10 takeaways from the Celtics’ battle with the Pistons’ physicality

#1 – Kristaps Porzingis’ defensive positioning

The Detroit Pistons didn’t wish to make it simple for the Celtics to maintain Porzingis near the rim, for apparent causes: (insert video)

Subsequently, the Pistons immediately concerned him in actions by asking his defensive matchup to set screens. Due to that, the Latvian large man was dragged out of the paint. Within the play under, for instance, they used a zoom motion (off-ball display screen and a handoff) to contain KP:

Additionally they used motion to trick the Celtics. On a pick-and-roll, for instance, when Porzingis needed to step out into the driving lane to assist, Ausar Thompson lower behind him:

The Celtics will want a second rim protector on the ground or higher off-ball switching to maintain Porzingis on the rim as a result of extra groups will begin exploiting this if it continues to work.

#2 – Jayson Tatum scoring from the Spain motion

When Queta and Pritchard had been each on the court docket, the Celtics spammed the identical motion repeatedly. On this motion, they mixed Queta’s rim-running expertise, Pritchard’s motion capturing risk, and Tatum’s playmaking to generate offensive synergy.

If the protection switches, Tatum can assault a mismatch one-on-one as soon as Pritchard pops behind the three-point line to offer him area. If the protection doesn’t change and will get caught behind, Jayson Tatum can pull up from three.

Some defenses get caught giving an excessive amount of area to Jayson Tatum, which he makes use of to drive. To sum up, this play may give the Celtics varied benefits.

If the protection decides to ship extra stress on the ball, Tatum also can discover Pritchard for 3 or Queta rolling to the rim.

A really good motion to spam to get the offense going with the bench.

#3 – No rim stress

The Celtics weren’t capable of drive and get to the paint as a lot as they often do. They needed to cope with a really lengthy and hard Detroit Pistons protection. Ausar Thompson led the best way, making life arduous for Jayson Tatum anytime he had the ball.

Per CleaningTheGlass.com, the Celtics solely took eight pictures on the rim final night time — a really low quantity of layups. The Pistons don’t have a typical rim protector, however they make entry to the rim so troublesome that it doesn’t matter.

#4 – Shedding the possession battle

As one of the vital environment friendly groups within the NBA, offensive and defensive rebounding is vital to beating the Celtics — and the Pistons fought arduous to win this battle. Whereas the Celtics seize offensive rebounds on solely 13% of missed pictures, the Pistons obtained a board on 33% of their misses.

They introduced vitality and despatched a number of gamers to the offensive boards to overwhelm a drained Celtics group. Following offensive rebounds, the Pistons exploited their benefits and made the Celtics pay for his or her heavy legs.

5- Caring for the ball

The Celtics are often the perfect group at caring for the ball, however the depth the Pistons introduced final night time disrupted their offense. They misplaced the ball on 18.5% of their possession, a crucial numbers, and much behind the season common (11.9%).

On drives and post-up passing lanes, the Pistons had been capable of put their palms in the proper locations and stole the ball repeatedly.

This stage of aggression precipitated one other Celtics breakdown in transition protection. Total, the Pistons scored 24 factors from lose balls.

#6 – Porzingis post-ups difficulties

In opposition to the Pistons, there weren’t many simple small targets, and Porzingis’ post-ups weren’t as efficient as ordinary. The Latvian large man struggled loads in opposition to Harris in these conditions.

Plus, the Celtics didn’t do an awesome job managing spacing, and generally Porzingis was trapped in robust positions the place he couldn’t reap the benefits of the post-up as a result of a scarcity of spacing.

Total, this season, groups appear much less fearful of Porzingis’ post-ups. The Celtics may want to regulate how they use him offensively in these conditions.

#7 – Jrue struggles in opposition to Cade

I used to be stunned to see Vacation match up with Cunningham on protection. Cade’s pace and measurement appeared higher fitted to Jayson Tatum to protect. Jrue has carried out nicely this season in opposition to large males however seems to wrestle extra in opposition to faster guards.

I believe Jrue Vacation’s latest struggles may drive the teaching workers to regulate how they use him on either side of the ground.

#8 – The Thompson brothers are superb

Watching Ausar and Amen Thompson play in opposition to the Celtics has been unbelievable. The twins’ physique management and agility are excellent. Final night time, Ausar Thompson’s display screen navigation left me speechless.

#9 – Lack of offensive juice from the stay-ready group

With Luke Kornet and Jaylen Brown out, the Celtics’ stay-ready group was anticipated to step up—however they didn’t. None of them scored a bucket earlier than rubbish time regardless of enjoying actual sport minutes.

Even Sam Hauser couldn’t sustain with Malik Beasley capturing surge — the Celtics sharp shooter solely made one subject goad and weren’t capable of reap the benefits of Jayson Tatum on-ball gravity.

This isn’t problematic however serves as an awesome reminder {that a} group must be totally wholesome to carry out at its greatest. The Celtics are deep, however will want their 9 core gamers as soon as the Playoffs will begin.

These final two video games had been additionally an awesome reminder of Luke Kornet key position within the rotation. With Luke out, Celtics wrestle to guard the rim, the pick-and-roll motion weren’t as environment friendly as ordinary and as talked about, the Celtics misplaced the rebounding battle — which not often occurs with Kornet on the court docket.

#10 – The true assessments are forward

The Celtics have constructed good momentum collectively, however more durable challenges are forward. Within the subsequent two weeks, they’ll face the Thunder, the Cavaliers, the Nuggets, and the Lakers. Prepared or not, right here they arrive.