leonard’s acquisition, Lewenberg writes. Barrett is extension-eligible, but Lewenberg hears from sources that the there’s been “little traction” in those contract talks. Lewenberg clarifies that the two sides do have mutual interest, but Barrett is in the final year of his contract and extending him after giving Leonard a new deal could make the 2027/28 roster prohibitively expensive. Still, Barrett showed last season that he’s capable of playing a complementary or a leading role on offense, which will be important with Leonard, who has played fewer than 65 games in seven of the last nine seasons. The coach who voted for Barrett noted that he’s still improving and could take additional strides if he develops a post game like Leonard’s.