Boston is 0-1 after a 121-113 loss at Detroit in which Paul George scored 38. The Knicks visit Thursday, October 23, and the most specific critique of the opener points at rebounding.
The Detroit loss is still the story, and the criticism has landed on Tatum.
The Celtics lost 121-113 at Detroit on Tuesday, a rally ESPN called the league's largest opening-day comeback. George scored 38 in his debut and Pritchard added 17. Most of the reaction has been about Tatum: Boston.com relayed Bill Simmons calling it a "terrible" game, MassLive's Matt Vautour wrote that Boston needs much more from him, and Vince Carter, per Boston.com, questioned whether he can be the No. 1 option. It was one game, and one game is a very small sample to build a verdict on.
New York comes to Boston on Thursday after losing its own opener.
The Knicks visit October 23, Boston's first home game, with Prime Video carrying it. According to MassLive's Vautour, Jaylen Brown's Philadelphia debut helped spoil New York's opening night. After the Knicks come the Bulls (October 26), the Nets (October 27) and the Bulls again (October 30, an Emirates NBA Cup game). Devin Carter remains out with an illness, with an estimated return of November 8.
Rebounding is the number to watch, and Robinson is the obvious lever.
CelticsBlog's Nirav Barman blamed the opening loss on the failure to rebound. Last season Mitchell Robinson averaged 8.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes, while Neemias Queta averaged 8.4 in 25.3. Per minute, that rate makes the case for giving Robinson more time. It does not show whether his health or the matchups allow it. MassLive's Souichi Terada has written about Robinson's status and the rotation outlook. How much Joe Mazzulla plays him Thursday is the open question.
When do the Celtics play the Knicks?
Thursday, October 23, in Boston, streaming on Prime Video. It is Boston's second regular-season game, after the 121-113 loss at Detroit.
When will Devin Carter return for the Celtics?
Carter is out with an illness, and his estimated return date is November 8. He is the only Celtic on the injury report.
