It was a nice win against a mediocre team.
Sure, there was Jayson Tatum doing something other than banking in a 3-pointer when it came to the game-winner. And it was notable hearing Jaylen Brown declaring Marcus Smart "is the heart and soul of this team," with Tatum doubling-down on the love for Smart.
This 122-120 revenge win over the Pistons Sunday was a step in the right direction for Brad Stevens' team, albeit a small shuffle forward.
But let's be honest, it was the Pistons and it was just the seventh game of a season that is undeniably going to be somewhat of a roller coaster. Anybody who thinks that this version of the Celtics is what you're going to get three months from now is most likely misguided.
Tatum is really good. Smart is really valuable. The Celtics really need another scorer. We get it.
There is one story that should be elevated to the top of the list, one which actually might mean something more than saving face at Little Caesars Arena. That would be the emergence of Jaylen Brown.
We have already apologized to the entire Brown family for suggesting that the Celtics should include him in a deal for James Harden, or presenting the case that the 24-year-old is as expendable as 2007 Al Jefferson.
Brown has taken the kind of step many believed simply wasn't in the cards. The kind of step that introduced an out-of-nowhere debate.
This time around Brown netted 31 points in 35 minutes, showing the kind of passing acumen that simply wasn't in the mix a season ago. It put him as fifth-leading scorer in the NBA at 28 points per game, just ahead of guys named Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid and Paul George.
And all those players with more points per game than Brown can't claim the efficiency of the Celtics' star, who is shooting 59.8 percent from the floor.
The numbers keep climbing for Brown, whose shot percentage is up 11 percent from the floor, and four percent better from beyond the 3-point stripe, while dishing out one assist more than last season.
But what has punctuated the conversation so far is just the image of a player who is doing a lot of really good things at some of the most important moments.
The Celtics needed a star to go along with Tatum. It's not too early to declare that they have officially found one.