Ten takeaways from the Celtics near comeback to the Pacers

Boston had no enterprise being on this recreation, however the staff would by no means see it that approach.

The Celtics missed open threes and straightforward layups, together with quite a lot of appears that make up their typical shot weight loss plan. The Pacers had some spectacular moments defensively, but it surely reached the purpose the place you shrug your shoulders, stroll away from the TV and declare “It’s simply a type of nights.”

Unexpectedly although, the indicators of a comeback begin to pop up, and you might be drawn again in.

2. Mazzulla doesn’t waive the white flag.

This recreation was approaching out-of-reach territory rapidly, and Mazzulla opened up his bench a bit. With 8:54 left within the 4th quarter, Tatum/White/Kornet had been swapped for Walsh/Tillman/Queta.

Right now, Boston was down 91-112 and appeared prepared to maneuver on to the following recreation. That’s not how Mazzulla operates although. He noticed a teachable second, and an opportunity to information his staff by a tough situation.

If the Celtics coach really believed this recreation was completed, Jaylen would’ve been pulled alongside Tatum and White. As a substitute, Brown and Pritchard helped orchestrate the muse of a resurgence.

3. Neemias Queta had the juice.

Queta has been known as upon in restricted minutes this season, and up till this level he was firmly the 4th massive within the rotation. This recreation may’ve modified that.

For all the missed photographs that set them again, it by no means felt just like the Celtics might fairly match the youthful vitality of Indiana. Queta stepped foot on the ground, and a spark was ignited.

This lob got here seconds after Queta checked in, and it was his solely level of the night. His plus/minus of +18 was no mistake although, his battle on the glass gave the Celtics life.

Defensive positioning and self-discipline have been the lacking piece to the puzzle for Queta, however he was precisely the place he wanted to be on an enormous defensive cease.

This can be a massive time rotation, and a formidable show of coordination to remain down and time up the layup try completely for the block.

It can’t be overstated how useful his presence was, these had been among the finest middle minutes we’ve seen for Boston within the early a part of this season. It was all complimentary basketball too, he didn’t want greater than a handful of touches to be impactful.

4. Sticking along with your guys.

We will use all the revisionist historical past we’d like, however regardless of the loss, Mazzulla made the appropriate resolution to stay with the gamers that began the comeback.

White and Tatum entered the sport along with 5:17 left within the fourth, down by 14. Their clutch shotmaking was an enormous motive the C’s managed to claw themselves again into this recreation. Nevertheless, it was Queta’s contributions and normal peskiness from Pritchard that allowed them to achieve any momentum within the first place.

After miraculously making it to additional time, there wasn’t sufficient left to complete the job. Missed free throws had been a killer for Boston, however additionally they shot simply 2/9 from the sphere in OT. It’s affordable to query why Vacation and Horford weren’t inserted again into this recreation. Regardless of arising quick, I think about that’s a choice Joe would stand behind each single time.

We all know what these two veterans are able to in excessive strain situations, however a daily season recreation in late October is the appropriate time to construct belief and confidence in different choices. It says rather a lot to your gamers once they’ve been empowered to complete the run they began.

5. Flipping the change.

Traditionally, there was a notion that sure nice groups are capable of flip a change and immediately take their recreation from 0-100 even on a foul night time. With how the Celtics play typically, it has me questioning the place Mazzulla retains that change hidden.

Relying an excessive amount of on a mentality like that’s harmful, however the Celtics often come able to play. There are only a few nights the place they’ll’t determine it out on both finish, however they got here fairly shut on this one. There have been pockets of the sport that appeared like a pulse, it was nearly at all times adopted however a solution from the Pacers. That 4th quarter run was a special story.

It was a testomony to the Celtics greatness that they managed to show it up a notch ready the place most groups pack it up and prepare for a aircraft journey. It’s important to be ready to play a whole 48 minutes of flawless basketball towards this staff, or they are going to discover a approach to break by.

6. Can’t spell Pacers with out tempo.

Indiana has a novel fashion offensively, and no matter their gradual begin to the 12 months, it’s a problem to maintain up with a staff that wishes to get out and run always. In the course of the ECF, Mazzulla keyed in on the concept the Celtics protection must begin on offense. Made photographs and offensive rebounding are nice methods to decelerate a staff that constantly will get throughout half courtroom in ~2 seconds.

The Celtics had an inefficient 1st half, capturing 37.3% from the sphere. This allowed IND to push the tempo and make the most of transition possibilities – an space the place Boston has struggled to begin the 12 months.

A lot improved capturing within the fourth quarter, mixed with higher on-ball strain floor the Pacers tempo to a halt and compelled them to function extra typically within the half courtroom.

7. Lacking Porzingis

Till he returns, there will probably be moments and video games the place the absence of Porzingis is extra noticeable. Towards the Pacers, they missed him on each ends. There have been many points early on, however an absence of rim safety felt like one thing Indiana actually loved.

That is an apparent gap that Porzingis helps to plug up together with his dimension and shot blocking prowess and it could actually’t be replicated elsewhere.

On the opposite aspect of the ball, Kristaps within the submit is sufficient to delay the Pacers transition recreation to some extent. His total consistency as a scorer would’ve been a a lot wanted increase in a recreation the place the Celtics struggled to capitalize on benefits.

I’m certain this sense will probably be widespread within the few losses Boston has between now and his return, however this particularly felt like a recreation that he’d be significantly useful.

8. Time to go looking.

For some time there, I had forgotten what watching your staff lose felt like. The dream of 82-0 has formally ended by the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

It comes with the territory, however every recreation within the early phases of this season has appeared like groups seeing Boston as a chance to achieve momentum and/or make a press release. This can be a mentality that Mazzulla made very clear he needs his group to keep away from.

The schedule has a couple of weaker targets arising, and it’s time to get again to being the aggressor. LaMelo Ball and the Hornets are up subsequent they usually’re a quick, younger staff like this Pacers squad that wishes to make a reputation for themselves. Boston can be clever to place them down early.

9. Good to have Sam again.

It wasn’t Hauser’s most interesting efficiency, but it surely was good to see him again on the ground. Again accidents could be robust to cope with, so the truth that he was keen to place his physique on the road and pop proper again up was encouraging.

Even and not using a sturdy offensive efficiency, Boston received the minutes when he was on the courtroom with Sam ending the sport as a +12. He’s a particularly vital piece to what makes this staff so harmful, and it shouldn’t take lengthy for him to have the 3-ball totally firing once more.

10. “I’m leaving right here with one thing”

The second could also be tainted a bit with the unlucky ending, however this was a fully unimaginable shot from Tatum to tie the sport and drive additional time.