addByline("Peter Stringer", "Celtics.com", "PeterStringer");
NEW YORK – Three games into an eight-game exhibition slate, the Celtics are 3-0. What does that mean?
Even if two of those victories weren’t against NBA competition, the squad’s mood is upbeat, and early on things seem to pointing in the right direction.
Asked what to make of being undefeated during the preseason, swingman Evan Turner noted that he’s encouraged by what he’s seen not only during the games, but behind the scenes on the practice court and in the locker room.
“We looked pretty dominant, I will say that. I don’t feel like the 19th-best team in the NBA from what (pundits) say,” Turner said of the 3-0 start while lacing up his sneakers for the team's shootaround on Friday. “I’ve been around a few teams and I think our rhythm, how we’re playing, and the chemistry and our intensity in practice, it shows well for the future.”
In the immediate future, the Celtics will go without Marcus Smart (illness) and Terry Rozier (knee) tonight. Otherwise, coach Brad Stevens will have a full slate of players to chose from as he continues to whittle down his rotation as the team tunes up for their Oct. 28 opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Stevens said he’ll likely play certain guys only during one half and not the other tonight, targeting about 16 to 18 minutes of playing time apiece. The starting lineups and rotations on display tonight in Manhattan are subject to change by Monday evening when the C's host the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys who can play, so if you’re gonna play even a few less minutes, that’s how much more energy you can give in those few less minutes,” Stevens said. “So we’re going to keep handing the baton off and try to keep our standard of play at a high level.”
That high level of play is due in part to Stevens having a core group of players returning from last season who are already familiar with his system. As for the newcomers, outside of the rookies, the C’s added a pair of seasoned veterans who know the drill well and needed little ramp-up time.
“When you’ve got a large number of your group back, it goes quicker. And then the guys we added, Amir [Johnson] and David [Lee] can do some of this stuff in their sleep,” Stevens said.
As for sorting out his rotation with the season drawing near, it remains a work in progress as of today. Stevens indicated that it’s likely to evolve throughout the season as well.
“Our rotation changed three times a year in the first two years,” Stevens said, referencing the various in-season transactions that the team has made since his arrival. “You put yourself into what you think is best early on, and inevitably you make tweaks and changes throughout the year.
“Hopefully by the end of the year you get an idea of who can do what, and who does well together,” he added.
For the meantime, most of the things Stevens has tried in October have worked well, given the 3-0 start. Turner’s assessment of “dominant” is certainly a little heavy-handed. Regardless, wins are wins, even during the preseason.
If nothing else, 3-0 is certainly encouraging.