One other sport, one other victory for the Boston Celtics. This time, over the Chicago Bulls, who shot a blistering 57.3% from the sphere. Regardless of that, Boston pulled off a win due to their three-point taking pictures and offensive rebounding.
Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Vacation all sat out in opposition to Chicago, as soon as once more displaying Boston’s health-first priorities. So as soon as once more, listed here are some area of interest observations.
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1. Celtics’ defensive switching
The important thing to being the most effective defensive groups within the league is connectivity. Boston has been on the identical web page all yr, with a wholesome dose of Vacation’s free-safety play blended in.
Right here, Coby White drives into the lane and will get Luke Kornet on him after a Nikola Vucevic display.
Kornet cuts off White’s drive completely, so the Bulls guard is pressured to take the ball again out. Reasonably than following him, Jayson Tatum merely picks White up once more, and he’s pressured to take a tricky mid-range jumper.
Chicago is at fault for this play, too. Vucevic ought to have rolled more durable, forcing Kornet to drift between the 2 our bodies. However Boston’s togetherness to modify this again with out even speaking is a really small, underappreciated element of their protection.
It could appear apparent, and the Bulls might not have executed properly, however the Celtics’ protection nonetheless deserves credit score.
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2. Tatum-White excessive PnR
These are the kinds of performs followers have been begging the Celtics to run on the finish of video games.
Derrick White handles the ball by the brand, and Tatum goes all the best way out to run a excessive pick-n-roll. The opposite three Celtics gamers are spacing the ground to the corners, giving them a free run of the center of the ground.
Ayo Dosunmu fights previous the display, however since Tatum set it so excessive up the ground, he has a ton of area to work with. Torrey Craig is anticipating a re-screen and making an attempt to disclaim Tatum the ball, so he spins previous him and into the lane.
White feeds him the ball on the drive, the whole protection sucks in, and Tatum hits Pritchard within the nook for a wide-open three. A wonderful play executed to perfection. Pritchard simply missed the shot.
Picture by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
3. Oshae Brissett’s hustle
With Boston’s myriad of absences, Oshae Brissett has been incomes some further taking part in time. And whereas his offensive sport is missing, his hustle has been big.
The offensive rebounds are apparent. He grabbed three in opposition to the Bulls. Nevertheless it’s the small issues that stand out much more.
On this play, the Bulls had a three-on-one fast-break off a Tatum turnover. Brissett sprints down the ground, will get in entrance of Chicago, and forces them to decelerate.
By the point they received a shot up, Tatum was again and despatched them packing. Tatum will get the block within the stat sheet, however Brissett deserves the credit score for the cease.
