#1 – Surviving because of Jaylen
At half-time, Jaylen Brown had scored or assisted on 50% of the Celtics’ factors. Because the Timberwolves have among the best rim protections within the league, Brown’s capacity to be considerably environment friendly from the mid-range is what received the offense going.
The issue the Wolves typically have is that, due to Gobert, the spacing will get too crowded and their offense struggles. That is without doubt one of the causes they have been caught at 14 factors after the primary quarter. Within the second interval, the Wolves have been capable of go on a run with the Frenchman out, thanks to higher spacing but additionally extra aggressive protection.
But, these moments with out Rudy Gobert create one other drawback for the Wolves: Jaylen’s drives. Within the first half, the Celtics have been capable of get to the rim because of Brown and benefit from the dearth of rim safety. Right here, JB first will get the change he desires and goes for a formidable reverse drive.
However after a outstanding begin, Jaylen Brown slowed down within the second half, going 3-for-13 from the sector. And, like the remainder of the group, he collapsed within the fourth quarter, when the depth was at its peak for the Wolves.
#2 – A fourth quarter to overlook
To start out the final quarter, the Wolves determined to go small and be cellular reasonably than tall. They put strain on the ball as early as doable within the possession and tried to disrupt the offense that the Celtics have been making an attempt to run. As Joe Mazzulla stated, the Wolves’ protection with out their huge man disrupted the Celtics’ offense much more.
On this drive from Jaylen Brown, we are able to see that the strain on the ball comes a lot greater than within the first quarter, and the display screen from Luka Garza isn’t actually set. The All-Star drives early—perhaps too early—and goes right into a crowd of three Wolves prepared to guard the paint.
Behind the Celtics’ collapse within the fourth, there was additionally an enormous capturing hunch, going 0-for-7 from deep. A few of these photographs have been rather well contested, and the Celtics weren’t capable of get the great 2-vs-1 conditions they needed.
These misses created one other drawback: the Wolves might assault way more in transition and didn’t must take care of the Celtics’ half-court protection.
#3 – The quickness off the bench
Whereas the small-ball protection affords way more mobility for the Wolves, it additionally gave them a chance to run quicker in transition and keep away from being caught in half-court conditions. With out Anthony Edwards, the Wolves should keep away from stagnant conditions as a lot as doable as a result of they lack the driving drive that often creates gaps.
So, as quickly as they received a rebound, they ran. On the play beneath, you may see the willingness to push the ball up the ground as shortly as doable, with everybody working to supply passing choices to the ball-handler till somebody cuts to the rim.
With extra velocity off a miss, the Wolves might additionally drive the matchups they needed early within the possession. Right here, Naz Reid will get a post-up towards Brown whereas his regular matchup, Luka Garza, is much away from the ball. So this isn’t strictly transition, however as a result of the Celtics weren’t capable of get an offensive rebound or cease the break, Reid will get the ball precisely the place he desires it towards a good matchup.
Because the Celtics stored lacking, the Wolves had an increasing number of alternatives to play quick, get away from half-court offense, and capitalize on their defensive depth.
#4 – Getting Jayson Tatum in rhythm
The primary half was a little bit brutal for Jayson, with one help, one turnover, and 4 missed photographs. However to get his groove again, the Celtics teaching employees concerned him immediately after half-time. A few play calls with Neemias Queta notably stood out. They went to a Spain pick-and-roll motion, with Sam Hauser positioned to hassle Gobert. That offers a bit more room to JT after Queta’s second display screen to assault the rim.
Similar play name on the possession beneath. This time, Jayson snakes the pick-and-roll, and we are able to see that Queta isn’t totally used to that sample. But, Tatum isn’t bothered and may launch a triple like he used to when a protection is in drop protection. Bang!
With this motion placing a participant behind Gobert, the Celtics might punish his presence on the court docket and provides Jayson Tatum the momentum wanted to get again on observe. Nonetheless, Tatum wanted Queta’s screens, and the Portuguese huge did an excellent total job serving to him assault the Frenchman’s coverages.
