#1 – Empty facet offense is again
Through the Japanese Convention Finals final 12 months, the Boston Celtics used a number of empty facet offense. In the event you’re not acquainted with this method, it’s fairly easy. As an alternative of attacking from the center of the court docket, like NBA offenses typically do, the Celtics begin from a facet the place the nook is empty.
On prime of that, they be certain that Al Horford, or whoever is defended by the rim protector, is sitting on the slot on the other facet. This 5-slot setup was popularized by Quin Snyder with the Hawks. It makes it very troublesome for a protection with a defensive anchor to return assist. Certainly, they need to maintain Myles Turner as shut as attainable to the paint, so the remainder of the ground should be coated by 4 gamers as an alternative of 5.
Taking part in from one empty facet makes it even tougher as a result of the assistance can not come from the sturdy facet, as there isn’t any one within the nook. It will probably’t come from the baseline, as there’s additionally nobody there. Subsequently, it may solely come from the highest or the other nook, which places the protection a step behind and may open up alternatives for three-point pictures.
To benefit from this, the Celtics can both run pick-and-roll, understanding there gained’t be any assist coming from the low man, or they will use their pace to drive or their energy to publish up, understanding that the assistance is just too far to hassle them. Chess, not checkers.
#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam
Dealing with a powerful frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner could possibly be troublesome for many defenses, particularly with two of the most effective defensive gamers out (Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis). But, the Celtics have the instruments to adapt to most of their opponents.
Myles Turner is a pick-and-pop sort of heart, due to his capturing potential. Subsequently, it could be robust to comprise his duo with Tyrese Haliburton if the Celtics determined to drop with Al Horford. As an alternative of forcing Al to change onto Haliburton, they put Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum on Myles Turner and maintain Al away from the motion.
This has the additional advantage of Al Horford enjoying protection on Siakam one-on-one within the publish or isolation. As we’ve seen in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless do this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t contemplate Siakam a capturing risk, the Indiana Pacers gained’t profit from nice spacing since Al stays near the paint when Siakam doesn’t have the ball.
#3 – Celtics unbothered by Pacers mixing up coverages
The Celtics have constructed a popularity for struggling in opposition to zone protection, however that wasn’t the case final evening. Whereas mixing zone and particular person protection, the Pacers tried their finest to maintain Myles Turner near the rim.
Nonetheless, the Celtics’ ball motion made it unimaginable for the Pacers to maintain up. By eager to restrict entry to the rim, they have been compelled to depart the corners open.
The Pacers’ protection couldn’t match the Celtics’ motion, and the offense didn’t have sufficient juice to compensate.
#4 – Celtics put strain early on out-of-juice Pacers
The evening earlier than going through the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Dealing with two of the most effective groups within the NBA in 24 hours isn’t precisely within the Christmas spirit, however the Celtics took benefit of it.
Proper from the beginning, the Celtics put laborious strain on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even prime the Indiana Pacers’ fast type of play.
On protection, they picked up the ball handler early and tried to pressure turnovers as a lot as attainable. By selecting up the ball handler at half-court, they compelled laborious passes, and Jaylen Brown was there to capitalize on them.
#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest
Jaylen Brown stays one in all, if not the most effective, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final evening in opposition to the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up just a little with a few straightforward dunks… after which exploded on Myles Turner!
Thirty seconds later, he stole the ball from Myles Turner and ran away with it to complete with a wonderful windmill dunk—gracious.
#6 – Jordan Walsh concerned early
With a couple of gamers out, it was anticipated to see some minutes from the “keep prepared” group. This time, it was Jordan Walsh who was invited to the present. Nonetheless, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching employees had fairly a troublesome task for him: stopping the nice TJ McConnell. TJ is perhaps one of the disruptive gamers, at all times shifting with or with out the ball—understanding how you can trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.
It was a very good problem for the rookie and confirmed that he is perhaps extra suited to guarding a special sort of offensive participant. Certainly, after only some minutes, he received caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. Somewhat later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the short Pacers guard.
On offense, Walsh was extra energetic than typical, able to set screens or crash the offensive boards. That is what the Celtics need him to do whereas ready for his deal with and close-out assault to turn into a brand new weapon.
On this final motion late within the recreation, we might see flashes of an already improved deal with and passing. Is it actual? Might this translate into significant minutes past rubbish time?
#7 – Payton Pritchard’s versatile recreation is rising
Towards the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply capturing. As talked about earlier, he was a significantly better matchup for TJ McConnell and blocked him on the Pacers’ first attempt to drive on him.
On the offensive facet, Payton delivered fairly the efficiency. Not as a result of he flirted with a triple-double, however as a result of he impacted the offense in varied methods. Off-ball, as typical, we noticed him operating and creating chaos within the protection. And with the ball, we witnessed new methods of utilizing him.
Towards Tyrese Haliburton, we noticed him play the post-up (not the empty facet set talked about earlier). His sturdy core and low heart of gravity make him capable of overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On prime of this uncommon method, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced recreation plan.
#8 – Third-quarter play name to maintain the Pacers away
The Pacers have been dominated and drained however remained shut till the fourth quarter. With the quantity of three-pointers lately, no lead is secure. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their recreation plan.
Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display screen earlier than popping to the three-point line whereas Derrick White had the ball. This forces Bennedict Mathurin to be behind Jayson Tatum, and Horford pops Turner away. Subsequently, D-White solely needed to ship a pleasant cross above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.
One other set that labored very well (and ought to be used extra typically) got here in the course of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display screen for Jayson Tatum. Myles Turner hedges onto Tatum whereas Mathurin recovers, giving Horford time to be open on the three-point line whereas Jaylen Brown creates extra confusion by setting a second display screen. An incredible use of the Jays’ scoring threats.
#9 – Boston’s offensive feast
Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was superb final evening, in some ways. First, that they had a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, the most effective marks of the season concerning capturing effectivity.
On prime of that, they dominated the possession battle with solely 11% turnovers whereas grabbing 39% of offensive rebounds after a miss! In addition they efficiently generated straightforward factors with extra free throws than typical.
An incredible general offensive recreation, and it could have been laborious to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.
#10 – Effectively-deserved Gino time
Like a late Christmas reward, the TD Backyard was lastly capable of take pleasure in a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. Might they lengthen the Gino Time streak into the brand new 12 months?
