Quick reaction: Celtics 118, Raptors 119

A

S. Barnes30 MIN, 26 PTS, 9 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 10-17 FG, 5-9 3FG, 1-1 FT, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 6 +/-

All around great Scottie game. Particularly great Scottie, who scored a goal at the start. After only attempting one three-pointer in the previous game in Boston, he came out of the gate and absolutely let it rip. He shot 4 of 6 from 3 in the first quarter (all after halftime), which then cleared up other areas of the court. He came out after a DHO with Mitchell and hit a three-pointer from the wing to start, then moved up in transition and shot a three-pointer over the break on the next flight. He found multiple ways to give his teammates advantages, from setting up defenders to making quick plays in transition. As he landed in transition, he threw a perfectly timed pass to Dick that shortened the baseline. The presence on the glass was there, the ball pressure was there. Great overall performance.

A

O. Agbaji31 MIN, 16 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 7-11 FG, 1-4 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 29 +/-

This game was the highlight of Agbaji's pre-season efforts. He continued to do everything he could defensively; He moved his feet and held his check in front of him. But his offense really took off tonight. He hit his first catch-and-shoot three-pointer of the night from the corner, which is a big deal. He was very active defensively and his boxing out efforts certainly helped the Raptors flip the script in the rebounding battle from the previous game. Agbaji ran the floor with intent in transition and finished with authority.

A

J. Pöltl30 MIN, 15 PTS, 16 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 6-8 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-3 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 25 +/-

There is nothing new here. Pöltl is the epitome of stability and tonight he was at his best. He was in the right place at the right time, finished the ball inside with a clever touch and provided great success as an offensive pivot from the high post. He really got going in the third quarter with several tip-ins in transition and found Gradey with a perfectly placed pass in the face cut. Poeltl does so much to anchor the Raptors on both ends of the court.

A

G. Dick32 MIN, 27 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 12-21 FG, 3-8 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 16 +/-

Also phenomenal goal play for Dick, his best result of the preseason so far, many of them tonight. He hit his first triple on the game's second possession and went 3-on-3 from deep and 6-on-6 from deep in the first quarter. He came off a DHO from Poeltl and hit a smooth-looking pull-up middy. Later, Dick received a pass from Mitchell in transition at the top of the field and knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3 from 30 feet away. He also had great feel on the aforementioned baseline cut and finished Barnes' pass with a nice reverse lay. Dick and Barnes connected again as Gradey came out of the corner and received a DHO, who immediately pulled and made another three. Gradey was also aggressive in putting the ball on the ground in this game and scored a couple of goals there with a nice left-foot finish.

B-

D. Mitchell31 MIN, 9 PTS, 3 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 3-7 FG, 3-6 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 8 +/-

He made a catch-and-shoot three-pointer on the game's first possession and scored another for the Raptors' first basket of the second half. If Mitchell hits his catch-and-shoot threes, he will go a long way toward establishing his role as a true backup point guard. We all know the POA defense, it was on full display tonight. He also showed some playmaking ability from the pick-and-roll, including getting into space off a screen from Poeltl and finding Agbaji on a nice baseline cut for an easy layup. If he can convert these types of looks from 3 at a good rate, then oh man, the Raptors might have something here.

Inc

J. Shead06 MIN, 2 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -3 +/-

Left the game in the second quarter due to left hamstring strain (per Blake Murphy, Sportsnet) and did not return. He was reportedly seen holding it earlier in the quarter. Before he left, he passed a nice jump pass to a rolling Pöltl, deflected a screen and got to the rim to make free throws.

C

C. Boucher15 MIN, 2 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1-4 FG, 0-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -6 +/-

Quiet game for Boucher after his hot start to pre-season. He missed his threes tonight and didn't make the same patient passes we saw in the previous Celtics game. But these are the usual ups and downs we expect from Boucher over the course of his tenure with the Raptors.

B+

J. Battle16 MIN, 8 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3-7 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -15 +/-

A player to keep an eye on on the fringes of the Raptors roster. Anyone of his height (6'2″) who can shoot well has some value. He made his first three-pointer of the game and another big catch-and-shoot down the stretch. However, Battle still has some rough edges in his game that need to be compensated for and left a little too much space defensively.

D

J. Mogbo14 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -28 +/-

Had a big putback aborted in the second quarter due to interference from the basket, but still showed impressive athleticism in the game. Also put pressure on Jaylen Brown and forced a steal and take foul later in the game. Other than that, it was pretty ugly. He's still a step slow when it comes to making reads at the NBA level and still seems uncomfortable in his pseudo-big role.

b

B.Fernando14 MIN, 6 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, -13 +/-

Fernando probably played his best game of the previous season, mainly thanks to his physical condition. Midway through the second quarter, he had a good offensive and putback board and set some solid screens. However, he played a bit uncertainly at times and threw the ball away when a bad pass was made.

B+

D. Cardboard10 MIN, 4 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -5 +/-

Pushed well in transition from live rebounds. He also played great defense against Payton Pritchard, who pressured him, kept him on top, and contested a three-pointer well. He made his free throws and gave his teammates some good looks down the stretch.

B-

J. Ramsey10 MIN, 4 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-6 FG, 1-5 3FG, 1-1 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -8 +/-

Came into the game and made his first 3-point attempt, but went 0-4 after that. He also played strong defense against Jayson Tatum late in the third quarter, forcing a contested jumper from mid-range.

Inc

B. Carlson01 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -1 +/-

Negligible minutes.

A-

Darko Rajakovic

No real grade for Darko in the preseason. This is based on the fact that players seem happy, motivated and on the same page. He seems to agree with the new “point of attack is the most important” principles he is trying to implement. For me it's all a win.