Almost there: 5 Takeaways from Celtics/Knicks

#1 Boston must keep away from defensive possessions like this

Three probabilities at scoring on the identical possession. Two offensive rebounds ensured the New York Knicks might maintain working to discover a shot that will work for them. The Boston Celtics didn’t fly across the court docket the best way they’ve been doing all season. Their close-outs had been slower, and their box-outs had been lackadaisical.

Sure, it took the Knicks three makes an attempt to attain. They shouldn’t have had that many probabilities—not on one possession, and definitely not in a number of eventualities just like the one above.

In Boston’s final three video games, they’ve given up 51 offensive rebounds: 17 towards the Knicks, 12 towards the Milwaukee Bucks and 22 towards the Portland Path Blazers.

Whereas it’s simple to brush this rising pattern off as ‘they may click on again into gear then the playoffs start,’ it’s value noting that habits might be shaped pretty shortly. I’m all for taking part in at half-speed over the past two video games. I’m additionally completely fantastic with seeing lots of deep bench lineups. However, if the core rotation finally ends up getting minutes, it might be sensible to emphasize the significance of controlling the glass — to ensure no dangerous habits are creeping in.

#2 Guarding DHO’s

The Celtics are twenty fifth for defending hand-off and DHO actions — I took at a more in-depth have a look at that in my publication. They’re permitting groups to shoot roughly 50% from these units. Whereas the Celtics are vulnerable after the hand-off has occurred, they’ve been doing job of limiting them from happening. The Celtic’s top-lock cutters cancel hand-offs by getting in between the ball and the receiver. And so they do a get job of stunting into area.

Watch how laborious the Celtics combat to maintain the Knicks from getting a hand-off to happen. By doing this, Boston is forcing New York to put on down the shot clock, with the specified end result being the off-ball “receiver” chopping away from the ball and towards the basket. At this level, the Celtics may have assist defenders able to react and probably be trying to play the passing lane.

Finally, the hand-off does happen. The Celtics do a strong job of defending it and forcing a tricky floater on the transfer. Sadly, an offensive rebound helps the Knicks get some factors out of the possession.

#3 A brand new baseline play

This motion is one thing we see the Celtics run within the halfcourt. Nevertheless, the extra wrinkle is new.

The play begins off with Svi Mykhailiuk and Luke Kornet setting a stagger display screen for Hauser, who’s designed to be the decoy on this motion. Hauser comes off Svi’s display screen and curls by means of the area between the 2 screeners.

From there, Kornet seems to be to display screen for Svi. The concept right here is that Hauser’s defender will comply with him on his reduce, whereas Svi’s defender and Kornet’s defender will swap, making a mismatch and giving Svi the benefit in a foot race as he seems to be to sink into the nook and shoot off the catch.

This motion is called an “Oklahoma Flare.”

Nevertheless, Svi’s defender seems to be to top-lock the play. I’ve at all times referred to this as “canceling” the display screen. When this occurs, Svi faces and cuts his defender earlier than snaking his approach into the nook, the place he nonetheless manages to get his shot off whereas on the transfer and sinks the try.

I appreciated this motion as a result of the design was strong and replicates and motion we see in open play and since it pressured the Celtics to problem-solve on the fly.

#4 Cruise management

“I noticed that there was just one workforce in Japanese Convention that has their seed settled. And nobody else does,” Joe Mazzulla stated after the sport. “I noticed a excessive degree of desperacy.”

That is what occurs whenever you wrap up your season with weeks left on the schedule. It’s solely logical that you simply take your foot off the fuel. As followers, we wish the workforce to be as wholesome as potential within the playoffs. The tradeoff is a few less-than-energetic performances and a few losses in video games the workforce possible would have received if they’d been enjoying to the extent we’ve seen from them for almost all of the season.

Nonetheless, if the Celtics find yourself again within the NBA Finals, a few head-scratching performances when there was nothing left to chase would be the very last thing on anybody’s thoughts.

#5 Two extra video games left

Subsequent on the agenda is a recreation towards the Charlotte Hornets. Then, the Celtics will wrap up their season with a recreation towards the Washington Wizards. I can’t wait. Which means on Monday after I’m writing the takeaways, we can be on the point of flip our consideration to the playoffs.

Video games will matter once more. The Celtics will up their manufacturing and their execution. We’ll formally be on the highway to what we hope is a championship. The NBA season is lengthy. But this one has flown by within the blink of an eye fixed. I suppose that’s what occurs whenever you’re having enjoyable. And make no mistake, we’ve been having a blast.

I’ll catch you all tomorrow when there’ll solely be one recreation remaining on the regular-season schedule.