#1 Turning up the stress
For essentially the most half, the Boston Celtics seemed to be in charge of their recreation towards the Philadelphia 76ers. Nonetheless, there have been moments when Nick Nurse’s group created momentum and pulled themselves again into the competition. Nonetheless, with the Sixers having shaved the Celtics result in simply two factors within the fourth quarter, we noticed Joe Mazzulla’s group crank issues up a notch.
A 15-0 run sealed Boston’s ninth consecutive win. It additionally reminded everybody that this group has one other gear, maybe a few additional gears, that they will shift into when their backs are towards the wall, and so they’re seeking to shut out a decent recreation.
Contemplating the lofty expectations on the Celtics’ shoulders this season, it’s encouraging to know there’s a degree we haven’t seen from this group but. Moreover, seeing them play with a way of satisfaction is encouraging. Philadelphia was with out Joel Embiid. Additionally they misplaced De’Anthony Melton within the second half.
This was a recreation the Celtics have been meant to speculated to win. They gained’t get the credit score they deserve for assembly expectations. However they took care of enterprise when issues bought powerful. That’s a great signal.
#2 Did the Sixers discover a weak point?
The Celtics struggled to comprise the Sixers every time they went small. Multi-guard line-ups that pushed the tempo and have been energetic within the passing lanes gave the Celtics some points. It’s how the Sixers stored tempo with Boston in the course of the first half. It’s additionally how they rallied late within the third.
Groups have tried going small towards the Celtics on a number of events this season, nevertheless it’s by no means paid a lot dividends. But, in some way, Nurse discovered a technique to make it work. A part of it’s all the way down to mentality.
The Sixers know they’re short-handed. Some rotation gamers are staking a declare of minutes. Nonetheless, the opposite half was execution. The Sixers stifled Boston’s traditional offensive actions, forcing them to play extra read-and-react basketball. So, the Sixers went small. They pushed the tempo. They jumped passing lanes. And so they tried to assault earlier than the protection may get set.
There aren’t many main studying curves for a group at this level within the season. They’ve seen the completely different coverages groups will throw at them. They’ve had their slumps. And so they’ve had their video games the place all the things goes proper. Nonetheless, the Celtics will come away from this recreation with some homework to do. Regardless of the Sixers did to create these benefits when going small will assist the Celtics navigate these lineups later within the season or in the course of the playoffs.
#3 Taking benefit
No Joel Embiid = restricted rim safety. The Sixers have been counting on Paul Reed and Mo Bamba to guard the paint and function as shot deterrents. For all of their skills, neither is understood for being stringent paint defenders. So, the Celtics tailored their recreation plan and pressured the rim at will.
I imply, it was sheer domination from Boston.
The Celtics have looked for a more healthy shot food plan in current video games. Sure, they’re a succesful perimeter-scoring group. They’ve the perimeter taking pictures to be one of many highest-volume rosters within the league — which they’re. Nonetheless, when you have got constructed a group of three-level scoring expertise, exploring different avenues on offense is sensible.
The Celtics may have come into this recreation towards the Sixers, bought their threes up, stored Philadelphia at arm’s size with their inside recreation and moved on. As an alternative, they labored on their rim stress. They explored methods to get downhill. And so they took benefit of a transparent gap throughout the Sixers’ rotation.
After all, this appears fairly easy. In fact, it’s. But, while you’re so used to approaching issues in a sure method, going towards these habits isn’t straightforward. Attacking an impediment in a different way from what you’ve develop into accustomed to takes a acutely aware effort. The actual fact the Celtics are so prepared to diversify their method needs to be applauded, no matter how logical that adjustment could appear.
#4 This group excels across the rim
Constructing off the final level. This Celtics group has a lot expertise in slashing, inside scoring, and post-play.
Jaylen Brown’s athleticism and explosiveness make him a handful when attacking the lanes. This season, he’s driving with extra power and intent.
It’s turning into frequent to see him absorbing contact within the air as he assaults the rim. Contact hardly ever alters Brown’s trajectory. That’s why he is excelled as a featured scorer within the Celtics system this season. Nonetheless, he’s not the one participant on the roster that thrives when attacking across the cup. Jayson Tatum can be an distinctive scorer when driving the lane.
Equally to Brown, Tatum is embracing physicality and phone. He’s utilizing his huge body to bounce defenders off him when getting downhill. He and Brown have been dialogue factors all through the season as a consequence of their elevated physicality on drives.
Within the above clips present simply how simply the Celtics’ two All-Star wings can get to their spots when driving the rock. But, they’re not the one two which are stellar inside scorers. All through the sport, Al Horford nonetheless has one thing to supply when driving closeouts or working because the roll man. We all know Kristaps Porzingis can get buckets every time and nevertheless he chooses.
We’ve additionally seen Jrue Vacation function as an inverted dunker spot man this season. Whereas Sam Hauser has slowly however certainly been including baseline drives out of the nook to his recreation. I’m not saying Mazzulla ought to ask his group to play a ’90s model of basketball. I’m saying there’s some severe expertise across the rim, which needs to be emphasised extra — similar to it was on Tuesday.
#5 Derrick White’s block celebration
One other 10 takeaways, one other phase for Derrick White. As soon as once more, he made his presence felt on the defensive finish. He switched with tempo. He defended a number of positions. And he led the sport in blocks with three to his identify.
White had some spectacular spells of particular person protection, particularly when guarding up. Right here’s a great instance from the primary quarter: he bought switched onto Tobias Harris and in some way managed to safe the block whereas giving up measurement and energy.
