Protecting home court: 10 takeaways from Celtics/Raptors

#1 16-0

Protecting the home court has clearly become a focus this season. Even with a short-handed roster, the Celtics managed to extend their record at home to 16-0. It wasn’t easy, though. A big fourth-quarter run setup a nervy finish for the Celtics. However, as we’ve seen so many times this season, Boston kept their heads, kept plucking away possession after possession and were able to squeak out a tough win.

Turning your home floor into a fortress is the staple of a championship-level team. Making it so everyone who visits Boston knows that they’re facing an uphill battle against one of the most talented rosters in the league, with some of the most passionate fans and an unbeaten record staring down at them, can become incredibly daunting.

#2 Kornet makes a difference

Luke Kornet missed most of the West Coast road trip due to injury. Then, when he was cleared to play, his minutes were being given to Neemias Queta. The same thing happened against the Detroit Pistons, too. However, with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis out with injury, Kornet got his chance to shine.

20 points and 8 rebounds is a solid return. Especially when you factor in Kornet’s performance as a screener, defender, and rim protector, too. The fact is, at this stage of Queta’s development, Kornet is a more functional big man. He doesn’t give you the energy boost you get from Queta, but he does give you reliable minutes on both sides of the floor. He’s also gifted as a roll man and continually finds ways to impact the offensive end with his movement.

I really liked this short-roll action from Kornet at the start of the third. He sets a slip screen for Jaylen Brown, gets the ball around the nail, waits for Scottie Barnes to help off of Jrue Holiday, and then kicks the ball into the corner.

Kornet operates at a more deliberate pace than some of his teammates, and at times, that can help manipulate the opposing defense.

#3 The deep bench

We got to see a decent amount of the Celtics’ deeper bench rotation against the Toronto Raptors. Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, Queta, and Oshae Brissett all got minutes. To begin the season, my biggest concern surrounding the deeper bench rotation was the lack of offense. Sure, Brissett and Lamar Stevens are solid defenders. Yes, Svi can nail his jumpers, but lacks creation, and I wasn’t really sure where Queta would feature.

However, every player that checked into the game for Boston made an impact. Svi had arguably the…