#1 Stress protection
The largest query coming into Recreation 3 was whether or not the Boston Celtics might modify their defensive technique after being decimated by the Miami Warmth in Recreation 2. Joe Mazzulla’s workforce answered that query whereas additionally throwing down a gauntlet. They gained three of the 4 quarters and didn’t take their foot off the gasoline till the sport was out of attain.
This possession is an effective instance of the extra strain Boston utilized on the defensive finish. Miami was trying to assault Kristaps Porzingis off the swap, with Tyler Herro the ball-handler. Porzingis did an excellent job of staying on his man’s hip and getting between him and the basket, forcing Herro to kick the ball again out.
The Warmth initiated a second facet rotation after which appeared to assault the mismatch with Jaime Jaquez Jr. on Derrick White. The Celtics guard did an excellent job along with his footwork and positioning, forcing a troublesome turnaround jumper.
Miami discovered success in Recreation 2 by limiting Boston’s capacity to punish mismatches. As you possibly can see, the Celtics repaid the favor on Saturday.
These two clips present one full offensive possession for the Warmth. A core concern for Miami all through this sport was their incapability to persistently problem Porzingis and Horford in the midst of the ground. Quite a lot of their offenses got here through secondary and tertiary makes an attempt. As you possibly can see above, the primary clip begins with a kick out onto the perimeter after Porzingis had taken away the basket.
Jrue Vacation is pressuring the ball and nearly will get a steal. Jaylen Brown will get a block close to the sideline. The Warmth kicks it again out earlier than Jaquez finds some success with a bully drive to the rim with beneath two seconds left on the clock. Sure, the Warmth acquired factors on the board with this possession, however they needed to work extremely exhausting. It took three completely different makes an attempt to discover a hole within the Celtics protection. These possessions will put on you down all through a sport.
#2 Dribble-drive offense
One other concern that blighted the Celtics in Recreation 2, was their incapability to persistently get into their dribble-drive sport. That’s the entire level of a switching protection, it encourages isolation play or excessive PNR’s. On Saturday, Boston made a concerted effort to drive the lane, drive collapses and make reads to search out the open shooter.
Each of those performs led to an help. There have been a number of others that created hockey assists or gave the Celtics a bonus to assault. The Celtics have a wealth of versatile scorers on their roster. It is smart that they might look to place the ball on the ground, assault the protection and create out of the rotations that comply with.
When Mazzulla’s workforce is taking part in like this and sticking to the sport plan that noticed them dominate the NBA all through the common season, they’re a troublesome prospect for any protection to take care of. They’re, in spite of everything, one of the best offensive workforce within the NBA this season.
Right here is one other instance, this time with Vacation drawing the protection earlier than making a pocket move to Al Horford, who was located across the nail.
#3 Derrick White does Derrick White issues
We’ve already seen a clip of Derrick White doing his factor on protection. That was true for a lot of the sport, be it as a swap defender, a chasing defender, guarding mismatches, or pressuring the ball handler as a point-of-attack possibility.
On offense, White was a dependable outlet for the Celtics. The above hustle bucket to get the tip-in is a superb instance of how his aggressiveness on the offensive finish offered the Celtics with a further offensive outlet all through the sport. I used to be a giant fan of this give-and-go play between White and Porzingis within the second quarter, too.
When White is taking part in nicely and exhibiting some aggressiveness on offense, the Celtics’ general method is elevated. The extra members of the rotation which can be forcing the protection to maintain observe of them, the extra spacing that’s generated, and the much less prepared the Warmth are to assist off or ship doubles — just because pictures are coming from, and falling from, in all places on the ground.
White had an excellent sport on each ends. He performed his function and was the connector he was acquired to be.
#4 Attacking the swap
A good way to assault a switching protection is to slide a display screen earlier than the contact happens. Most switching defenses are predicated on switching on contact. That’s why slip screens and ghost screens are so efficient at creating confusion on the perimeter towards a switching protection.
Within the above play, the Celtics threaten to go to their “Oklahoma” set out of a stagger display screen. The Warmth would seemingly defend this by switching every display screen and pressuring Brown earlier than he shoots. As an alternative, Vacation slips the flare display screen and short-rolls towards the nail. A bit forwards and backwards between him and White creates and opening on the perimeter as Miami’s protection collapses to defend the paint. Straightforward three.
Little changes like these can shred an over-aggressive swap.
#5 Kornet was again within the rotation
After lacking his first two video games, Luke Kornet acquired a couple of minutes final night time. A few of them got here with the sport tied up. And a few of them got here within the first quarter. I’m undecided whether or not Mazzulla is planning on increasing his rotation to 9 guys for the rest of this sequence or whether or not he was simply seeing what the extra measurement would do to Miami’s coverages.
Both method, Kornet has earned the chance to get some playoff minutes. Though, I do really feel like a possible second spherical sequence towards the Cleveland Cavaliers is the place we might see probably the most of him. For this sequence, it might be spot minutes to assault the switching protection or add one other zone-busting possibility into the combo.
