3 Takeaways From Celtics' Preseason Win Over Knicks

Jayson Tatum is Good To Go

Tatum struggled in the preseason opener, posting 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on 3-for-13 shooting. He then sat the next two games before making his return to the lineup on Tuesday.

Playing alongside the trio of Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis for just the second time, Tatum looked as comfortable as ever, rattling off a game-high 28 points with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

What was most impressive was his efficiency, as Tatum sank 9 of 15 shots, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. He also made all five of his free-throw attempts. Tatum has been prone to slow starts, but if this is the version of him that Boston gets throughout the first few months of the season, there's a very good chance the Celtics will race out to the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Teams Have No Answer for the Celtics Defensively

Porzingis averaged 23.2 points per game last season, yet he was getting some of the most open looks on the team on Tuesday.

With the attention that Tatum and Brown draw, teams have to sag off Porzingis, and if they try to focus on Porzingis, Tatum and Brown will run wild. Somehow find a way to limit all three, and Holiday and Derrick White have the chance to take over.

It's hard to imagine how other teams are going to actually come up with a game plan to slow down Boston. They will — the Celtics aren't going to go 82-0 — but it's going to take a masterclass performance, and even that might not be enough to prevent the Celtics from coming out on top.

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