They’re starting to debunk that theory.

While their first two victories of the season required some grit and toughness, the Celtics and their stacked talent have begun to exert their will on opponents, showing how scary good they can be. For a second consecutive game, they took care of an inferior team with extreme ease. Sparked by another hot start, the Celtics dominated the Pacers – who were without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton – with a 155-104 victory at TD Garden that was never in doubt from the opening tip.

The 155 points mark the second-most the Celtics have scored ever in a regular-season game, only behind the 173 they scored in a win over the Minneapolis Lakers on Feb. 27, 1959

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points with 12 rebounds, Derrick White had 18 points and Sam Hauser scored 17 points on five 3-pointers off the bench in the rout. Like Monday in Washington, D.C., the Celtics rested their starters for the entire fourth quarter. Each of the players in that group played 27 minutes or fewer, which could have long-term benefits for the Celtics with how much they will rely on that group throughout the season.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has been emphasizing a renewed mindset of toughness and focus for his players, and it’s already paying off. They needed it in crunch time of their close opening victories over the Knicks and Heat. And once vulnerable to horrible losses to inferior teams, the Celtics have not overlooked their opponents this week.

On Wednesday, they took it to a different level.

The Celtics, too often last season, were guilty of letting go of the rope against inferior teams to them. Even when they built big leads, they lost focus and lost them. So far this season, they’ve made sure that’s not a problem.

The Celtics led by 21 at halftime after another blistering hot offensive first half and kept their foot on the gas pedal. They opened the second half on a 12-1 run to open their lead to 32. There was never a threat of a comeback as they led by as many as 53 late in the fourth quarter.

Like they did against the Wizards on Monday, the Celtics lit up the Pacers in the first quarter with another torrid shooting display. They trailed 6-4 in the opening minutes before reeling off a 14-0 run behind stops and 3-pointers from White, Jrue Holiday and Tatum. That forced a Pacers timeout but the Celtics continued to find mismatches and extra spacing inside as Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown flew in for easy dunks.

The Celtics carried that momentum. They were almost unstoppable offensively. The Pacers entered the night allowing the fewest 3-pointers per game, but they hadn’t played an offense as potent as the Celtics, who hit eight treys in the first quarter. They shot 76.2 percent in the first quarter as they opened a 17-point lead over the helpless Pacers.

Tatum had no problem picking apart the Pacers’ defense, whether it was in the post, from the 3-point line or through driving lanes. He hunted mismatches on Pacers guard T.J. McConnell to score with ease on several possessions. He scored 12 points in the second quarter, including a step-back 3-pointer to give the Celtics a 23-point lead late in the first half.

The Celtics scored 75 points in the first half Wednesday, two shy of their first half total on Monday in Washington. It’s believed to be the first time in franchise history that the Celtics put up at least 75 first-half points in back-to-back games.

The Pacers knew it was time, too.

Before he signed with the Celtics on a two-year deal early in free agency, Brissett had a conversation with Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan about the future. They both agreed Indiana was not the right place for the 25-year-old forward.

“It was more of like a mutual respect, talking to Chad,” Brissett said Wednesday before facing his former team for the first time. “He understood where I’m at right now in my career and what I need to kind of move forward. We talked on the phone a couple times and he felt like, and myself felt like it was time for a change and I felt like I needed to be here with a team that’s really going in that championship direction. Not to say they aren’t, obviously they’re looking for that, but right now they’re building up and they drafted a couple young guys, so that’s what they’re working to do.

“So, it was nothing but love with the Pacers, and like I said, I’ll always respect them and I’ll always thank them for me being here.”

While the Celtics boast a top-heavy roster, Brissett is expected to be a significant contributor off the bench. He already flashed his impact in last Friday’s home opener, when Jayson Tatum credited him with changing the game with his offensive rebounding in the first quarter.

It’s something the Pacers saw with regularity.

“He’s in the top two or three percentile in the league as an offensive rebounder,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s a great runner. His shooting got better and better and athletically, he’s terrific. He’s tough, he takes charges, and he’s one of the greatest teammates you’re ever gonna have. Being one of eight or nine in this rotation tells you something about what kind of player he is, because cracking this rotation ain’t easy.”

Nesmith motivated by tweet

When Aaron Nesmith, the Celtics’ No. 14 pick in the 2020 draft, was traded to the Pacers last summer in the Malcolm Brogdon deal, a tweet from Bleacher Report struck a chord. The tweet included the caption, “What the Celtics gave up for Brogdon,” accompanied by a photo of a paper clip and string, insinuating they gave up nothing.

Nesmith saved the tweet. And after he went off for 26 points in a win over the Cavaliers last weekend, he posted the tweet to his Instagram story and added his own commentary: “(Expletive) aged well ain’t it.”

“I’m someone who I do take things personally and that helps make me better,” Nesmith said. “It’s what drives me to go to the gym at night, so the tweet was always on my mind for sure.”

Nesmith said he continues to look at that tweet occasionally for motivation. It seems to be working. Once struggling to find playing time on a loaded Celtics team, Nesmith has found a perfect fit in Indiana, where he inked a three-year, $33 million extension before this season began.

“It’s a blessing, the opportunity I have here, the guys here, the staff here, the front office,” Nesmith said. “I wanted to be here for a long time, so I’m happy we were able to make that happen.”

Carlisle raved about Nesmith, who overcame a difficult situation in Boston and has grown in several areas in the last year in Indiana.

“There just wasn’t a lot of time for him to play and so that was challenging,” Carlisle said. “So when he would get in for short stints, it’s tough. I was one of those players that frequently was in that situation. It’s one of the most challenging things. But he’s clearly a guy who has taken advantage of an amazing opportunity with us. He really fits our organization, what we stand for, what we’re building, who we are going to be. Couldn’t be happier to have him on board.”

Walsh heads to Maine

Jordan Walsh, the Celtics’ No. 38 pick in June’s draft, was assigned to the Maine Celtics. It’s not a surprising move, given he’s unlikely to play much in Boston this season. Maine’s G-League schedule begins next week.

“Jordan’s got a chance at the 3-and-D slot of what the NBA is,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla. “And he plays really, really hard. I thought he had a really good training camp with just the developmental team and the things that he’s learning. And you just need reps. Like, it’s exactly what we talked about with these other guys.

“You’ve gotta have reps and you have to develop a defensive identity first and then you have to know ways to affect offense. And then once you do those two things you can kind of grow into other roles. But the most important thing is he competes defensively and he figures out how to create 2-on-1s on offense with or without the ball.” …

Neemias Queta was out for a second consecutive game for the Celtics as he continues to nurse a lingering foot injury. Mazzulla said they’re just being cautious and they’ll see how it responds over the next week. … Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was out of Wednesday’s game due to an ankle sprain.

Both in the regular season and playoffs, they routinely lost games they shouldn’t. They made a habit of playing down to inferior opponents.

Monday night in Washington, D.C., would have been a prime example. After two exciting, high-profile victories against the Knicks and Heat to start the season, last season’s Celtics may have suffered a letdown against the rebuilding Wizards.

Not so much this time.

In what may be a sign of the Celtics’ improved maturity, they handled business easily. Jaylen Brown scored 36 points and Jayson Tatum had 33 – both in just three quarters – as the C’s blitzed the Wizards from the opening tip and never looked back in a dominant 126-107 victory.

The Celtics were on fire from the jump. They led 37-11 at one stage in the first quarter, scored 77 points in the first half and led by as many as 37 points late in the third quarter as they had absolutely no problem against the Wizards’ porous defense. Leading by 33 entering the fourth, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters.

Mazzulla acknowledged that those letdowns from last season were something they addressed, but cautioned that it was still one game.

“Just because it’s a sign of growth now doesn’t mean it may not happen at some point,” Mazzulla told reporters in Washington. “We’re definitely aware of that and something we think we can control is the way we come out and start games. We just have too many good players and we have a chance, so I think we’re really trying to make sure we come out with the right mindset every single game. …

“It doesn’t mean it’s going to go our way, but I really liked our approach to the game throughout the majority of it.”

The C’s are now 3-0, marking the first time they’ve had such a start in back-to-back seasons since 1976 and 1977.

“It’s important that we get off to a good start to the season,” Brown told reporters. “Mindset, mentality is something that we’ve all been preaching, Joe has made sure that he’s emphasizing that. As a leader on the team, I’ve been making sure we’ve been emphasizing that. We gotta run through the finish line. It’s nights like tonight where it’s easy to take your foot off the gas, but if you want to do what you say you want to do, you gotta come out and play the game the right way.”

Some takeaways from the Celtics’ victory:

– Brown was criticized for a less-than-stellar season-opening performance, when he scored just 11 points and didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter. But Mazzulla praised him for having the right mindset, staying engaged and making some winning plays. The Celtics knew that with how loaded their roster is, that big nights will inevitably come for each of their stars.

Brown responded with a 27-point night against the Heat. On Monday, it was clear that Brown had the hot hand again. The Celtics rightfully fed him. Brown scored 27 points in the first half, including tying a Celtics record with seven 3-pointers. At one point, he had 25 points in just 17 minutes played. While Brown forced shots and made several bad decision in the season opener, he’s righted the ship over the last two games with smart and confident performances.

“(He’s) patient, getting to his spot, good shot selection,” Mazzulla said of Brown. “Not even the last two games, but what I’ve seen from him since the preseason is a dedication to defense regardless of how his offense is going, and so that to me is huge for us when a guy like him can play defensively regardless of how it’s going and then he’s really picking and choosing his spots well. He’s gotta continue to stay in that mind frame.”

– One sequence in the first quarter may have summed up the night.

The Celtics were already leading comfortably when Wizards guard Jordan Poole had the ball in transition. With Kristaps Porzingis in his path, Poole turned his back and then put up a wildly casual turnaround 3-pointer. But Porzingis was all over him, blocked the shot and then ran the floor, where he put in another easy basket.

Porzingis, who played the last two seasons in Washington before his trade to Boston this summer, returned and feasted on an easy matchup against the small Wizards, who started Kyle Kuzma at center. The Celtics big man scored 10 points in the first quarter as part of the team’s dominant offensive start that saw them make 10 of their first 12 shots and shoot 64 percent in the opening period.

– The Celtics’ starters, unsurprisingly, have taken up the bulk of the scoring production. For a second consecutive game, they combined to score 100-plus points on Monday. But they haven’t got much from their bench so far. The bench scored just eight points against the Heat, and even with the benefit of the starters being pulled for the fourth quarter, only combined for 26 on Monday. Payton Pritchard went 0-for-8, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range, and the bench scored just 18 points in the fourth as the Wizards cut their deficit to 16 late.

Most nights, it won’t matter, because the Celtics’ top six is so talented. But there will be times when a bench player needs to step up, and the C’s would benefit from having another trusted depth scoring option. It’s certainly still early, but it’s something to watch for as the season progresses.

– Despite their dominance on Monday, ball security remained an issue for the Celtics as they committed 18 turnovers. It’s an early, concerning theme after they committed 13 and 15 turnovers against the Knicks and Heat, respectively.

But those plans changed.

The Celtics found themselves down 13 to the Heat with five minutes left in the first quarter. They looked flat and slow. Mazzulla assigned Brissett to change that, and he accepted. Two minutes later, his impact was felt. As the C’s were storming back, Jaylen Brown missed the free throw on a three-point play, but Brissett got the offensive board. Moments later, on the same possession, Al Horford missed a 3-pointer, but Brissett flew in again for an offensive rebound, and the ball ultimately found Sam Hauser for a 3-pointer.

Just like that, the Celtics had finished a five-point trip to cut their deficit to only three. Brissett’s effort was a game-changer.

“He was the sole reason that we got back into the game, and I told him that,” Jayson Tatum said. “He came right in, and we were kind of flat, his energy, his offensive rebounding, giving us second and third chance opportunities was big. And that’s his job. For him to come do that, to not play last game and come in and give us the spark to turn the game around was huge. And that’s what I love about our team.”

It was a strong first impression from Brissett, who endeared himself to his new home crowd with his hustle. His box score doesn’t stand out – two points, five rebounds (three offensive) in 14 minutes – but his stint mattered.

“That’s me. That’s who I am as a player,” Brissett said. “Every night I’m going to try to do that no matter who we’re playing, no matter what night it is. But we’ve got real stars on this team. So me coming in, just being myself, not trying to do too much, not trying to prove that I can do anything else even though they all know I can. But it’s OK. So I should just be myself, go out there and just try to do all the little things to win us games.”

Brissett’s spark seemed to be contagious. Mazzulla has been preaching a need this season for the Celtics to crash the offensive glass and create extra possessions. They only got seven in the first game. But on Friday, they brought the energy consistently. With Brissett setting the tone early, the C’s finished with 16 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second-chance points, the latter a number they topped just twice last season.

“I still think that’s the area we can get better,” Mazzulla said. “We still gave up some timely ones, right? But, we got timely ones. and so we’re never gonna play perfect, but I thought Oshae’s timely offensive rebounds in the first half were tremendous. I thought, Jaylen, Jrue (Holiday) came back and got one. Jayson got one, like we got some timely physical rebounds. So it’s important that we fight to do that, as many possessions as we can.”

