Devin Carter got hit with mononucleosis, and the news just dropped that he could be out for several weeks, leaving the Celtics’ newest two-way signee sidelined right as the regular season tips off. It’s a tough break, especially since he just inked that final two-way deal with Boston after starting the year on an Exhibit 10 contract.
Boston’s Rolling, But Who’s Stepping Up?
Aside from Carter, the Celtics are looking nearly at full strength for their first game of the year. That’s a huge win for them heading into the regular season. They absolutely stomped their way through the preseason, racking up a perfect 4-0 record. We’re talking two wins against the Philadelphia 76ers, plus victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Hornets. That’s a statement, right? The starting five they rolled out in those two full-strength preseason games, Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson, looked sharp. But will that be the *actual* starting lineup they go with when the real games begin on Tuesday? We gotta wait and see.
The Pistons Are A Whole Different Animal This Time Around
Don’t forget, these Pistons aren’t some pushover team from last year. They were the Eastern Conference’s top seed, finishing with an incredible 60-22 record. And get this: they actually handed the Celtics a 1-3 record in their regular season series last year. Yeah, Boston was second-best at 56-26, but Detroit had their number in those matchups. Sure, Detroit’s season ended in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but this isn’t that exact same roster anyway. They lost some key rotation pieces, with Tobias Harris heading to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency and Isaiah Stewart traded away to the Memphis Grizzlies. But they didn’t just stand still; they brought in John Collins via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers and Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma City Thunder. These are big moves that are changing the entire look of their squad. This new-look Pistons team wasn’t messing around in their own preseason either, posting a solid 3-1 record. Expect to see Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, and Jalen Duren kicking things off for them on Tuesday.
It’s all going down Tuesday at 3pm ET. The Celtics are squaring off against the reigning No. 1 seed right out of the gate. Talk about a test for opening night!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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