That they had seventeen factors off turnovers within the second half. That’s a product of poor spacing, poor physicality on the ball, and simply poor screening. They’re a workforce that fights for matchups.
“Spacing is offense, so we gotta battle to be extra disciplined with that.”
That was head coach Joe Mazzulla on what led to only a 27-point second half for the Celtics in Oklahoma Metropolis. After main the Thunder by 10 heading into halftime, Boston’s offense went chilly. They adopted a 6-for-22 first half from behind the arc with a 3-for-24 stinker to shut it out.
To be an efficient three-point taking pictures workforce, you need to have the shooters after all, however to Mazzulla’s level, they need to be in the best spots for every little thing to work.
“It’s one thing you gotta commit to each possession. As you’re enjoying a sport and going via it and seeking to course of every possession, you simply gotta battle for nice spacing on each possession. Typically matchups and totally different coverages mess it up,” Mazzulla mentioned of Boston’s third and fourth quarter collapse.
When the Celtics are clicking, they’re this amalgamous blob of potential with gamers biking all around the courtroom, all as offensive threats. Right here’s Derrick White attacking the empty facet of the ground in semi-transition. As quickly as he goes baseline, you possibly can see his teammates fall into place; Sam Hauser areas to the alternative facet nook; Luke Kornet flashes from the dunker spot; Jaylen Brown offers a launch valve above the break; lastly, Kristaps Porzingis makes the slot lower for a layup.
Sadly, it doesn’t at all times go as deliberate.
“There was a possession there the place we ran a pin down and so they obtained it and it was empty facet and we didn’t get the corners stuffed and so they had been in a position to make the most of that,” Mazzulla mentioned of the above play. “A big portion of that’s simply form of the self-discipline and persevering with to do it again and again every possession as you attempt to work via the circulate of the sport.”
To Brown and Boston’s credit score, they’re down 9 at this level and attempting to get fast hitters with simply over two minutes to go within the sport, however Mazzulla’s remark nonetheless stands. As JB drives, all people watches. Ideally, Jrue Vacation runs the baseline as a doable dump off go within the paint, White fills the nook vacated by Vacation, and both Jayson Tatum or Porzingis lower sooner. As a substitute, Brown will get caught within the restricted space and the Thunder power one among their sixteen turnovers.
Right here’s Brown on the story of two halves and the way OKC’s elevated physicality (and the officers lack of adjustment to it) modified the sport:
Jaylen Brown on the basis of the problem when spacing is dangerous:
“It’s only a lack of poise… second half, the whistle wasn’t on our facet. It’s tremendous, we simply have to regulate quicker… credit score to OKC, their physicality set the tone within the second half.” pic.twitter.com/YyiF34A287
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 6, 2025
One loss received’t change how the Celtics play. Mazzulla Ball isn’t lifeless. However taking it on the chin towards the league’s stingiest defensive workforce is an efficient reminder that to beat the very best, you need to be at your greatest and which means consideration to all the main points and never simply making pictures.
