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The Mavericks begin their 2026-2027 campaign on Oct. 9th against the Houston Rockets in an early morning game in Macau, China. As with almost every single year, the Mavericks enter their first preseason game with massive questions surrounding the roster, with a near complete overturn of their 2025 roster.

What is the starting lineup?

The most pressing question I have is who will encompass Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving in the starting lineup. The Mavericks have plenty of players who could start in the NBA, but the fit between these players to paramount.

Due to this, I would expect Naji Marshall to be the sixth-man even though he may be one of the five best players on the roster.

Will P.J. Washington start? Washington has been a main-stay in the starting lineup since his arrival in Dallas, but the arrival of Morez Johnson Jr and Santi Aldama could mean his starting spot is up for grabs. Starting Johnson Jr. would be a commitment to the future, while Aldama is the best fit next to Flagg.

The Mavericks also went after Zaccharie Risacher this summer, a player with real talent and potential. Risacher is also up for a contract extension after the season, with a possible extension being over $20 million a year.

Could the Mavericks commit to Johnson Jr. at center? Could an all lottery lineup be in the cards?

We probably won’t know entirely based on preseason, but it will be interesting to see what levers Dusty May pulls in his first NBA games.

How do the rookies make an impact?

Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea are both expected to be immediate contributors for the Mavericks this season, but these presaeason games will be their first real taste of the NBA.

Both players showed plenty of promise in Summer League, with Johnson Jr.’s defense and athleticism, and De Larrea’s passing.

For Johnson Jr., he needs to showcase his ability to stretch the floor as a three-point shooter, along with seeing if he can surviive at the 5 defensively.

De Larrea needs to show if can handle NBA ball pressure and physicality as a ball handler, along with his catch-and-shoot ability.

Kyrie Irving’s return

If there is a primary source of optimism for the season, it is the return of Kyrie Irving.

Irving missed all of last season with a knee injury, and at age 34, there are real questions about whether he can still perform at an all-star level.

What I’m watching with Irving is his overall quickness and explosiveness. Now Irving has never been an elite leaper, nor the most explosive driver, but his quickness has always been underrated. If Irving is slower than his previous self, it will dramatically effect how he can be used within the Mavericks offense, as his role could become based around his shooting ability.

Irving has always thrived as a second option next to a star, but how will he handle playing with a young star like Flagg?

All of these questions won’t be answered in preseason, but if Irving is no longer the player he once was, it won’t be hard to tell.

Dusty May’s offense

The Jason Kidd offense was often meandering in its approach, rarely having any sort of real focus or style. But that should be different under May.

May has always been adept at adapting his offense around is personnel, so it will incredibly interesting to see how he tailor the offense around this Mavericks team.

Will he lean into bully ball and offensive rebounding? Or will the Mavericks be a fast-paced, run-and-gun style offense.

Will the Mavericks shoot 45 threes a game? Or will they be stuck in 2005.

Preseason basketball doesn’t mean much, but there are still questions that can start to be answered in these exhibition games.

Yesterday, you read Part I of our first Roundtable for the year, where we talked shop: Bucks record, offensive and defensive ratings, team MVP, and who will make the biggest leap. You know, the more typical season predictions. Part II similarly predicts what’s ahead—but gets a little bolder. Enjoy!

Who (or what) will be the biggest surprise—for better or worse?

Jack: If my “Rollins will put himself in All-Star consideration” answer doesn’t qualify, I will say that Myles Turner has a career-best season. I feel like Turner’s role last year was really suboptimal. He was basically asked to stand out on the three-point line while GA drove to the rim, and then, in the few opportunities he actually got the ball, he was expected to make shots. Doesn’t work that way. You need guys to feel like they’re involved in the game—I think MT will get that this year.

Jackson: I think Myles Turner is due for a resurgence this season. Anyone who followed my articles or ramblings on the podcast know that I was hammering the table for Turner to be used more as a floor spacer on offense and more than just a drop coverage guy on defense in the pick-and-roll. I think he has so much more to offer, and I think he’ll trend back to being an underrated player in the NBA, rather than a potentially overpaid one.