#6 Porzingis, listed below are your flowers
“In all probability a very powerful man on our workforce for what we’re making an attempt to perform,” Tatum informed the media after the sport.
Porzingis held his matchups to 35% taking pictures on the night time. He defended 20 pictures in complete, permitting simply 7 makes. He additionally did a strong job of not permitting himself to be dragged onto the perimeter too typically, contesting simply 2 threes on the night time. On offense, he was extra cell, working as a screener, working within the mid-range, and taking the pictures the protection gave him.
When he’s taking part in with mental aggression, Porzingis is the game-changer all of us anticipated him to be.
He additionally added two blocks to his playoff tally, as he did job of transferring his toes and following the ball-handler after they tried to assault the rim.
The Celtics want extra of this defensive affect from Porzingis, no matter how issues are figuring out on the offensive finish. He’s too good to not be a major issue each night time. Particularly towards a Warmth workforce that’s missing in on-ball creation.
#7 Payton Pritchard’s vitality
Speaking of constructing an affect. Payton Pritchard was one other member of the Celtics rotation trying to redeem themself after a dismal exhibiting in Recreation 2. Pritchard checked into the sport and immediately modified the tempo. He crashed the glass. He fought for buckets. And he appeared to vary the tempo of play at any time when doable.
I used to be a giant fan of the back-and-forth he had with Tyler Herro merely because of the aggression and keenness he was exhibiting. It’s additionally price noting that he offered some strong protection. On the 8 pictures he guarded from Miami, they scored 2, giving him a .25 DFG%, along with his matchups taking pictures 1-of-4 from the perimeter.
Pritchard additionally confirmed coronary heart and hustle when combating by way of screens. His display screen navigation has improved all through the season. It might seem like his protection allowed an open shot within the possession above, however he nonetheless managed to affect the discharge with a rear-view contest.
For a backup guard, Pritchard produced a strong efficiency and went some option to redeeming the stinker we noticed from him on Wednesday.
#8 Combining the Jays
A pleasant addition to Boston’s opening-quarter offense was how that they had Tatum and Brown working in the identical motion collectively. On two separate possessions, we noticed the All-Stars mix in several screening actions.
Tatum was the screener in each of those performs. Sure, I would like the decision-making to be a little bit crisper, particularly when there’s area created because of the preliminary scramble by the protection. Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to see Mazzulla placing his two greatest gamers into the identical motion.
Hopefully, Tatum and Brown construct on this and make it a staple within the Celtics half-court offense. Their gravity and decision-making will guarantee their one-two-punch will likely be devastating, particularly with Tatum slipping or popping off these screens.
We’ve seen flashes of Tatum/Brown actions through the years, however for no matter cause, they’ve by no means caught. Hopefully, this will likely be a subplot to the rest of the playoffs and probably one which helps get the workforce over the hump.
#9 Horford a driving drive
Horford has been probably the most animated member of the Celtics all through the primary three video games towards the Warmth. It’s clear he’s embracing his function because the veteran chief of the workforce and is trying to maintain everyone accountable.
On Saturday, his animated reactions had been nowhere to be seen. As an alternative, he led by instance. He fought for offensive rebounds. He battled for area in the midst of the ground. And he defended at a excessive clip.
Even with the Celtics up large and the sport trying prefer it was over, he was nonetheless battling for place across the offensive rim and combating for putbacks.
Horford’s manufacturing has by no means been one thing to leap out of the field rating. He does his work within the margins. Screening, ducking into the submit, sealing defenders, offering assist protection, or limiting DHOs.
On protection, Horford held his matchup to 3-of-9 taking pictures and 0-of-3 from the perimeter. Having him coming off the bench is a luxurious for the Celtics. He’s nonetheless the identical participant that helped the workforce make the NBA Finals two years in the past. Now, his management is taking heart stage — and he’s exhibiting he can lead in a large number of how.
#10 Obtained to stick with it
The Celtics lead the sequence 2-1. It’s at all times enjoyable to sit down right here and discuss a win and all of the issues the workforce did nicely. The fact is, we had been his after Recreation 1, too. However as we noticed in Recreation 2, the Warmth are able to making changes and punching the Celtics within the mouth.
We’ve seen what the Celtics can do after they’re locked in and approaching video games with a ‘protection first’ mindset. Now, they should preserve that stage of manufacturing, and preserve that stage of delight. Erik Spoelstra will undoubtedly re-position his workforce to be a menace. That’s what he does. That’s what he does.
The Celtics have taken again management of the sequence. Win the subsequent sport, and Miami will likely be heading into the TD Backyard for Recreation 5 one loss away from elimination. This isn’t the sequence to fiddle and danger dragging it out. The Warmth are there for the taking. All of the Celtics have to do is preserve their foot on the gasoline and show they’ve the dawg within the them to develop into champions.
