1. The Boston Celtics wanted a win. Greater than that, the Celtics wanted a whole, dominating win. They received all of that by beating the Portland Trail Blazers earlier than heading on a six-game east-to-west street journey.
This was in all probability the Celtics greatest defensive effort of the yr. Even banged up, the Blazers are one of many NBA’s higher offensive groups. Boston fully shut them down. The trouble, execution and communication had been all good all sport lengthy. There weren’t any actual lulls both, which was simply as necessary.
We’re not going to proclaim all the things is mounted and we must always begin planning a parade. However the Celtics wanted to play a sport like this to remind everybody, but additionally to remind themselves, that they’re nonetheless that staff. And so they did.
2. Al Horford had it going proper from the beginning. He received the primary factors of the sport on a uncommon off-the-dribble pullup in opposition to a closeout:
Portland performs a variety of drop protection. Boston used that in opposition to them time and time once more. This one was Drew Eubanks too far again and Horford letting it fly from a step or two behind the arc:
After hitting a few jumpers, the closeout got here tougher in opposition to Horford. That opens up drives and finishes like this. Additionally, have a look at the spacing. Horford has a variety of choices earlier than selecting the easy one to dunk the ball:
3. We’ve talked lots about how Jaylen Brown slowing down permits him to truly play faster. The top-down, 100 MPH drives into a number of defenders are largely a factor of the previous. That is head-up and controlling the tempo earlier than hitting the protection with the transition crossover:
This one other good instance of Brown’s private tempo. He goes rapidly off the catch right here, however doesn’t over-drive the ball instantly into contact. As a substitute, he slows down and overpowers the defender for the layup:
That is all velocity and explosion to complete, but it surely comes off Brown having the endurance to let the spacing develop earlier than he makes use of the display to get downhill:
4. This was a kind of ruthlessly environment friendly video games from Jayson Tatum. Jerami Grant is a couple of half-step too far-off right here and that’s the area Tatum wants:
This can be a good instance of Tatum’s improved deal with. He hits Grant with a pleasant crossover, earlier than utilizing the hesitation dribble to separate the protection for the layup:
This isn’t a standard on-the-block post-up, but it surely works the identical manner. Tatum feels the defender leaning and spins off him for the swoop and rating:
5. One factor the entire above clips have in widespread: They had been all from the primary half. Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Sensible and Jayson Tatum performed minimal minutes within the second half. Sensible and Tatum went the entire third quarter, whereas Brown and Horford performed the primary 8:11 after the break. None of them made even a lot as a cameo look within the fourth quarter.
The reserves holding, and even extending, the lead was huge for the staff as an entire. That allowed Joe Mazzulla steal some in-game relaxation for guys who’ve seen their minutes pile up over current weeks. At this level within the season, that’s large.
6. The Celtics ball motion was good on this one, as they tallied 26 assists on 42 baskets. When Boston has a possession like this early in a sport, with good ball and participant motion, it opens up the offense:
On this play, the ball and participant motion received the Blazers scrambled. Drew Eubanks intuition is to drop to the paint. The fast swing to Jayson Tatum allowed him to step proper into his jumper:
It’s additionally necessary to notice what occurs when the ball hits the paint. It causes the protection to get in rotation. Boston has the passers to reap the benefits of that just about each time:
7. Sticking with passing, the Celtics have begun to include extra actions designed to get their gamers passing off the brief roll. These performs typically contain a play like this with Al Horford discovering Marcus Sensible for the layup:
Or Blake Griffin catching and kicking to Sam Hauser within the nook:
However what units Boston aside, is that they’ll use their wings and guards because the curler too. The Celtics like to have their guards display for Jayson Tatum. If the protection places two on the ball, Tatum is prepared to provide it up and it’s to a great decision-maker. Right here, Derrick White has all types of choices, however he chooses to dump it off to Horford for the straightforward one:
8. Grant Williams had a tricky couple of days. He additionally didn’t play till this sport was pretty deep in. It’s been reported that Williams has been coping with an elbow harm for some time now too. But it surely was good to see Williams confidently step proper into his first shot and drill it:
The Celtics are going to want Williams to be the man he was throughout the Finals run from final season. Hopefully issues will begin shifting again in that course right here shortly.
9. A few of it was the blowout nature of the sport, however Boston had nice stability all through this sport. Then once more, possibly that stability additionally helped affect the blowout nature of the sport. Rooster or the egg, proper?
The Celtics had seven gamers take between eight and 17 pictures. Six gamers scored in double figures. And that was with Malcolm Brogdon having a really off capturing evening.
That type of stability makes Boston arduous to beat.
10. The Celtics received a win they desperately wanted. Now, they depart Boston for the subsequent week-and-a-half. Over a 10-day interval, the Celtics will play video games in Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota, Portland, Utah and Sacramento.
That’s not a killer street journey by way of opponents, but it surely’s over 5,000 miles of journey. And the Portland-Utah leg is a bizarre west-back-to-mountain back-to-back. The objective is at all times to go .500 on an extended journey like this. Getting 4 wins can be a great journey. 5 wins can be an amazing journey.
By the point the Celtics get again to Boston, they’ll have solely 9 video games left within the season. Six of these can be in TD Backyard. Regardless that they’re on the street for some time, it’s time for the blokes in inexperienced to begin stacking some wins heading into the stretch run.