Zac: Nate Ament’s arrival. Folks were largely down on Ament when the Bucks drafted him—even before they drafted him, really—and since then it’s almost become widely accepted as fact that he’ll play most of his basketball this season with the Wisconsin Herd and will be largely ineffective against the big boys in the NBA. Call me overly optimistic, but I see Ament being thrown into the fire—and being all the better for it. He’ll find his niche with this group as a stretch forward who can attack closeouts, earn minutes on the regular, and find a way to have the naysayers rooting for him.

Aiden: I see the biggest surprise for this Bucks team being fan favourite AJ Green slipping out of the rotation and possibly being traded. I love AJ Green; he has been one of my favourite players over these last few years—his card is one of my favourites in my personal collection. That being said, we have a logjam at the guard position, with the departure of Giannis his skill set has become expendable, and playing him at the three just isn’t feasible. He will be an enticing player for contending teams hoping to add an elite shooter, and the Bucks will be able to get some value from him.

Nate: Kel’el Ware, for better. Imagine the wrath of a scorned Kryptonian. That is what the NBA has to look forward to this season. Ware has had his motor questioned really since college, but his freakish athleticism has never been questioned. While motor issues are nothing to write-off, at 22 years old I am of the belief there is an element to his motor issues that deal with his processing of the game and decision making. That has shown signs of steady improvement each year he has been on our radar throughout college and his two seasons in the association, and this year will be his breakout year. I got the sense at media day he was very ready to start a new chapter, and I think that Jenkins will know exactly how to maximize his strengths. Thanks goodness Superman landed in Milwaukee.

Dax: Jaime Jaquez Jr. will surprise fans this year with his likability. While he may not “wow” in any specific statistical category, he’s a Swiss Army knife and one of the best at that—he took second in 6MOY voting last year. Though he can’t be the Mayor of Milwaukee, he can be Budget Bob. Not to mention, his flow goes crazy.

Jon Horst pulls off another trade deadline move. What is it? (Format as a Shams tweet)

MILWAUKEE, WI – JANUARY 24: General Manager Jon Horst of the Milwaukee Bucks talks to the media before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 24, 2024 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images

BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 25: Shams Charania looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft – Round One on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Jack: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Myles Turner to the Toronto Raptors for Jakob Poeltl and a 2028 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

Jackson: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Tyler Herro to the Dallas Mavericks for Max Christie, Zacchaire Risacher, a 2028 first round pick via the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 2029 second round pick via the Houston Rockets.

Zac: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are Trading Myles Turner to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Jakob Poetl and a first round pick, sources tell ESPN. Turner’s agent, Austin Brown of CAA Sports, and Poeltl’s agents, Michael Tellem and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management, were pivotal to the deal going through.

Aiden: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading AJ Green to the Denver Nuggets for Zeke Naji, Julian Strawther, and two second-round picks.

Nate: BREAKING: The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to send Jalen Duren to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., and the 2031 Miami Heat unprotected first round pick. Duren agreed to a four year, $172 million dollar deal with a player option on year 4. (This might age like milk in 12 hours).

Editor’s note: It did.

Dax: The New Orleans Pelicans are trading Zion Williamson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., Pete Nance, and Miami’s 2031 first-round pick.

Stephen A. Smith calls you up as a guest panelist on First Take. What’s your hot take for the season ahead?

Jack:

Jackson: Brayden Burries wins ROY over the top three draft picks of the 2026 class.

Zac: The Clippers, Nets, Kings, Hawks, and Mavs aren’t the only ones Brayden Burries is going to make look stupid for letting him slip to 10. I don’t give a damn! AJ Dybantsa, Darren Peterson, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson better be All-Stars, ’cause Burries is comin’.

Aiden: My GOAT, LeBron James, will lead this 76ers squad to a championship this season, securing his fifth ring.

Nate: Stephen A: If the Charlotte Hornets don’t give Brandon Miller a rookie-scale max extension it will be a travesty after the breakout year he is having.

Dax: The 2026-27 Milwaukee Bucks will be more fun than the 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets.

We’ve garnered the community’s perspective of this—and Camille Davis’ too—so finish this sentence:

I will judge this season a success if…

Jack: there is an easily identifiable direction with the team and franchise.

