Boston narrowly pulled out the victory over the Nets in additional time, and it wasn’t behind their normally flurry of made 3’s. They gained the 3PT battle barely, however completed the sport taking pictures a mediocre 26.4%. With little success behind the road, they needed to show as soon as once more that this group can win in different methods.
The Celtics shot a mixed 25/34 (74%) within the paint, together with a formidable 14/18 on the rim. Regardless of the inefficiency from 3, Boston by no means stopped taking pictures them. They made probably the most of each paint contact although, and that was sufficient to carry the Nets off.
They’d a strong defensive sport too, with Brooklyn taking pictures 41% from the sector and 26.3% from 3. The Nets had their very own struggles, however Boston did a greater job with their inside protection comparatively, holding them to 27/54 (50%) within the paint.
Lacking two starters and having a poor taking pictures night time is a recipe for catastrophe. The C’s stored defending although, and by no means let the shortage of shotmaking discourage them. This Nets group is healthier than anticipated, so it was good to see the Celtics end them off with execution.
2. Abandoning X with the starters.
I don’t wish to name Mazzulla cussed, however he’s not one to throw a lineup away attributable to a few dangerous minutes. For this sport although, he acknowledged fairly rapidly that his resolution to begin Tillman was backfiring.
The Nets obtained off to a fast 12-0 begin, and dominated all of Tillman’s 5:52 of sport time. This was actually not all X’s fault, the Celtics seemed unorganized and sloppy, whereas the Nets had been urgent them and enjoying with physicality. His three missed 3’s didn’t assist although, and Joe went to Queta as a substitute.
It’s been a lower than best yr for Tillman early on, and I need to admit I had assumed it might be simpler to combine him after a full low season with the group. There’s loads of time for him to show it round, he simply has to remain assured and maintain working.
3. Jrue “Regular Fingers” Vacation.
It was a wholesome dose of Vacation that helped the Celtics chop the Nets lead down to shut out the first quarter. He broke Boston’s scoring drought by getting deep submit place a number of instances in opposition to the Brooklyn’s beginning backcourt.
Jrue’s energy is one in all his most underappreciated traits as a basketball participant, and it permits him to reap the benefits of much less bodily guards.
He took the same method within the 4th quarter to assist them keep inside placing distance, and finally seize the lead. That is one thing I’ve touched on previously, however Jrue’s consolation making performs because the roll man is unbelievably helpful.
In the beginning of additional time, they ran a play to get Vacation a post-up. It doesn’t work precisely as meant with the Nets avoiding a swap, however Tatum fires it right down to him anyhow. Jrue snags it out of the air like a large receiver, will get proper into his post-up and finishes by way of the contact.
This felt like a kind of video games the place the Celtics would have benefited from much more Jrue. He got here by way of in vital moments although and was a giant cause they’d sufficient juice even with out the three’s falling.
4. Queta’s inventory continues to rise.
This was not Queta’s finest sport, nevertheless it was very clear from the second he checked in that he may very well be counted on once more. He subbed in for Tillman in the course of the first quarter, and wasted no time.
Neemy didn’t rating some extent, however the Celtics gained his 1st quarter minutes by 10. He had two blocks on the rim, and gave them an opportunity to finish the quarter with a extra affordable deficit.
He rebounded nicely, which was useful in a sport the place they’d hassle on the glass. Other than that, he didn’t add a ton to the field rating. It appears noteworthy although that Mazzulla referred to as on Queta to begin the additional time interval. It’s clear that he’s earned the belief of the teaching employees.
5. All aboard.
Please take your seats, the Payton Pritchard Sixth Man of the 12 months marketing campaign is full velocity forward.
Payton has by no means lacked confidence, however proper now he’s enjoying at a stage that’s normally reserved for preseason or late March when all the starters are resting. He seems like he has been absolutely empowered by his coaches and teammates to get busy. Generally that even means trying off those self same teammates to name his personal quantity.
Pritchard is taking full benefit of the absence of some excessive utilization gamers, and Boston has wanted all of his scoring output. This consistency may very well be arduous to maintain up when Brown and Porzingis return, nevertheless it doesn’t appear like he or the Celtics plan to have him take a backseat. There’ll at all times be video games when they’re shorthanded, and this presents the proper alternative for Payton to proceed to show his worth to potential 6MOTY award voters.
