#1 Locking in from the opening tip
From the opening tip, it was clear the Boston Celtics have been trying to dominate their second straight recreation in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets. They executed with precision. They received into their units with tempo. They usually executed on the defensive finish, too.
Contemplating this was Boston’s final recreation earlier than the All-Star break, and so they had defeated the Nets simply 24 hours earlier, I discovered their efficiency to be spectacular. They didn’t play right down to the competitors. There was no signal of a malaise — on both facet of the ground.
As an alternative, Boston got here into the sport trying to dominate. They gave the impression to be having enjoyable on the market. It’s that kind of strategy, whatever the opposition or the state of affairs surrounding a recreation, that depicts championship mentality.
We regularly converse in regards to the on-court developments we see from the Celtics. Nevertheless, we noticed a growth in Boston’s strategy on Wednesday. We noticed them look to safe a win, no matter who their opponent was. There was no query of friendship or protecting issues respectable. The Celtics got here in to whoop the Nets. And a whooping was what they dished out.
#2 Defensive focus
It’s true; Brooklyn isn’t an offensive juggernaut. They sit nineteenth within the NBA for offensive ranking. Nevertheless, Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas are not any joke. Each can get factors up in bunches. Dennis Schroder’s addition has given the Nets a real pick-and-roll menace in addition to somebody who can push the tempo and create off the dribble.
So, the Celtics locked in. They caught to their swap 1-through-4 with 5 in drop system. They pressured the ball. They restricted off-ball motion. They compelled shot clock violations. And, there was little alternative to get an uncontested shot off.
I’m going to dive into why this possession (and others) have been profitable for the Celtics within the subsequent takeaway. For now, although, it’s enjoyable to see Boston setting an early tone with their defensive mindset and dedication to guarding all throughout the court docket.
Right here’s one other instance.
Once more, the play happens within the first quarter. Boston is trying to proceed asserting their dominance on the defensive finish. They rotate with intent, shut out with pace, and minimize off secondary-cutting alternatives.
Total, we noticed a sturdy defensive efficiency from the Celtics — particularly in the course of the first half. Nevertheless, there was one particular space of their defensive efficiency that actually stood out as being extremely efficient, and that was their dedication to…
#3 Prime locking
Prime-locking is when a defensive participant restricts an off-ball participant from lifting towards a display screen or hand-off. Using this defensive precept is particularly efficient when taking part in in opposition to groups that run a variety of hand-off actions or performs that contain large pin-downs, and so on.
Usually, the highest lock will see a participant quit on attempting to raise towards the ball and re-direct their minimize, often right into a backdoor.
Prime-locking is completely different from canceling hand-offs or screens, which is when a participant will get in between the participant and the motion.
One of the best ways to acknowledge a top-lock is to see it as a large face-guard for an off-ball participant who’s trying to minimize off a pin-down.
Let’s return to that first play from the takeaway above.
Right here, we don’t get a top-locking motion. As an alternative, we see Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, and Jrue Vacation look to cancel, slicing actions towards the ball-handler. On the unique via minimize that Tatum defends with Hauser, Tatum is positioned to leap into the lane and top-lock the minimize, however the off-ball cutter reads the motion and counters on the fly.
Nonetheless, having so many cell defenders permits the Celtics to fly round and kill any potential hand-offs or pin-downs on either side of the ground. That pressures the ball-handler into making a fast resolution that’s outdoors the remit of the motion the workforce is more likely to run.
On this possession, we get two top-locks happening. The primary is from Payton Pritchard, who then flows into rear-view protection, adopted by Tatum threatening a second top-lock by digging into the house between the off-ball participant on the wing and the ball-handler desirous to provoke a hand-off.
As soon as once more, Boston’s willingness to cancel and/or take away the specter of Brooklyn’s large pin-down actions produced a stifling impact on the offense, resulting in some disjointed decision-making.
