#1 – Hugo Gonzalez introduced life to the Celtics
Trying on the field rating, you wouldn’t suppose Hugo Gonzalez had that massive of an influence: solely six factors, one help, and two steals. But, you would additionally discover that the Celtics received by seven factors within the 22 minutes he was on the ground. How? Nicely, it began with protection — the Celtics held the Knicks to only 87 factors per 100 possessions when he was within the recreation.
This small pattern measurement could possibly be deceptive, so let’s have a look at what Hugo introduced defensively. Nicely, he introduced every little thing he had — and that’s precisely what the Celtics wanted. With him on the court docket, the Knicks’ ball-handlers couldn’t dictate the sport as they wished as a result of they had been always beneath strain. A full-court strain that generated a stagnant offense and a number of turnovers for the Knicks.
The defensive work was spectacular, however Hugo additionally introduced vitality on each side of the court docket. On this motion, after setting a again display, he instantly goes for the offensive rebound as a result of he sees the house created and anticipates the missed shot.
Even in half-court units, his willingness to drive and make fast choices improved the workforce’s motion and introduced the tempo nearer to what the Celtics’ offense ought to appear like. His vitality turns into pace — and right here, he leaves Josh Hart within the mud after the Knicks wing is compelled to modify onto him.
There was quite a bit to love on each ends of the ground, and I’ll offer you yet another defensive spotlight earlier than shifting on to the following takeaway.
#2 – Some motion to start out the sport
We noticed that play within the first recreation to punish Joel Embiid’s lack of mobility — and it labored out fairly nicely. So, to start out this one, the Celtics ran the identical play twice in a row to generate open pictures. With these Spain pick-and-rolls, they will both create an open three or a shot on the rim.
On the primary play, the confusion created by all of the screens and motion provides Sam Hauser loads of house to catch and shoot comfortably.
On the following possession, the Celtics run an analogous motion, and this time the Knicks are extra nervous about Hauser’s shot than earlier than… however they go away Queta large open rolling to the rim.
Two possessions, six factors, and a number of display and ball motion. Makes you surprise why we don’t see extra of these.
They saved going after Karl-Anthony Cities to start out the sport with one other sensible play name. Queta first units a pindown display for Hauser within the nook. Hauser then runs to set a display for White. The Celtics’ #9 then begins a Zoom Motion, utilizing Hauser’s display and Queta’s handoff to create separation from Mikal Bridges.
KAT is caught between stepping up on White or overlaying Queta’s roll, and that’s a good looking floater for D-White.
#3 – Is Jaylen Brown the Celtics’ heart?
Nicely, when you solely deal with the defensive finish… sure, he is likely to be! Like towards Philly, Brown begins on the opponent’s heart whereas Queta is used on a wing. Right here, Queta matches up with Bridges and does an awesome job bothering him.
Mike Brown makes an early determination to take a seat Bridges and usher in Landry Shamet, who is much extra energetic off the ball, forcing the Celtics to place Queta on KAT and return to a extra conventional defensive setup.
#4 – Taking part in small is enjoyable till it’s essential rebound
A defensive cease doesn’t simply imply the opponent missed a shot — it means they missed and didn’t seize the offensive rebound to increase the possession. And that’s the place the Celtics failed final evening.
Total, the Knicks had worse taking pictures effectivity than the Celtics, however as a result of they had been capable of generate 21 further possessions by offensive rebounds, they beat Boston by 10.
If the Celtics had managed to restrict New York’s offensive rebounds, or compelled extra of their very own, or generated extra turnovers, they might have had a significantly better probability to win the sport by the possession battle. In exhausting defensive video games like final evening’s, it usually comes right down to who generates extra pictures — no matter high quality or effectivity.
#5 – Bench minutes convey good protection
To shut the primary quarter, Joe Mazzulla went with a model new lineup, taking all of the starters off the ground. The bench — Hugo Gonzalez, Chris Boucher, Xavier Tillman, Anfernee Simons, and Baylor Scheierman — introduced a ton of defensive vitality.
With this group, they utilized robust ball strain and took away simple passes. With a switch-everything method, they minimized house and compelled the Knicks into one-on-one play.
The issue for that lineup was that the offense created nothing and lacked synergy, forcing Mazzulla to convey Brown again into the sport rapidly.
#6 – A defensive collapse summed up in a single sequence
In 12 minutes, the Knicks scored 42 factors on the Celtics and constructed a 20-point lead by halftime, regardless of Boston’s nice first quarter. Whereas the Celtics’ offense struggled to transform open threes, the larger downside got here on protection.
In that stretch, New York made 12 subject objectives, 12 free throws, and grabbed seven offensive rebounds. Their spacing and fixed motion overwhelmed Boston’s protection, and the pictures had been usually open. On high of that, when the Knicks missed, they dominated the glass.
On the finish of this sequence, New York ran a reasonably fundamental baseline motion — and Queta forgot to assist Hauser after Guerschon Yabusele’s display, leaving Bridges open on the rim.
#7 – Lack of spacing and court docket consciousness led to transition factors
Take a look at the screenshot under. It’s a picture we hardly ever noticed earlier than when Brown was posting up. There are three defenders on him as a result of Pritchard, Tillman, and Simons are approach too shut. The Knicks eat up the house, generate turnovers, and rating in transition.
The Knicks scored 23 factors in transition — and spacing was an enormous motive for it. The opposite trigger was Brown’s lack of court docket consciousness. After a six-game playoff sequence, he ought to know the Knicks will swarm him as quickly as he drives. But, he nonetheless acquired caught usually, ending with seven turnovers in 35 minutes.
#8 – Extra pace within the fourth
After seven quarters of considerably sluggish offense, the Celtics lastly matched the tempo that was promised all summer season. It began on protection, and as talked about in #1, that got here from the ball strain led by Hugo Gonzalez. However pace can be created from scratch, even after a made basket.
Right here, after one other defensive mistake from Brown and Queta, D-White sprints to the opposite finish earlier than the protection can arrange and provides these two factors proper again to the Knicks. The Pacers over the past two years confirmed the league that you simply don’t want protection to play quick on offense — simply run, and preserve operating, whether or not the earlier possession was a make or a miss.
#9 – The taking pictures struggles proceed
Other than Sam Hauser’s good evening from deep, the remainder of the Celtics shot simply 26% from three. A few of these had been open seems to be, however the problem of many makes an attempt explains the inefficiency. It’s a part of the training course of — however with fewer high-quality pictures than earlier than, the Celtics want to search out new methods to capitalize on the gaps they create.
#10 – The wing rotation battle is simply getting began
22 minutes for Hugo Gonzalez, 4 for Scheierman, two for Jordan Walsh, none for Josh Minott… who will declare the backup wing spot? Time will inform, however Gonzalez positively led the cost after final evening’s recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard.