While the Celtics boast a clear top six that is probably the best in the league, there are going to be plenty of nights when they need some bench players to step up and fill a role. The first example came Friday with Brissett. His playing time – as well as the rest of Boston’s depth pieces – may fluctuate throughout the season, but they’re embracing their position.

Having those players like Brissett who understand and thrive in their role as complementary pieces to the stars is vital for a team with championship aspirations. That’s especially so for a Celtics team that underwent some turnover on their bench this offseason and is still in the process of carving out their rotation and identifying the depth players they can trust for the long run.

“We know that we’re going to be important throughout a lot of these games of the season,” Brissett said. “And then when it comes to playoff time, we’re going to be relied on, even if it’s for a little bit. Just go in there and just do what we do and do what we’ve learned all of training camp. …

“I feel like for anybody it’s tough. Like we all want to hoop, we all think we should be out there. But this is a winning team. You gotta put all that stuff aside, man, and really think about the big picture. So if I’m on the bench, I’m gonna cheer the guys on. If I’m on the court, I’m gonna do what I do. …

“But every night, I go in there expecting to play, wanting to play and approaching it like I’m going to play because you can get thrown in anytime. You don’t want to mess up. It’s quick, you might be out. So, just having that mindset in the right positive way, I feel that would help anybody in my position.”

There was just one problem. His name was Derrick White.

While Butler thought he had an easy bucket, the Celtics guard failed to give up. He raced down the floor, caught the unsuspecting Butler and swallowed him, unleashing a ferocious chase-down block with his right hand. The Celtics regained possession. And White had a few words for his teammates on the bench on his way back.

“D-White just be coming out of nowhere, you know?” Jaylen Brown said.

That play with 3:44 to go was the signature one of a signature night for White, who willed the Celtics to a home-opening 119-111 win over the Heat, their Eastern Conference nemesis who ended their season five months ago. They overcame Tyler Herro’s 28 points and another Heat barrage from 3-point range, like the ones that sunk them in the playoffs last season. They did it, in some ways, by beating them at their own game.

White poured in 28 points – including 14 in the final period – and added three blocks, and Brown had 27 points, including some big shots down the stretch, to lead a victory that personified some of the traits – toughness, defense, effort – they were missing back in the spring, and everything they could become this season. On a roster rich with high-end talent, the Celtics can win in so many ways. It was behind Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis in their season-opening victory. On Friday, it was White and Brown.

“The balanced attack that we had the entire game is kind of the epitome of what our team can be when we play together,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “When each guy plays the best version of them and then one guy doesn’t have it, the next guy steps up.

“I thought we were really intentional about who was playing well, what the matchup was, and what the spacing was. It’s kind of what we have to try to become.”

It’s easy to overlook White, who is certainly not the flashiest or most talented player on the Celtics. But his impact continues to be apparent. On a night when Porzingis struggled, and the C’s needed somebody to step up, White answered the call. The ball kept finding him on offense. He hunted it defensively. He was everywhere.

The Celtics trailed by one entering the fourth when White was unleashed. He scored the team’s first eight points of the fourth quarter as Boston took control, including a pull-up, heat-check 3-pointer. It was the type of solo run that would have been unthinkable when he was traded to the Celtics in February 2022, when he was passive. Now, he’s bold and confident. There was a time last season when White didn’t play during crunch time. Now the Celtics can’t afford to not have him on the floor in those moments.

“I think his confidence level continues to rise,” Tatum said. “As he’s gotten more comfortable with us and in his own skin, the talent has always been there, but he’s starting to show more emotion and obviously have more freedom and things like that.”

White was not only making his own plays, but setting up his teammates. Mazzulla praised the guard for putting everyone in the right matchup. It helped the Celtics hold off the hungry Heat, who thrive in late, close games, and every rally they tried to make. This time the Celtics punched back. Brown, after a lackluster opener on Wednesday, had another slow start Friday but recovered to score 12 of his 27 in the fourth, including the dagger 3 in the final minute.

Then there was White, who reached another level in the fourth. His block of Butler was the latest swat from the guard who led all players at his position in blocks last season. But it was among his most impressive.

“The plays he made tonight were sick,” Mazzulla said. “They were just sick plays. Like there’s not another word to describe them. That’s just what he does.”

It may have taken some time, but Friday epitomized the kind of play the Celtics expect from White now. His progress last season on both ends was part of the reason why they were so comfortable in trading both Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon away this offseason. They have full faith in him now, and he’s already rewarding it.

“I’ve been an advocate for D-White since he joined the team two years ago,” Tatum said. “I always tell him to be aggressive. Don’t always look for me or whoever it may be. We need him to be aggressive, to score, to attack, to make plays and when he’s at his best and being aggressive I think we’re just a much better team.”

Some other takeaways from the win::

– Porzingis shined in his Celtics debut in New York on Wednesday but didn’t have the same success in his home opener. Porzingis was whistled for two fouls in the first 5:13 of the game as he struggled to slow down Heat center Bam Adebayo throughout the night, allowing him to get to the rim with ease as he finished with 27 points. Porzingis started the game 2-for-7 shooting including 0-4 from 3-point range, got into a brief groove in the third quarter but ultimately did not match his performance from the opener. On one play in the third, he was whistled for a technical foul when he threw the ball through the hoop after letting Adebayo beat him again. Porzingis fouled out with three minutes remaining.

– Oshae Brissett, the versatile forward who signed with the Celtics this offseason, was a DNP for Wednesday’s season opener but made his official Celtics debut with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter. He made an immediate impact, endearing himself quickly to the TD Garden crowd with hustle plays. He pulled down a pair of offensive rebounds on one possession, which led to a 3-pointer from Sam Hauser. That capped a 10-0 Celtics run after they had fallen behind by 13 in the opening period. Brissett later had a dunk that cut Boston’s deficit to three after the first.

– Offensive rebounding was a major emphasis from Mazzulla this preseason, and the Celtics certainly had their coach’s message in mind Friday. Brissett’s effort was part of a big one on the offensive glass, where the Celtics corralled 10 boards that led to 14 second-chance points in the first half. They finished with 16 offensive rebounds for 23 second-chance points. When their offense wasn’t running crisply for most of the first half, those hustle plays kept them in the game.

The Celtics have six starting-caliber players in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Al Horford, and they’ve each recognized and embraced that sacrifice will be required among them to reach their ultimate championship goal. The details of the meeting were sparse. Horford was ultimately the first of the group to come off the bench, which was the first time in his Celtics career he did so. He didn’t volunteer to do it, but after the group had a conversation, he accepted the role.

“I’m not saying he lined up, (expletive), like raising his hand excited about it,” Mazzulla said. “But he’s Al, so we’re grateful for him.”

“Al’s a cultural warrior for us. So for a guy of his stature, what he’s done in this league, what he’s done for our team, to be willing to do that for our team is very important and I’m grateful for that and for him. At the same time, it’s not just about him. I think that’s the idea of this whole offseason. This preseason starting thing is like, yeah, Al’s making the initial sacrifice, but everyone’s gonna have to.”

It’s unclear who called for the meeting, but they were glad to hash things out and get on the same page.

“JT told me we was talking and then we went in there we just kind of sat down and talked,” White said. “I mean, I think it was cool and something we can do throughout the year. We all get along, we all want the same thing, so it’s good to get it all out.”

It seems likely that the 37-year-old Horford will be come off the bench for the majority of games this season, but there could be situations where White or Holiday do if Mazzulla wants to go with a double-big lineup.

White joked that he recommended one of their bigger stars come off the bench.

“I voted JT to come off the bench, but it’s all good,” White joked. “At the end of the day, we just want to win and we know what the end goal is. And we’re all well bought in.”

Tatum responded to White’s comment on X: “Told them 1 game this season I’m coming off the bench.”

It’s unclear if Tatum will actually come off the bench once this season – he never has in his career – but the Celtics’ top six certainly seem united in their sacrifice.

“We were just talking about how we all want the same thing,” White said. “Obviously, only five people can start and we all understand that we got a bunch of people that start, so we are just coming together to be like if someone’s got to come off the bench, we’re all willing to do it. Nobody’s gonna be upset or whatever. So whatever the matchup is that night, it is what it is, and we just want to win.”

Honoring Maine

The Celtics paid tribute to the Lewiston, Maine shooting victims in several ways for Friday’s home opener. In addition to holding a moment of silence pregame, the players wore Maine Celtics warmup shirts – the team’s G-League affiliate has been based in Maine since 2009 – and they also had a band honoring Lewison on their jerseys. The coaching staff also wore Maine Celtics gear on the sideline.

Mazzulla, who spent time coaching in Maine, took a few minutes to talk about the tragedy after Thursday’s practice.

“My initial reaction was like, one, there’s people that are hurt by this and they didn’t ask for it and imagine how hard it would be if my wife or children were in that situation,” Mazzulla said. “The second one is, it’s easy two weeks ago to look at a situation that’s really far from us and say we don’t do that. And then something like this happens, it’s humbling because whether it’s domestic or abroad, there are people who are making tough decisions. There are people who are doing things that aren’t what’s best for humanity.

“Regardless of if it’s in America or not, how do we work through that as humans? I think that’s the question that we have to work to answer.”

Cracking down

The NBA implemented a new flopping penalty for this season and the Celtics were involved in two of the first such calls this season in their win over the Knicks on Wednesday. The first came when Kristaps Porzingis was whistled for exaggerating contact in the fourth quarter, and the next one came when they called Jalen Brunson for flopping while he was shooting a 3-pointer later in the period.

However, the league announced Thursday that a flop should not have been called, and that Tatum made contact with Brunson’s foot which would have been a three-point foul. It was a four-point swing in what was ultimately a four-point Celtics win.

Despite the new flopping rule, however, Mazzulla said he has not talked to his team about it.

“It’s whatever, I don’t care,” Mazzulla said.

Porzingis knows this. He embraces it. On Wednesday night, it fueled him.

With 2:03 remaining in a tight season opener, Knicks fans got mad at him. Porzingis, after corralling a rebound, was fouled and inadvertently hit Isaiah Hartenstein with an elbow, sending him to the floor. The Garden erupted. “(Expletive) Porzingis!” chants filled the arena.

“I did not hear,” Porzingis said with a wry smile afterward.

Of course, he did. It didn’t bother him.

“For me it was fun,” Porzingis said. “I was just enjoying all of that and using it as motivation to make some big plays at the end. It was actually really, really fun tonight to play and be in that environment.”

It was only fitting that Porzingis was the one who willed the Celtics to their season-opening victory. Facing his former team, in the arena he called his first NBA home, Porzingis showcased so many of the ways he can be the difference-maker that propels Boston to a championship this season.

With the extra spacing he provides, he killed the Knicks with his shooting. He was a terror defensively, making fans forget about Robert Williams, as an elite rim protector as he finished with four blocks and several more stops. In crunch time, he showed he might be the piece that the Celtics had been missing in those late, tight moments as he scored nine consecutive points to close the victory.

When Jayson Tatum faced a double team and found Porzingis open for the ultimately decisive 3-pointer with 1:29 to go, Tatum stretched out both of his arms in celebration. Porzingis took the load off his shoulders.

“He just makes us that much more dynamic obviously with his size, ability to shoot, make plays off the dribble,” Tatum said. “When they double me late, make the right play, find an open man. Obviously he can shoot from wherever. I mean, he’s really good. He’s really, really good. We’re lucky to have him.”

The significance of coming through in crunch time wasn’t lost on Porzingis.

“It’s important, I think,” Porzingis said. “It’s important to show what my mindset is in tight games like this and probably showing them that I’ll be there. I’ll be there and do what I can on both ends. I think today was a good step for us to build that trust.”

Defensively, the Celtics flashed their potential on Wednesday. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday created some havoc as they forced some turnovers to get the Celtics in transition. Holiday helped shut down the bigger Julius Randle, who went just 5-for-22. The Celtics’ effort and togetherness on that end showed in crunch time as they consistently limited the Knicks to one shot and held them to just five points over the final four minutes.

Porzingis’ defense almost stood out more than his offense. He was the biggest reason why the Knicks struggled to have success inside, as they were held to 18-for-56 on two-point field goals.

Porzingis gave credit to the coaching staff for putting him in the right situations and positions on defense, an area he seems energized to show what he can do.

“KP is hungry and excited to be here,” Tatum said. “And knows how important he is to this team and what we need him to bring each and every night. It’s a sense of pride that we, everybody has to have on defense, right? We got some All-NBA defensive guys on this team, some guys that are capable of making that team. And essentially, you don’t want to be like the slouch out there, right? And KP is definitely holding his own and everybody individually wants to hold their own defense so we can be better as a unit. And that’s just a pride thing and effort.”

Other takeaways:

– Jaylen Brown struggled. He finished with 11 points and made some bad decisions throughout the night, including a costly sequence in the fourth when he committed two turnovers and a foul on a 3-pointer as the Knicks surged ahead. But he earned some credit for some of the Celtics’ late-game execution.

“It was just one game,” Tatum said. “We know how special he is. Everybody’s going to have not great shooting nights but he still impacted the game in other ways. He got some key rebounds and loose balls at the end to give us some more possessions. I’m not going to shoot the ball great some nights, KP’s not, but it’s all about how you impact the game in other ways. So JB’s going to be fine. He’s probably going to have a great game on Friday.”

