Very similar to the temperatures exterior on a chilly December evening in Boston, the Celtics taking pictures was extremely ice chilly, particularly from three, and that turned out to be the nice equalizer that led to their loss to the Pistons. The Celtics as a group struggled from three level vary as they shot 10-39 (26%) as a group whereas the Pistons out shot them by a little bit bit, going 13-36 (36%). The free throw line additionally killed Boston on this recreation as they went 19-27 on the charity stripe. In different phrases, the Celtics missed 8 free throws on this recreation and misplaced by 7. Ouch.
2. One other 30 Factors For Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown was actually good in opposition to Pistons, ending with 34 factors, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and three blocks whereas taking pictures 13-25 FG. The one downside together with his efficiency is he went 7-14 from the free throw line, which loomed massive in a recreation the Celtics misplaced by 7 factors. Brown took accountability for the loss after the sport, saying: “We’ve bought to be higher. I’ve bought to be higher. I wasn’t adequate for my group tonight. So, that’s on me.” I wouldn’t blame Brown for this loss in any respect nevertheless as he was carrying Boston for a big portion of this recreation.
Brown was doing a ton of seal searching tonight and his primary goal was an outdated rival in Duncan Robinson. There have been a number of occasions on this recreation the place Brown was capable of get Robinson 1-on-1 and it nearly all the time led to factors for Boston. instance of him taking part in together with his meals was on this play within the third quarter the place Brown simply barreled via Robinson to get to his spot and simply elevated over him for an and-1.
Brown’s protection was additionally unbelievable, extra particularly his third block of the sport. One of the crucial athletic gamers within the NBA in Ausar Thompson was on the lookout for a shot because the shot clock was expiring late within the 4th quarter. Thompson went up for a midrange jumper and Brown met him on the summit and blocked the shot try. This led to a quick break for the Celtics that led to a Derrick White three to chop the deficit to three factors on the time.
3. 4th Quarter Derrick White is actual
It doesn’t matter if he’s having a terrific recreation or a nasty recreation, one factor about Derrick White is for sure: he’ll hit large pictures within the 4th quarter. White had 14 of his 31 factors on this recreation within the 4th quarter and all of them got here in large moments that though didn’t result in a win, have been nonetheless large pictures on the time.
His first large pictures of the 4th quarter got here on a quick break off of a rebound. On the primary play, Payton Pritchard pushed the tempo and located White who was streaking in the direction of the highest of the important thing for a stroll in three that pressured the Pistons to name a timeout. The second play was just like the primary with Pritchard pushing the tempo however this time White drove previous Cade Cunningham who reached in for a foul. White was capable of throw up a prayer that banked in for an and-1.
The remainder of his made pictures within the 4th have been essential in maintaining it a one-possession recreation. His third shot of the quarter got here off of the Jaylen Brown block on Ausar Thompson, the place he hit one other stroll up three off of a pleasant go from Anfernee Simons. His fourth got here with beneath 3 minutes to go when he bought the swap on Tobias Harris. White drove and pulled up for a mid-range jumper that lower the Celtics deficit to 2 factors. His remaining made shot got here with 1:32 left within the recreation as he crossed up Duncan Robinson right into a hesi-pull up three.
White did a terrific job making an attempt to maintain the Celtics within the recreation and though Boston misplaced, he ought to nonetheless be highlighted for his 4th quarter heroics.
4. Neemias Queta vs. Jalen Duren
The final time the Celtics performed the Pistons in TD Backyard, Neemias Queta was dominated out. This led to Jalen Duren having a monster recreation on the glass as he completed with 12 factors and 16 rebounds. This time, Queta was wholesome for the Celtics and he did a terrific job at limiting Duren’s impression on the sport as a complete. Duren completed with solely 6 factors and three rebounds and was a non-factor for the Pistons all evening lengthy.
Queta’s first check got here on the 9:34 mark of the first quarter the place Duren bought the ball on the elbow. He drove into Queta’s chest making an attempt to overpower him however not solely did Queta take up the contact, he was capable of contest the shot and block it into the primary row.
Queta was additionally capable of make his presence identified on the offensive finish of this recreation as properly. Jaylen Brown was main the break and threw it to Baylor Scheierman within the nook. Scheierman made a tiptoe catch on the sideline and flung a bullet go to Neemias Queta who was streaking down the ground. Queta caught it and in stride simply blew by Duren for a monster slam that had TD Backyard going loopy.
5. Simons remains to be a bucket
Anfernee Simons has not all the time had his shot this season nevertheless it looks like in large time video games to this point he makes his presence identified with a pair spotlight performs, even when his impression is minimal total. Simons had a terrific play within the 1st quarter the place the shot clock was operating down and he was capable of throw up a shot after taking a success from Jaden Ivey that went in.
