#1 Locking in from the opening tip
From the opening tip, it was clear the Boston Celtics have been seeking to dominate their second straight recreation towards the Brooklyn Nets. They executed with precision. They acquired into their units with tempo. They usually executed on the defensive finish, too.
Contemplating this was Boston’s final recreation earlier than the All-Star break, they usually had defeated the Nets simply 24 hours earlier, I discovered their efficiency to be spectacular. They didn’t play all the way down to the competitors. There was no signal of a malaise — on both aspect of the ground.
As a substitute, Boston got here into the sport seeking to dominate. They seemed to be having enjoyable on the market. It’s that sort of strategy, whatever the opposition or the state of affairs surrounding a recreation, that depicts championship mentality.
We regularly communicate in regards to the on-court developments we see from the Celtics. Nonetheless, we noticed a growth in Boston’s strategy on Wednesday. We noticed them look to safe a win, no matter who their opponent was. There was no query of friendship or retaining issues respectable. The Celtics got here in to whoop the Nets. And a whooping was what they dished out.
#2 Defensive focus
It’s true; Brooklyn isn’t an offensive juggernaut. They sit nineteenth within the NBA for offensive ranking. Nonetheless, Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas aren’t any joke. Each can get factors up in bunches. Dennis Schroder’s addition has given the Nets a real pick-and-roll risk in addition to somebody who can push the tempo and create off the dribble.
So, the Celtics locked in. They caught to their swap 1-through-4 with 5 in drop system. They pressured the ball. They restricted off-ball motion. They compelled shot clock violations. And, there was little alternative to get an uncontested shot off.
I’m going to dive into why this possession (and others) have been profitable for the Celtics within the subsequent takeaway. For now, although, it’s enjoyable to see Boston setting an early tone with their defensive mindset and dedication to guarding all throughout the court docket.
Right here’s one other instance.
Once more, the play happens within the first quarter. Boston is seeking to proceed asserting their dominance on the defensive finish. They rotate with intent, shut out with pace, and minimize off secondary-cutting alternatives.
Total, we noticed a strong defensive efficiency from the Celtics — particularly throughout the first half. Nonetheless, there was one particular space of their defensive efficiency that actually stood out as being extremely efficient, and that was their dedication to…
#3 High locking
High-locking is when a defensive participant restricts an off-ball participant from lifting towards a display or hand-off. Using this defensive precept is particularly efficient when enjoying towards groups that run loads of hand-off actions or performs that contain huge pin-downs, and so forth.
Usually, the highest lock will see a participant surrender on attempting to raise towards the ball and re-direct their minimize, often right into a backdoor.
High-locking is completely different from canceling hand-offs or screens, which is when a participant will get in between the participant and the motion.
The easiest way to acknowledge a top-lock is to see it as a large face-guard for an off-ball participant who’s seeking to minimize off a pin-down.
Let’s return to that first play from the takeaway above.
Right here, we don’t get a top-locking motion. As a substitute, we see Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, and Jrue Vacation look to cancel, reducing actions towards the ball-handler. On the unique via minimize that Tatum defends with Hauser, Tatum is positioned to leap into the lane and top-lock the minimize, however the off-ball cutter reads the motion and counters on the fly.
Nonetheless, having so many cell defenders permits the Celtics to fly round and kill any potential hand-offs or pin-downs on either side of the ground. That pressures the ball-handler into making a fast determination that’s outdoors the remit of the motion the crew is more likely to run.
On this possession, we get two top-locks happening. The primary is from Payton Pritchard, who then flows into rear-view protection, adopted by Tatum threatening a second top-lock by digging into the area between the off-ball participant on the wing and the ball-handler desirous to provoke a hand-off.
As soon as once more, Boston’s willingness to cancel and/or take away the specter of Brooklyn’s huge pin-down actions produced a stifling impact on the offense, resulting in some disjointed decision-making.