– While Holiday looked great – as usual – defensively, he’s clearly still trying to get comfortable with the offense as he continues to build chemistry and learn tendencies with some new teammates after being traded less than a month ago.

“I think he’s still learning,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Especially when you’re out there with four guys that can dribble-drive, you gotta just find your opportunities to play and find your opportunities to space and find your opportunities to screen. We just gotta simplify it for him.”

– A big, necessary area of clean-up for the Celtics: They gave up 17 offensive rebounds to the Knicks, resulting in 20 second-chance points.

– Tatum has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the last few seasons, including his wrist and the ankle injury he suffered in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season. He said before the season opener that his body feels good after a full summer off, and he looked fresh in the win over the Knicks as he finished with 34 points and 11 rebounds. He did commit four turnovers, though, including one that was nearly costly in the final minute as the C’s were trying to hold on.

“I had too many turnovers,” Tatum said. “It was the first game of the season, cut me some slack.”

– The Celtics reported zero injuries and are fully healthy for Friday’s home opener against the Heat.

“Humility. Mindset. Toughness. Passion. Togetherness. Just be nasty,” Mazzulla said. So we’ll see if that happens.”

The first test came Wednesday. In control for most of their opener, the Celtics suddenly let go of the rope. They were unraveling. The Knicks and their rabid Madison Square Garden crowd smelled blood. But they never tasted it.

The expectation is that these Celtics, with their superior top-end talent, should breeze to at least the conference finals, if not win the whole thing. But Wednesday revealed they’re unsurprisingly not close to a finished product. On Wednesday, they relied on that newly formed identity to tough out an ugly but gritty 108-104 victory over the Knicks.

Jayson Tatum scored 34 points and Kristaps Porzingis poured in 30 points in his Celtics debut, powering them on both ends and leading them to the finish line of this heart-pounding win. The C’s trailed for the first time in the fourth quarter but proved resilient late with defense and toughness to scratch their way to a season-opening victory.

“We stayed poised, we stayed calm,” Porzingis said.

“Resilient,” added Jrue Holiday. “No matter if we’re down 10 points with four minutes to go, we always have a chance. I think we just kind of banded together.”

They needed to in crunch time.

The Celtics were in control for most of the night. They held off the Knicks’ runs in the opening three quarters, including a quick 10-0 flurry in the third when they responded with a 7-0 run. But they lost their way in the fourth. Bad offense, poor ball movement and missed shots threatened to undo the Celtics.

The first three minutes of the fourth were a nightmare for the Celtics as the Knicks went on a 13-2 run, capped by Josh Hart’s 3-pointer that gave the Knicks their first lead of the night at 86-84, which fired up the New York crowd.

Poor late-game execution was an Achilles’ heel of the Celtics last season, and it looked like that theme would continue into their season opener. The game was tied at 93 with under five minutes to go when Jaylen Brown committed two costly turnovers that led to two Knicks 3-pointers. The second one was bad, as Brown threw an inbounds pass intended for Tatum that was off, leading to Quentin Grimes’ 3-pointer, in which Brown fouled him, that put the Knicks up six with 4:10 left.

The Celtics pulled together.

“We had enough time,” Holiday said. “There’s always enough time to just kind of settle in and get back into the game. I know there’s runs. I think the last one came quick right after the timeout, so we know that we can be poised and what kind of talent we have and we just have to go out there and lock it in.”

The Celtics had more than enough time and relied on their new weapon down the stretch: Porzingis.

The Celtics trailed by two with 2:03 to go when Porzingis came down with a defensive rebound and inadvertently elbowed Isaiah Hartenstein in the face. After a review, Porzingis was issued a technical foul. He heard it from the New York crowd, who targeted a profanity-laced chant at their former player.

Porzingis heard it. It fueled him down the stretch. He said it motivated him.

Porzingis scored nine consecutive Celtics points that put them in the lead, including a huge 26-footer with 1:29 to go that gave them the lead for good. He missed another on the next possession that would have served as the dagger, but the Celtics made more than enough plays down the stretch on both ends to survive.

The difference was Porzingis, who was acquired in part to help them in these moments. Last season, they routinely lost games in these situations.

“Yeah, I think we were just calm, collective and executed the last four minutes or whatever when we called that timeout,” Tatum said. “We knew what to run, we knew what sets we need to be in and who to attack to make the right play. Guys made shots, KP made shots. Guys made plays.”

The Celtics were far from perfect, but they didn’t have to be. They know it was just the first of 82 – and more once they hit the postseason. They know they’re still fitting the puzzle pieces together as they bring along both Porzingis and Holiday. They know it’s not supposed to be a finished product yet.

“Long way to go,” Tatum said. “We got 81 games left. Figure this (expletive) out.”

Horford, entering his sixth total season as a member of the C’s, had started all 429 games he played in Boston – 340 regular season, 89 postseason – before Wednesday. But with how loaded the Celtics’ roster is, and the way Joe Mazzulla wants to play, Horford accepted a seat on the bench as the ball tipped at Madison Square Garden.

It’s the first noteworthy example of sacrifice the Celtics are emphasizing this season as they chase a championship. Horford, who preferred to start in previous seasons, swallowed his ego. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“That’s the ultimate sacrifice,” Jayson Tatum said. “Everybody knows how much I love and respect Al. A lot of guys say that they’ll do anything to help the team win, but Al is the epitome of that. We got six starters essentially, and everybody’s gonna to sacrifice at some point throughout the season, depending on who we’re playing and matchups. But for Al to voice that he should come on a bench or whatever, he’s the ultimate team player. That’s why we all love and appreciate him and obviously he’s gonna be a huge part of the success that we have this year.”

Horford did not volunteer to come off the bench, but after several conversations, agreed to do as Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis took the floor. Horford received further praise from Mazzulla, who stressed that this won’t be the only example of sacrifice this season.

“Al’s a cultural warrior for us,” Mazzulla said. “So for a guy of his stature, what he’s done in this league, what he’s done for our team, to be willing to do that for our team is very important and I’m grateful for that and for him. At the same time, it’s not just about him. I think that’s the idea of this whole offseason, this preseason starting thing is like, yeah, Al’s making the initial sacrifice, but everyone’s gonna have to. And so it’s important that our team as a whole has the empathy for each other to understand that each guy is going to have to give up something little for us to be a better team.

“It’s gonna look differently for each guy and it’s gonna come at different times throughout the season. So right now, Al stepped up to the plate and started that for us, but each guys’ gonna have to do what Al’s doing night in and night out at different times. And as long as we keep that togetherness, that sacrifice, that open-mindedness, we’ll be able to maximize our ability to be as successful as we can be.”

Tatum teamed up with Patriots legend Tom Brady and Yankees star Aaron Judge to surprise nine children with critical illnesses through a new partnership between Fanatics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“It was great being around the kids who obviously were facing challenges in life but fighting to overcome those to be with their friends and families and brothers and sisters,” Tatum said. “To see the reaction on their faces when we came out on the court and played basketball and threw footballs around with them, just got to hang out with them. It was priceless.”

For Tatum, it was also another opportunity to interact with Brady and continue to develop a growing relationship with him. He said he first met Brady when he was still playing for the Patriots, and they occasionally communicate with each other. Tatum is grateful for it.

“Tom is the best,” Tatum said. “He has every reason to be arrogant and all those things, but truly down to earth. He texts me from time to time. He watches the games. He’s just a really, really great guy, and to be the best football player of all-time, it says a lot about him.”

Do Tatum and Brady talk about being sports greats in Boston? The Celtics star, who is still chasing his first championship, doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself.

“I mean, if I get to that level that’d be incredible,” Tatum said. “I mean, Tom’s the greatest football player of all-time and one of the greatest athletes of all-time. And for myself and everybody that got to watch him and appreciate him, his mindset, his work ethic, the way he approached the game, you can apply that to what we do and essentially striving to be great.”

White, who has two years remaining on his current contract, re-emphasized his commitment to Boston even after the two sides couldn’t make a deal.

“They were good,” White said of the extension talks. “I mean, like I said, I love being here, obviously, we got another year after this year, so we’ll focus on it then. But, I think they went well and I want to be here for a long time so that hasn’t changed.”

“It’s just back and forth,” White continued of the talks. “I think we’re both in a good position and we’re just focused on the season now.”

White is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025, so there didn’t seem to be urgency to get a deal done now. The two sides will have to wait until next summer to resume talks.

White could benefit from waiting if he has another impressive season in 2023-24 as he could command more money, and the C’s are tied to other commitments right now. They just signed Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis to extensions this summer, and the team is expected to offer the supermax to Jayson Tatum next summer. Jrue Holiday is also extension-eligible in February.

Those commitments could eventually make things complicated for the Celtics to lock in White, whose extension would likely start around $30 million per season. But that’s a conversation for the future now. White, a critical piece of Boston’s championship hopes this season, is keeping his focus on that.

“I think we got a good bond right now and we know what’s important right now,” White said. “And so that’s what we’re focusing on.”

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck was sitting courtside at TD Garden as he watched his team getting blown out by the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. His thoughts about the future quickly began running through his mind.

“I sat there probably the whole second half of that game starting to think about it,” Grousbeck said Wednesday in an appearance on WEEI’s ‘The Greg Hill Show.’ “And then I took two days to let everything settle down and then went and met with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla, and we formulated a plan. …

“I just said, ‘We’re not bringing back the same team.’ It’s been two seasons in a row of really good play but inconsistencies and they showed in the Finals two years ago and then in the conference finals last year. It just felt inconsistent and I said, I just want to change the mix so that there’s just a freshness, a fresh approach, so we made some changes this summer.”

About three weeks later, the Celtics did just that. They shockingly traded beloved point guard Marcus Smart and landed Kristaps Porzingis. Then, on the eve of training camp, they swung a deal for Jrue Holiday.

The mix was successfully changed as they assembled arguably the most talented roster in the league. The Celtics entered the season Wednesday as co-favorites with the Bucks to win the championship. Expectations, as usual, are high in Boston. But Grousbeck cautioned against it being championship or bust.

“It’s the ‘or bust’ part because I don’t think it’s a one and done, like it’s now or never,” Grousbeck said. “I said in another press conference earlier, I think we might have a six-year run here. I just pulled that number out of the air, but our two really marquee players, now we have four or five or six really top players. We have a top six that’s unbelievable. But Jaylen (Brown) and Jayson (Tatum) are in their mid-20s. Jaylen just re-upped for a long contract and we have the opportunity to talk to Jayson next summer and hopefully extend him. Having them in their mid-20s means that I’m looking at this as a period where we can be good every single year. …

“I’ll be so disappointed if we don’t do really well this year and give it a good try, give it a good fight, but I don’t think it’s now or never.”

This season, it’s “Banner 18 . . . Or Else.”

“Wait Until Next Year?”

Not this time.

The 2023-24 Celtics are the Tom Brady-in-his-prime Patriots.

The expectation shared by everyone within the reach of Mike Gorman’s voice is universal: Anything less than a title equates to failure, shame and humiliation.

Doc Rivers had “ubuntu.”

Atmospheric anticipation has carried Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics toward “seppuku.”

Metaphorically, anyway.

If the Celtics aren’t going to win 16 games this postseason, they might as well move the franchise to Las Vegas during the All-Star Break and spare us another stress-filled springtime.

The Celtics have done everything this offseason within their authority to build a team they believe will, er must, snag Banner 18.

Wyc Grousbeck gave Brad Stevens the Green Team’s American Express Black card. Stevens spent lavishly on Jaylen Brown’s max contract, an extension for Kristaps Porziņģis, and Jrue Holiday’s moving expenses.

Stevens went full “Extreme Makeover” on the roster. Among the departed: Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams and Robert Williams.

Celtics fans are going to miss Grant Williams’ toughness, the inside play of Robert Williams, and the wide-open 24-foot bricks launched by Smart.

But how is the view from 35,000 feet? Or from the inside emails and DMs from the NBA inner sanctum?

NBA insider Shams Charania, the chief scoops competitor to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, has also earned one-name status.

Shams bio on X nearly maxes the character count. “Senior lead NBA Insider for The Athletic and Stadium. FanDuel Partner and co-host of Run It Back on FanDuel TV.” He boasts 2.2 million followers on Elon Musk’s social platform. And another 629,000 on Instagram.

The Herald chatted with Charania for 15 minutes the other day. His perspective is unbiased, if not actually informed.

Does he believe the Celtics have done enough to win a championship?

“They’re right on that doorstep,” Charania said. “Getting Kristaps Porziņģis, obviously they went for more offense getting another big man, but losing Marcus Smart, that was a major dent to that team. What Marcus provided for them from an intangible’s perspective, leadership perspective, his presence was beyond stats. That was a very tough loss. It could be seen as a step back, but then you see the Damian Lillard trade happened, and they end up getting Jrue Holiday. That was something that they did not expect. Getting Jrue Holiday makes up for the Smart loss, at least a little bit, at least on the court. Now I think they’re right up there. They should go into the year with championship expectations, no question.”

Charania believes the perception around the league was that the Holiday acquisition was pivotal in closing the circle on the defensive end.

