#1 – Luka Garza and the Celtics managed the board
I by no means thought I might begin the ten Takeaways with Luka Garza, however right here we’re – and the way might we not? In 26 minutes, the previous Timberwolves huge man grabbed 9 offensive rebounds. That’s as many as all the Raptors group.
Led by Garza, the Celtics introduced far more vitality and confirmed much more self-discipline on the glass, and that’s what gained them the sport. Wanting on the 4 Elements, the Celtics and the Raptors carried out equally in eFG%, TOV% and FT fee… however the rebounding domination was outrageous.
Due to that, the Celtics completed with 101.6 true shot makes an attempt final evening, ten greater than the Raptors. With ten additional alternatives to attain, Boston constructed an vital street win towards one other playoff group within the East.
#2 – Pritchard looking the leap photographs
Final evening in Toronto, Payton Pritchard took 18 leap photographs. From seven to 30 toes, Pritchard was in a position to get to his spots with out shedding the ball. Just one turnover, whereas producing 33 factors and 10 assists.
In opposition to all matchups, he was comfy utilizing his pace and punished the Raptors’ swap protection. When defended by Jamal Shead or Immanuel Quickley, he actively seemed for a display screen to both create house or power a slower defender onto him.
As soon as switched onto Scottie Barnes or Sandro Mamukelashvili, PP might pace issues up with ease and constantly discover his spots, even towards an aggressive protection. Thirty-three factors on 65% true capturing, alongside ten assists — secure to say Pritchard was very comfy with the elevated utilization with Jaylen Brown out.
#3 – Choose-and-roll reps for PP
Alongside among the best screeners within the league in Queta and with out Brown as a ball-handler, it was the right evening for Pritchard to work on his pick-and-roll sport. On this primary instance, discover how shut his hips are to the screener, which pins Brandon Ingram beneath the play.
Due to his capturing gravity, Mamukelashvili overcommits defensively and jumps, which opens the roll for Queta. With the Celtics’ finest shooters stationed within the corners — Derrick White and Sam Hauser — there is no such thing as a assist, and that’s two straightforward factors generated out of the pick-and-roll.
The Celtics ran loads of pick-and-roll to punish the Raptors’ swap protection, however as soon as they realized Gradey Dick couldn’t sustain with PP, they shifted to a double-and-recover protection. Nonetheless, Joe Mazzulla is not any idiot. He requested Baylor Scheierman to set a display screen on an empty aspect, so when the Raptors briefly double Pritchard after the display screen, there is no such thing as a assist coming from the nook and he can drive the ball. A intelligent learn from each Pritchard and the teaching workers to punish the aggressive protection.
After the rebounding and Pritchard’s scoring, the third main cause for the Celtics’ win was the zone protection with the bench unit. The purpose of that zone was easy: power as many leap photographs as doable — and the numbers present it labored.
Of their earlier sport, the Raptors took solely 24% of their photographs from deep, producing much more makes an attempt and effectivity on the rim. Final evening, the Celtics compelled a really totally different profile: 51% of Toronto’s photographs got here from past the arc, whereas rim makes an attempt dropped to simply 23%, with poor effectivity (50% on photographs inside 4 toes).
With much less rim safety within the bench unit, the Celtics wager on the Raptors’ lack of shot-making to compensate. It labored properly — so long as Mamukelashvili wasn’t on the ground.
#5 – Mamukelashvili dilemma
The previous Spur stored the Raptors within the sport due to his scoring. To guard the paint in any respect prices, the Celtics had been prepared to depart him alone to be able to preserve Neemias Queta or Garza close to the rim — however he was not the appropriate man to disregard from deep.
After six made three-pointers, the Celtics adjusted their protection and put their heart on gamers with much less capturing gravity, akin to Ja’Kobe Walter or Scottie Barnes. This allowed them to remain nearer to the paint with out taking pointless dangers on Mamukelashvili’s shot.
Because the Raptors huge man not often makes use of post-ups and performs extra like a guard, Derrick White or Hugo Gonzalez had been higher defensive matchups for him.
#6 – Queta enjoying in house
One other extremely environment friendly scoring evening for Queta, with just one missed free throw and 7 made discipline objectives on 100% effectivity. To create house and use his pace, Joe Mazzulla and his workers deployed him steadily away from the paint.
Within the first motion beneath, he will get the ball from a handoff, then flows straight right into a zoom motion as a screener to create a niche for Pritchard. In any case that motion, he can use the house to flash into the paint.
The timing of the following play can be wonderful in serving to Queta transfer in house. Sam Hauser’s again display screen on Mamukelashvili comes simply late sufficient to offer Queta the very best angle to roll to the rim.
And but, essentially the most spectacular play from Queta got here within the third quarter. Catching the ball past the arc, he fakes, drives towards Sandro, and with only a few dribbles will get deep into the paint to attain on the rim by himself.
#7 – Gonzalez inbound cuts
Talking of ways, let’s have a look at Hugo Gonzalez’s two buckets off inbound performs. They present that Hugo is way faster than his measurement and physique language may counsel. On the primary play, he fully methods Gradey Dick, forcing him into Garza’s display screen. With the swap poorly executed and Scottie Barnes too near Josh Minott, it ends in an open layup.
Utilizing the same method within the second quarter, Hugo once more makes use of a display screen from Garza earlier than sprinting to the rim. Barnes stays connected to him however expects Sandro to change — and it’s already too late, as Hugo finds himself free on the rim as soon as once more.
Joe Mazzulla additionally pulled one other card from his playbook with a reversed Spain pick-and-roll. Normally, a Spain pick-and-roll makes use of the large man because the preliminary screener on the ball, with a shooter setting the again display screen. On the play beneath, the roles are reversed, with the ball display screen from Hauser and the again display screen from Garza.
It doesn’t create sufficient instant separation, however as soon as Garza units the second display screen, the Celtics movement right into a handoff that generates robust offensive continuity. Additionally they ran the normal Spain pick-and-roll to maintain the protection guessing.
#9 – Baylor Scheierman compelled 3 turnovers in 3 minutes
In simply eight minutes, Baylor Scheiermann made an instantaneous affect at a vital second of the sport. Beginning the fourth quarter, he utilized robust strain on the ball and created transition alternatives — together with a stupendous go to Hugo.
Like final season, regardless of restricted enjoying time (round ten minutes per sport), Baylor retains impacting the sport defensively together with his skill to generate turnovers, constantly displaying his basketball IQ.
After weeks of seeing small-ball lineups off the bench, Luka Garza was again within the rotation and the Celtics performed with a real heart on the ground always — even utilizing two facilities collectively at factors. That’s how little they revered the Raptors’ spacing.
Queta and Garza switched onto wings with out a lot concern for his or her capturing, ensuring nobody might contact the paint.
