Theis, Celts seize early control on the Reigning-and-Defendings

The first 5:12 of Sunday’s series opener between the Celtics and Raptors – 12 offensive possessions per team – produced 16 points and 10 off-target Field Goal Attempts. Boston’s under-sized starting center snatched exactly half of those potential rebounds before yielding to his back-up. He returned to replicate his showing over the first 14 possessions and 6:54 of Q2, grabbing another six caroms out of the 21 misses up for grabs.

That’s one guy gaining possession of one out of every three available rebounds (.355) during 25 percent of game-time … the type of dominance one might expect of a Russell or a Malone.

But Daniel Theis? (The cool-headed German even went six-for-six from the foul line…