Ten performs that spotlight Porzingis’ defensive challenges

There have been loads of expectations for Kristaps Porzingis earlier than the collection towards the Orlando Magic. For the primary time in his quick profession as a Celtic, he was beginning a playoff matchup wholesome, and the general public was trying ahead to his affect in a postseason context. Effectively, it’s protected to say that to this point, the outcomes are combined.

The taking pictures gravity he brings is schematically essential. He nonetheless makes the Celtics one of the best spacing crew within the league when he’s on the ground. However on the opposite aspect of the ball, it has been poor when it comes to particular person efficiency. The Magic offense is concentrating on him, and the Celtics should discover a answer. Nonetheless, the Latvian massive man is conscious of all that and appeared prepared to handle these issues after the final sport:

On this article, we’ll look into Porzingis’ struggles on protection and search for potential options. We’ll give attention to protection as a result of that’s the most alarming situation for the Celtics’ back-to-back expectations.

Throughout this collection, the Latvian massive man has been matched up with Wendell Carter Jr., Jonathan Isaac, or a non-shooting guard like Anthony Black. When it comes to defensive protection, the Celtics ask him to be in drop protection. They tried to make him change too, however the outcomes have been troublesome.

First instance under has KP in drop protection that didn’t cease Franz Wagner. The German is a tall ball-handler with a excessive launch, which makes him tougher to comprise. However due to the drop protection, the younger star may also achieve loads of velocity earlier than stepping into the taking pictures movement.

The velocity and Wagner’s body are sufficient to maneuver Porzingis and create sufficient house for a floater above the protection. Plus, Wendell Carter Jr. is a step forward of Jaylen Brown due to the drop protection, which provides the Orlando Magic an edge on the offensive rebound if wanted.

As a result of he has an even bigger affect near the rim, the Celtics are attempting to maintain him low in a roamer place. He performs like a security as a result of he’s matched up with a non-shooting guard whom the Celtics are completely satisfied to go away alone. Nonetheless, the Magic discover a technique to punish that with motion.

Within the play under, Porzingis is matched up with Black on the finish of the primary quarter. The Magic sport plan is to pull the large man so far as attainable and set a display screen to punish his lack of mobility. He adopted Black excessive sufficient in order that when Wagner set a display screen for the guard, KP couldn’t sustain with the reduce to the rim.

From one other out-of-bounds motion, the Magic have been in a position to punish Porzingis’ inadequate motion patterns. Due to the drop protection, Derrick White has to combat over the display screen whereas the large man stays stagnant. Jaylen Brown stays on the in-bounder, and that’s one other open shot for the Magic.

The pick-and-roll and the set actions have been the most important half-court protection points in Sport 3. One other instance under the place there appears to be a misunderstanding of the defensive protection: Kristaps switches, however Jayson Tatum stays on the ball. This could set off assist from the weak aspect, however no person is able to rotate. Arduous to inform who’s accountable, however the defensive execution is problematic.

New pick-and-roll, new exposition of the Celtics’ drawback on half-court protection with Porzingis. Wendell Carter Jr. units a superb display screen and Jaylen Brown will get caught in it. As a result of they don’t change, this triggers assist from the weak aspect. However Carter Jr. is fairly good on the short-roll and finds Cory Joseph open past the three-point line.

As the sport goes on, the examples hold piling up. The Magic clearly recognized that it was a weak point within the Celtics’ protection, they usually didn’t cease going after him. Within the subsequent play, Brown will get caught within the display screen once more, Porzingis is in drop protection, and Wendell Carter Jr. goes behind him. This triggers weak aspect assist from Al Horford.

Once more, Carter Jr. is a great passer and finds Wagner open within the nook. Horford tries his finest however will get beat on the closeout, and the Magic have three gamers open from one other pick-and-roll motion.

Following that, Joe Mazzulla tried the Kornet/Porzingis double-big lineup. This meant one of many two seven-footers needed to defend towards Banchero or Wagner. As soon as Banchero acquired the ball remoted towards KP, he drove and was capable of finding a shot place deep within the paint. Like we noticed on the pick-and-roll, this triggered assist on the rim, which gave house for Carter Jr. to seize one more offensive rebound and rating one other putback.

New twist within the pick-and-roll motion from the Orlando Magic. This time they go for a Spain pick-and-roll, with Isaac setting a display screen on the ball and Wagner setting a display screen on Isaac’s defender, Porzingis. As they don’t change, Brown stays within the center for a second and loses Wagner, who runs past the road and makes one other open three.

After which, to complete the sport and this text, let’s have a look at the 2 actions that sealed the deal and uncovered Kristaps Porzingis as soon as and for all. First, Wagner discovered the mismatch he needed and was able to assault the Latvian massive man. The Celtics determined to not ship assist, and Porzingis backed down because the possession progressed… As soon as Wagner had a step within the paint, he drove, spun, and created an open three for himself.

Just a bit bit later, Wagner pointed at Porzingis so KCP would come for a display screen and produce him the Latvian massive man so he may attempt to cook dinner him.

And as soon as once more, that’s what he did.

Whereas this appears problematic, the Celtics have what it takes to seek out options. They already did it earlier than with Robert Williams, for instance. Again in 2022, the Celtics constructed an elite protection whereas retaining the Timelord near the rim. Each time a crew tried to contain him in a display screen, the Celtics would change off-ball, and one other participant would substitute Williams within the screening motion so he stayed low.

The Celtics may additionally attempt to imitate the Nuggets’ strategy with extra strain on the ball handlers. The Magic don’t have that good of spacing, so why not strive that strategy? We additionally noticed some zone protection in Sport 2, which didn’t all the time work, but it surely protected Porzingis and disrupted the offensive circulate.

So don’t fear, the Celtics teaching employees and Kristaps Porzingis can be alright. Nonetheless, it’s higher to discover ways to take care of these defensive dilemmas early within the postseason. You might have extra time to arrange and adapt your strategy for the higher groups that the Celtics will face alongside the way in which.