Three video games into the season and the Boston Celtics are nonetheless undefeated. Slowly however absolutely, we’re seeing an identification type on each side of the ball. Sure, Joe Mazzulla’s workforce remains to be liberal from past the arc, however they’re additionally bodily, aggressive and have been cooking opponents within the publish and when driving towards the rim.
The Washington Wizards had been the most recent workforce to succumb to Boston’s two-way relentlessness. In fact, the writing was on the wall after the primary quarter. Nevertheless, in contrast to Celtics groups of the previous, they by no means took their foot off the peddle.
#1 Avoiding a lure sport
This was the Celtics’ first lure sport of the season. With no nationwide protection and an opponent within the early levels of a rebuild, the Celtics walked into a possible lure sport. Fairly than enjoying all the way down to their opponent, Boston saved their depth ranges and jumped out to a monster lead. The Celtics by no means took their foot off the fuel, main them to sit down their starters all through the fourth quarter.
“Some would say we’ve discovered from our errors from final season,” Tatum stated throughout his post-game press convention. “We obtained a very completely different workforce…We’ve been extraordinarily shut these final two years. We’re simply attempting to do all the things we will to recover from that hump.”
If the Celtics can keep away from the pitfalls of letting their effort ranges slip on “league move nights,” that can go some option to growing good habits.
#2 Pritchard obtained what he wished; it’s time to point out up
Within the build-up to the 2022 commerce deadline, Payton Pritchard went on a mini press run about his need to have a constant position inside an NBA rotation. He obtained his want. Pritchard has performed constant minutes in Boston’s opening three video games and has offered goose eggs in every of them. “Preseason P” wants to come back out and play.
Sure, Pritchard dished out six assists and grabbed seven rebounds. He additionally went 0-for-8 from the sector and led the sport in turnovers (4) in 25 minutes of play. If Pritchard desires to maintain his position because the Celtics bench guard, he should enhance his performances.
#3 Giving Pritchard his flowers for an exquisite defensive possession
I’m nothing if not truthful. Pritchard might have struggled in opposition to the Wizards, however he did have a stellar defensive possession within the third quarter.
The possession begins with the Wizards organising a weakside stagger (stagger away) for Tyus Jones. Pritchard does an ideal job of “canceling” the display by throwing himself in between the screener and Jones, blowing up the preliminary motion.
Pritchard then switches on Delon Wright, navigates a display, will get beneath his man, and forces the ball out of his palms. The possession ends in a miss, with the Wizards scrambling to discover a high quality take care of Jones’ participation within the possession was nullified.
#4 Dominating the glass
The Celtics at the moment rank second within the NBA for workforce rebounds. For years, controlling the glass has been a problem for this workforce’s core. Now, all people is pitching in on each side of the courtroom, and it’s resulting in a better stage of management, together with some simple second-chance alternatives. Boston ended the sport with 51 boards. Seven members of the rotation had 5 or extra rebounds within the sport. Hauser led the way in which with eight.
Of these 51, 15 got here on the offensive glass. Boston turned these 15 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance factors. It could not have made a lot of a distinction in a blow-out sport; nevertheless, there can be nights the place a giant effort on the offensive glass is why the Celtics squeaked out a win.
#5 Getting nerdy with it: Nook pin-downs
As I discussed within the final version of the takeaways, the Celtics are operating a principal-based offense. It’s not usually they’re going to design gamers. One of many main ideas the Celtics have adhered to to date is operating empty-side actions, the place there isn’t a shooter within the strong-side nook. Boston has been constructing on that idea over their first three video games.
Now, they’re triggering these empty aspect actions operating nook pin-downs earlier than flowing into ball screens.
The above possession is a strong instance of Boston’s nook pin-downs into empty-side ball screens. Right here, Kristaps Porzingis units the pindown for Jaylen Brown. As soon as Brown receives the move, Porzingis units a step-up display, permitting Brown to assault the area created by not having a shooter deep within the nook.
In equity, the Wizards’ protection does job of taking away the driving lane. Jordan Poole has rotated over because the weakside low man and is ready across the paint to get his physique in entrance of Brown’s. So, the All-NBA wing goes into his bag and drains a mid-range jumper as an alternative.
Generally, the nook pindown isn’t wanted. Boston’s top-end expertise is so versatile they will obtain a hand-off on the wing and be an on the spot risk. That’s precisely what occurred within the beneath motion, the place Jayson Tatum receives a aspect dribble hand-off from Al Horford earlier than the duo movement into an empty aspect screening set.
