1. That was extra prefer it. The Boston Celtics evened up their second-round sequence with the Philadelphia 76ers by enjoying like, properly, the Celtics. And it led to a runaway victory within the second half for Boston.
Boston did every thing with extra goal and power all through the sport. They scrapped the comfortable and no-resistance switching. A lot of the night time, the Celtics fought via screens or went over or beneath, whereas the massive held a hedge lengthy sufficient for the on-ball defender to get well. Once they did change, it was normally away from the play, and it was to get again to the matchups they wished to have within the halfcourt.
On offense, Boston didn’t shrink back from attacking Joel Embiid, who returned after lacking virtually two weeks with a sprained proper LCL. That led to Embiid blocking 5 pictures within the first half, however by the point the second half began, Embiid didn’t seem to have a lot left within the tank.
However the Celtics additionally didn’t overdo it with going to the rim, like they did at occasions in Sport 1. If a very good shot was there on a kickout, or off a display screen on a pullup, Boston took it.
Total, this was a greater mindset and method on each ends of the ground and it confirmed the Celtics as we all know them completely able to being. In some ways, that makes the Sport 1 loss that rather more irritating, given the postgame quotes about being “relaxed” and “not locked in”. However this who they’re. As soon as each few video games, the Celtics will frustrate us to no finish, however they bounce again as a rule and present why we’re all nonetheless purchased in on this group successful Banner 18.
2. Jayson Tatum did some good issues within the minutes he performed. Sadly (or maybe luckily, given the blowout nature of the sport), Tatum was restricted to simply 19 minutes resulting from foul bother. By the point he would have re-entered the sport, Boston had issues properly in hand and Tatum had the remainder of the night time off.
However to get that time, somebody needed to step up. Jaylen Brown did that in a serious approach, as he continues to point out that he’s each bit the All-Star, All-NBA man that Celtics followers imagine him to be.
Boston examined Joel Embiid immediately with Al Horford setting a pin-down for Brown. With Embiid a bit again, and gradual to shut, Brown went proper into his shot to open the scoring for the Celtics:
This step-through leaner confirmed Brown’s persistence to get to his shot and his comfortable contact:
TNT did a variety of funky digital camera angles (that drone has to go!), however this one is sort of enjoyable, since you get to see Brown’s athleticism straight on. He will get by De’Anthony Melton, and when Paul Reed challenges, Brown simply form of floated into the fallaway:
Within the second half, Brown’s assault mindset didn’t waver. Philadelphia put two on the ball, nevertheless it left them scrambling. Brown made the heads-up reduce and Al Horford dropped the dime:
P.J. Tucker was a half-step late on this DHO in tight area. That’s all of the room Brown wants when he’s feeling it:
This shot is vital. Too usually Brown is relegated to being a bystander when video games get tight. That is one thing he can go to, for the Celtics late in video games. If he has a smaller defender on him, Brown can get to his spot to go proper up and over the defender like this:
If you mix his offensive manufacturing together with his halfcourt protection on James Harden, that is in all probability Jaylen Brown’s greatest all-around playoff efficiency. Different guys contributed quite a bit, however Jaylen Brown helped set the tone for Boston on each ends of the ground.
3. One other tone-setter was Joe Mazzulla. He made a variety of changes from Sport 1. The primary was Boston not switching as a lot. He additionally modified up main matchups fairly a bit. Jaylen Brown was the first defender on James Harden. Al Horford and Marcus Good cut up the reps on Joel Embiid. Horford did the early banging, whereas Good picked up Embiid later, when it was clear that the MVP was going to largely function outdoors of the paint. That allowed Horford and Rob Williams to operate in a floating, serving to function across the paint.
On offense, Mazzulla clearly harassed tempo and taking good pictures. The Celtics made Embiid work, however they didn’t overdo it with going to the rim. The drive-and-kick recreation was working in full impact.
Sport 1 was dangerous. Numerous that falls on the gamers, however Mazzulla deserved his share of the criticism he obtained. The important thing to successful within the playoffs is making changes. Then, adjusting to the changes that the opponent makes. Mazzulla did Step 1. Let’s see what he does to regulate to no matter Philadelphia does otherwise in Sport 3.