While you take away a workforce’s major offensive system, they’re compelled to search out new methods to assault a protection. Sadly, when locked in, the Celtics protection is among the greatest within the NBA. Within the above clip, you possibly can see the Nets shifting away from their large pin-down units and trying to break down the protection with ball motion and slicing.
It doesn’t work. The Celtics swap with tempo. They count on an off-ball pin-down, so defenders angle their our bodies accordingly.
I beloved this dedication to taking away certainly one of Brooklyn’s major weapons. Particularly with how properly the Celtics executed the plan total.
#4 2-1-2 zone with the stay-ready group
In yesterday’s modified takeaways, I discussed how I anticipated to see some further 2-1-2 spy protection from the Celtics on their second evening of a back-to-back in opposition to the Nets. What I didn’t have on my bingo card, although, was that it will come through the “Keep Prepared” group. I’m not mad at it both. I assumed Eddie Home, who was pleasant on the play-by-play, had an ideal level: The Celtics can nonetheless study from possessions within the movie room.
The end result from going to the zone wasn’t a lot completely different from what we’ve seen all through the previous couple of months. Everyone continues to be figuring it out. There’s nonetheless a scarcity of stress. The pick-up factors want tweaking, and the power when on this set-up appears low. Hopefully, time, movie work, and shopping for into why the zone is a needed winkle of the defensive playbook will all assist elevate this technique into being a core a part of the workforce’s id on that facet of the ground.
#5 Some Jordan Walsh minutes
“I believe, since Christmas, he got here on the West Coast journey with us,” Mazzulla mentioned after the sport. “He’s made a acutely aware effort to have an understanding that protection is the way you make it on this league as a younger participant. And what you do within the G-League from a statistical standpoint is essential. However, it’s extra essential about your each day strategy, professionalism and protection. I believe he’s actually grown in that space. Within the video games I’ve watched, the suggestions from Maine, and his strategy right here with us, his protection has drastically improved.”
By the sounds of it, Jordan Walsh has earned his minutes. The rookie wing, who entered the NBA with a popularity of being a dependable defensive presence, received the prospect to shine in Boston’s ultimate recreation earlier than the All-Star break.
Walsh ended up taking part in 18 minutes, a few of which was as a result of Boston sitting their starters within the ultimate quarter. Nevertheless, he received a possibility within the first quarter and began the second. Proper now, his offense continues to be a step behind. That can include reps, particularly because the nerves start to subside and being on an NBA court docket turns into a normality.
Nonetheless, Walsh does seem like he’ll deliver some defensive upside. His wingspan is an unbelievable bodily device that can enable him to contest pictures with out absolutely committing to closeouts. It’s additionally how he managed to get the beneath block with out leaving his toes.
Already, Walsh seems to be able to navigating the court docket in opposition to NBA-level gamers. He reads screeners properly and is aware of how one can place his physique to stay within the play on protection. That’s why he was capable of recuperate into place on the above possession and why he was capable of present some assist protection.
He’s nonetheless very uncooked. He’s a prospect participant, there’s no denying that. Nonetheless, in certainly one of our greatest samples of Walsh’s skillset, an NBA-level defender can nonetheless dramatically enhance.
#6 Plenty of Horns actions
We’ve seen the Celtics run by means of a bunch of various offensive programs this season. They began the basketball 12 months leaning into empty-corner actions. Then, there have been a variety of stagger units being thrown round. In opposition to Brooklyn, Boston closely leaned into their Horns Collection.
The wonderful thing about working Horns is that it’s not often advanced. It’s often one or two screens, a minimize, a learn, and a shot try. It flows properly, it’s straightforward to execute, and for the Celtics, it’s been a high-yield offensive collection all season lengthy.
Right here you could have the Celtics in a Horns set. Pritchard feeds Kristaps Porzingis on the elbow. He then v-cuts (a really shallow model) off a Tatum display screen and receives the ball again. Because the protection reacts to Pritchard’s three-point gravity, it permits him to feed Tatum, who’s posting up his defender. From there, it’s straightforward cash for the five-time All-Star. No dribbles, one jab step, a pull-up jumper from the nail, money.