“Holiday, that’s a guy that’s been a multi-time defensive, all defensive team, the contender for Defensive Player of the Year (an award that Smart has won.) Holiday is up there for top defenders. He obviously brings some offense as well, so I don’t think it’s as big of a loss. But from the perspective of being and embodying Celtics leadership, that voice and that toughness that they have in the locker room, we’re only going to see how that plays out. Because if there’s one guy that can have those real conversations with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, it is Smart,” he said.

Are the Jays feared and/or respected around the league? Underrated? Overrated?

“Everyone has their opinions, but I think they’re among the two elite wing players that we have in this league,” Charania said. “Optionality is so important to the league today and having star power at that position. But again, you’ve got to win in the playoffs. That’s what builds a championship legacy. That’s what those guys are lacking, is that. Every year is going to be, are they going to be able to break through and get that ring?”

Just 29, Shams has texted, called, emailed and posted his way into the internal machinations of the NBA in just a decade. He broke news of a potential deal for Porziņģis by the Celtics on June 21.

Charania is diligent about separating church and state in terms of gambling in lieu of his ties to FanDuel. His Tweets have moved betting markets. He says he does not bet. Given the multiple interruptions during our chat, it’s unlikely he has time to do so.

When asked for a 2024 NBA Finals winner, Charania deferred by saying, “I don’t make predictions.”

The Celtics and Bucks are +380 co-favorites to win the NBA title at FanDuel. (Shameless Plug Alert) Through tomorrow, current FanDuel customers who bet $5 to get three free months of NBA League Pass. New customers who bet $5 get the same deal, plus $200 in Bonus Bets. Visit FanDuel.com. Wager responsibly.

Shams makes a distinction between the deal that brought in Porziņģis and the one that resulted in Holiday becoming a Celtic.

“They had targeted Porzingis for sure for several weeks. That was on their board,” Charania said. “I don’t think trading Marcus Smart was on their board. After the Brogdon deal fell apart with the Clippers, they had to move Smart. I don’t think that that was totally in the cards, but then they had to go that route because they wanted to extend Porziņģis. There was a sense around the league that the Celtics would have some level of retooling because that was a disappointing end for that team,” he said.

Retooling is one way to put it.

“Even on Joe Mazzulla’s staff, getting Charles Lee, getting Sam Cassell, those are big time additions to what was a younger coaching staff,” Charania said. “Anytime you don’t live up to expectations, there’s going to be changes.”

Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos on X) is a senior betting analyst for Bookies.com when he’s not writing here. He can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com)

Less than a month removed from a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Heat, and a year after coming two wins short in the NBA Finals, they shook everything up to their core. Literally. Marcus Smart – the franchise’s cornerstone, heartbeat and backbone – was shockingly traded as they acquired Kristaps Porzingis.

“Sometimes really, really hard decisions have to be made,” Brad Stevens said shortly after.

If it wasn’t already clear the Celtics weren’t messing around, they doubled down on the eve of training camp. In the wake of Milwaukee’s acquisition of Damian Lillard, the C’s didn’t hesitate to jump ahead of other contenders to trade for Jrue Holiday.

The message was simple: It’s time to win. Now.

“Is there pressure?” Jayson Tatum said. “Yeah, we have a really good team. We have really good players. People expect us to get to the championship and win, and when we don’t, we didn’t necessarily meet expectations.”

There are no excuses this year.

The Celtics have the most talented roster in the league, led by All-NBA players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They now have a proven champion in their locker room in Holiday. The franchise’s ownership headed by Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca gave Stevens the nod to blow through the salary cap’s second apron, putting all their chips on the table this season to win their first championship since 2008.

For the Celtics, it’s championship or bust.

Five keys for the Celtics as they begin their quest for Banner No. 18 with tonight’s season opener against the Knicks:

1. Health

It seems obvious, but yet for these uber-talented Celtics, staying healthy might be the most important key. If they do, there’s no reason they won’t be celebrating next June.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. And it requires some luck. The Celtics weren’t as fortunate last season, when they lost Robert Williams for the first two months of the season – though they overcame that – before staying relatively healthy until the Eastern Conference Finals. That’s when, at the worst possible time, Malcolm Brogdon suffered an injury that kept him out of most of the final round before Tatum’s brutal ankle injury on the first play of Game 7. If those injuries don’t happen, the end of last season might have been a different story.

Celtics takeaways: Kristaps Porzingis shines in debut as C’s win preseason opener

All eyes this season center on Porzingis. The 7-foot-3 center’s injury history is no secret. Just this summer, he suffered plantar fasciitis in his right foot that forced him out of the FIBA World Cup. He returned to Celtics training camp fully healthy and looked terrific in the preseason with no restrictions.

It was no coincidence that Porzingis had a career season last year in Washington while having one of the healthiest seasons of his career, and the Celtics are hoping he will build on that as he enters his prime. He’s an elite three-level scorer who’s almost impossible to stop with his combination of size and skill, and his presence is expected to make the Celtics’ offense unstoppable. But there is some uncertainty with Porzingis, who has only played in 10 playoff games in his career. Can he hold up for a full season, and how will he endure a grueling playoff run while matching up against the likes of Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetekounmpo and Joel Embiid?

After the departure of Robert Williams, the frontcourt depth is thin if Porzingis or 37-year-old Al Horford go down at any point. That’s a risk the Celtics are willing to take, and it could certainly impact the outcome of their season.

2. Defensive consistency

The Celtics were certainly no slouches on defense last season as they finished second in the league in defensive rating in the regular season. But they could never count on it like they did during their NBA Finals run in 2022. It let them down during the Eastern Conference Finals, when inconsistency on that end put them in a 3-0 series hole they ultimately couldn’t recover from.

While they traded their defensive quarterback in Smart, the Celtics made defense a priority this summer.

It started with Brown, who went out of his way during his supermax extension press conference to say he wanted to make sure the Celtics didn’t rest defensively for the upcoming season. That message continued through training camp and the preseason.

“I think that we’re going to go into the year stronger defensively,” Brown said. “I think we gotta continue to emphasize that throughout the year and can’t let it dip or wane. I want to be one of the guys that makes that an emphasis for us. Obviously we have some All-NBA defenders, Jrue and (Derrick) White. We gotta come in and really have an impact for 82 games on the defensive end of the ball.”

The acquisition of Holiday was essential, giving the Celtics the grit and toughness they lost with Smart. Arguably the best defensive guard in the NBA, Holiday’s ball pressure and defensive acumen is a game-changer for the Celtics on that end of the floor. He’ll pair up with another all-league defender in White to form the best defensive backcourt in the NBA. Tatum and Brown seem motivated to show what they can do defensively, Porzingis and Horford provide great rim protection and the Celtics boast several versatile defenders on their bench. The personnel for a great defense are there.

The coaching is there, too. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla admitted at the start of training camp that he didn’t do enough last season to demand consistent defensive performances. That messaging has changed this season. Mazzulla has emphasized it in different ways. Last season, the C’s ranked at the bottom of the league in forcing turnovers, and Mazzulla identified that as a focus this season as he tries to remove the variance of bad shooting nights by creating more possessions.

“There was a lot of times last year where we were a great defensive team, and there were times where we didn’t make that our foundation,” Mazzulla said. “So at the end of the day, you just have to compromise. Defense is what gets you in the door, defense is the admission ticket, but it’s toughness, it’s mindset, it’s the ability to just be physical on both ends of the floor. So you just have to do it, like you don’t have a choice.”

3. Next step for Tatum, Brown

The lasting memories of last spring weren’t fond for Tatum and Brown. Tatum’s last meaningful minutes of the season were spent trying to overcome that ankle injury, and he never did. With Tatum hobbled, Brown tried to do more than he could and he committed a career-high eight turnovers in the Game 7 loss.

The two Celtics stars, fair or not, have received most of the blame when things go wrong. But now, after years of experience, there are no excuses left for them. It’s time for them to deliver.

The trade of Smart was perceived by some to allow Tatum, entering his seventh year, and Brown, entering his eighth, to grow as the leaders of this team, and both have acknowledged that their voices will get louder and that they need to do more in the absence of their former point guard. This is undoubtedly their team now. Both have another level to reach, most importantly in the final stages of the playoffs, where both of them have come up short the last couple of seasons.

Brown, after signing a record contract extension this summer, knows there’s an even bigger responsibility to deliver now.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn't motivated,” Brown said. “I’m extremely motivated. I'm the type of guy that always finds a chip on my shoulder … not being able to get to the ultimate goal so far in my career is something that gives you extra motivation. So I'm excited about the year. I'm excited about the journey and I'm ready to go.”

4. Mazzulla a year wiser

Mazzulla admitted that last training camp was a blur. Suddenly thrust into the job after Ime Udoka’s suspension, the rookie head coach had no time to think. He overcame growing pains for most of the regular season but made some costly mistakes in the playoffs. It didn’t help that he lost his top assistant mid-season, either. There was a lot to learn.

But entering this season, Mazzulla is set up for success. He had the benefit of a full offseason to prepare, and he’s now surrounded by plenty of experience around him, including new assistants Sam Cassell and Charles Lee. The Celtics even added Jeff Van Gundy to the mix as a senior consultant.

Jayson Tatum praises Celtics’ culture change under Joe Mazzulla: ‘We’ve all bought in’

Last season, Mazzulla could be excused for some of the mistakes he made. But not so much anymore. To his credit, he’s taken full accountability and ownership. His first season provided plenty of lessons to apply this year, and he’s already started.

“I’ve seen the growth,” Tatum said. “Not that he didn’t do a great job last year, but he’s just had more time to prepare. He was able to get a staff that he felt like supported him the best way. And he’s helped change the culture a little bit in a lot of ways honestly. I feel like he’s had his imprint on how he wants things to be, how he wants to practice, how he wants the environment, the vibe. And we’ve all bought in.”

5. Sacrifice

One of the buzzwords of camp has been sacrifice, and it’s been shouted from the top.

Beyond health, a team this star-driven could realistically only be derailed from within. There’s a ton of talent, and a team this loaded obviously doesn’t always work like it’s supposed to, especially in the recent history of the league. Egos need to be left at the door. Sacrifice is a necessity.

“It’s been an adjustment period,” Tatum acknowledged. “At some point this year everybody’s gonna have to sacrifice. Essentially we’ve probably got six starters. And you can only play five, only five guys can finish the game. So between those six guys, any given night somebody might come off the bench, somebody might not finish, and it’s on all of us to understand that whoever’s night it is it’s for the better of the team. And we really have to buy into that. And it’s not easy sacrificing but it’s something we all have to do.”

To the Celtics’ credit, their stars have said all the right things in camp. Porzingis has come in with the perfect attitude. Holiday knows what it takes, having won a championship two years ago. Horford, who is likely to come off the bench for most of the season, has embraced that role.

It’s all for one reason.

“Most important thing is winning,” Brown said. “I think everybody is at that stage in their career for the most part, so I think that we all understand that. … From top to bottom, we just have to trust each other and make the right reads. We have great players and do what we do. The game will tell you who’s going to make the sacrifice and who’s not. It’s going to switch up from time to time. All our guys gotta be willing. The only thing that matters is winning.”

But now, as the C’s get ready for Wednesday’s season opener in New York, there is a sense of calmness and ease. There’s no drama. Everybody is healthy. While they lost key pieces of their team over the offseason, the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have fit in nearly seamlessly. All of that combined has seemed to give these Celtics an extra dose of confidence as they begin their journey.

“Excitement level is high,” Jaylen Brown said. “Probably one of the best preseasons I’ve been a part of, so now it’s time to perform. Now it’s time to take the work to actual real life and I’m excited.”

Why does Brown view this preseason as one of the best? It comes back to the synergy the Celtics have created with their new-look roster in a short amount of time.

“Just clarity,” Brown said. “We’ve been real clear in our roles, we’re clear what we want to get accomplished. We’re clear in what actions we want to get into, late game, 3-for-2 situations, 2-for-1 situations. We’ve been able to really establish exactly what we want to do. It’s been really good coaching this year.”

Sacrifice has been a big storyline entering this season, with the Celtics having a clear top six and roles changing. They know Al Horford will have to come off the bench, and that one of their best players will have to take a seat during big moments. There are four players with All-Star level ability, but only one ball to go around.

But they all understand what the ultimate goal is. Porzingis is in his prime and has embraced a championship mindset. Holiday has been a champion. Horford, at 37 years old, is willing to take a lesser role for the greater good. And Brown and Jayson Tatum, after several knocks at the door, know what it takes now.

“Most important thing is winning,” Brown said. “So I think everybody is at that stage in their career for the most part, so I think that we all understand that. The game will decide. The matchups will decide, we’ll get to see where the game is going to be won at. We have to trust and let that happen. From top to bottom, we just have to trust each other and make the right reads. We have great players and do what we do. The game will tell you who’s going to make the sacrifice and who’s not. It’s going to switch up from time to time. All our guys gotta be willing. The only thing that matters is winning.”

Having that clarity that Brown described only helps, too.

“I think being able to be on the same page is everything in this league, so building that chemistry, having that clarity, having that understanding, knowing where everyone is supposed to be, knowing what we want to get into,” Brown said. “When you get into those moments, late game, fourth quarter, those are the moments you start to see the work and that clarity come to life.”