Jackson: the rookies look pretty good and the pieces the Bucks got from Miami pan out in some degree.

Zac: the Bucks are fun to watch again.

Aiden: the Bucks surpass the 20-win mark, and if Brayden Burries makes an NBA All-Rookie Team.

Nate: the Bucks exit the season with a discernible identity.

Dax: the Bucks beat the Heat on national television.

That’s a wrap on our preseason Roundtable, folks. We’ll reconvene like King Arthur’s men again in December for an early-season identity check. In the meantime, join the table by sharing your answers in the comments.

Preseason rotations can offer insight into how a coaching staff plans to construct its rotations once the regular season begins. They can also serve as an evaluation tool, giving us chances to see what individual players can offer, whether their offseason development translates to the court, and how those performances might shape decisions as the season approaches.

One interesting wrinkle we’ve seen through the first two preseason games is that Ryan Dunn has gotten the nod over Rasheer Fleming in the first wave of substitutions. With 3:41 remaining in the first quarter against the Pistons on Monday, Dunn entered the game for Dillon Brooks. The same pattern followed against the Bulls on Wednesday, when Dunn checked in with 3:46 remaining in the first.

So the question becomes whether this is something head coach Jordan Ott is simply experimenting with early in the preseason or a precursor to what we’ll ultimately see when the regular season begins on October 23 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

I think it makes sense. And that’s coming from somebody who’s a card-carrying member of the Rasheer Fleming fan club. While I certainly want to see Fleming receive opportunities this season, I believe the responsible approach is to give your third-year wing, a player whose fourth-year option you recently picked up, an opportunity to demonstrate whether meaningful development is occurring.

Because when you look at Ryan Dunn’s performance last season, he didn’t necessarily regress. He plateaued. His first and second seasons were remarkably similar, especially when you begin digging into the statistical analysis. The production was largely the same, and the developmental leap you hoped to see never really materialized.

That free throw percentage. Oof.

The question now is whether Year 3 will be when that potential growth finally materializes. And the only way you’re going to determine whether Dunn carries value moving forward is by giving him opportunities and putting him in the best position to succeed. That position? Coming off the bench with the second unit, a group fortified by the three-point shooting of Collin Gillespie and Luke Kennard.

Because ultimately, that’s where Dunn is going to earn his paycheck. His ability to be an effective defensive player alongside shooters who can generate offense while he’s on the floor is what makes him valuable. And if he starts knocking down three-pointers? Jordan Ott begins looking like a genius, and the front office and player development staff can start patting each other on the back. Because if Dunn can become a legitimate three-and-D player, he’ll earn rotational minutes this season and potentially for years to come.

Through the first two preseason games, we’ve seen the instinctive defensive abilities Dunn showcased at the University of Virginia, the same instincts that have earned him opportunities early in his NBA career. Playing alongside Jordan Goodwin, the two have created havoc for opposing offensive players, bringing an impressive level of energy and disruption to the second unit.

As for the three-point shooting? He’s still not there, going 0-of-3 through the first two games.

I expect Dunn to continue receiving these opportunities when the regular season begins, even if we see less of him as the preseason progresses and the coaching staff gives Fleming more opportunities to showcase his abilities.

Ultimately, it will be on Dunn to earn the right to remain in that rotation. Because if he falters, Fleming is waiting right behind him, eager to take advantage of whatever opportunity becomes available. That’s a good luxury to have if you’re the Phoenix Suns. But it’s only a luxury if those players can actually produce.

The Philadelphia 76ers headed north on Thursday night to continue their preseason campaign with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets.

The most exciting part is that it served as a first real glimpse of the new Sixers’ Big 5 — LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — starting a game together. Of course, it’s preseason, so while not exactly a true representation of what we might see later this month when the regular campaign begins, it’s the closest thing to the real deal that we’ve gotten so far! The starting five had two first-half stints on the floor all together against the Nets, providing a look at how the offense may be run and the type of ball movement they’re aiming form together.

So, let’s see what the next era of Sixers basketball looked like on Thursday night. We’ll also take a specific look at LeBron in his preseason debut for Philadelphia after he missed their opening contest the other night. Plus, catch up with the entire squad with a full game highlight reel.