Whenever you take away a crew’s main offensive system, they’re compelled to search out new methods to assault a protection. Sadly, when locked in, the Celtics protection is without doubt one of the finest within the NBA. Within the above clip, you possibly can see the Nets shifting away from their huge pin-down units and seeking to break down the protection with ball motion and reducing.
It doesn’t work. The Celtics swap with tempo. They anticipate an off-ball pin-down, so defenders angle their our bodies accordingly.
I liked this dedication to taking away one in every of Brooklyn’s main weapons. Particularly with how effectively the Celtics executed the plan total.
#4 2-1-2 zone with the stay-ready group
In yesterday’s modified takeaways, I discussed how I anticipated to see some extra 2-1-2 spy protection from the Celtics on their second night time of a back-to-back towards the Nets. What I didn’t have on my bingo card, although, was that it will come through the “Keep Prepared” group. I’m not mad at it both. I believed Eddie Home, who was pleasurable on the play-by-play, had an awesome level: The Celtics can nonetheless be taught from possessions within the movie room.
The outcome from going to the zone wasn’t a lot completely different from what we’ve seen all through the previous couple of months. All people remains to be figuring it out. There’s nonetheless an absence of strain. The pick-up factors want tweaking, and the power when on this set-up appears low. Hopefully, time, movie work, and shopping for into why the zone is a mandatory winkle of the defensive playbook will all assist elevate this method into being a core a part of the crew’s id on that aspect of the ground.
#5 Some Jordan Walsh minutes
“I feel, since Christmas, he got here on the West Coast journey with us,” Mazzulla mentioned after the sport. “He’s made a aware effort to have an understanding that protection is the way you make it on this league as a younger participant. And what you do within the G-League from a statistical standpoint is vital. However, it’s extra vital about your every day strategy, professionalism and protection. I feel he’s actually grown in that space. Within the video games I’ve watched, the suggestions from Maine, and his strategy right here with us, his protection has drastically improved.”
By the sounds of it, Jordan Walsh has earned his minutes. The rookie wing, who entered the NBA with a fame of being a dependable defensive presence, acquired the possibility to shine in Boston’s closing recreation earlier than the All-Star break.
Walsh ended up enjoying 18 minutes, a few of which was resulting from Boston sitting their starters within the closing quarter. Nonetheless, he acquired a possibility within the first quarter and began the second. Proper now, his offense remains to be a step behind. That may include reps, particularly because the nerves start to subside and being on an NBA court docket turns into a normality.
Nonetheless, Walsh does appear like he’ll carry some defensive upside. His wingspan is an unimaginable bodily device that may enable him to contest pictures with out totally committing to closeouts. It’s additionally how he managed to get the beneath block with out leaving his toes.
Already, Walsh appears to be like able to navigating the court docket towards NBA-level gamers. He reads screeners effectively and is aware of the right way to place his physique to stay within the play on protection. That’s why he was in a position to recuperate into place on the above possession and why he was in a position to present some assist protection.
He’s nonetheless very uncooked. He’s a prospect participant, there’s no denying that. Nonetheless, in one in every of our greatest samples of Walsh’s skillset, an NBA-level defender can nonetheless dramatically enhance.
#6 Numerous Horns actions
We’ve seen the Celtics run via a bunch of various offensive techniques this season. They began the basketball yr leaning into empty-corner actions. Then, there have been loads of stagger units being thrown round. In opposition to Brooklyn, Boston closely leaned into their Horns Collection.
The wonderful thing about working Horns is that it’s hardly ever complicated. It’s often one or two screens, a minimize, a learn, and a shot try. It flows effectively, it’s simple to execute, and for the Celtics, it’s been a high-yield offensive collection all season lengthy.
Right here you will have the Celtics in a Horns set. Pritchard feeds Kristaps Porzingis on the elbow. He then v-cuts (a really shallow model) off a Tatum display and receives the ball again. Because the protection reacts to Pritchard’s three-point gravity, it permits him to feed Tatum, who’s posting up his defender. From there, it’s simple cash for the five-time All-Star. No dribbles, one jab step, a pull-up jumper from the nail, money.
