The Boston Celtics are midway via their remaining preseason recreation, as they lead the Charlotte Hornets 66-40, which implies I’m solely about 4 hours away from enjoying Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on the PS5.

However first…

Prepare for halftime sizzling takes, buddy.

Photograph by Streeter Lecka/Getty Photos

The beginning lineup has formally arrived

That is the second straight recreation the place we’ve seen the group of Jrue Vacation, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis open issues up for the Celtics. They managed to open up a double-digit lead earlier than Payton Pritchard checked in as the primary sub of the sport.

The starters performed fluidly and had been in a position to assault from all angles, with everybody getting in on the enjoyable. All 5 gamers obtained themselves on the rating sheet early on.

I’ll let you know what, after Tuesday’s gradual begin towards the New York Knicks’ reserves, the early whooping that these guys placed on the Hornets was a really welcome sight.

Properly, is Neemias Queta the backup large man??

So, after a complete preseason of banter amongst the fanbase, Joe Mazzulla’s remaining name on the “first large off of the bench” was Neemias Queta. Queta, a two-way participant for Boston, has put collectively some spectacular stints within the October exhibition video games.

His dimension and presence on the offensive glass are the extra distinctive points of the Portuguese heart’s recreation. Mazzulla had hinted that the massive man had earned some further run, earlier within the week.

“He’s earned minutes … I actually appreciated how he’s gotten higher every time he’s been on the ground.”

With Al Horford out for tonight’s recreation in Charlotte, Queta obtained his first alternative to play with Boston’s important rotation gamers. He tallied two factors and three rebounds — two of which had been offensive.

Take your Kristaps Porzingis MVP futures NOW!

Nearly all of Boston’s beginning 5 has appeared super to date. Brown got here out on hearth, scoring 18 first-half factors. Tatum, White, and Porzingis all managed to crack double digits as effectively.

Of that group, Porzingis caught out — as he has in each single preseason recreation he’s appeared in to date. The massive Latvian has appeared dominant, notching a double-double with 11 factors and 10 rebounds. Three of these boards got here on the offensive glass as he appeared like a person enjoying towards youngsters.

Porzingis has carried out nearly as a lot as he might to show that he’s going to be a superb match with the Celtics — maybe even as an MVP candidate.