Let’s get into it.

The new Sixers’ Big 5

This is what we’ve been waiting for! Well, kind of. Of course, it’s just preseason, but this was our first chance to see the new starting five of the Sixers all together. Thursday night provided a bit of insight into the pace of play this lineup seems to be looking for, the progression of their offense, off-ball movements and more.

A couple of things I noted in real time watching the game: the clear desire to get out in transition as often as they can, combining the speed of players like Edgecombe or Maxey with the excellent passing and awareness of someone like LeBron; Maxey and Edgecombe looking perfectly comfortable getting open off the ball with LeBron finding them for assists; and how often young teams like the Nets are going to have to resort to fouling when faced with trying to stop Brown, Embiid and LeBron under the rim.

There’s still a lot of work to do — especially on the defensive end and with overall sloppiness — to get this five all in better sync with each other, but they certainly seem to be on the right track so far.

LeBron James makes his preseason debut for the Sixers

The King made his Sixers preseason debut on Thursday after missing their opener on Monday. Biggest theme that stood out to me was that James immediately went to work diming up everyone he could, whenever he could. He was clearly not focused on forcing shots up himself, scoring 10 points on just 1-for-1 field goal shooting, notching the rest of his scores at the line. James instead seemed laser-focused on racking up assists for his teammates, more often than not finding them in stride of their cuts right to the rim. I think players like Edgecombe, Maxey and even Jabari Walker are going to find a ton of opportunities to flourish as off-ball scorers with James around.

Of course, that’s just one thing that James did right, too. He had a few good high-effort plays, drew some fouls and shot well from the line. Seems like this guy is pretty good at basketball, huh?

Game highlight reel

Catch up on the entire contest, from the stars tipping off down to the final whistle, with the game highlight reel below!

There is a common narrative that European coaches struggle in the NBA because of their demanding and emotional approach. That it is one of the biggest things holding them back because they want to put themselves at the center of attention, while the NBA is ultimately a players’ league. They are often viewed as too tactically focused and not focused enough on catering to the people who are under the brightest spotlight – the superstars who have done the most to make the game a global phenomenon.

One coach who has managed to bridge the gap between the European and American approaches, preserving the essence of both and doing so successfully, is Darko Rajakovic. Highlights of his emotional exchanges with referees often make the rounds, but so do his moments with the media, such as when he called Scottie Barnes a future face of the league after what he described at the time as Barnes being treated unfairly.

At the same time, Rajakovic is widely regarded around the league as a player’s coach, someone who knows how to connect with stars. Russell Westbrook is perhaps the best example back when both were in Oklahoma City. And since becoming the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Rajakovic has shown that he can successfully balance those two sides of coaching — perhaps his greatest strength.

However, the upcoming season will put him to a much bigger test and bring a different kind of pressure than he has faced previously. The reason is clear: the arrival of Kawhi Leonard has shifted the Raptors’ trajectory more firmly toward championship aspirations. FanDuel has Toronto with the sixth-lowest championship odds entering the 2026-27 NBA season.

“We entered the rebuilding process two years ago, and in a relatively short period of time, we managed to make significant progress. The core of the team was made up of young players we drafted and developed within our system, and with a few additions from outside, we took another step last season, going from 30 wins to 46,” Rajakovic told SB Nation, explaining how this team was built.

Along with all of those qualities, the Serbian coach is also known for his ability to develop young talent. Barnes is gradually approaching his full potential, while Collin Murray-Boyles has already begun showing that he can be a very valuable addition.

“That progress came through building our culture, developing different habits and establishing the style of play we wanted. So we give a lot of credit to our young players, who took a big step forward last season. Our ambitions are now as high as they can be. We want to get the Toronto Raptors to a point where we can compete for championships, compete against the best teams in the league and try to achieve the best possible results. Everything we do is geared toward that.

“That’s why we made the decision to make an important trade and bring in Kawhi Leonard. He’s a proven NBA champion who has already won a championship here, and that brings another level of seriousness and quality to our team. The ambitions remain as high as ever — to raise our level from game to game, compete with the best and see where that takes us. We expect this to be a good season for us.”