Outdoors of his protection, White additionally offered some dependable playmaking and helped management the tempo of the sport together with his private tempo of play and his willingness to maneuver the rock and reduce with out the ball.
This play was one among my favorites when it comes to processing pace and punishing the protection. Boston goes to a “horns flare” motion, which has develop into a staple in current weeks. Brown seals his defender and angles his physique towards White after the move is made, offering the veteran guard with a transparent passing lane on the elbow.
The pace with which White acknowledges Brown has a bonus and will get the ball out of his fingers highlights the processing pace and the way the group is working for each other. Brown then powers his method by way of the protection, will get the bucket, and attracts the foul. It’s a simple help however deserves credit score for the pace at which the decision-making came about.
#6 Horford hunted?
There have been occasions late within the third and fourth quarters when it felt just like the Sixers have been making an attempt to hunt Horford on the perimeter. Cameron Payne was a selected candidate to attempt to take Horford off the dribble or run him into screens. Because the oldest member of the Celtics rotation, it is sensible that Nurse would look to attempt to make the most of his waning mobility.
Nonetheless, it’s not fairly often you will get the higher of Horford on a constant foundation. He’s too savvy of a veteran. When he’s getting beat, he adjusts. I’ve mentioned it numerous occasions earlier than, however Horford’s longevity is partially all the way down to his potential to protect angles. He is aware of easy methods to shade gamers to their weaker hand. He understands easy methods to bait driving lanes.
Sure, at occasions, he’s going to get cooked off the dribble. That occurs while you’re within the last phases of your profession. Nonetheless, we hardly ever see Horford wrestle, and he didn’t wrestle towards Philadelphia. They hunted him, discovered early success, and he adjusted and shut it down. There’s no higher veteran for this Celtics roster than Horford.
I imply, he was diving on the ground for a unfastened ball at one level. He’s hungry. He needs it. And he does not let a stretch of being hunted have an effect on how he approaches the sport.
#7 A quiet huge evening for Tatum
Tatum completed the sport two assists shy of a triple-double. Sure, his three wasn’t falling. As talked about earlier, he discovered different methods to attain — primarily by attacking the rim. However, as he’s been doing all season, he discovered different methods to assist his group recover from the hump, too.
He completed the sport with 11 rebounds. That’s only one board behind Porzingis, who led the complete recreation in boards. Tatum additionally led the sport in assists. And regardless of his touches, solely turned the ball over as soon as. That’s the kind of efficiency that we’ve come to count on from Tatum. A 29/11/8 evening is seen as run-of-the-mill for him.
Tatum was the very best participant on the ground. He was essentially the most full participant on the ground. And if that is what you get on a random Tuesday in late February, I can’t wait to see what he’s bought in retailer when it’s a close-out recreation in Could or June.
#8 Nonetheless no Tillman
Luke Kornet didn’t have a nasty recreation. He made his presence felt. He screened. He ran the ground. And he offered measurement across the rim. Nonetheless, when it comes to boxscore manufacturing, he didn’t have an impactful evening (I don’t subscribe to this outlook, however it would undoubtedly be a speaking level.)
Regardless of Kornet’s restricted manufacturing, Xavier Tillman remained glued to the bench. Even when Jaden Springer bought a couple of minutes run to shut out the sport, Tillman didn’t get his identify known as. I discover this attention-grabbing. On the one hand, Tillman has come right into a group that already has its big-man rotation established. He’s additionally getting back from an harm. On the opposite, he was seemingly acquired to offer competitors to Kornet and doubtlessly earn a job on the group.
Possibly the matchups towards Bamba and Reed weren’t proper for Tillman. Possibly Mazzulla is being cautious together with his new participant. Or possibly we overestimated what to anticipate from a 14th man on the roster. No matter it’s, I’m on Tillman look ahead to the remainder of the season, primarily as a result of I discover the potential roster battle attention-grabbing.
#9 Porzingis made a distinction
Porzingis’ rim safety was a big issue within the Celtics securing their ninth straight win. He ended the sport with essentially the most shot contests (12) out of everybody on Boston’s roster. His versatile protection, particularly in drop protection, restricted the Sixers’ potential to stress the rim regardless of their pace and willingness to curve actions to create driving lanes.
We additionally bought to see a few of Porzingis’ off-ball potential on this recreation. Essentially the most notable instance was throughout a sideline-out-of-bounds play that watched Porzingis curl his reduce, obtain the inbounds move, after which end with a dunk by way of visitors.
We additionally bought to see Porzingis hit this monster putback off a Brown missed layup.
This wasn’t Porzingis’ finest recreation, nevertheless, he was an essential member of the rotation and made a huge effect on the defensive finish.
#10 Aiming for 10
I like spherical numbers. The Celtics face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. In the event that they win, they’ll lengthen their win streak to 10 video games. That looks like a pleasant spherical quantity to me. It’s additionally a strong aim to have. Nonetheless, the Mavericks gained’t be a simple out. They’re taking part in effectively for the time being.
Nonetheless, the Celtics want the competitors. The entire level in ramping up manufacturing is to be prepared for the postseason. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will present that competitors. Whether or not the Celtics can rise to the event will stay to be seen. Nonetheless, I’d get pleasure from writing 10 takeaways after a tenth straight win.
Trying forward
After Dallas, Boston will face the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Then, they face the surging Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, March 5. So, there’s a tough stretch of video games arising. It’s going to be enjoyable watching how the Celtics alter their method based mostly on every group — as all of them present completely different challenges. Mazzulla has accomplished a terrific job of giving his group the liberty to be versatile throughout the move of the sport.
I’m excited for this mini-run. Catch you all on Friday!