4. Marcus Good is a warrior. He’s the Celtics coronary heart and soul due to the best way he performs. Enjoying with primarily a flak jacket on, Good was nonetheless going all-out. Digging out this rebound is an ideal instance of who Good is:
Georges Niang thinks he has the late-clock turnaround right here, however Good says in any other case:
To finish the primary half and to begin the second half, Boston went to Good working within the mid-post space. Good overpowered De’Anthony Melton for this rainbow turnaround late within the second quarter:
To open the third quarter, Good backed James Harden down with ease to get to this fallaway:
Boston wanted some additional scoring punch with Jayson Tatum in foul bother, and so they obtained it from the one who’s liked and trusted.
5. The Celtics different two guards bounced again from subpar Sport 1s. Malcolm Brogdon was terrific and every thing Boston needs him to be off the bench. We stated within the sequence preview that Brogdon’s pullup capturing was going to be a weapon for Boston. On this one, Jalen McDaniels lays again simply sufficient for Brogdon to go proper into his shot:
A little bit later, McDaniels and Tobias Harris change far too low and Brogdon let it fly once more:
Right here, Brogdon caught Harris leaning slightly too far to his proper, and with Joel Embiid laying again deeper and slower to step up, it’s a simple runner within the paint:
As a result of Embiid wasn’t himself, the 76ers regularly despatched slightly assist for him that they wouldn’t usually present. On this play, Harris pinches down to assist on Jaylen Brown’s drive and Brown pitches it out to Brogdon for an additional three:
6. Derrick White was principally invisible in Sport 1. He had an analogous tough begin to Sport 2. However after his preliminary stint, White appeared to get out of his personal head and he performed nice. He created this second-chance shot for Al Horford:
A little bit later, Horford repaid White by setting him up within the nook in transition:
Within the second half, the Celtics took benefit of the Sixers messy transition protection. White was a giant a part of that with performs like this:
Then, with Embiid laying again and Tyrese Maxey late to return with the competition, White buried a pullup three:
7. Grant Williams ought to by no means not be in Boston’s rotation for so long as he stays a Celtic. It was by no means actually clear why Williams fell out of use a few completely different occasions this season, nevertheless it ought to by no means occur once more.
Williams saved this possession earlier than Marcus Good accomplished the rescue:
The Celtics performed a variety of double-big lineups. On this play, P.J. Tucker simply misplaced observe of Williams, as he floated from nook to nook earlier than working from the nook workplace:
This can be a robust catch, however Williams did a pleasant job hauling it in and getting the shot off:
By this level, Williams had made just a few pictures, so he may have let this one go too. However he stayed poised and made the additional move to show a very good shot into an awesome shot:
8. ATO performs have been a large number for the Celtics in Sport 1. That they had three turnovers and a near-turnover on 4 ATO performs. These are wasted possessions, the place you need to be getting a top quality shot.
In Sport 2, that flipped. This was superior off a set play to open the second quarter:
Later within the first half, the Celtics ran this ATO to perfection to get Jaylen Brown a 3:
Scoring on ATOs is at all times vital, however much more so within the playoffs, when possessions are seemingly fewer than within the common season. It was good to see Boston get again on observe.
9. A lot of the fourth quarter was prolonged rubbish time. And the Celtics placed on a present. This play from Payton Pritchard to Luke Kornet put a pleasant capper on a must-win victory:
10. The sequence shifts to Philadelphia tied at 1-1. The 76ers achieved their purpose of successful one in Boston and stealing homecourt benefit, however the Celtics can take it proper again. Joel Embiid isn’t himself, and it’s unclear how he’ll really feel after enjoying in Sport 2. Boston confirmed that after they decide up their defensive depth, that they will make it very tough on Philadelphia to attain.
On the opposite finish of the ground, the Sixers don’t have a variety of defensive solutions for the Celtics. If Boston isn’t throwing it away and passing up good pictures, they’re robust to protect.
Sport 3 is on Friday night time and can function the hardest playoff surroundings the Celtics have performed in because the NBA Finals final yr. However Boston has greater than sufficient to take again management of the sequence, in the event that they play the correct approach.