Boston had a string of those Horns units, every with completely different variations, and the bulk resulting in a scoring play.
#7 Luke Kornet will get again on observe
Since getting back from damage, Luke Kornet has regarded barely behind the eight-ball. Nevertheless, with Al Horford sitting out and Porzingis solely taking part in restricted minutes, Kornet received some prolonged run. That allowed him to rediscover his rhythm and make an influence, particularly as his dimension was an issue for the Nets all through the sport.
Kornet ended the sport with 8 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and three blocks in 18 minutes of play. He additionally set good screens, made himself out there within the dunker spots, and operated properly as a hand-off hub across the perimeter.
Little “boomerang” actions just like the one above assist preserve the protection in rotation, whereas Kornet’s dimension can create capturing house for his teammates, particularly if he flows right into a display screen after getting off the ball.
With Xavier Tillman on the workforce, Kornet might want to present any such manufacturing constantly. There’s respectable competitors for the third-big-man spot on the Celtics roster now. Kornet received’t simply be handed these minutes. Performances like this one are essential if he needs to maintain his spot within the rotation for the rest of the season.
#8 Headband Jay
Who doesn’t love taking part in basketball with a headscarf on? I’m not one to imagine {that a} piece of apparel goes to vary the way you play. Possibly I’m mistaken right here. Possibly I’m not. Both manner, it was a enjoyable little wrinkle in what was a enjoyable recreation the place Boston ran up the rating.
Tatum, who was coming off the again of a 40+ level evening, glided by means of the protection at will. Nevertheless, it felt like he was content material being a facilitator for his teammates slightly than being the scoring menace we noticed from the evening earlier than. That’s the great thing about Tatum at this level in his profession; he can harm you in so many alternative methods, all of that are as tough to cease because the final one.
Tatum had 20 factors, 9 assists, and seven rebounds in 28 minutes of play. He was composed all through the sport. He made the rights learn. He was locked in on protection. And he didn’t drive something. It was an ideal recreation to have heading into the All-Star break, the place Tatum will probably be a prevalent determine.
#9 An early evening for Porzingis
Porzingis went into the locker room at halftime and didn’t return onto the court docket. As an alternative, he sat with the workforce on the bench, cheering on his teammates. Contemplating how the Celtics have been taking part in and the management they’d over the sport, it is smart that the teaching employees took a cautious strategy with him.
Porzingis was having a great recreation earlier than his recreation ended early.
When he’s hitting pictures just like the one above, and every little thing is trying clean (together with his motion) Porzingis is an unfair addition to Boston’s rotation. His multi-faceted offensive menace makes him — and the Celtics, virtually unguardable. He was stringing collectively a stable efficiency in the course of the first half.
Nonetheless, he possible wouldn’t have performed a lot after halftime anyway. So, sitting him early made no distinction and ensured he received a barely longer break than he would have if he returned to the rotation after half-time.
#10 Carry on the All-Star break
Whether or not you’re keen on the All-Star break or not, the break is at all times good. Video games come at you thick and quick as soon as the NBA season is underway. Generally, it’s good to take a step again, re-watch some movie, and luxuriate in per week with out new video games being thrown at you.
In fact, we additionally get the dunk competitors, the three-point contest, and the All-Star recreation — so there are some enjoyable issues to sit up for.
The Celtics will probably be again in motion subsequent Thursday. They are going to be in Chicago taking part in the Chicago Bulls. That’s per week from right this moment. Plenty of time to dive into the stats, catch some highlights, and take just a little break earlier than the NBA returns are the stretch run begins. After that, it’s the playoffs. After which, hopefully, it’s the championship parade.
For now, although, benefit from the break, benefit from the All-Star recreation, and the Takeaways will probably be again subsequent Friday!
