Forget what you thought you knew about the Celtics’ starting five, because their bench proved they can hang with the best of ’em. We’re talking about a lineup of G-Leaguers and reserves absolutely trouncing four of the vaunted five Sixers starters this preseason. And get this, earlier, depth wings and training camp invite Devin Carter led the team to a win over the Cavs’ starters. That’s not a fluke, folks, that’s a statement about serious depth. Boston looks ready to win games no matter who steps on the court, and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Depth That Runs Deep: The Mazzulla Method
When the Celtics rolled out their reserves against the 76ers in the preseason, Jayson Tatum was still out there at TD Garden, but he was surrounded by Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta. That’s a group that could easily look like starters on some teams. Plus, with the regular rotation guys chilling during the preseason opener in Cleveland, third-string center Luka Garza, those depth wings, and Devin Carter flat out beat the Cavs’ starters. Brad Stevens hit the nail on the head when he kicked off training camp, saying he was “really interested to see how the depth not only is utilized [but] as an advantage.” He knows there’ll be some sacrificing required, but that opportunities will be “plentiful” down the road.
Coach Joe Mazzulla has bought into that mantra big time. He let assistants D.J. MacLeay and Tony Dobbins handle the Cleveland game, spending his own night in the film rooms. When starter Mike Conley went to the locker room after exiting, Mazzulla was right there to greet him with three clips. Jordan Walsh got another start against Philadelphia, and Sam Cassell even took over the sidelines for the preseason finale. And get this: three centers who’ve all proven they can start have bought into a by-committee approach. Talk about teamwork. This squad is built to adapt, and that’s a problem for anyone trying to game plan against them.
Health Is the New Wealth For Boston’s Stars
This season, the Celtics are dealing with more health concerns than last year, but the early signs are looking seriously good for their big names. Jayson Tatum is finally kicking off his first full season since his Achilles tear. Then you’ve got Paul George, who’s averaged a mere 48.8 games played per year over his last six seasons. And Mitchell Robinson? He only averaged 20.7 minutes a night across 36 appearances in each of his last three seasons. Those are some serious injury histories, right?
But here’s the kicker: All three players began camp feeling good. Tatum and Robinson even told 98.5 The Sports Hub that they’re available for back-to-backs, which wasn’t the case in 2026. George admitted his offense has been a “struggle, offensively for me, just getting rhythm, getting my legs under me, getting conditioning down” on Monday. But the man also said, “the beauty in it is I’m healthy.” He knows he can iron that stuff out as the season goes on. And teammates are seeing a totally rejuvenated Tatum out there. If these guys can stay on the court, with that kind of depth backing them up, what’s stopping them?
The regular season is about to get real, and with this kind of proven depth and the star power finally feeling healthy, the Celtics are set to make some noise. Are they about to unleash a new level of dominance, or will the health concerns still loom large as the season wears on? It’s going to be wild to watch.
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.
Leave a Reply