Okay, so it wasn’t quite that dramatic, but Tatum hit a pair of free throws in the closing minute of the first quarter to put the game out of reach at 28-26. Despite having scarcely scored previously, Tatum took a shovel and began digging a hole close to the Raptors bench.

His reverse layup sparked a 14-0 run into the second quarter, during which the rest of the team shoved various

Raptors players into the hole. It was a shaky start, but once the score reached 40-26, the atmosphere in the stadium was entirely secure.

That run also—somehow—convinced the Raptors that they had no chance of winning the game. You could feel the air go out of the Raptors game as soon as they fell down 14, and it was pretty clear that everyone other than Dennis Schroeder lost all belief in victory.

I love Dennis the Menace as much as the next guy, but the rest of the team just lost their moxie.

#3 Someone jacked up the TD Garden presentation budget

When were you going to tell me about the two enormous light-up shamrocks that shoot FIRE during the pregame? I was perplexed when they brought those things out, but gosh, was I surprised when the pyrotechnics package began to roll.

In addition, the PA announcer’s “FOR THREEEEE” playbook has grown to possibly unsustainable proportions. For those who are unaware, once a player’s second initial finishes in the “-ee” sound, the arena announcer will proclaim their initials followed by “FOR THREEEEE.” A Jayson Tatum three-pointer would be an example of “JT FOR THREEEEE.”

However, the number of gamers who are now eligible is approaching critical mass. We now have JT, JB, and KP eligible for “FOR THREEEE” honors, and depending on how risqué the Garden wants to get, Payton Pritchard may be included. Why don’t we just go for broke? Brissett, Oshae? Dalano Banton, OB. DB. That may be six persons in total.

#4 The dangers of vibing too hard

Scottie Barnes is a ball of sheer delight before the game, which was one of my first takeaways from the in-person experience. He was all smiles the entire time, rushing around to teammates and trying repeated between-the-legs dunks. It was quite electrifying.

But I guess the vibes were a bit too good, because Barnes established his will zero times, relying on pull-up threes and mid-range jumpers despite his exceptional physical stature and wingspan.

It wasn’t just Barnes either. When the Raptors lost the lead, the mood quickly changed across the board. The Celtics dominated the game in the second and third quarters, but they didn’t need a crowbar to do so. The Raptors began standing about like they were watching their car being towed after the Celtics rattled off 14 straight points.

To be honest, the Celtics accomplished precisely what I expected them to do: they dispatched a disjointed squad with little tension for those in the building. However, I left with more questions about the Raptors than I had when I arrived.

#5 What even are the Raptors?

Many teams, including the Celtics, struggle to find their identity. But there’s the issue of not knowing your identity… And then there’s whatever the Raptors are up to.

What the hell is this team? Their three best players—Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes—all essentially do the same thing, and none of them appear to be especially interested in establishing themselves. Tall, long wings are good if they use them, but all three of them merely stood around waiting for the other two to pick up the slack.

I’m only going to say it once, but this squad must completely rebuild around Barnes. Sure, this squad is talented enough to make a Play-In game, but with this core, they aren’t going anywhere fast.

#6 The glory of the Jrue Holiday-Kristaps Porzingis pick-and-roll

Porzingis is a massive human being, and Holiday is one of the NBA’s brightest players. The Celtics ran many clear-outs in the third quarter to isolate the two on a wing, but this time the two got it going in transition. Good luck putting a stop to that.

Remember when Damian Lillard was traded? The NBA reporters couldn’t get enough of the Dame-Giannis pick-and-roll’s putative magnificence. The Bucks, on the other hand, can have their fun (along with their 5-4 record), because we have our own one-two uppercut.

#7 Payton Pritchard timeout dribble clinic

Another thing you can only see in person, but Pritchard enjoys putting on a little dribble show during timeouts as the team is talking. During one timeout, he was performing this super-tight dribble in-and-out between the legs, and it just makes you admire NBA players’ talent. That is something I could never do, and Pritchard is the Celtics’ 7th man.

During another timeout, Pritchard was putting together between-the-legs and behind-the-back combos like it was his job. He was so committed to the grind that when Assistant Coach Tony Dobbins walked up to him, presumably to talk about… the game, Pritchard continued dribbling exclusively behind his back, as Dobbins was crowding the space in front of him.

I just hope he’s not missing anything important.

#8 Hauser continues to snipe

This season, much was made of Pritchard’s potential upside, but I believe Sam Hauser may be just what fans were looking for off the bench. Saturday night, Hauser hit his first three triples, finishing 4-6 for 12 points. Excellent work.

Despite early concerns about a lack of bench production, Hauser has quietly put together an outstanding season from beyond the arc. He’s no slouch on defense, either, but he’s been shooting threes at an astounding 45 percent clip.

The Celtics seem to be using him as Tatum’s first sub sometime in the first quarter, and has scored 10+ in five of his last six games. That is what I am talking about. You can never have enough dudes who can hit a three in a pinch, and Hauser will be a certified asset if he can stay hot.

#9 JT-JB Lob City