Rondo influencing C’s

Rajon Rondo was an invited special guest at practice over the weekend, but he wasn’t there just to hang out. The former Celtics guard was involved in practice drills, coaches meetings and film sessions during his trip.

Rondo joined a growing list of former Celtics who have taken up Mazzulla’s invitation to visit. It’s something Brown doesn’t take for granted.

“He’s been showing me little places where I can attack, read the game in certain avenues and stuff that can help me, stuff that he sees,” Brown said. “And so far it’s been great. It’s so cool having these guys come around and be a part of practice, to be a part of the organization. Growing up, watching the Celtics, seeing like KG, Rondo and Pierce and stuff like that. Now being able to have them in our practice in our film room and them telling you like, ‘No, this is how you got to do it.’ This is what they see. I think that’s a tremendous honor. I know those guys should be doing a lot more things or something else. But they choose to be here with this group. And it says a lot about us and it says a lot about them. I’m extremely grateful for that and I think that’s super cool.”

Tough first matchup

The Celtics begin the season against a familiar opponent in the Knicks, who gave them some trouble last season by winning three out of four regular season matchups. Mazzulla knows the challenge that awaits against a Tom Thibodeau-coached squad.

“Physical, toughness, they show a little bit more double big in their second unit,” Mazzulla said. “But we know how they play. They take on the identity of their coach. It’s gonna be a tough matchup.”

The Celtics played the Knicks twice in the preseason, though New York’s regulars – including Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett – didn’t play in the second meeting when the Celtics regulars played. Still, Mazzulla said there are things to take away from those games.

“You can take a little bit,” Mazzulla said. “You don’t want to invent stuff to take, like, ‘Oh, they’re gonna do this,’ but I think there’s stuff that you just know a Thibs team is going to do. They’re gonna bring it on defense and you know they’re gonna execute well offensively. And those guys that they have do a great job of getting their spots, do a great job of creating contact, and we got to be disciplined in our defense, we got to defend, and we got to be able to execute at the other end.”

“For me as a competitor, I want to be in a position that I’m playing when it matters most,” Horford said in 2021. “I do like to start. That’s just the reality. As a competitor I try to feel like I contribute and be a great asset.”

Two years later, though, the equation has changed. This offseason, the Celtics added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, two All-Star level players still in their prime, to form arguably the most talented roster in the league that also includes, of course, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.

While Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has not committed to a starting lineup – a narrative he feels is being overblown – the fresh look means Horford may be primarily coming off the bench for the first time in his career. The 37-year-old is just fine with that now.

“I just think that, the type of team that we have, we have a lot of depth, we have a lot of talented players,” Horford said. “One of our strengths is our versatility as a team. So there’s going to be times that we’re going to have to go a certain way. There’s other times that we got to play big, play small, things like that. That’s just the way it is. And I’m in a position right now that I feel like we all can impact the game in a positive way and sometimes the best thing for a group right now is to play in that way. There will be times that we’ll play big and we’ll do things like that. But for me, I’m in a good position where I’m at and just staying locked in and ready to go.”

As Horford suggested, the Celtics will likely go back and forth between their small lineup (which includes Holiday and White in the backcourt) and double-big lineup (which includes Horford and Porzingis) throughout the season based on matchups and player availability. In their penultimate preseason game, Horford came off the bench and thrived in the role as an energy creator with several hustle plays.

Mazzulla has downplayed the importance of who starts given that lineup only lasts about five minutes. But there is still an ego check involved with sacrificing and accepting a role off the bench – see Malcolm Brogdon last season – and typically the starters play in that spot to maximize their impact. Sacrifice has seemed to be an important focal point of this preseason, whether it means one of the top six is not starting or not finishing.

“I have the utmost respect for Al,” Tatum said. “If Al can come off the bench at this stage of his career, nobody should have anything to say if you’re the guy that’s coming off the bench or Joe takes you out of the game or if you don’t finish. And everybody has to have a team-first mindset to accomplish what we’re trying to do.”

Horford, entering his 15th season, will likely sit out the second end of back-to-backs again like he did last season as the Celtics try to preserve his best for the playoffs. Even then, he seemed to wear down during the Eastern Conference Finals last season, so it would make sense to dial him back some in a reserve spot. But at this stage of his career, after coming so close to a title over the last two seasons, it doesn’t seem to bother Horford. His role may change, but his goal remains the same.

“We’re all looking at the same thing, trying to accomplish the same thing,” Horford said. “On that particular day (on Tuesday) it was obviously to win the game and that’s our focus. So for me, it’s seeing how I can impact winning. That’s always my focus.”

An extra focus

The Celtics ranked near the bottom of the league in turnovers forced last season, and that seems to be a focus going into this season. Horford said Mazzulla has been demanding the Celtics be more active on the defensive end. It showed in the box score in Thursday’s preseason finale as they forced 22 steals in the win over the Hornets.

Mazzulla said he looked through every box score last season and one big takeaway was that the Celtics were out-shot in most games but because of their shot quality they won games more often than not, and when they didn’t shoot well, they lost. Mazzulla asked himself, how can the Celtics continue to have a high shot quality but eliminate the variance of, “if you don’t make shots, we’re not going to win”? He said it’s by creating extra possessions through offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers.

“We have to eliminate the luck of the percentage at times with our shooting and we have to create easy baskets, whether it’s with offensive rebounding or forcing turnovers and deflections,” Mazzulla said. “We had 22 steals, 24 turnovers, 26 deflections and those lead to easier baskets. I think the correlation of our shot margin and our defensive activity and our offensive rebounding is an area of growth for our team from last year and something we have to continue.” …

The Celtics officially waived center Wenyen Gabriel and guard D.J. Steward on Saturday.

“He was like, ‘They want us back.’ I’m like, ‘Hello?’” Rondo said.

Pierce was talking about the Celtics, and specifically coach Joe Mazzulla, who sent out an email to all the franchise’s alumni with an open invitation to practice. Pierce and several others have already returned. Rondo got the email, and with a little nudging from Pierce, he took up the opportunity with a surprise visit to Friday’s practice at the Auerbach Center.

“You do that in a lot of college programs where alumni come back,” Rondo said. “As a pro, you don’t do it as much because guys get traded to so many different teams and it’s the NBA. So to get that email was very welcoming and humbling at the same time.”

Rondo, who played the first nine seasons of his career with the Celtics before being traded in 2015, was excited to check out the Auerbach Center for the first time. He used Friday as an opportunity to talk basketball, catch up with old friends and briefly stop by with the media to share his thoughts on these Celtics.

Rondo, like many, is very impressed with the championship favorites and was a big fan of their trade for Jrue Holiday, who he played with during his one season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“I love the Jrue Holiday pickup,” Rondo said. “He’s one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever played with all-time and I’m excited for you guys to see what he can bring night in, night out. …

“Just his mentality, his mindset, his professional approach to the game, and just what he brings out there on the court. He does a lot of intangibles, he’s a very unselfish guy, and he’s fun to be around. But he’s a winner. He’s a competitor.”

Rondo had not been around this Celtics team long enough to compare them to the 2008 championship team, but there is another former teammate of his who’s now on the coaching staff in Sam Cassell who he thinks will be a huge benefit as they chase a title this season.

“A lot. He helped me the year we won the championship in 2008,” Rondo said. “He was a very vocal veteran for me on the team, a guy that I always still call to this day for advice. So the guys having him around is going to be big for them.”

The 37-year-old Rondo has not played in an NBA game since 2022 when he was with the Cavaliers, and while he did not admit if he was officially retired, he’s clearly transitioning into the next chapter of his life. Rondo said he’s back in school at the University of Kentucky – where he played two seasons – to pursue a degree in communications.

Rondo also said coaching is in his future, and used Friday’s visit as a chance to pick the brains of Mazzulla and the rest of his staff.

“I love teaching the game,” Rondo said. “Right now I have a young AAU program with my son’s team. I coach at that level and want to dedicate my time with him and try to get him off to the right start. My daughter is in volleyball. I’m not an expert coach in that but I do study that game as well and try to put her in the right positions to get a scholarship. So, coaching is in the future. I wanted to come here this week and learn from Joe and pick up as much knowledge as I can from him and the rest of the staff and just kind of learn.”

Gabriel was signed earlier this month as a potential frontcourt depth option but the Kentucky product – who played last season with the Lakers – only played in three preseason games and was passed over for playing time by other big men. The Celtics now have 14 players on their roster which gives them some flexibility to add.

“It’s always tough to see guys go,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I think Wenyen gave us everything he had and brought a great attitude and spirit and competitiveness to training camp.”

The cut of Gabriel may be factored in by the emergence of Neemias Queta, the Portuguese big man who has opened eyes with his strong play in the preseason. With Al Horford not making the trip to Charlotte, Queta was the first big off the bench for Thursday’s preseason finale – ahead of Luke Kornet – and impressed again with 12 points and seven rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, in 13 minutes.

Queta is on a two-way contract with the Celtics but his play this preseason has certainly made the case for him to potentially earn a role in Boston this season.

“It seems to me the game comes easy to him, especially around the basket,” Horford said. “He has a really good feel for finishing and just rebounding and just kind of being there in the right place, right time type thing. So that’s been the impressive part to me. He’s a bigger guy, he can finish pretty well, at the rim so that’s been the most impressive.”

As Banton walked back to the bench, Mazzulla had some words to say to him. He wasn’t happy.

On the previous play, Banton didn’t dive on a loose ball, which resulted in a jump ball and an extra 76ers possession. Mazzulla used the opportunity as a teaching moment to emphasize to the new Celtics guard the importance of playing hard. While the substitution was unusual, Banton felt it was warranted.

“I can’t say it was surprising,” Banton told the Herald. “I feel like it was deserving.”

To his credit, Banton processed the moment well. When he re-entered the game later in the third quarter, he played with energy. Mazzulla later praised Banton’s reception to a difficult moment.

“He has a chance to be a really good player in this league, and I just love the mentality that he brought to being coached and then responding,” Mazzulla said. “That’s super important, and thankful that he allowed me to coach him.”

Banton was grateful for how Mazzulla coached him in that moment.

“I appreciate Joe and how he coaches me,” Banton said. “I just feel like he holds me to a high expectation, to a high standard to be able to play hard and play for every possession. Make every possession count. So, whether that’s diving on a loose ball or running to the corner, I feel like I need to do that 100 percent when I’m on the floor, and that’s what’s going to help me be successful. …

“It’s a good feeling as well. You never want to get subbed out of the game, but to go back in and try to do what your coach is asking of you and try to make up for it. So, it’s never something to hang your head on. He always preaches, ‘You can have a bad moment. It’s just how long you stay in that moment.’ ”

For Banton, it was a good reminder of the consistent effort that will be required of him in order to fill a role on this championship-ready Celtics team. At 6-foot-9, Banton possesses a unique skill set on both ends. He can play point guard. He can fill some backup wing minutes. He’s a long, versatile defender. He flashed his scoring ability with a 20-point effort against the Knicks last week. He’s earned some minutes alongside the Celtics’ regulars during the preseason. The team clearly thinks highly of him.

But nothing is guaranteed. The 23-year-old’s contract is partially guaranteed. The Celtics have high-end talent with a clear top six, and there’s a real fight for playing time behind them. In Tuesday’s preseason win over the Knicks, which seemed to be a full dress rehearsal, Mazzulla’s rotation behind those six included Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet. Banton didn’t appear until the fourth quarter, when the starters rested. His role is unclear at this point, but getting on the floor starts with consistent effort on both ends.

“It’s something that I know I need to do,” Banton said.

Banton played the first two seasons of his career with the Raptors, where playing time was inconsistent. The guard – who went to high school in Massachusetts at the MacDuffie School in Granby and Redemption Christian Academy in Northfield – joined the Celtics this offseason with an eye on being part of something greater as part of a historic franchise.

“You come in, you feel the history,” Banton said. “It feels like you have to work hard. It feels like you know what was here before you, so you have to take pride in being a Celtic. It’s not just an organization, you have to really live it.”

Banton, a Toronto native, said he initially thought about playing for Team Canada at the FIBA World Cup before he realized it was more important to get to Boston early to get acclimated with his new team. He arrived shortly after summer league in July when he started working out at the facility with several other Celtics players who passed through over the summer.

“It was definitely a priority to get here early,” Banton said.

Banton certainly hopes that extra work will pay off for him. What does he think he can add to the Celtics?

“Being versatile, being able to switch on defense, playing aggressive, playing hard, playing with pace,” Banton said. “How hard I play is going to get me on the floor, and being able to guard, taking some of the pressure off these guys. Just being able to put my best foot forward every day.”

With a valuable teaching moment along the way.

“I learned my lesson,” Banton said. “I’ll dive on every loose ball from here on out.”

“Practice has been hard as (expletive), I ain’t gonna lie,” the Celtics star said.

The competitive portions of Celtics practice are closed off from viewing, but the energy on the courts of the Auerbach Center have been apparent from behind closed curtains over the last two weeks. Players have raved about the competitiveness. Something feels different.

