Ten takeaways from the Celtics' dominant preseason win over the 76ers

1. The Kornet Conversation

Luke Kornet is good, and I'm not afraid to say it.

There's some resistance to the idea that Kornet is a legitimately influential player, and it's frankly a misunderstanding of what value can look like. It's always beneficial when a player knows his role, excels at it, and doesn't try to be something he's not. That's what you get from Luke: consistency.

This game was one of the more committed offensive performances we've seen from him. Luke didn't necessarily chase his shots, but rather made himself available and was always in the right spots. He finished the first half with a team-high 15 points to go and seven rebounds in just 13 minutes.

Kornet isn't the most springy or agile center in the league, but he's a big and easy target for his teammates as an offensive threat.

I mentioned that he wasn't concerned about his looks, but he felt confident enough to attack off the dribble after considering his options.

With the coaching staff opting to rest Al Horford at the start of this preseason, Luke has been as steady as anyone could have hoped. If managing Horford's minutes continues to be a priority, it's not crazy to think Kornet could step in more often in the starting lineup in Kristaps Porzingis' absence.

2. Tillman and Queta are ready to step up.

Kornet is the leader and the most logical choice as the interim starter, but he's not the only reserve player who has impressed. Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta are technically the 4th and 5th centers on this roster, but they don't seem far off from the 2nd and 3rd spots they're supposed to fill.

Tillman continues to hit three-pointers regularly and with great efficiency. It's still too early to fully believe the recording is real, but I'm tempted.

For him, it's one thing to be posted in the corner; It's another thing to be a legitimate pick-and-pop option. If this is a real part of his game this season, his offensive role makes a lot more sense. With what Tillman brings to the table on the defensive side of the ball, he would essentially be a Horford-lite, and you can never have enough of Al Horfords.

Queta isn't likely to feature in the three-man lineup any time soon, but much like Kornet, he gets the job done inside. Neemy is the rawest of the bunch and there's enough looks there that you can see why the Celtics invested in his development.

He's a useful attacking threat and earns minutes with his energy. You can't teach motor skills – you either have them or you don't. Queta is always busy, even if he makes a mistake, you can never say he made a playoff. This is the perfect type of player to have as a big reserve player.

There's also a real confidence that he plays with. On many possessions, Queta wants the ball and will call his own number when he feels he has an advantage.

Queta still has room to grow and a consistent role while spending the year in Boston should really help his game. In just three preseason games he already looked more comfortable.

3. Has Jaylen Brown gotten better?

There are 1,000 reasons why Jaylen might have been happy this offseason. Part of what makes him so special, however, is the desire to improve and the willpower to further that development.

He looked stronger and more athletic than any of his previous matchups, which is nothing new, but he seems extremely determined to ensure it knowledge he is on another level.

Brown's handle and style of play shone early in this game.

He had several connections with Kornet, including this pass where he looked away from the defender before throwing him over the ceiling for his big ball.

Jaylen continues to make efforts to address perceived weaknesses, and developing into a more impactful playmaker appears to be next on the list.

4. Jayson Tatum seems ready.

Tatum's optimized jump shot has been a big topic of discussion this summer. He hasn't rebuilt his form from scratch, but his swing looks noticeably more fluid. Small sample size disclaimer: Tatum is shooting 9/22 (41%) from 3PT distance in the preseason.

In addition to three three-pointers, Tatum showed his all-round game with ten rebounds, six assists and two digs. His versatility on both ends is sensational and somehow still gets overlooked when it comes to his standing in the league.

After winning the championship, a weight was lifted from his shoulders, but the hunger is still there and perhaps even greater.

5. The most effective backcourt in the NBA.

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are a joy to watch. Even in the preseason, these two achieved one winning streak after another and left their mark on the game.

It's rare to have an all-defensive guard who can initiate the offense while also being a top player off the ball. The Celtics have two players like that, and they need very little commitment to make an impact. They are willing, and perhaps even prefer, to do the dirty work.