6. 1st Group All-DWhite.
Derrick has obtained some nicely deserved credit score for his defensive skills since arriving in Boston, however whereas we’re on the subject of award voting.. it’s time to offer him his rightful place on the All-Defensive 1st group.
He completed the night time with 3 blocks, together with his final coming moderately emphatically as he rotated to guard the rim.
White is averaging over a block per sport, and is at the moment top-20 within the league for whole blocks. In the meanwhile, his 12 blocks are tied with reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert. Bear in mind, this can be a 6’4 guard we’re speaking about right here, this isn’t regular.
7. Maintain taking pictures Sam.
It’s honest to say now we have not seen the perfect of Sam Hauser this season. Beginning the yr with a again harm has clearly restricted his skill to get right into a groove from deep. You can see at instances the seen frustration he was feeling, like after his seventh miss of the night time on a large open nook 3 to tie the sport.
Hauser has hit this shot numerous instances in additional intense eventualities, which makes his disappointment comprehensible. A standard trait on the earth’s biggest shooters is the following shot mentality, the place you may shrug off any earlier outcome the second that ball hits your finger suggestions.
Sam confirmed as soon as once more that he lives by that code.
To begin with, this was an excellent go from Tatum. The arrogance required to point out zero hesitation on the shot is precisely why there’s no use worrying about Hauser. It gained’t take lengthy for him to climb again as much as his baseline of 40% from 3, and there’s seemingly a giant sport coming quickly.
8. Mazzulla’s go-to play
In one of many sport’s most crucial moments, Mazzulla drew up one in all his favourite late sport performs.
This fast entry, adopted by a reduce from Tatum has traditionally been a particularly efficient play for Boston. It’s a good way to offer Tatum a bonus whereas he will get downhill towards the rim.
If there was any critique of the Celtics clutch execution, it might be the character of their closing possession.
Clearly you’re not going to run the identical play, nevertheless it looks like a mistake to begin the possession with Tatum heading away from the basket. Thankfully, this didn’t find yourself mattering, it’s value holding in thoughts although in the event that they discover themselves in the identical scenario throughout one other sport.
9. The duality of Cam Thomas
Brooklyn’s main scorer is likely one of the premier robust shot makers within the NBA.
Thomas is exclusive within the sense that he genuinely would possibly want taking pictures over tighter contests. This turns into fairly irritating when the protection has spent a full shot clock making him work, solely to be hit with one in all these:
He isn’t the quickest, tallest or most athletic guard, however he has a decent deal with and the flexibility to pull-up from wherever. Whereas the scoring is spectacular, the protection is.. not. Boston made it their mission to contain Thomas within the motion throughout almost all the video games crucial possessions.
10. Closing time.
As beforehand talked about, there was a giant pink goal painted on the again of Cam Thomas’s jersey. Jaylen Brown briefly defined Mazzulla and the Celtic’s “Killer whale offense” throughout his look on Sizzling Ones. The Celtics searching Thomas in crunch time was an ideal instance of what it seems like after they’ve discovered a seal.
This was the primary of a string of additional time possessions that allowed Boston to take management of the sport. This clip ends with a Pritchard missed 3, nevertheless it’s vital to notice that Payton was used as a screener to pressure Cam Thomas to change on Tatum. As soon as the Nets conceded that swap, they rapidly introduced a double group over to guard Thomas.
Understanding that Brooklyn will promote out to guard Thomas is vital. On the next possession, they used Pritchard as a screener once more.
This time Tatum rejects the display screen and will get downhill. Thomas was saved momentarily, however appeared to overlook the play wasn’t over. Pritchard cuts proper behind him, Tatum drops within the go and Thomas sends him to the freethrow line.
Boston switches it up barely, deploying Tatum as a screener for Pritchard this time. This causes one other double group to ensure Tatum doesn’t get that matchup, however he assaults the double and threads a needle to Horford who drills the broad open clutch 3.
Jrue turns into the initiator with Thomas guarding him now, and as soon as once more Tatum will get concerned to hunt out that swap. This ends in the primary time Tatum will get him 1-on-1, and it ends precisely how the Nets had been frightened it might.
This might finally go on to be the game-winning shot, and it completely illustrates the problem that groups face when Boston goes trying to find seals.