It makes sense. A year ago, the Celtics were in the process of navigating an adverse situation after head coach Ime Udoka was suddenly suspended on the eve of training camp. First-time head coach Joe Mazzulla stepped in and did his best, but he was learning on the fly.

“I honestly don’t remember much about the beginning of last year,” Mazzulla admitted. “It happened so fast.”

But with a season under his belt and a full summer of preparation, Mazzulla has organized training camp to his liking. It’s been well received by his players.

“I give Joe a lot of credit. I’ve seen the growth,” Tatum said. “Not that he didn’t do a great job last year, but he’s just had more time to prepare. He was able to get a staff that he felt like supported him the best way. And he’s helped change the culture a little bit in a lot of ways honestly. I feel like he’s had his imprint on how he wants things to be, how he wants to practice, how he wants the environment, the vibe. And we’ve all bought in. …

“Joe has done a great job in kind of taking charge, doing things the way, you know, how he wants (them done). It’s his thing, he’s the coach. And it’s been really cool to see that.”

Payton Pritchard revealed earlier this week that practices have included more group work and team drills than previous camps that had more individual-focused work. The players are embracing that change, too, especially as they get some new players acclimated and try to build chemistry.

“I think that will pay dividends in the future,” Pritchard said.

Mazzulla said the Celtics’ atypical preseason schedule – which has included more time for practices – has been a benefit for his team. They’ve had some two-a-days. There has been more time intense, group-focused practices. Kristaps Porzingis said practices have consistently been high intensity. He mentioned that Tatum and Jaylen Brown went at it at the end of last Saturday’s practice. It’s carried through the rest of the roster.

“We’ve been working hard,” Tatum said. “The second unit’s been pushing the first unit. We have a lot of competitive days, so guys are excited, guys are in good shape, guys have been working this offseason. There’s just like a freshness about this season. We have a new staff, new guys on the team. I think everybody’s just really excited and ready to get going.”

Ego check

One word that’s been mentioned multiple times from Celtics stars recently: Sacrifice.

The Celtics are littered with talent and boast at least six players capable of starting. Mazzulla has insisted the starting lineup night to night won’t matter, but there is still an ego check involved with coming off the bench, or watching from the sidelines during a game’s critical moments.

“It’s been an adjustment period,” Tatum said. “At some points this year everybody’s gonna have to sacrifice. Essentially we’ve probably got six starters. And you can only play five, only five guys can finish the game. So between those six guys, any given night somebody might come off the bench, somebody might not finish, and it’s on all of us to understand that whoever’s night it is it’s for the better of the team. And we really have to buy into that. And it’s not easy sacrificing but it’s something we all have to do.”

On Tuesday night, Al Horford – who has started the vast majority of his career – came off the bench, and performed admirably in the role. He made three hustle plays in the first half that Mazzulla mentioned were the three clips he and his staff showed at halftime.

“If Al can come off the bench at this stage of his career, nobody should have anything to say if you’re the guy that’s coming off the bench or Joe takes you out of the game or if you don’t finish,” Tatum said. “And everybody has to have a team-first mindset to accomplish what we’re trying to do.”

It could be others on any given night. Derrick White or Jrue Holiday could come off the bench, too. No matter what lineup Mazzulla uses, one of the Celtics’ best players will be sitting at any juncture of the game, when the team is fully healthy. That necessary sacrifice doesn’t seem like it will be an issue.

“Honestly, I don’t think these guys care, but all we care about is winning and playing the right way,” Porzingis said. “We’re gonna trust Joe with those kinds of things and the rotations and there’s gonna be some nights somebody’s gonna rest and the starting five is gonna look different. So we’re prepared for it all and, and it doesn’t really make a huge difference for us.”

For Joe Mazzulla, this wasn’t simply a preseason game. He’s treated every moment leading into this season with a purpose.

Everything looked great for the Celtics in the first half, when they were generating open looks on what seemed like every possession and built a lead as large as 27. But when things unraveled in the third, Mazzulla’s patience wore thin. The Celtics were too sloppy. Too many turnovers and fouls. Then Mazzulla lost his cool with an official during a timeout, resulting in a technical foul. As the Celtics’ lead suddenly slipped to eight, Mazzulla called a quick timeout.

The Celtics responded, going on a 9-0 run. Their talent prevailed against the Knicks’ backups as they ultimately cruised to a 123-110 victory. They looked great for stretches, especially offensively as they flashed their potential. But it wasn’t perfect, and Tuesday proved to be a necessary tune-up as the Celtics shake off the cobwebs and continue to build chemistry with a new look.

“It’s not always gonna go our way, but how quickly can we get it back to playing our basketball?” Mazzulla said.

“I think it takes time, right?” Mazzulla added. “I think we’re still learning about each other. It was the first time our guys really played significant minutes together and there’s just a feeling out process there. I liked our approach even when it wasn’t going our way. I think that’s gonna happen. I still thought we were playing physical basketball, we just weren’t executing on both ends of the floor.

“And so I think if you can maintain your approach and your competitive nature, and then constantly drill the execution, I think that’s good. And so I really like where our guys are at mentally.”

Takeaways from Tuesday’s win:

– For the first time this preseason, the Celtics started their expected lineup of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. It’s still unclear if this will be the opening night lineup, though it makes the most sense to maximize their talent and personnel. It’s probably the most fearsome unit in the league that has no obvious flaw on both on offense and defense. That group looked strong to open the game, especially offensively as they produced a ton of open looks from deep. They were a little sloppy defensively, however, allowing Knicks center Mitchell Robinson to roam free for a few putback buckets.

The starting unit was extremely sloppy to open the second half, though. They committed six fouls in the opening four minutes as they quickly got into the penalty, and turnovers piled up in the third quarter. But they pulled it together on both ends to end the quarter strong.

Tatum and Brown played 30 minutes, while Holiday played 29, Porzingis 28 and White 24 as they all took most of the fourth off.

Mazzulla has not announced a regular starting lineup and likely won’t, as he’s insisted it doesn’t matter and his group can play in different ways. He went with a double-big lineup of Porzingis and Al Horford with his first substitution of the game, and there will likely be nights when Horford starts, which would force one of White and Holiday off the bench.

The Celtics seem encouraged with their progress among the top six as they continue to get acclimated with each other and different lineups.

“I think so far, so good,” Brown said. “I think we’re still learning and building off one another. I think the more that we get out there together and we got a lot of guys committed to trying to do the right things, trying to make the right places, trying to get each other involved. So as time progresses, our chemistry is just gonna build.”

– Don’t tell Horford it’s only the preseason. Maybe there was a little pep in his step coming off the bench. Whatever the case, the veteran big man was certainly treating Tuesday like a real game with his effort as he made a handful of hustle plays. On one sequence, he knocked a ball away at the defensive rim to prevent a Knicks second chance before hustling from behind to slam the ball off Donte DiVincenzo out of bounds. On another, he missed a 3-pointer, followed it and ripped an offensive rebound away from DaQuan Jeffries before finding Tatum for a wide-open 3-pointer.

Horford played 23 minutes and was all over the place with eight points, three rebounds and even pushed the Celtics for some transition looks as he finished with three assists. He also had a block and a steal. He was everywhere.

– Tatum has clearly been working on his post game and showcased it a few times this preseason. He played a little bully-ball on two possessions when he drew a smaller Knicks defender in the post and backed them in easily for a bucket. Tatum finished with 28 points as he hit five 3-pointers and had a couple nice drives to the hoop but it looks like he could be adding even more to his offensive repertoire in the post.

– Mazzulla kept the rotation tight for the first three quarters, including Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard on the second unit in addition to Luke Kornet in some double-big lineup combinations.

– The Celtics’ offense was unstoppable in the first half. They had 55 points through the game’s first 15 minutes as they generated one open look after another. They were 16-for-29 from deep in the opening 24 minutes. They finished with 52 attempts from long range. The offense seemed to look too easy at times.

“A lot of open looks,” Brown said. “Just gotta be able to be ready, step in and knock them down. We shoot the ball at all five positions, that’s going to be tough to guard. It’s gonna be a lot of nights like that, nights that we’re not hitting shots, we still have to find ways to be productive. Those are some of the things we have to prepare for.”

“I love it here. It’s been great here being a Celtic,” White said. “That will never change whether I sign before the season or not. If it happens, great. If not, I’m still excited for the season to be here.”

White has two years remaining on the four-year, $70 million extension he signed with the Spurs in 2020. He’s due to earn $18.4 million this season and then $19.6 million in 2024-25. Under the new rules of the collective bargaining agreement, White can extend for three years at 140% of his 2024-25 salary, so a deal would look like something around three years, $85 million that would begin in 2025-26.

White could certainly command more money by building off his breakout 2022-23 season and having another big year in 2023-24. But the Celtics have already made two big commitments this summer with the extensions of Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, and they’ll almost certainly be offering Jayson Tatum a supermax extension when he’s eligible next summer. The team is also reportedly interested in extending Jrue Holiday, who’s eligible for one in February.

Payton Pritchard, after he signed his contract extension recently, said he completely stayed out of negotiations and let his agent handle everything. But White said he’s at least somewhat stayed engaged.

“Obviously talk to my agent and my agent talks to me,” White said. “I’m involved a little bit. Probably somewhere in the middle between Payton and maybe like, I don’t know, someone that’s really involved.”

No matter if White signs an extension in the next week or not, his value as a reliable two-way player and proven all-league defender is clear, even if he’s still being overlooked.

ESPN released its annual Top 100 player rankings last week – compiled by a panel of nearly 150 reporters, editors, producers and analysts – and somehow, laughably, White was left off the list. Other guards who have recently been less impactful, like Russell Westbrook and Mike Conley, made the list over White. Even former teammate Grant Williams made the cut.

White wasn’t fazed by the snub.

“Was I surprised? I mean, that’s just kind of how my life has always been, so not really surprised,” White said. “It is what it is. I don’t really focus too much on it.”

White has clear respect around the league, which has been apparent in light of that exclusion. J.J. Redick, who works for ESPN, ripped White’s snub from the list on a recent episode of his podcast. Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell said after his team’s preseason game on Sunday that White is serving as an inspiration for his play this season, noting that the Celtics guard doesn’t get the credit he deserves for all the winning plays he makes. White saw that when he woke up Monday morning.

“That was cool. I was kind of shocked,” White said. “I woke up and my boy sent me the D’Angelo Russell quote. But I mean especially from someone that’s done so much, an All-Star in this league, it was cool to hear. J.J., that’s my man. Shoutout to him. I don’t really focus on Top 100 or whatnot, but it’s cool to have that recognition from great players.”

A welcome wrinkle

The Celtics have had an unusual preseason schedule. They began their five-game slate by playing three games in four days. Then they had five days off before their last two games on Tuesday against the Knicks and then the finale on Thursday against the Hornets. Then, they’ll have another five-day layoff before next Wednesday’s season opener at the Knicks.

While the schedule is certainly atypical, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t mind it. It’s allowed his team to get in some extra practice time, which is especially valuable with several additions to the roster.

“It’s been fun. I enjoy it, actually,” Mazzulla said. “Because I think for a long time training camp ends the first game of the preseason, whereas like training camp for us, we wanted to cover the whole month. So using the entire month to simulate different situations during the season, and then work on different stuff. So I feel like by the end of our training camp we’ll have gone through small pockets of the season, which will help us.”

Tip-ins

Mazzulla chose to start White, Holiday, Tatum, Brown and Porzingis for Tuesday’s preseason game, leaving Al Horford to come off the bench. …

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau worked as an assistant under Jeff Van Gundy for several years during his head-coaching stints with the Knicks and then the Rockets, so he knows firsthand the Celtics’ hiring of Van Gundy as a senior consultant to their basketball operations will be beneficial to the franchise.

“I think in a lot of ways,” Thibodeau said. “He has a lot of experience in the league. He can look at it from a different lens, broader perspective. I think he’s a good asset to have for the staff. He’s a great asset to have for the front office and whichever way they want to use him, he’ll add a lot to it.” …

Romeo Langford, who the Celtics drafted in the first round in 2019 before trading him to the Spurs in the deal for White, was waived by the Jazz on Tuesday.

“I’m still looking for a place to live,” Holiday said Monday. “It’s just the market’s weird, some things fell through, weird stuff happened. It never goes smoothly.”

Holiday’s been here before. The guard has been traded twice in his career, first in 2013 when he was dealt from the 76ers to the Pelicans and then again in 2020 when he was moved to the Bucks. The latter represents a more relatable situation to now, since the deal came early in the 2020-21 season, forcing Holiday to immediately acclimate to his new team like he is right now.

That transition went well, as Holiday ultimately won a championship in Milwaukee in his first season.

The Celtics, obviously, are hoping for the same result this time. Holiday wasted no time in his adjustment period. The morning after he was traded, he beat Brad Stevens to the practice facility. After his first preseason game with the Celtics, he said he had moved on from the crazy week of the trade. He’s put the focus on basketball and gaining chemistry with his teammates. The results, in two preseason appearances, have looked mostly seamless in the minutes he’s played despite just being traded.