Rajakovic also had a demanding summer. The Raptors emerged as a potential destination for Leonard before the situation became entangled in an investigation. That complicated Toronto’s preparations for the season, but ultimately, everything ended the way the organization had hoped.

“We focused on what we could control. We did a great job with our young players, who worked extremely hard throughout the summer. We had certain expectations and wanted everything to work out in the best possible way for us and for Kawhi to come. Unfortunately, that process took 76 days before he finally arrived. It disrupted our plans a little bit when it came to integrating him with the team and having him around his teammates more during the summer. But it is what it is. Training camp has started, and we’re going to make the most of this time to prepare for the season,” Rajakovic said.

Many have compared Leonard and Barnes. Both can defend multiple positions, neither is a natural-born scorer, and both have built up their offensive games through hard work. They appear to complement each other well, while also sharing several similarities in their games.

“Kawhi’s arrival is going to have a really positive impact on Barnes, on the team in general, and on RJ Barrett, Quickley and all of our young players. We’re a very young team. Kawhi is 35 years old, he has a tremendous amount of experience, and I think all of our players have a great deal of respect for him and everything he has accomplished.

“He has matured a lot, both as a person and as a player. He’s going to bring a great presence to the locker room, be a good leader and be able to help our players individually, but also our coaching staff and the team as a whole. If we didn’t believe that, we wouldn’t have brought him in. He’s going to have a really positive impact on our entire team, bringing a new level of seriousness and accountability. All of our players can benefit tremendously from having him here and from growing alongside him.”

Early in his NBA career, Rajakovic was a scout for the San Antonio Spurs and was in attendance at the 2011 NBA Draft, when Leonard was selected 15th overall by the Texas franchise. He has therefore been familiar with Leonard’s abilities from the very beginning of his career.

“Kawhi is a generational talent, a player who has left his mark on the NBA over the past 15 years. When he’s healthy and on the floor, he makes an enormous difference. I’m glad he came back home. The Toronto Raptors are his team and his home. We hope he plays here and finishes his career with this team, that one day his jersey will be retired and hanging in the rafters of our arena. He’s a player who has accomplished so much individually, and he also helped both the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs win championships.”

The Raptors will have a difficult path toward their ultimate goal. The Eastern Conference appears deeper than it has been in a long time, especially following LeBron James’ arrival in Philadelphia and several other major moves around the conference, as Rajakovic discussed.

“The NBA has never been stronger. There’s a group of veterans led by LeBron James who are incredibly good players and can make a huge difference, while at the same time, there are a lot of young players bringing tremendous quality, and many of them are capable of playing at a high level from the moment they enter the NBA. So I think the level of talent across the entire league is extremely high. The Eastern Conference is incredibly strong with the trades and players coming over from the Western Conference. 

The Knicks won the championship last season, Philadelphia is very powerful, Boston has a great team, Detroit, Cleveland, us, Atlanta got better, Orlando got better… Miami with Giannis is there, too – I don’t want to forget anyone. There’s a group of young teams that are extremely talented – Chicago, Washington, Charlotte… The competition is fantastic, and this season is going to be one where nobody is going to tank, nobody is going to intentionally lose games. So it’s going to be an extremely competitive season, and I’m very excited about all of it. I can’t wait for the season to start,” Rajakovic told SB Nation.

Per a Spurs pres release:

 The San Antonio Spurs invite fans to take part in the 2026-27 Spurs Tipoff Week, presented by Ticketmaster, taking place from Tuesday, Oct. 13 through Tuesday, Oct. 20. This weeklong celebration across the city of San Antonio, consisting of in-person activations, giveaways, discounts and more, will build momentum and excitement for the team’s upcoming season, presented by H-E-B, and the Oct. 20 home opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m.

Said Jordan Mandelkorn, vice president of marketing, creative and retail at Spurs Sports & Entertainment,

“It’s a thrilling time to be part of the Spurs community, as we carry the momentum of last season’s Finals run into a new chapter. That energy and unwavering support set the tone for what’s ahead, and Tipoff Week will bring the Silver & Black spirit to life across San Antonio and beyond as we celebrate our fans and welcome a new season together.”

For more details on all the activations, text TIPOFF to 210-444-5940.