#5 – Going round Mount Gobert
Earlier than the sport, Joe Mazzulla and Chris Finch talked in regards to the central position of Rudy Gobert within the Minnesota Timberwolves. They each highlighted that the French middle has improved his versatility and is doing a greater job on the perimeter than earlier in his profession.
The Wolves’ coach additionally talked about that, with Neemias Queta at middle, the Celtics don’t have the standard stretch-five they’d with Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis. Nevertheless, lately, the Celtics have began utilizing the Portuguese huge man as a hub on the perimeter.
With Queta’s display screen high quality, the Wolves have been typically compelled to change as an alternative of staying in drop protection. Right here, Reid will get caught within the display screen lengthy sufficient that Gobert has to change on the perimeter, which opens a minimize to the rim for Queta.
#6 – Coping with Julius Randle
The Celtics’ protection is elite however nonetheless has a few weaknesses: fast guards and heavy wings like Julius Randle are amongst them. Going into the sport, the Celtics knew they must alter: do they let him play one-on-one, or ship assist and rotate behind his passing?
The most important menace comes from his post-ups due to his body, but additionally as a result of his passing improves when he’s stationary. The Wolves knew that and began the sport immediately with a post-up for Randle. What I didn’t anticipate was to see Hauser matched up with him. But, you may clearly see that the others are prepared to assist and prepared to go away Jaden McDaniels open, for instance.
With gamers like McDaniels and Gobert on the court docket, the Wolves made it simpler for the Celtics to determine learn how to defend. As typically, the aim was to guard the paint and depart below-average shooters open, so long as the drive didn’t break the primary line of defense.
That is one more reason the Wolves went small later within the sport. Reid is a a lot better offensive match subsequent to Randle. Right here, he units the display screen, and Garza is caught for a second defending towards a possible drive from Julius. This results in more room for Reid when he catches the ball, and the shot is open.
As we stated earlier, the Celtics battle with fast guards and heavy wings. And whereas Julius Randle’s menace was properly managed, the quickness of Bones Hyland was not. The guard, who was first signed on a two-way contract, is displaying superb offensive potential for the Wolves. Not solely was he quick in transition, however he additionally uncovered the Celtics’ pick-and-roll protection.
However, as Joe Mazzulla talked about after the sport, it was his velocity in transition that prompted the most important issues. On this play, he outruns everybody and will get to the rim in simply a few seconds. Brown doesn’t have time to get set, and the Wolves get one other layup.
#8 – The aggressiveness is rising
After the Thunder, the Suns, the Warriors, and now the Wolves, that is the fourth group in latest video games making an attempt to keep away from the Celtics’ half-court protection as a lot as doable by pushing in transition.
Whereas the three different groups principally did it by forcing turnovers, the Wolves have been capable of mix velocity off reside rebounds with on-ball aggressiveness to disrupt the Celtics’ move.
Opponents at the moment are conscious that the Celtics’ capacity to deal with the ball can be utilized towards them. They’ll assault extra freely but additionally ensure that they’re set defensively. With the Thunder and the Hawks coming to city this week, will probably be attention-grabbing to see how the Celtics adapt to that stage of aggressiveness.
#9 – Shedding the wager towards McDaniels
Within the second half, the Celtics paid the worth for his or her wager on McDaniels’ capturing. We talked about earlier that Celtics defenders have been typically serving to off McDaniels as a result of he was seen because the lesser capturing menace. Nevertheless, he scored 9 factors from deep within the second half, fueling the Wolves’ run.
The protection would reasonably go below screens towards him to guard the paint, however this offers him an opportunity to punish that method if the capturing variance swings his method. It was a daring selection contemplating his effectivity from deep this season (41%), however the Celtics’ paint safety is usually well worth the gamble. It simply didn’t work this time.
After the sport, Jaylen Brown spoke candidly and stated, “we didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight,” and used a phrase I had by no means heard again in French faculty: “lackadaisical.” For individuals who, like me, hadn’t heard it earlier than, it means “missing life, spirit, or zest.” And I believe that completely captures the Celtics’ efficiency as soon as the Wolves went small and attacked them with velocity and depth.
The Celtics might want to regroup and discover their “zest” once more earlier than Wednesday to be prepared for the most important sport of the season: OKC Thunder at dwelling, with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Williams again on the court docket.”