“I think it varies for each person,” Holiday said. “Sometimes being traded or if there’s coaching changes or if there’s player changes, there’s always going to be a time where the transition is just a little different because of personnel. So for me, obviously everything is different on the court and off the court. But on the court, I take it very seriously. That’s something that I every day have questions, ask questions, try to get acclimated as quick as possible.”

The Celtics have two preseason games remaining, including Tuesday night against the Knicks in which coach Joe Mazzulla indicated that all of the regulars, including Holiday, will play as they try to build more chemistry. But Mazzulla said he’s been encouraged with practices during camp and the connectivity they’ve developed through game-like situations.

For Holiday, the transition has also been made easier by the presence of assistant coach Charles Lee, who coached Holiday for his three seasons in Milwaukee. Holiday said Lee has brought some schemes from Milwaukee to Boston.

“Charles has always been the type to be very teacher-esque,” Holiday said. “If I have any questions or anything like that, I could always go to him. But he’s always quizzing me on plays, he’s quizzing me on schemes. What we want to do defensively. Literally just walk up to me and ask me a question about something and I have to answer. So always just keeping my mind going, my mind engaged. …

“I kind of call him a teacher because when he talks you always have to pay attention,” Holiday continued of Lee. “He’s always kind of like hinting at the answer but kind of using your brain to think and really just think the game. So him being over here just makes it more natural for me.”

Praise for White

Derrick White may not get much attention since he’s not a star, but the Celtics guard clearly has earned respect around the league. After a preseason game on Sunday, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell said that he wants to play like White this season.

“My inspiration has been Derrick White. I wanna be Derrick White,” Russell said. “He doesn’t get a lot of credit for what he does, makes all the winning plays, and that’s who I wanna be.”

White has proven to be one of the most dependable players on the Celtics on both ends, especially defensively after being named to the league’s All-Defensive second team last season.

“You can rely on him every single day,” Mazzulla said. “He understands it’s not always going to go his way and he always has really good body language. He’s one of our intangible leaders because he kind of brings it every single day and we can heavily rely on him in those areas, so, that’s a great goal to have, to be someone like him. I still think he’s underrated from a defensive standpoint because of how good he is, and hopefully if he continues to grow offensively we can see a different side of him as well there.”

Tip-ins

There was a report from ESPN last week that USA Basketball was aggressively pursuing Holiday to return for Team USA at next summer’s Olympics. Asked on Monday, Holiday said he hasn’t heard anything but expressed his interest in a return. He helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics.

“Would I like to hear from them? Why not?” Holiday said. “I’d like to see what we can do out there.” …

While Mazzulla has not yet committed to a starting lineup, Holiday echoed his coach’s words from over the weekend about it not mattering to him.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Holiday said when asked how important starting is to him. “I like winning. Winning is really important. Playing good on the court is important. Supporting my teammates is important. So it’s not always how you start, it’s how you finish.” …

Jeff Van Gundy, who was recently hired by the Celtics as a senior consultant, was spotted after Monday’s practice at the Auerbach Center. He was on the side of the practice courts having a long chat with Brad Stevens.

The International Olympic Committee announced the approved additions, as well as cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash, in the early hours of October 16. Flag football and squash are newcomers to the international event, but it’s been over a century since cricket (1900 Paris Olympics) and lacrosse (1904 St. Louis, 1908 London) made the cut.

Baseball has occupied an inconsistent place in Olympic history. It technically made its debut at the 1904 event in St. Louis, but wasn’t played as a demonstration sport until the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. In that first contest, the United States bested Sweden – a team filled out by several Americans – 13-3 in a six-inning contest that inexplicably included the Swedes having a six-out sixth inning. Brief exhibition and modified games were featured at the Paris Summer Olympics in 1924, Berlin in ‘36, Helsinki in ‘52, ‘56 Melbourne, and ‘64 Tokyo before a tournament format was implemented for the 1984 games in Los Angeles.

Despite its long Olympic history, Baseball didn’t become an official medal sport until Barcelona 1992. The relationship between the Olympics and Major League Baseball only began in this century. Professional ballplayers weren’t admitted until 2000, and MLB wouldn’t allow members of the 40-man roster to participate in that year’s event, 2004, or 2008.

In 2005, the IOC voted to remove baseball and softball from the 2012 slate, something not seen since polo was removed in 1936. After a baseball-less Berlin Olympics in 2016, the sport returned to the 2020 games in Tokyo, which ended up taking place in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It won’t be on the docket for the 2024 games in Paris, but Los Angeles isn’t too far off.

“The (World Baseball Softball Confederation) firmly believes that baseball and softball will help millions of fans engage with the Olympic Games,” said WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari in a statement on Monday. “Especially with (the United States) being home to many of the sports’ best players and biggest stars from across the world. It is going to be an electric atmosphere in L.A., where the best baseball and softball athletes in the world will have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage in front of a global audience of billions.”

In the past, several current and former Red Sox players have represented Team USA and other countries. Before they became teammates in Boston, Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida faced off in Tokyo in 2021, with Yoshida’s Team Japan defeating Casas and Team USA to take home the gold. Zack Weiss, who briefly pitched for Boston this season, was a member of Team Israel in that year’s Olympics, playing alongside former Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway and infielders Danny Valencia and Ian Kinsler, who was a member of the 2018 championship team. Former Red Sox prospect Denyi Reyes was a member of bronze-winning Team Dominican Republic.

Former Red Sox World Series champions Daisuke Matsuzaka (2007) and Koji Uehara (2013) won the bronze medal with Team Japan in 2004. Doug Mientkiewicz was already a gold medalist when he arrived in Boston at the 2004 trade deadline and helped reverse the curse; as a minor leaguer, he’d played for Team USA at the 2000 games in Sydney. And long before that, two young college baseball stars, Georgia Tech teammates Jason Varitek and Nomar Garciaparra, were members of the fourth-place Team USA in Barcelona 1992.

Unfortunately, the Summer Olympics’ overlap with MLB’s intense 162-game schedule makes it difficult for teams to lose players. Instead, Boston sports fans can look forward to Paris 2024, which could feature several Celtics stars, including Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday.

Jeff Van Gundy – who has coached and worked in the NBA for more than three decades – has been hired by the Celtics as a senior consultant. MassLive.com first reported the news on Saturday, which was revealed on the Celtics’ website as he was added under the coaching staff section.

A team official clarified that Van Gundy will work in an advisory role for the entire basketball operations department, not just the coaching staff, and his responsibilities will include the G-League Maine Celtics. Mazzulla said the veteran coach will not be on the bench during games, but that he’ll be in every meeting and games when he’s in Boston. He’s excited to have another experienced person behind the scenes.

“Any time you can add high character, high level, professional people, I think it’s a no-brainer,” Mazzulla said. “So, fortunate enough that he’s here, not just for the coaching staff, but for everybody and he’s been through every imaginable situation in the NBA, in coaching, FIBA, NBA and so we’re just lucky to have him. And he’s a great listener and a great worker. So he’s added a lot of value, even in the first couple of weeks.”

Van Gundy began coaching in the NBA in 1989 when he was named an assistant with the Knicks before becoming a head coach for 11 seasons, seven with the Knicks and then four with the Rockets. After his firing in Houston in 2007, he pivoted to broadcasting and became a color analyst for ESPN’s top announcing team through last season. He was laid off in June as part of the network’s reduction in force.

Van Gundy also has coaching experience at the international level. He was the head coach of the senior United States team and guided them to the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.

The 61-year-old Van Gundy is the latest experienced mind the Celtics have added this offseason after they hired longtime assistants Charles Lee and Sam Cassell this summer. Mazzulla has already picked Van Gundy’s brain on many things.

“A lot. Try to run a lot of stuff by him,” Mazzulla said. “It’s good to get a guy who hasn’t been here before that can kind of have an unbiased opinion as to where he thinks things are, and where they need to go. And so he’s kind of like a fresh set of eyes because he’s not around all the time. And he’s looking at it from an unbiased position, which kind of gives us an advantage because you kind of see it in a different perspective.”

Cassell making impact

The hiring of Van Gundy wasn’t the only no-brainer addition for Mazzulla’s staff this year.

After Doc Rivers was fired by the 76ers following last season, Mazzulla chatted with Rivers about the possibility of adding Cassell – who was an assistant to Rivers in Philadelphia – to Boston’s staff.

“It was very simple,” Mazzulla said. “It was like, ‘If you don’t hire him, someone else will.’ And so Doc spoke very highly of him and it was very like, it’s a no-brainer. So that was it.”

Cassell, a former point guard, has been working closely with Jayson Tatum one-on-one and his value has already been apparent beyond just coaching up the Celtics superstar.

“I think just Sam’s been through every situation in the game,” Mazzulla said. “He’s worked with players on the court and off the court, right? So as much as he’s working with Jayson, we need him to have one-on-one conversations with Jaylen (Brown), develop Jaylen. Like, Sam worked out with Dalano (Banton) yesterday. …

Sam’s just been around a long time and he’s been relied upon by really good coaches to just kind of navigate the roster because of all his experience. And so like, yes, he’s working with Tatum, but we really need him to navigate the roster, meet each individual guy where he’s at and then help them get to where we need them to go.”

Queta earning keep

New Celtics big man Neemias Queta is only on a two-way contract but has impressed in his two preseason games with toughness and hustle plays and is building a case to potentially earn some backup center minutes. Queta has mostly played against other backups but he could get an expanded role to further prove himself? Mazzulla said he hasn’t thought ahead but that they will continue to keep a close eye on Queta over the final two preseason games.

“He’s earned minutes, he’s earned opportunity,” Mazzulla said. “He’s done everything we asked him to do. And he’s coming every day and has worked. I really liked how he’s gotten better and better each time he’s been on the floor. So we’re excited that we have an opportunity to develop him and, over these next two preseason games, it’s definitely a goal to see how he does. Can he continue to get better, can he continue to execute on both ends?” …

Sam Vincent, who was drafted by the Celtics in 1985 and was a member of the 1986 championship team, was a special guest at practice on Saturday.

Defensively, though, Porzingis might be a little underrated. He ranked among the best pick-and-roll defenders in the NBA last season, and with his size and mobility, presents a huge challenge to opponents at the rim, as he’s already shown in two preseason games. Already, his attention to detail on that end has caught Al Horford’s eye.

“With us, we’re asking him to do a lot, to cover a lot of things,” Horford said. “Already I feel like he has my back covering different positions on the court. Everybody knows his offense. His offense is great. We know he can do a lot of things. But on defense he’s doing a good job of talking to us, protecting the basket and really staying active.”

That sounds a lot like the departed Robert Williams, who possessed elite defensive protection for his teammates defending on the perimeter. His teammates could be more aggressive knowing Williams was there to help. Porzingis may not be at the same level as Williams, but early returns indicate the Celtics’ rim protection shouldn’t fall too far with him gone.

“I just think he has really good instincts,” Horford said of Porzingis. “Sometimes it’s not easy when you’re on the back line trying to recognize when to come help, when to drop off, things like that. It comes pretty easy, from what I’ve seen. He’s able to recover, make a play and be able to help us.”

Starters don’t matter?

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has not yet committed to a set starting lineup, and it doesn’t seem like he will. The preconceived notion is that Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Porzingis will start most nights, but Horford may factor into the equation based on matchups. Mazzulla isn’t getting too caught up in it.

“I would ask myself, it’s a 48 minute game, if we get so worked up about the first five minutes of the game, what are they doing the other 43 minutes?” Mazzulla said Friday.

Mazzulla noted a strength of last season’s team was its ability to plug players into the starting lineup on nights when regulars were missing, and that should continue this season. He has previously mentioned he believes there are eight or nine starting-caliber players.

“We won 10 games last year because our second, third, whatever unit we had, our non-original starters, were able to step in and keep the intensity and the execution where it was,” Mazzulla said. “So I think that’s the teaching. It’s at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is we have to play hard and we have to execute.”

Early mentorship

Celtics rookie Jordan Walsh joked at media day he wasn’t even born when Horford was going to college. But the 19-year-old has already developed a deep bond with the 37-year-old veteran. The two spoke before Walsh was even drafted by the Celtics, and now that they’re teammates, Horford has taken him under his wing. He’s been impressed with what he’s seen.

“I just think Jordan is a great kid,” Horford said. “He’s really trying to understand how to be a pro. He’s about the right things already. He’s about winning, he’s about caring for the team, doing what he has to do with us. With that attitude, it’s going to take him a long way. It’s been great to watch him, his work ethic, his commitment, he’s always one of the first ones here in the building. He’s always asking questions, always trying to learn, he already has that right mindset.

“For me, it’s to kind of let him grow and develop and be there for him, as a sounding board if he needs anything, any advice or anything like that. He’s doing a great job so far.”

WNBA coming soon?

Boston, despite being a basketball hotbed, has not been represented in the WNBA since its inception in 1996. Could that be changing soon?

Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck, in a recent interview with Axios, left the possibility open.

“There’s some discussions underway,” Grousbeck said.

“Stay tuned, but I’m not sure,” he added. “I’ve heard some rumblings.”

There will be 13 teams in the WNBA after the league announced last week an expansion franchise will come to the Bay Area, and there’s expected to be another one set to begin in 2025.