Jrue sneaked up to the dunker spot to give Jaylen an option, like he did time and time again in the playoffs.

He also makes a cut perfectly the moment his man leaves him to double Tatum.

When these two guards face off, magic happens. They are able to force teams to rotate or break them down while they try to rotate.

Defensively, these two were just as good in Game 3 of the preseason as they were in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

6. Payton Pritchard is overqualified for his role.

Pritchard didn't have the most efficient shooting night overall, but he hit 3 of 7 from distance and combined that with eight assists. His ability to space the floor from multiple strides behind the line adds dimension to the Celtics' dynamic offense, leading to countless energy-changing plays.

Payton doesn't have many opportunities to be the primary initiator of the offense when playing next to one of the starters. However, when he works with the Stay Ready group, he has the opportunity to create and he does a great job setting the table.

It's a luxury to have that talent as the third point guard on the depth chart. In a larger role, Pritchard could certainly have more individual success, but his sacrifice was greatly appreciated.

If the protocols go right, his 6MOTY candidacy isn't crazy to imagine.

7. Sam Hauser makes it look easy

There is no doubt that Sam Hauser is an elite shooter. He has posted a three-year shooting percentage above 40% in consecutive seasons at every level. The question worth asking is where exactly does he fit into that elite group? After this season, there may not be a true off-ball shooter left that could be argued to be superior to him.

He hit 5/6 from three shots in this game and it wasn't just catch-and-shoot looks, he ended up practicing a dribble pull-up.

Hauser has incredible footwork when it comes to balancing himself for a shot. No matter the quality of the pass or where he catches the ball, he can always plant and straighten his feet naturally.

8. Lonnie Walker had his first real run.

Up until this game, the preseason had been less than desirable in terms of Walker's chances of making the squad. He was largely thrown out at the end of the Abu Dhabi Games without having enough time to realistically show what he was capable of.

Tonight, however, Walker played a game-high 24 minutes. He finished the game with a remarkable Stateline performance, leading with nine points and seven assists while also grabbing two steals and a block.

Lonnie has focused on adding value beyond his scoring ability, and this performance was a big step in proving he is capable of doing so.

If you want to earn Joe Mazzulla's trust, a willing ballplayer and a capable defender are a good place to start. Those traits haven't always been accurate to describe Walker's game, but he seems more than willing to focus on those things.

He has very good athletic qualities, which became more apparent with increasing playing time. With the team playing back-to-back games, he should have more opportunity to show what he can do before it's time for the Celtics to make a decision on his contract.

9. Baylor Scheierman needs some time.

For the most part, there was collective excitement surrounding the newcomer Scheierman. I'm not here to say that anyone should slow down or sell their shares. However, I think it is necessary to let Baylor's patience grow.

He has the potential to be a contributor at some point, but even though he's older for a rookie, he still has a lot to learn. Baylor will need some time to get used to NBA athletes finishing his shot and the overall speed of the game increasing.

Hauser's rookie season should serve as an example of what to expect from Scheierman early on. As a rookie, Sam only played a total of 158 minutes in 26 games. What works in Baylor's favor is the fact that the Celtics tend to end their games early, which leads to a lot of unnecessary minutes.

The good news is that Baylor already appears to be making adjustments on the fly. With his defender recovering quickly, he held the ball up and took off without hesitation.

If Scheierman feels comfortable shooting in small windows in close contests like this, that should make his transition a little smoother.

10. Jordan Walsh finds out.

If there was a winner so far in the preseason, Jordan Walsh is that guy.

The confidence and impact leading up to Summer League is night and day. Walsh particularly stands out and seems much more advanced than I expected after his disappointing stay in Las Vegas.

There is a certain level of Shot taken = good There's something involved here, but Walsh's fluid shot and his willingness to execute was encouraging regardless of the result.

We've been waiting to see who fills the Oshae Brissett-sized hole in our hearts, and Walsh definitely brings a lot of the athleticism and defense that would be missing there. If he can combine that with an outside shot, he could get away with this role pretty easily.