1 – Kristaps Porzingis’ post-up dilemma
Earlier than the sport, JJ Redick talked about he was glad to surrender the contested two, even within the case of a mismatch. This meant the Lakers had been keen to go away a guard one-on-one in opposition to Kristaps Porzingis within the submit and stay with the outcomes.
In consequence, the Celtics spammed post-ups with the Latvian huge man to start out the sport. Porzingis scored 11 factors from 8 makes an attempt, even producing an help for Derrick White. The general effectivity was spectacular. It appeared just like the JJ Redick technique wasn’t working.
Nevertheless, this strategy additionally created a really predictable offense. The Celtics repeatedly ran the identical motion, utilizing an off-ball display screen to create the mismatch. This static offense lacked momentum. By the top of the primary quarter, the Celtics had scored solely 23 factors, making it look like the JJ Redick technique might have been simpler than it initially appeared.
2 – Lakers post-up on full show too
What labored for the Celtics additionally labored for the Lakers, notably with sturdy ball handlers like Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
The Celtics opted for a unique strategy, sending two gamers to guard the mismatch. This led to open threes, and the Lakers capitalized, capturing a formidable 42% from past the arc.
The Celtics possible anticipated worse capturing effectivity from the Lakers, however as soon as once more, capturing variance labored in opposition to Boston.
3 – Jayson Tatum’s utilization is curiously low
Jayson Tatum is an elite offensive engine, able to creating for himself and others. But, final night time, his utilization fee was decrease than Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis—and equal to Payton Pritchard. Why?
Whereas it is smart to prioritize Porzingis—who didn’t play in opposition to the Clippers—and make the most of his post-up alternatives as talked about in #1, why did Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown obtain extra offensive accountability than Tatum?
This strategy would have been justified if their effectivity was excessive. Nevertheless, each Brown and Pritchard had been inefficient scorers, dragging the general offensive efficiency down.
Maybe it was because of the matchup, or possibly Tatum was fatigued. Regardless, it’s puzzling to see a top-five participant within the NBA not being utilized extra successfully for creation, each for himself and others.
4 – Defensive breakdowns
The Lakers exploited the Celtics’ lack of vitality and defensive self-discipline. JJ Redick, a sensible offensive coach, used intelligent play-calling to generate cuts and simple pictures on the rim by pace and ball motion.
The Lakers additionally benefited from the Celtics’ lack of defensive cohesion. Within the motion under, the Celtics had been in a zone protection, which requires gamers to protect an space somewhat than a particular participant. Nevertheless, when Knecht lower towards the baseline, Jaylen Brown adopted him, leaving Rui Hachimura open in his zone.
This sequence highlights a scarcity of defensive consciousness, communication, and self-discipline.
5 – The Celtics couldn’t rating on the rim
The Celtics recorded one of many worst rim performances of the season—throughout all groups. Usually, Boston is among the many NBA’s best groups on the rim, capturing 70% (4th within the league). Nevertheless, final night time, they transformed simply 10 of 26 makes an attempt, a mere 39%.
Not too long ago, the Celtics have struggled with rim effectivity.
This pattern is price monitoring, because the Celtics have been taking fewer threes in comparison with earlier within the season, choosing extra rim makes an attempt and mid-range pictures. Nevertheless, their effectivity in these zones is declining. May this sign a possible spacing drawback?
6 – Celtics couldn’t match the Lakers’ depth
The Lakers’ offensive rebounding numbers and the Celtics’ lack of free throws mirrored Boston’s wrestle to deal with physicality, as was evident of their sport in opposition to the Clippers.
With the Celtics struggling to safe rebounds and create straightforward scoring alternatives, it’s puzzling why the teaching workers didn’t rely extra on the double-big lineup. Offensive rebounding was a important challenge. The Celtics missed 56 pictures however secured solely 11 offensive rebounds.
7 – Celtics’ supporting solid takes the night time off
Past their three offensive hubs—Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis—the remainder of the Celtics’ rotation made solely 7 of 32 shot makes an attempt. The Celtics can not win with such poor manufacturing from the supporting solid.
This West Coast highway journey appears to have drained the Celtics’ vitality. Everybody besides Porzingis and Horford appeared fatigued final night time. Nevertheless, all groups play the identical variety of video games, so fatigue can’t be used as an excuse.
January has been a difficult month for the Celtics. With three video games left in opposition to Dallas, Houston, and Chicago, they’ve received 7 of their first 13 contests.
8 – Reaves finds his manner by the Celtics’ protection
Austin Reaves, a frequent goal of the Celtics’ offense, discovered methods to reply successfully. His potential to drag up from three punished the Celtics’ drop protection with Porzingis:
The Lakers additionally used him as an off-ball menace, asking him to set screens and pop for 3, much like how the Celtics use Sam Hauser:
Reaves’ driving sport pressured defensive assist, permitting him to tally 6 assists over the sport.
Reaves represents the kind of guard the Celtics wrestle to include. Like Donovan Mitchell or Tyrese Maxey, his potential to drag up from three and penetrate defenses uncovered the Celtics’ vulnerabilities.
9 – Jaylen Brown and the bench’s last-ditch effort
Regardless of trailing by greater than 20 factors, the Celtics tried a comeback with Jaylen Brown alongside Hauser, Queta, Pritchard, and Jaden Springer. After his heroics earlier within the season, Springer was again on the court docket.
This time, nevertheless, the problem was too nice, and the fourth quarter rapidly devolved into rubbish time, with Walsh and Scheierman additionally seeing minutes. Nonetheless, it was a invaluable alternative for the younger gamers to face LeBron James and his son.
10 – Again-to-back poor offensive video games with totally different signs
The Celtics have posted low offensive effectivity in back-to-back video games in opposition to the Clippers and Lakers. Nevertheless, the underlying points differ.
In opposition to the Clippers, the Celtics shot effectively, recording a 57.4% eFG%, however turnovers dragged them down. In opposition to the Lakers, the Celtics turned the ball over simply 7 instances however couldn’t keep capturing effectivity.
With an all-time-low 39% on the rim and solely 32% from three, the Celtics struggled to generate open seems to be. Their reliance on mid-range pictures, Porzingis post-ups, and Jaylen Brown isolation performs led to a different poor offensive night time.
It’s notable how the Celtics’ offensive struggles differ. The teaching workers and administration should contemplate potential options.