One other play that stood out to me was one thing we haven’t seen quite a bit from Simons this 12 months which was a drive to the basket. On the 8:34 mark of the 4th quarter Simons was capable of drive on Ausar Thompson and throw up a layup that went over the outstretched arms of each Thompson and Isaiah Stewart for a pleasant trying basket.
Simons is sweet for a pair pictures in a recreation that makes you see why the Celtics traded for him. Nevertheless, he nonetheless didn’t make a huge effect, ending with 9 factors and 1 help on 3-9 FG and 0-5 3PM. I ponder if Boston goes to maneuver him on the deadline, however for now, I hope we will see even a little bit bit extra consistency out of him as a result of he can rating in bunches that may take over a recreation.
Though he began this recreation, Jordan Walsh solely performed a complete of 18 minutes on this recreation and that was on account of his heavy foul bother early on. He dedicated 3 in solely 5 minutes within the first half alone and sat for nearly the entire third quarter earlier than selecting up his 4th foul. Then in crunch time, Joe Mazzulla opted for Anfernee Simons to finish the sport over Walsh, saying, “I believed we would have liked scoring at the moment. We have been down a number of possessions. I additionally felt just like the factors that Cunningham bought weren’t matchup dependent.”
This isn’t the primary time that Walsh bought into foul bother. He fouled out within the Celtics win vs. the Raptors on December seventh. I really feel this will likely be a studying expertise for him; Boston wants him on the courtroom and taking dangerous fouls early on severely impacts the Celtics protection.
Within the first half of the sport the Celtics did an excellent job with maintaining the ball — they solely turned it over 4 occasions in whole. Sadly, that pattern didn’t proceed as they turned it over 8 occasions within the second half with 5 of these coming within the 4th quarter. It actually felt like a nasty signal when to begin the fourth quarter, Jordan Walsh thew an errant go to Jaylen Brown within the nook that he couldn’t give you on Boston’s first offensive possession. The worst turnovers got here whereas the Celtics have been making an attempt to mount a comeback within the remaining 5 minutes of the sport. They coughed it up thrice and it ended with Detroit scoring factors on all of them. This actually damage Boston and dug them a gap that in the long run, they couldn’t climb out of.
8. Allowed too many offensive rebounds
A typical theme with the Celtics was their capability to power the Pistons into lots of dangerous pictures. Sadly, they might not seize the rebound which led to second likelihood factors for Detroit on what felt like each play. It wasn’t that dangerous trying on the numbers because the Pistons grabbed 12 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second likelihood factors, however Boston’s lack of rebounding would come on the worst attainable occasions.
There isn’t a greater instance of this than when on the 10:17 mark of the 4th quarter, the Celtics pressured Cade Cunningham into a nasty three level try. The ball went off of the facet of the rim and bounce all the best way again to the three level line the place Isaiah Stewart bought the offensive rebound and threw a fast go to Tobias Harris who would miss one other three. Nevertheless, the ball once more was rebounded by Detroit and Harris was capable of hit a floater over Queta and compelled the Celtics to name a timeout the place I’m certain Joe Mazzulla was not completely satisfied.
9. Cade Cunningham is so good
After the final Celtics recreation vs. the Pistons, I wrote within the 10 Takeaways that I used to be actually impressed with Cade Cunningham and I feel he’s a celebrity on this league. Final evening simply confirmed what I already knew nevertheless it nonetheless amazes me once I watch him play. He completed with 32 factors and 10 assists on 11-21 FG and 6-10 3PM. Even when he picked up his fifth foul and needed to sit within the 4th quarter, he was capable of come again and ship the dagger to Boston.
Cunningham had back-to-back sequences the place he was capable of pull as much as his spot within the midrange and hit two daggers over Derrick White. The second blew me away once I watched it as he hit White with a spin transfer right into a turnaround soar shot so quick that I couldn’t even be mad about it — I used to be simply surprised by how effortlessly he made a shot that regarded insane.
I actually suppose Cade Cunningham goes to be an MVP within the NBA by the point his profession is over and if the Pistons keep on the #1 seed this season, he needs to be top-3 within the voting simply. He’s simply an unbelievable participant and I like to see his battles vs. the Celtics.
10. Want a Celtics vs. Pistons Playoff Collection
This recreation was the third time the Celtics and Pistons have confronted off this season and the third time it has been an unbelievable recreation that was all the way down to the wire. After I watch them play I can’t assist however suppose I must see a 7-game collection of this within the playoffs this 12 months. Each groups simply really feel so evenly matched and may play each a gritty, defensive slugfest and a high-powered offensive assault that any basketball fan will love.
They play one another another time this season on January nineteenth and though I doubt Tatum will likely be again for it, I actually wish to see how the Celtics would stack as much as the Pistons in the event that they have been at full energy. In the event that they met within the playoffs I’m certain Tatum can be again by then and I feel it should make for a number of the most entertaining basketball we are going to see.
