What Celtics Showed VS. Raptors That Must Carry Into Upcoming Gauntlet

The Boston Celtics closed out 2024 by doling out the largest loss in Toronto Raptors history. A dominant two-way display against a now 7-26 opponent working without RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley translated to a 54-point victory.

Jayson Tatum generated 23 points and eight rebounds in three quarters. Payton Pritchard stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals off the bench. Derrick White scored 16 and became the 19th guard in NBA history to reach 400 blocks, per StatMuse. White swatted a game-high four shots, giving him 403 for his career.

But what mattered most wasn’t the lopsided nature of Boston’s New Year’s Eve win, notching the second-largest spread in franchise history. Ending 2024 on the same parquet they lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy six months earlier, the hosts adhered to an outstanding offensive process featuring exceptional ball movement despite it taking time to reap the rewards. They didn’t stray from a disruptive defensive approach, either.

“Yeah, I think that’s the key,” Joe Mazzulla told Forbes. “And you could say, ‘What came first, the defensive execution or the shot-making?’ And I think that that’s where the game’s connected. That’s what we’re always talking about. I think the competitiveness, and the shift activity, and our ability to just kind of fly around a little bit is kind of what kept us in it. And I think that’s what you’re fighting for, that mental toughness to be able to do that regardless of the result at the other end. That’s what you got to get to.

“But there was a clear attention to detail, to the tendencies, and the focus, and the things that we need to fix right now. There was great attention to detail. You take a look at 21 turnovers and something like 20-something deflections [and] 14 steals. So, that stuff’s important, and [it’s] stuff that we got to continue to get better at.”

The Celtics finished with 29 assists on 47 field goals [61.7 percent]. Seven players scored in double figures. And they converted on 22/43 [51.2 percent] of their three-point attempts.

At the other end of the floor, the Raptors shot 31.4 percent from the field, including faring 10/40 [25 percent] from beyond the arc. Toronto also saw 21 turnovers translate to 20 points for the opposition, making it that much harder to keep up.

The hosts’ stellar two-way performance resulted in producing more points in the second half [80] than the Raptors scored in total [71].

Boston’s tune-up tilt came at an ideal time, right before it rings in the new year with a road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets. From Jan. 20 to Feb. 8, its schedule includes the Dallas Mavericks twice, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, the Golden State Warriors, the 76ers, the Cavaliers, and the Knicks.

“I’m actually really excited about it,” said Mazzulla after Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be great.”

As the Celtics work to curb the bad habits that fueled their December dip and build the ones crucial to their title hopes, it matters that this gauntlet brings out the best in them. With a group that has experienced as much success as they have in the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era, it should be the expectation.

So, while Boston stuck with a sound process at both ends of the floor against Toronto, regardless of the results, now, the reigning champions must do so against stiffer competition, especially when those opponents have them on their heels. How they handle and build off those moments will be more telling than Sunday’s defeat against the Pacers or routing the Raptors on New Year’s Eve.

“I think just being consistent [and] trusting the work that you put in,” White voiced after Tuesday’s win. “When we’re making the right read and getting the right looks, in the long run, that’s going to be beneficial for us.”

After putting those words into practice on Tuesday, it’s time for the Celtics to do so against multiple potential playoff opponents, including teams it may see in the NBA Finals if it returns for a chance to repeat.