In a earlier article, we deep dived into the Celtics stars’ offensive struggles. On this second story, we are going to look into the opposite aspect of the courtroom, the place each Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been problematic as effectively. The execution, the vitality, and the main focus generally went lacking — and it was expensive in such shut video games. These possessions may have been, and may have been, performed higher, and in the event that they have been, the Celtics wouldn’t be compelled to aim a 0-2 comeback.
We are going to first look into the half-court protection, the place Jaylen Brown appears to get misplaced sometimes.
Jaylen Brown half-court defensive collapses
Jaylen Brown’s protection was showcased as a power final 12 months after his spectacular work in opposition to Luka Doncic within the NBA Finals. But, protection is about greater than stopping your one-on-one matchup with the ball.
In truth, it’s not even an important a part of protection. Slowing down an offense is a collective effort that requires focus, communication, and anticipation. And to this point on this collection in opposition to the New York Knicks, Brown has displayed not one of the above. Under is an instance the place he’s fully disconnected.
He’s the weak-side defender with the ball is on his proper and his matchup is on his left. Because the play unfolds, he simply stands nonetheless and doesn’t see the display screen from Mikal Bridges coming proper in entrance of him. He places his arms round him and appears towards his matchup, OG Anunoby, a killer from three-point vary. As Anunoby receives the ball, Brown lastly reacts, but it surely’s too late.
One other possession that showcases the defensive problem. Right here, Brown is within the stunt, prepared to assist on the drive if wanted. However Luke Kornet is already there, so his positioning isn’t very impactful. As he appears to be like for Miles McBride, his matchup, he sees him going to the nook. But, he doesn’t dash, will get caught by a late display screen from Mikal Bridges, and provides up one other open three — this time, purely as a result of lack of focus.
That very same lack of focus will later make him overlook Bridges within the nook for a number of seconds — simply sufficient for the previous Internet to knock down a 3 and provides the Knicks a six-point lead in additional time.
The extra motion there’s, the extra his lack of focus and self-discipline turns into apparent. Right here, it’s Jalen Brunson who cuts to the nook utilizing a display screen from Bridges. Jrue Vacation sees the issue coming and clearly tells Jaylen Brown to change.
However Brown doesn’t change. As an alternative, it’s yet one more open three within the nook for the Knicks — who desperately wanted straightforward factors to get again into Recreation 1 after being down by 20.
There have been a few different examples of misplaced focus — missed boxouts that led to putbacks, or when Brown jumped on a Brunson pump pretend regardless of understanding the small guard would hunt totally free throws, like he did in opposition to Detroit.
What may very well be actually irritating as a Celtics fan is to rely all of the factors generated from these errors in such an in depth sport — particularly with the remainder of the protection being on level. However there have been different defensive issues, particularly in transition.
Lack of vitality from the Jays in transition protection
Joe Mazzulla typically talks in regards to the margin, the method, and the little particulars that flip a loss right into a win — or the opposite means round. Transition protection is a type of little particulars. And each Celtics stars did not ship and lead by instance.
On this pull-up three, as an illustration, Jayson Tatum is just too targeted on watching the missed shot and doesn’t see his matchup, Anunoby, sprinting in transition. When the Knicks wing receives the ball from Hart, he’s already on the three-point line — whereas Tatum remains to be on the Knicks’ aspect of the courtroom. That’s two free factors for New York.
A couple of seconds later, he provides an excessive amount of house to Jalen Brunson on a pull-up three and items the Knicks one other open shot — regardless of a 2-on-4 scenario in transition.
In additional time, the sport is tied. The Celtics flip the ball over once more and should dash again to guard the paint. Tatum, as soon as once more, is just too gradual to react, and Anunoby sprints previous him to chop into the lane. Josh Hart finds him, and it’s an and-one for the Knicks — who at the moment are up three (after, like I really like to recollect, being down by 20 factors).
Transition protection isn’t nearly working again — it’s additionally about communication. Right here, each Jaylen and Jayson look overwhelmed by the Knicks’ fastbreak. Tatum can’t include Miles McBride’s drive, and Brown isn’t even trying on the ball or serving to, which results in a dunk.
The defensive performances from the leaders and go-to guys have been disappointing — and price the Celtics a sport, perhaps two. They nonetheless have loads of minutes to battle again and make up for his or her errors, each on offense and protection. Nonetheless, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have to step up — on each ends — in the event that they need to give their group, and their followers, an actual shot at success.