Boston had a string of those Horns units, every with completely different variations, and the bulk resulting in a scoring play.
#7 Luke Kornet will get again on monitor
Since coming back from damage, Luke Kornet has appeared barely behind the eight-ball. Nonetheless, with Al Horford sitting out and Porzingis solely enjoying restricted minutes, Kornet acquired some prolonged run. That allowed him to rediscover his rhythm and make an impression, particularly as his measurement was an issue for the Nets all through the sport.
Kornet ended the sport with 8 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and three blocks in 18 minutes of play. He additionally set good screens, made himself out there within the dunker spots, and operated effectively as a hand-off hub across the perimeter.
Little “boomerang” actions just like the one above assist preserve the protection in rotation, whereas Kornet’s measurement can create capturing area for his teammates, particularly if he flows right into a display after getting off the ball.
With Xavier Tillman on the crew, Kornet might want to present such a manufacturing constantly. There’s respectable competitors for the third-big-man spot on the Celtics roster now. Kornet gained’t simply be handed these minutes. Performances like this one are vital if he needs to maintain his spot within the rotation for the rest of the season.
#8 Headband Jay
Who doesn’t love enjoying basketball with a scarf on? I’m not one to imagine {that a} piece of apparel goes to alter the way you play. Perhaps I’m fallacious right here. Perhaps I’m not. Both manner, it was a enjoyable little wrinkle in what was a enjoyable recreation the place Boston ran up the rating.
Tatum, who was coming off the again of a 40+ level night time, glided via the protection at will. Nonetheless, it felt like he was content material being a facilitator for his teammates moderately than being the scoring menace we noticed from the night time earlier than. That’s the great thing about Tatum at this level in his profession; he can harm you in so many various methods, all of that are as tough to cease because the final one.
Tatum had 20 factors, 9 assists, and seven rebounds in 28 minutes of play. He was composed all through the sport. He made the rights learn. He was locked in on protection. And he didn’t pressure something. It was an awesome recreation to have heading into the All-Star break, the place Tatum shall be a prevalent determine.
#9 An early night time for Porzingis
Porzingis went into the locker room at halftime and didn’t return onto the court docket. As a substitute, he sat with the crew on the bench, cheering on his teammates. Contemplating how the Celtics have been enjoying and the management that they had over the sport, it is smart that the teaching workers took a cautious strategy with him.
Porzingis was having a very good recreation earlier than his recreation ended early.
When he’s hitting pictures just like the one above, and every thing is wanting clean (together with his motion) Porzingis is an unfair addition to Boston’s rotation. His multi-faceted offensive risk makes him — and the Celtics, virtually unguardable. He was stringing collectively a strong efficiency throughout the first half.
Nonetheless, he possible wouldn’t have performed a lot after halftime anyway. So, sitting him early made no distinction and ensured he acquired a barely longer break than he would have if he returned to the rotation after half-time.
#10 Carry on the All-Star break
Whether or not you like the All-Star break or not, the break is all the time good. Video games come at you thick and quick as soon as the NBA season is underway. Generally, it’s good to take a step again, re-watch some movie, and luxuriate in per week with out new video games being thrown at you.
In fact, we additionally get the dunk competitors, the three-point contest, and the All-Star recreation — so there are some enjoyable issues to sit up for.
The Celtics shall be again in motion subsequent Thursday. They are going to be in Chicago enjoying the Chicago Bulls. That’s per week from at the moment. Numerous time to dive into the stats, catch some highlights, and take somewhat break earlier than the NBA returns are the stretch run begins. After that, it’s the playoffs. After which, hopefully, it’s the championship parade.
For now, although, benefit from the break, benefit from the All-Star recreation, and the Takeaways shall be again subsequent Friday!
