No Bull: 3 Boston Celtics takeaways from revenge win vs Chicago

The Boston Celtics had something to prove against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

After getting ran out of Chicago in the two team’s first matchup, the Celtics wanted to get a little revenge the second time around and they got it with a 123-119 victory at TD Garden.

Led by Jayson Tatum and Malcolm Brogdon, the Celtics were able to hold off the Bulls.  Although the defense was still an issue at times, the C’s proved they have more than enough scoring to run with any team in the league even when one of their top scores had a down night.

With just 16 points, Jaylen Brown wasn’t knocking down 3’s but he found ways to make an impact in other ways like they hype up the crowd throwdown late in the third quarter.

Boston Celtics get contributions from everyone in victory vs Bulls

Along with Brown, the Celtics had other starters step up like Derrick White and Marcus smart along with nice performances off the bench from players like Sam Hauser, Grant Williams, and Luke Kornet.

Speaking of stepping up, White had this clutch moment of the night:

While Tatum and Brogdon had the hot hands it was nice to see the total team effort and improvement in defense that was there even though the team did still give up 119 points led by the explosive scoring effort of one Bulls star DeMar DeRozan who led Chicago with 46 points.

Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla talked about the defense and how it will take time for the team to completely get where they want to be defensively.

"“Defense is something that comes with time,” Mazzulla said.  “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, it’s not an effort issue.  Our guys play really, really hard, and they want to win.  It’s a matter of reestablishing habits.  Reestablishing standards.  And we have moments where we’re not great defensively, where we let go of the rope a little bit, but I love the steps that we’ve taken over the late two, three games.”"

In improving their record to 5-3, there was some nice takeaways from the game that should have Celtics fans feeling good moving forward.

1.  Malcolm Brogdon and Boston Celtics bench come to play

It was good to see the second unit provide some energy off the bench.  After a lackluster performance against the Chicago Bulls the first time around, veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon took it personally as he led the second unit who outscored Chicago’s bench 41-15.

While Sam Hauser, Grant Williams and Luke Kornet provided some strong minutes off the bench, Brogdon really stepped up as a leader and showed why his addition to the team was so valuable.

As the second leading scorer on the night, Brogdon added 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting.  He also had four assists in his 29 minutes on the court.  The scary thing about Brogdon is he is still learning his fit on the team as his leadership and playmaking impact will just get stronger the more comfortable, he gets on that second unit and when he is on the court with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

As far as the bench play, Brogdon said following the game that he is taking pride as the leader of the group and helping them grow as one of the best bench units in the league.

"“I’ve been telling them we’ve got to be the best second team in the league,” Brogdon said, via Masslive .com.  “We’ve got to embrace that.  We are the second team.  We’re going to be the best in the league and we’re going to take full ownership of that.”"

In all, it was a good showing by the bench with both Hauser and Kornet holding their own in a unit that was supposed to also feature Danilo Gallinari.  Once Robert Williams returns, Derrick White will be a part of that unit which will only get stronger as the season goes along, especially once Brogdon really settles in.

2.  Sam Hauser becoming more of a contributor off Celtics bench

One of the reasons the Boston Celtics didn’t sign a player like Carmelo Anthony to replace Gallinari’s production off the bench is because they believed in the development of a player like Sam Hauser.

There is no question Hauser can shoot the ball, but he is starting to do other things on the court to help the team off the bench.  As part of what some joked as the Celtics new death lineup, Hauser made winning basketball plays while on the court with Brogdon, Tatum, Grant Williams, and Kornet.

In the game, he made a play where he was able to set up a play that led Kornet to getting free throws.  He was also at the right place at the right time to rebound an air ball and score.  Those were the types of plays that had Tatum hyping up Hauser following the game.

"“Now, you’re playing basketball,” Tatum said he told Hauser following the game.  “It just shows how hard he’s worked this offseason to earn that opportunity and make the most out of it.”"

In all Hauser chipped in with eight points and hit two 3-pointers which is obviously his niche off the bench for this team.

With a plus-19 while he was on the court, Hauser is providing more than just the 3-point scoring, he is starting to flourish as a role player who the Celtics can depend on to play solid minutes in any game.

1. A more physical Jayson Tatum leading the Boston Celtics

What is standing out about both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is their physicality on the court.  We see it with Brown’s powerful dunks and with Tatum we see it in his ability to take the ball to the hoop and create more foul shots.

That is a difference in Tatum is season and it showed in this game against the Chicago Bulls.  He is not settling for jumpers or 3-pointers, but he is driving to the hoop, using his body and also setting up his teammates with his playmaking ability.

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There is a maturity there and it appears as those his performance in the NBA Finals has not only humbled him but made him a hungrier player and the type of leader on the court the team was looking for as his presence in that lineup with Brogdon, Hauser, Kornet and Grant Williams made each of those players better players.

In scoring 36 points, Tatum didn’t have a great shooting night as he was just 8-of-23 from the field, but it was the 20 free throws he shot that showed a player that has risen to the depths of superstardom.  He is not only creating the calls but getting the calls.  He is also making his presence known on the boards pulling down 12 rebounds and adding 6 assists.

Averaging 30.9 points a game along with 8.5 rebounds, those M-V-P chants from Boston Celtics fans from arena to arena are justified and Tatum is showing he is a true candidate by impacting the game in ways other than just scoring.

Celtics fans, the super star in Tatum has arrived.