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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers climbed their way back to relevance five years ago through their work on the defensive end. They ascended 20 spots in defensive rating from 2021 to 2022 thanks to the additions of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That upward trajectory continued the next season as they finished 2023 with the best defense in the league.

Then, the slow decline started.

The Cavs’ defense dropped from first to sixth, and then to eighth. Last season was their biggest decline, with Cleveland finishing the year 15th in defensive rating.

They intend to turn this trend around.

“We definitely want to get back to being a top-five defense,” Sam Merrill said. “It had been that way, and then last year that wasn’t the case. That’s been most of our discussion throughout this camp.”

Talking about wanting to improve the defense is a pretty common refrain in the preseason. Actually doing it is much more difficult.

“I don’t like saying much,” Donovan Mitchell said when asked about the defense. “I want to go out there and just do it.”

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The NBA game has changed drastically over the last 15 years; the need to protect the rim hasn’t. Attempts at the basket are still the most efficient place to score from and where every elite offense tries to get. Cleveland has the personnel to defend the rim well with Mobley and Allen, but the point of attack needs to be better to utilize that advantage.

“It’s understanding the strengths we have with Evan and J.A., but not putting too much on their plates,” Merrill said. “I think there were times last year where we put too much on their plates by getting beat off the dribble, getting into rotations and whatnot. If we can do a better job of keeping the ball out of the paint and force the right shots, that should help us ascend.”

To Merrill’s point, Cleveland’s defense has been predicated on funneling their opponents inside, making them finish at the rim, or more preferably, take a midrange jumper. This requires running your opponents off the line and then rotating back out to the perimeter to prevent three-point looks.

Last season, the defense’s rim protection numbers were in line with what we’ve come to expect. They were 16th in defensive rim frequency and forced the fourth-best rim percentage for their opponent. The difference was how many threes they gave up.

The best way to defend the three-ball is to prevent the shot from going up. The Cavs have traditionally done this well. They were in the top ten in fewest threes given up per 100 possessions from ‘20 through ‘25. That changed last season when they surrendered the eighth-most threes in the league.

Mitchell didn’t specifically mention that they needed to tighten up the three-point defense, opting not to get into the specifics of how the defense will look different. Although he did say they needed to go “back to what we were.”

Another question facing the Cavs is whether they can have a truly elite defense with James Harden. Harden is a good rebounder and does compete better than he often gets credit for, but he doesn’t have the lateral quickness to keep guards in front of him or navigate screens as you’d like. That said, it isn’t impossible.

In 2024-25, the Los Angeles Clippers posted a 111 defensive rating with Harden on the floor (83rd percentile) and finished that season with the third-best defense in the league. It’s possible to have an elite defense with Harden on the court. It does, however, require a buy-in from everyone on the court.

“You have to play team defense,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Getting everybody on the same page and then being able to be adaptable, pliable, flexible. The NBA is not one [on] one defense.”

The Cavs have the tools offensively to be elite. We’ve seen that consistently under Atkinson. That said, championship teams can dominate both sides of the floor. A look at previous champions shows that pretty clearly. If the Cavs want to get to that level, they need to get back to their defensive roots.

“We can score with the best,” Mitchell said, “but for us, not having that be our calling card.”

1. Glass Cleaners

Boston Celtics basketball is finally back! Not only in the literal sense but in the way the Celtics dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers, taking them down 124-113 in the first preseason game of the season. This felt like a big upset in a way given the Cavs played their starters in the first half vs a Celtics team who rested most of their roster. One thing that didn’t change from all the roster turnover however was the way that Boston dominated the rebounding battle.

The Celtics out rebounded the Cavs 56-39! The craziest part for the Celtics is that 21 of those rebounds came as offensive rebounds. Boston was so good on the offensive glass that after the first quarter the Celtics had as many offensive rebounds (10) than the Cavaliers had total rebounds. Just a dominant performance on the glass that makes me excited to see what will happen when all the starters return.

2. Luka Garza Board Monster

With a lot of key rotations guys out for the Celtics in their first preseason game, Luka Garza was given the starting spot for Boston and he showed out. Garza finished with a team high 22 points along with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks on 6-17 shooting. The biggest takeaway from Garza’s performance tonight was his dominance on the offensive glass. Out of the 10 rebounds he finished with, 4 of them came as offensive rebounds and that is where we saw him shine the most.

