Ten takeaways from Boston's preseason opener

1. The Celtics are back. Life is good.

We survived. Even though this was the shortest offseason possible, with a Finals win, Summer League and Olympic appearances, this Celtics break still felt way too long. However, the champions have returned and all is right in the world again.

It was by no means her best performance. There was the usual preseason sloppiness coupled with something resembling a bricklaying competition. Regardless, I enjoyed every moment.

2. Kornet is the starter, but Tillman brought some juice.

With Kristaps Porzingis out and Al Horford having the day off, Luke Kornet was named the starting center. He was part of the opening lineup alongside Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

This setup is what we should expect on Horford's rest nights, but in typical preseason fashion, they got off to a rocky start. Great ball movement was not taken advantage of as the Celtics starters shot a combined 3/13 from 3 in the first quarter.

Xavier Tillman reported for Kornet around six minutes before the end of Q1. X wasn't exactly the catalyst on offense, but his defense and overall presence stabilized. He caught a few distractions and made Jokic work a little harder, which is more than anything you could ask for.

The big question mark for Tillman this season is where he fits into the scheme offensively. Whether as a screener or floor spacer, the Celtics need to find ways to maximize his abilities. But what if the jump shot is real? That could change things drastically. I'll take the preseason overreaction in stride, but knocking down two three-pointers in the corner is enough to give us hope.

3. Jaylen Brown's underwater training pays off.

With less than two minutes left in the first quarter, Brown's incredible athleticism was on display.

As he pursues the ball with full force, he jumps off the ground and aggressively stomps the attempted throw off the backboard. Moments later, he hits Tillman on a cut and explodes at the rim.

Jaylen has always had the tools to become a world-class defender, but last year's playoff run was the start of a real rise to that level. If he can build on that and back up the numbers, a nomination for the All-Defensive Team is on the table.

If these two tracks are any indication, Jaylen Brown's revenge tour should be fun.

4. Mazzulla plays against his boys the entire first quarter.

Whether it was an attempt to dust off or not, Joe Mazzulla played his star quartet throughout the first quarter. It's not always easy to predict what minutes will look like in games that count for nothing, but Joe probably doesn't think about it that way. He uses every possible moment as a lesson or an opportunity to try something.

The regular season is just around the corner, so getting game reps and conditioning for the team when possible is very valuable. It's also extremely beneficial to do this against a talent like Jokic.

There is a risk of unnecessary injuries in games that don't count towards the standings, and there were a few instances where players looked tied up, but luckily it didn't lead to anything significant. However, injuries will always be a factor, and allowing your starters to endure a few bumps in game speed is another way to help their conditioning.

5. Payton Pritchard doesn't have an offseason.

Pritchard was phenomenal and one of the few players who shot the ball effectively. He appeared to be in great shape in the middle of the season and had none of the rust that plagued almost everyone else in that gym.

That seems to be Payton right now. He can come off the bench in the NBA Finals to practice a buzzer-beater or hit six three-pointers in his first game of the new season. He embodies the idea of ​​staying ready.

6. Queta couldn't find a footing.

For as ready as Pritchard seemed for this game, Neemias Queta was at the other end of the spectrum. His protocols were not very effective and he found it difficult to implement in a few different areas.

On offense, he had a few bad decisions that resulted in turnovers when he was asked to act as a playmaker. There wasn't his usual level of hustle/motor play either, highlighted by just three total rebounds and zero on the offensive glass.

Defensively, he initially struggled to stay down as a decker and eventually even chased down a block that led to his own man scoring. Eventually he managed to settle in on that end, picking up a block on Julian Strawther and defending some drives well.

It didn't do him any favors that his first minutes were playing alongside another great player, Tillman. Mazzulla had his reasons for trying out this combination, but there was a little too much overlap in their roles. Queta is best suited as a solo big or alongside a Horford-level spacer, which Tillman is not (yet?).

7. Nikola Jokic is great.

I know this is a hot take. But seriously, the way Jokic operates is like he's dictating the pace of everyone else on the field.

He manages to be one of the most graceful and powerful players in the league at the same time, and that's just not fair. He can play right through the chest of an undersized player or beat larger opponents with finesse.

You can't ask for more from Luke Kornet here, Jokic simply manages to easily switch from a left hook to a right fadeaway in one fluid movement.

Some may be more willing to admit it than others, but Celtics fans were collectively relieved when a series against Denver was no longer an option. The Celtics most likely would have won anyway because of how good they are, but Jokic is someone the Celtics have no answer for.

8. Hauser shooting exercises.

If ever there was a player whose poor shooting ability should be ignored in the preseason, it's Sam Hauser. Hauser didn't have it today, but that didn't stop him from looking for it. He chased 3s from all over the area.

Part of what makes Sam such a special shooter is his next-shot mentality, where he can easily take a missed shot and fire the next shot with even more confidence. He finished the game just 2/8 from 3PT range, but his two shots were both difficult shots on the move.

One thing about Sam is that his percentage always balances out. He could start the season at 0/50 and I'm still pretty sure he'll get back to 40%.

9. The Jordan Walsh game.

If you're a Jordan Walsh fan or even a skeptic, this is exactly what you want to see. Jordan had a tough summer league, to say the least. Things just weren't working out for him in that environment and it felt like he was trying to fill a role he would never have to play in the NBA.

Walsh focused in this first game on the traits that will give him a chance to crack this rotation at some point. He knocked down two three-pointers, collected three blocks and provided four assists. Jordan doesn't have to be an isolated scorer to be successful if he's simply a connector.

The fact that he showed up at both ends is exciting. Versatility and defensive potential are his biggest selling points, so it was nice to see him live up to that standard against real NBA talent.

For someone not necessarily known for his playing ability, he also saw the field well. He glanced at the defenders before throwing to the offensive man and executing twisted kick-outs on drives.

Walsh put the exclamation point on the night with a loud, low-key dunk that seemed to say, “Don’t forget me.”

10. Where was Walker?

It's no secret that Lonnie Walker IV has to earn his spot on this team, but he didn't have much of a chance today. Walker didn't do his warmups until there were four minutes left in the game.

Maybe that should have been expected since he doesn't have a guaranteed contract, but the position he's in feels more unique. He's made it clear he's willing to do whatever it takes to help this team, but it's hard to show much of that in four minutes of playing time.

It's also possible that giving him fewer minutes in the first game will give him a greater opportunity in the next game. If that's the case, it would be helpful to see him alongside one or two starters to get a better idea of ​​what he can offer. That could be something Mazzulla already has a feel for, and he's instead using this time to take a closer look at some of the younger guys.

Given Walker's talent and the positive opinion of his new teammates, I'm still confident he can earn his spot. However, I can't deny that his place in the pecking order during this game made me a little more doubtful.