#6 Jaylen channels Tatum
Each Brown and Tatum had strong nights. Brown obtained to his spots. He was aggressive with out forcing the difficulty. He defended nicely, took care of the ball, and hit spectacular buckets all through the competition. Nevertheless, one stood out. Not as a result of it was his greatest shot of the evening. Or as a result of it was a well timed bucket to shift momentum. As an alternative, as a result of it’s a shot, we might anticipate to see from Tatum.
With the ball in his palms on the wing, Brown went to Tatum’s patented side-step three…and he laced it. I imply, nothing however nylon.
I may go into nice element about Brown’s stellar efficiency, however I’m positive another person may have me coated there. As an alternative, I simply wished to level out Brown’s confidence stage and notice how he’s clearly expanded his scoring skillset over the summer season.
#7 Working by way of Porzingis
Boston’s embarrassment of riches means they will go to the new hand all through the sport. At occasions, the offense ran by way of Brown; at others, Vacation was controlling the movement of the sport. But, when Tatum was off the courtroom, and the Celtics wished to create one thing within the half-court, Porzingis acted because the set off man. After I say “set off man,” I’m referring to the participant that’s used to set off an motion, and gamers start their actions as soon as that participant has performed his position (often by receiving the ball or setting a display.)
Submit-entry passes. Delay actions (when the massive man has possession above the perimeter in a five-out offense) or as a screener. Porzingis had his fingerprints on all the things for a number of stretches of the sport.
Here’s a lovely move out of the delay.
And right here is a number of the greatest post-creation we’ll see this aspect of Christmas.
#8 Dunker spot Jrue
In one of many opening performs of the sport, Jrue Vacation was within the dunker spot. He relocated to take away his man from the paint, permitting Porzingis a simple slip to the rim for a layup. Vacation’s motion was important to the play. I observed it fairly shortly and obtained actually excited to incorporate it in right now’s takeaways. Right here’s that possession.
Then, just some minutes later, the Celtics return to the identical motion and get the identical end result. Credit score to Brian Scalabrine, he picked up on this in the course of the reside broadcast and provides a strong breakdown on air. Right here’s that second possession.
Vacation spent lots of time working within the dunker spot space as a part of Boston’s inverted five-out system. By inverted, I imply that the guards are occupying the corners whereas the wings and bigs are operating issues across the high of the perimeter. Vacation’s passing capability, decision-making, and jump-shooting make him a strong choice to be an inverted dunker spot — as we noticed along with his motion on the above two performs.
#9 Bench points
This was the primary time we obtained a take a look at the Celtics full bench mob. With a full quarter of basketball to play, we may see how every member of the bench rotation would fare throughout an NBA sport. Particularly with the Wizards combating for delight at that time. The outcomes had been a little bit regarding.
The bench rotation went seven-of-25 from the sector, 4-of-17 from deep, and had been outscored 32-to-18. The protection misplaced its aggression. The offense was stagnant. After all, if Pritchard and Hauser are hitting their photographs, issues look very completely different. If each shooters are changing, the Wizards’ protection opens up, and straightforward appears to be like start to materialize across the rim.
Boston shouldn’t be counting on two sharpshooters to hold their bench mob, although. If the offense is constructed round rim strain, post-control, and perimeter scoring, there must be all three features littered all through the bench. What we noticed was regarding. But it surely’s a small pattern dimension. One thing we should always in all probability maintain our eye on and watch because it continues to evolve.
#10 Transferring the rock
With a lot expertise littered all through their roster, being selfless with the ball and creating high-quality photographs is integral. The Celtics wanted the sport in opposition to Washington with a workforce help share of 60.8%. The workforce scored 51 buckets, 31 of them got here through an help. The roster is enjoying for one another. They’re searching for the most effective photographs accessible and making well timed selections.
The pattern dimension remains to be small, however thus far, the ball motion appears to be like vastly improved to earlier seasons, and that’s an encouraging improvement at such an early stage of the season.
Who’s up subsequent?
Subsequent up is the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton has began the season nicely and is at the moment main the league in assists per sport. He’ll pose a unique kind of risk to the Celtics protection, which can create a enjoyable matchup to observe all through the sport. We may even get to see former Celtic Aaron Nesmith, who has developed right into a useful role-player for the Pacers since being traded there final summer season.
Boston can be favored to win the sport. They must navigate one other “lure,” setting.