This was a common theme of the night for the entire team but Garza was the one to really set the tone. It is going to be interesting to see what kind of role Garza plays for Boston moving forward. Obviously Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson is ahead of him on the depth chart but I hope the Celtics can still find him some playing time throughout the season.

3. Devin Carter Fan Club

When the Celtics signed Devin Carter to an Exhibit 10 deal back in September there was a good amount of excitement around the move. It looked like he was going to be a shoo-in for Boston’s final two-way spot but there looked to be a lot of competition with other players like Milos Uzan and Hayden Gray on the Celtics training camp roster. I would like to say there is a good chance the battle is in Carter’s favor as of now. The former Providence Friar finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals on 5-9 shooting and a team high +22.

Carter made his presence known on his first offensive play of the game when he went coast-to-coast throw down a monster slam over Peyton Watson. This was the beginning of a first quarter where we saw Carter lead the way with 7 points including a three point shot that looked pretty solid. With 15 points in the first half we saw an array of moves driving to the basket and finishing through contact while also playing some nice defense on Donovan Mitchell.

With the way he looked tonight I could see why the Celtics were so optimistic about taking a chance on Carter. When Joe Mazzulla was asked about the former lottery pick last week, he praised Carter’s work ethic saying, “I’ve appreciated just his mindset, his mentality, the chip on the shoulder that he brings to the game. So I’m looking forward to watching him throughout the preseason.” I am also looking forward to seeing what else Carter can do but it makes me wonder, why did the Kings trade him? Not only that, why did the Hawks waive him? Either way the Celtics have another chance to be turn the Kings leftovers into a legit piece once again.

4. Jordan Walsh Aggressive Offensively

One player who I think had an underrated game was Jordan Walsh. Walsh finished with 16 points on 6-14 shooting from the field and 2-5 shooting from three. Walsh talked in the offseason about trying to improve his offensive bag and with an increased role in this game we saw him aggressively hunt his shot. This is something that caught my eye because it looked like something he was genuinely working on.

He looked comfortable when it came to handling the ball and driving to the paint. The finishing could have been a little better but this was more of an offensive bag that we’ve seen from Walsh since he’s been in the NBA. Even in games before when starters were out before, we have never seen Walsh look to be aggressive for his shot. We know he has a great relationship with Jaylen Brown last season and he talked about how the offseason workouts with Paul George and Jayson Tatum were legitimate workouts to help build on his game. Having two of the best wing scorers in NBA history on his team could mean we see more of this offensive creation from Walsh this season and I am very excited to see how it turns out.

5. Baylor Scheierman Confidence

It felt like the Celtics had to have watched a bunch of AND-1 mixtapes before the game today because of the amount of flashy plays we saw in this game but one player I am convinced did was Baylor Scheierman. He was making some prime Rajon Rondo passes out there, including one in the first quarter where he had a shot blocked, got his own offensive rebound running towards the basket, and then made a behind the back dime to Chris Cenac Jr. for a dunk.

In total Scheierman finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 5-12 shooting from the field and 4-7 from three. He definitely looked the most comfortable out there when it came to playing in the flow of the offense. This makes me feel like I don’t have to worry about the production we will get out of him moving forward. Very excited for more Baylor hoops moving forward.

6. Hugo Gonzalez Solid Contributor

Finishing off the trio of young wings for the Celtics we have the performance from Hugo Gonzalez. Similar to Scheierman he played a solid game, finishing with 15 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds on 5-9 shooting from the field and 3-6 from three. A big thing I noticed in this game from Gonzalez was that everything he did looked to be faster.

From his jump shot to his Eurostep, it looked like he was dictating the pace on all his attempts. Not only did shot attempts look good, but he made some nice passes setting his teammates up for easy baskets. He also played his brand of chaotic defense that gave the Celtics life in the first half.

