Perhaps more than any other game so far this season for the Boston Celtics, Friday night’s 130 – 108 blowout win over the team’s longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers was a team effort, with the majority of the starters scoring in double figures and a solid game from top to bottom all around.
Pressuring the rim while not getting in their feelings after a robust attack from Los Angeles early left the Celtics in a significant hole by the end of the first quarter showed the power of what this team is capable of once it plays together with consistent focus and energy.
Let’s take a more granular look at who was responsible for the win.
WATCH: Boston’s Jayson Tatum goes off for 37 points, 11 boards vs. Lakers (11/19) https://t.co/lkGpChf5oM
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 20, 2021
Romeo Langford
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Indiana product continues to struggle on the offensive side of the ball, putting up just 2 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes of floor time, with Langford still yet to assert himself as much as he does defensively.
Given he had a few key plays on that end when Boston really needed stops, he still gets a decent grade.
Grade: C-
Josh Richardson
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
J-Rich helped beat back what seemed at the time an inexorable Lakers offensive onslaught with some of his best play of the season on both ends.
For someone who didn’t know the hype of the rivalry between the two storied franchises, he certainly gave the right sort of effort.
Grade: B+
Grant Williams
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee product was the worst of the five starters Friday night, but still had a good game overall with a few important makes and solid defense all around.
He will need to do more to justify a starting position in the future, but hopefully health will make that a non-issue anyway.
Grade: C
Marcus Smart
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
This was easily Smart’s best game of 2021-22 to date, with an efficient 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
That it came attacking the rim relentlessly with teammate Dennis Schroder is something we hope is not lost on the Flower Mound native.
Grade: A-
Al Horford
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
At first glance, Horford wasn’t perhaps as active as he has been some nights, but he played his part to a “t”.
The former Gator standout was as important as anyone in this win with his ball movement and knack for being in just the right place at just the right moment helped seal the win for Boston.
Grade: B+
Dennis Schroder
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
As with Smart, Schroder’s constant rim pressure and aggressive defense helped stem L.A.’s early attack and then turn the tables.
This team’s ceiling goes up dramatically when both play with this sort of consistent attack.
Grade: B+
Jayson Tatum
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t just Smart’s best game of the season, it was also Tatum’s and by far. A varied, adaptive and efficient attack on offense with plenty of solid to great defense hints that the Duke product may be finally comfortable again.
That spells trouble in spades for the rest of the league.
Grade: A
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
