No starters, no problem. In their fourth preseason game, the Celtics completed their two-game home stretch and remained perfect in October with a 115-111 victory over the Raptors.

As expected, at the end of back-to-back seasons, head coach Joe Mazzulla used preseason starters (Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Luke Kornet) and again Al Horford, who will play in Toronto on Tuesday. However, Mazzulla stressed the importance of continuity, regardless of who speaks.

“The message is the same regardless of who is playing. We will compete at a high level. We will execute. “We’re going to stick with things and implement our system offensively and defensively and make sure we play with effort,” Mazzulla said before kickoff. “The message is always the same regardless of who’s in and who’s out, and I think that’s part of why we have the continuity that we have because of that standard.”

Instead of the regular starters, Payton Pritchard, Lonnie Walker IV, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta were given the nod.

It’s easy to think that Mazzulla Ball just shoots a lot of threes. Of course, Joe’s approach is based on math, but it’s mostly about finding the best shot, and with a squad full of shooters, the best shot is often a three-pointer. So even without their top six and Kristaps Porzingis, they let it fly.

Pritchard led the way, shooting 5 of 11 from behind the arc and finishing the game with 19 points and nine assists. The rest of the team was just 13 of 42; Hauser had a bad day and only made one of his seven three-pointers.

Mazzulla Ball is also about finding what you’re really good at and (hopefully) using those skills at the NBA level.

If you are Walsh and Queta, your role is to shift energy and attack space. Queta finished the game with 15 rebounds, six of which came from the offensive glass. Continuing his trend of improved three-point shooting – he’s now 6 of 16 in the preseason – Walsh also attacked closeouts and the slot with strong, patient attacks. He finished with an impressive 16 and 10 double-doubles.

For a unique scorer like Walker, his fit is a bit odd. He was still playing on an Exhibit 10 deal and was looking for a standard deal. He had his best game as a Celtic with 20 points on 4 of 9 from behind the arc. He can definitely score from the bench; It just depends on whether the front office opts for some flexibility in rostering rather than a microwave in the second unit.

And you have to defend yourself.

In three preseason games, Boston boasted a defensive rating of 98.0 and held Toronto to 37 points at halftime. Some foul trouble in the second half and the lack of big players (Xavier Tillman didn’t play either) allowed the Raptors to get back into the game in the end.

The Celtics will wrap up their preseason with a game against the same Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday. They then have a week off before Ring Night hosts the new-look New York Knicks on October 22nd.