Grousbeck noted an obstacle that has challenged Boston’s ability to bring a WNBA team to the city, which is that the Celtics don’t own their building. The Bruins own TD Garden.

“I’ve been open to it all along, except that it just doesn’t work out as well if you don’t own the building,” Grousbeck said.

Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Al Horford all returned to the lineup and played the first half together before the backups led a 112-101 victory in Philadelphia. Payton Pritchard, once again, led the way with 17 points as his impressive preseason continued but it was a notable night for some players vying for roles on the team.

Some takeaways from the Celtics’ victory:

– White emerged last season as one of the best defenders in the NBA – named to the league’s All-Defensive second team – after he led all guards in blocks, and it looks like he’s picking up right where he left off. He recorded three blocks in 17 minutes in the first half and was everywhere on both ends.

The most impressive sequence came in the first quarter, when he raced back to record a block of Tyrese Maxey at the rim in transition before knocking down a 3-pointer on the next play. He finished the half with 11 points, four assists, three blocks and a steal, and looks very ready for the regular season to start. The transition to sharing a backcourt with Holiday has looked seamless so far, too.

– Porzingis was the star of Sunday’s preseason opener and looked strong in stretches again on Wednesday. He pushed the Celtics to an early 7-0 start behind a stop at the rim of Paul Reed followed by a deep 28-foot 3-pointer. He even showcased his post game ability – something the C’s want to utilize – by rising over Reed for a 12-foot turnaround but it rimmed out. Porzingis finished with 11 points and five rebounds, but was a little bit sloppy with three turnovers.

With both Tatum and Brown out, it gave Joe Mazzulla another long look at the Celtics’ two-big lineup of Porzingis and Horford. While it seems likely Horford will come off the bench when the regular season starts, it’s clear Mazzulla will utilize the two-big lineup often.

“They’re both really good 3-point shooters, they’re both really good passers, they both can play off the dribble a little bit on a close-out, so I think when you have size and versatility, it makes a lot of sense to try to take advantage of that in some capacity,” Mazzulla told reporters in Philadelphia. “I think just having those two guys out there is different than what we’ve ever had as far as double-big lineups when it comes to shooting and skill, and so we just try to take advantage of that.”

– Dalano Banton had a strong showing in Monday’s loss to the Knicks as he built a case to be in the rotation, and he was seemingly rewarded by being the first player off the bench Wednesday and getting minutes alongside the starters. But Mazzulla made an example of him with a clear teaching moment in the second half.

Banton started the second half but was suddenly removed 36 seconds in. As Lamar Stevens went into the game, Mazzulla ripped into Banton. Upon further review, it seemed Mazzulla was upset because Banton didn’t dive to the floor for a loose ball when he had a chance to get it. The play resulted in a jump ball, which gave the Sixers another opportunity.

“There’s nothing more important than holding people to a high standard, especially when you believe in them and know they can be really, really good,” Mazzulla told reporters. “We have a roster of 1 through 17 that I truly believe in. It was just a good learning opportunity. There was a loose ball there and I thought he could have gotten it. Credit to him that he was able to take coaching and he responded really, really well. He has a chance to be a really good player in this league, and I just love the mentality that he brought to being coached and then responding. That’s super important, and thankful that he allowed me to coach him.”

– Wednesday was a big bounce-back night for Sam Hauser, who struggled shooting in the first two preseason games. Hauser got the start and shook off a 2-for-15 start to the preseason by scoring 15 points on 4-for-9 shooting from deep. He also added three assists and was solid defensively with a block and steal.

“When you see one go down, your confidence goes up,” Hauser told NBC Sports Boston. “Shooters keep shooting, so eventually they’re going to start falling.”

– Perhaps no Celtic has raised their stock this preseason more than Svi Mykhailiuk. The guard followed up Monday’s strong 15-point debut by scoring another 15 points on 3-for-4 shooting from long range on Wednesday. Mykhailiuk’s deal with the Celtics is partially guaranteed but his likelihood of earning a spot on the team is looking greater by the day.

– The Celtics’ frontcourt depth is the team’s biggest question mark after the sudden departure of Robert Williams and it’s left plenty of room for opportunity for the bigs on the training camp roster. Neemias Queta looked primed to take advantage.

Queta signed a two-way contract with the Celtics prior to camp but the 24-year-old seven-footer is building a case to be a potential frontcourt option for Mazzulla. He has given the Celtics a dose of energy and toughness in both of his preseason appearances. On Wednesday, he had 10 points and three rebounds in just eight minutes, which included cleaning up a Pritchard miss for two and finishing a lob from Banton. Queta may not be a 3-point threat but there could be a role for him if he continues to crash the glass and make tough plays inside.

Under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, it was the Celtics’ reserves time to shine.

While the Celtics’ top-end talent obviously makes them a championship favorite this season, there is some uncertainty with their depth and who may crack the regular rotation. Some of those questions started to get answered on Monday as they got a long look against the Knicks starters in a 114-107 loss.

Some Celtics takeaways from the loss:

– A night after pouring in a game-high 26 points shortly after signing a big contract extension, Payton Pritchard impressed again going up against New York’s starters. He finished with a team-high 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting (4-for-11 from distance), looked good running the offense with five assists, and was also active defensively with three steals. He sat the fourth quarter.

Pritchard has lived up to the hype of his impressive summer and camp with two strong performances to open the preseason as he looks more and more ready to help lead Boston’s second unit.

“His ability to make plays on the offensive end, make the right play, whether it’s drive it, his recognition of screening,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters in New York. “Defensively, he’s versatile and can do different things. He can switch, he can maintain.”

– Dalano Banton might have been the biggest Celtics winner on Monday. The 23-year-old newcomer, who signed a two-year deal this offseason, scored 20 points on 8-for-19 shooting that included several impressive, strong finishes at the basket. The Celtics could use some wing depth behind Tatum and Brown, and Banton’s performance Monday helped him build a case for a rotation spot. At 6-foot-9, Banton is a unique player who can be versatile on both ends for the Celtics.

“He’s young. His length, he does a good job getting deflections, does a great job rebounding out of his area, does a great job crashing and really understands the game,” Mazzulla said. “I think he’s a really smart player, so we’re fortunate to be able to work with him and try to develop him.”

– A year after he shined in the preseason to help cement a roster spot, Sam Hauser is struggling to start this preseason. The backup forward is shooting 2-for-15 – all from long distance – in the first two games, including a 2-for-9 mark on Monday.

– Svi Mykhailiuk is only on a partially guaranteed deal with the Celtics but Monday was a very good night for him as he tries to grab one of the final roster spots. He created a spark off the bench with 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting, which included three 3-pointers and one very deep one. He also showed his athleticism with a pair of dunks, which included an alley-oop. He certainly needs to improve defensively but there is a lot to build on.

– Mazzulla has expressed confidence in Luke Kornet as a trusted backup center option following the departure of Robert Williams, but Monday was a bit of a mixed bag. He finished with only two rebounds in 20 minutes and was overpowered several times on the defensive glass by New York’s Mitchell Robinson. He was also whistled for a pair of defensive three seconds calls early in the first quarter.

Kornet does several things well. He gives them a rim presence offensively, which he showed with an alley-oop, sets good screens and he recorded a pair of blocks, but there is certainly some room for improvement.

– Jordan Walsh made his Celtics preseason debut on Monday, and known for his defensive ability, the rookie held his own going against some Knicks regulars. On one play in the first half, he stripped Julius Randle and then took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup.

– For guys battling for roster spots, it’s especially important in these games to show consistent effort. To that respect, Lamar Stevens showed something with an impressive sequence in the first half, when over three possessions, he made a sweet behind-the-back dribble into a fadeaway shot, then made a defensive stop at the rim, and then cleaned up a miss with a putback.

“It comes down to, can you build trust?” Mazzulla said. “The first way to build trust is by playing hard, by paying attention and knowing what you’re doing. Everybody top to bottom has done that so far. They’ve played hard, they’ve paid attention. The mistakes we made are not because we’re not trying, they’re just mistakes that you learn from. And so I think that’s the first evaluation is can we trust you and put you in a situation to execute a possession with physicality and IQ.”

– Don’t tell Mazzulla that preseason outcomes don’t matter. One sequence at the end of the third quarter stood out to him as a teaching moment. Pritchard made a deep 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left, but left too much time on the clock. The Knicks caught the Celtics sleeping defensively, and Isaiah Hartenstein snuck behind the defense for an easy dunk as time expired. Mazzulla was incensed as he stormed on to the court.

“Preseason, not preseason, situational basketball is super important,” he said. “There’s just situational stuff regardless that you can learn from. I loved the effort and I loved our mindset, loved our physicality. There’s a lot of really good situational possessions that we can learn from.”

On an otherwise peaceful autumn Sunday afternoon in Boston, the volume inside the Garden was piercing. It was only their preseason opener. But the excitement for this Celtics team was clearly apparent as the ball tipped off for the first time this season.

Maybe it helped that the lousy Patriots had just suffered another blowout loss mere hours beforehand, which put the spotlight solely on Boston’s lone championship favorite. The Celtics are the pride of the city right now, and they showed why on Sunday.

The Celtics got a good look at their two prized additions, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. And Payton Pritchard, with the ink still drying on his new contract extension, took over late, as the Celtics came from behind to beat the 76ers with a 114-106 preseason-opening win that left Joe Mazzulla satisfied.

“We played with physicality. Defensively, we played with the right mindset, we played with the intentionality of trying to do the right thing,” Mazzulla said. “And as long as our intention is there, and our effort is there, and our mindsets there … we didn’t execute great, but it’s the first game. So I care about the other stuff.”

The energy inside the Garden was unusual for a preseason game, but it left both Porzingis and Holiday impressed and excited for the future.

“That was insane for a preseason game,” said Porzingis, who finished with 17 points in his debut. “I’m very happy to be a Celtic, I’m not gonna lie.”

Takeaways from the Celtics’ victory:

– Porzingis was feeling himself. The new Celtics big man, in the midst of a strong first quarter, finished a lob from Derrick White with authority, flushing the alley-oop with one hand. He took a glance at the Celtics bench, where his new teammates were celebrating the play, with a look of mild surprise of himself.

As much as excitement has been generated over the last week with the acquisition of Jrue Holiday, Porzingis stole the show on Sunday. In his first game with the C’s, he looked like the natural fit that Brad Stevens must have been envisioning when he made the trade in June to part with Marcus Smart. Porzingis scored from all three levels, opening the game with a 3-pointer from the wing. He looked lethal in the two-man game with both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, working with them to generate easy looks everywhere.

“I think he has the ability to play both ends of the floor and just having that dynamic just opens up the floor for us,” Mazzulla said. “I think just the guys getting used to playing with each other, I thought we passed up some open shots, but he gives us a different dynamic, makes the game easier for all the guys and it’s gonna continue to get better.”

Defensively, Porzingis was impactful, too, as he stopped several close looks at the rim in the early going and even combined with Al Horford on a transition block.

Porzingis, who missed about a month this summer with plantar fasciitis in his foot, looked comfortable. It was a strong first impression and a reminder that Porzingis’ addition will make life miserable for opposing defenses, who have to worry about him as well as Tatum and Brown.

“It’s super easy honestly,” Porzingis said. “Those guys are so talented, Jayson draws so much attention that it opens things up for me and that’s a perfect scenario for me. … We’re freestyling it and playing off of each other. So it has to be pretty impossible for the other team to understand what’s gonna happen.”

– Mazzulla opted to start Horford over Holiday on Sunday, which shouldn’t be read into. Mazzulla said Holiday is still acclimating to the team, and the C’s will play several different lineups over the course of the season. Holiday is likely to start. Sunday was a good look at the double-big lineup with Porzingis and Horford, and the two looked good next to each other.

Holiday got an extended look with the expected starting five in the third quarter, when the unit went on a 9-0 run with all the points scored by Brown. That group is clearly still gaining some chemistry together.

“I think it’s just about time. Time on the court,” Holiday said. “Getting a chance to play with them and see what’s going to happen, see where I’m supposed to be and where I’m going to be getting the ball, and things like that. But real fun, glad I got to go out there and play.”

– Sam Hauser described Pritchard as a player “out for blood” this season after a strong summer and start to camp, and the early returns of that observation are correct. Pritchard led all scorers with 26 points, which included six 3-pointers and the dagger triple with under a minute remaining to help seal the victory.

Pritchard made big strides over the summer and he looks ready to seize a larger role off the bench this season.

“What you saw tonight and what you’ll see throughout the year is just his mindset, and his professionalism to just be prepared over the last three years,” Mazzulla said. “And, guys like him, they get rewarded in some capacity. And as I said before, we’re gonna rely on him to give us another layer of toughness, another layer of physicality, another layer of playing with the right mindset.”

– Tatum had a tough shooting game in Sunday’s opener as he started 2-for-11 and finished 3-for-13 for 13 points. But Mazzulla liked the star’s approach as he played more in the post.

“At the end of day, just playing with physicality, whether it’s from three, whether it’s from the post on, and even on some of the missed layups that he had, I thought he went downhill with force,” Mazzulla said. “And so he’s doing a great job of just understanding where he’s going, what spots he’s gonna get to at different spots of the game, and as long as he does it with physicality and be ready to make the right play.”