{"id":52216,"date":"2023-11-27T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2023\/11\/27\/23977372\/dalano-banton-brings-defensive-energy-in-his-first-start-for-boston-celtics-atlanta-hawks"},"modified":"2023-11-27T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T13:00:00","slug":"dalano-banton-a-member-of-the-stay-ready-group-brings-defensive-energy-in-first-start-for-celtics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/27\/dalano-banton-a-member-of-the-stay-ready-group-brings-defensive-energy-in-first-start-for-celtics\/","title":{"rendered":"Dalano Banton, a member of the \u201cStay-Ready Group,\u201d brings defensive energy in first start for Celtics"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Brian Babineau\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With Jrue Holiday out, Banton played a season-high 19 minutes and finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds.\u00a0<\/em> <\/p>\n

About an hour before tipoff against the Hawks, Jrue Holiday was ruled out. He\u2019d taken the court earlier than usual to warm up and test out the right ankle he sprained on Wednesday against Milwaukee, but after about 20 minutes, decided he was a no-go. <\/p>\n

That meant a certain member of the \u2018stay-ready\u2019 group \u2014 the Celtics<\/a> bench players who don\u2019t have a regular spot in the rotation \u2014 was due for increased minutes. <\/p>\n

Last night, Dalano Banton got the start for the fourth time in his young NBA career. Previously, he\u2019d only appeared in six games for the Celtics, usually in garbage time. He only hit double-digit minutes once, in a blowout victory against the Wizards.<\/p>\n

But, here was Banton, starting the ball game, playing critical fourth-quarter minutes, and making an impact. Joe Mazzulla said after the game that in the absence of players like Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, who is out with a calf strain, he\u2019s glad to give guys who are not always in the rotation the chance to play and execute.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Dalano\u2019s defensive instincts and his defense was really good,\u201d Mazzulla said. \u201cI thought he made some good plays in the seam. He\u2019s got a really good feel for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Banton finished the game with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 fouls, and an assist. He made a couple of notable mistakes \u2014 like fouling DeAndre Hunter<\/a> on a corner three-point shoot midway through the fourth \u2014 but also played with energy and hustle. <\/p>\n

Each time he made a big play, whether a put-back layup<\/a> midway through the third or a breakaway finish, the Celtics bench cheered raucously, recognizing he was capitalizing on a limited opportunity. <\/p>\n

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Celtics bench – led by Luke Kornet- celebrates Dalano Banton\u2019s putback layup. <\/p>\n

Banton has 4 pts, 3 rebounds so far in his first career start for the Celtics. Celtics up 78-58 with 7:46 to go in Q3. pic.twitter.com\/0YKI6za1lG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) November 27, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n