7. The Kids Will Be Alright

This game was the first time we saw 2026 Draft Picks Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell take an NBA court and I think its safe to say that they are going to be just fine. Cenac Jr. finished with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks on 3-13 shooting. I was glued to my TV screen anytime he had the ball in his because he looked incredibly comfortable creating his own shot off the dribble but just missing out on the finishing. I feel like that will come in due time but his shot looks really promising. His defense was also remarkable, protecting the paint better than I would have expected. We saw flashes of this during Summer League this year but Cenac Jr. really makes me excited to see what he can develop into under the Celtics Big Fella University.

Dillon Mitchell was also impressive tonight, finishing with 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals on 4-7 shooting. One thing we knew about Mitchell was that he was going to be able to jump out of the gym with his athleticism and it was on display. He finished with multiple alley-oop slams and did a great job positioning himself underneath the basket for offensive rebounds and put-backs. His defense was fun to watch as well with both of his steals leading to the Celtics running out in transition.

I felt like Mitchell also took charge in the 4th quarter as well. When the main starters were sitting out, Mitchell looked at as the go to guy on both sides of the court and he did a pretty a solid job, finishing with a +8 in the quarter. It’s going to be fun watching both of these guys continue to develop and it might be one game, but I am willing to say the future is looking for the newest Celtics draft picks.

8. Mike Conley Debut

With most of the Celtics rotation players sitting out for this preseason game, it was interesting to see that Mike Conley was in the starting lineup. Conley signed with Boston back in July and throughout camp so far we have seen him be a great veteran presence to all of the young guys on the roster. This is the big reason why he was brought to Boston but how did his play look on the court? It was fine.

Conley finished with 3 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal in his Celtics debut on 1-3 shooting. He wasn’t the main scoring option for Boston by any means but he was still a great primary ball handler and even made some highlight reel passes. The one that stands out most was when he found a wide open Hugo Gonzalez for a corner three after faking like he was going to pass it to Baylor Scheierman on the wing. I don’t know how much of Conley we are going to see in the Celtics rotation this season but I do think he will be a solid depth piece for Boston moving forward.

9. New Coaching Opportunities

It wasn’t only players that got a chance to show their talents tonight but it was also two Celtics assistant coaches that got a chance to shine as well. Celtics assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay were given the reigns from head coach Joe Mazzulla and coached their first NBA game. Dobbins coached the first half and MacLeay coached the second half while Mazzlla just watched the game from the locker room. Mazzulla said that his reasoning for this was, “I want to give them the opportunity to be able to just build themselves as coaches…Both those guys had head coaching interviews this past summer, and I want them to be able to build on that.”

So how did it go for the Celtics new coaching duo against the Cavs? Pretty well I would say. Dobbins in the first half showed his philosophy by coaching the Celtics to a 71-62 lead at halftime. Boston did a great job of controlling the paint on both sides of the ball which led to the lead. MacLeay on the other hand had some adversity out of halftime after the Cavs went on a 12-3 run to tie the game in the beginning of the 3rd quarter. But he did a great job of calling a timeout and letting the team regroup, leading to Boston winning the 4th quarter 25-17 and winning the game.

This was such a cool thing to see coming from Joe Mazzulla. Continuing to develop Dobbins and MacLeay to get them ready for future opportunities is something I feel like you don’t see often. It’s only a matter of time before we see the Mazzulla coaching tree spread across the entirety of the NBA.

10. It’s Good To Be Back

I wanted to reserve my final takeaway just to say how great it feels to watch Boston Celtics basketball today. I didn’t care if 7 players were out, I would have watched any version of this team if it meant we got to see Celtics basketball played again. This has been the longest offseason we have had as Celtics fans in a while. Obviously with the first round exit, to the roster turnover this season, to the Draft, Summer League, and Media Day, it felt like this offseason was moving at a snails pace.

But the wait is finally over. The next step of waiting is hopefully seeing all the starters play in a game at some point this preseason. I want to see the dynamic between Jayson Tatum and Paul George, the big man rotation of Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, and the leap of Payton Pritchard. Even if we don’t see them much in preseason, we are less than two weeks away from Boston’s first regular season game in Detroit at 3:30pm on October 20th.

The Celtics next preseason game will be on Saturday October 10th when the new look Philadelphia 76ers come to TD Garden. This will also be the first time we see Jaylen Brown in a 76ers uniform since being traded away from Boston this offseason.