#1 A staff effort
The Boston Celtics put collectively a staff efficiency as they overcame the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet had been all unavailable for choice. Quite than utilizing that as an excuse to take their foot off the pedal, Boston punched the fuel, matching the Kings’ up-tempo model of play and overcoming their scorching taking pictures begin.
Each member of the staff’s rotation put in efficiency. They performed high-level protection. They moved the rock. Discovered good photographs. And executed their offensive actions with fast resolution making and aggression.
If you’re on the street, the league has a manner of throwing potholes in your route. Tatum’s ankle damage in opposition to the Warriors was a stable instance. The Celtics bounced again from that defeat, banded collectively, and strung collectively some spectacular basketball.
#2 A Jaylen Brown grasp class
Brown’s performances preserve getting higher and higher. He’s thriving in his new position and making everybody round him higher consequently. He’s making sensible selections, discovering good reads across the rim, and has actually leaned into the benefit his athleticism gives when driving the lane.
Out of his 11 made baskets, 4 of them had been dunks. It might have been 5 had Domantas Sabonis not obtained his hand to the ball. One other 4 of them had been layups. And solely three photographs got here from outdoors the restricted space.
A devastating burst of tempo and the energy to carry off his man have allowed Brown to turn out to be a fearsome scorer in a staff full of shooters — and sure, there’s a distinction. Each evening, it looks like Brown is exhibiting us one thing new, and in opposition to the Kings, it is that he’s discovered the right way to be a main possibility who can fill in for Tatum when wanted.
His present performances are the most effective storylines surrounding the Celtics.
#3 Porzingis dominates the third quarter
Porzingis had a stable first half for the Celtics. Nevertheless, within the third quarter, he actually made his presence felt. It began with the veteran huge man making the most of a mismatch in opposition to Kevin Huerter, with him twice attacking together with his again to the basket. Then, he went to his pick-and-roll sport with Derrick White. I preferred the under play as a result of how he shot the hole on the protection and located a pocket within the slot.
Porzingis’s protection was additionally incredible. Coming into the third, he had recorded three blocks over the primary half. He matched that whereas enjoying your entire quarter whereas additionally grabbing 5 boards. It’s not simply concerning the photographs he blocked, although. It’s concerning the photographs he affected and people who didn’t occur as a result of his presence across the rim made gamers assume twice earlier than driving.
In response to NBA Stats, Porzingis immediately guarded 11 shot makes an attempt all through the sport, permitting 2 makes. That offers him a defensive subject aim share of 18.2%. When he’s within the rotation, he gives stability on each side of the ground, and every little thing seems to come back that bit simpler for the remainder of the roster.
#4 Boston took away the three-point line within the 2nd half
Within the first quarter, the Kings took 21 photographs from the perimeter. They made 11 of them. Either side had been hitting their appears to be like at a excessive clip and displaying elite shot making together with a breakneck tempo. Issues slowed down within the 2nd quarter, however the Kings nonetheless obtained 9 makes an attempt off from deep.
After halftime, the Celtics adjusted their perimeter pick-up factors and commenced denying taking pictures alternatives. As such, the Kings had been pressured to drive, and that’s the place the wheels started to fall off for them. Sacramento took 5 makes an attempt from deep within the third, and simply 18 photographs total.
Discover how excessive Jrue Vacation is located on this defensive place. Then, discover how Derrick White is just a step under the perimeter. The intention was to remove any house on a screening motion and funnel the ball handler towards the paint the place Porzingis and a pinching wing could be ready for him.
The above play ends with Porzingis securing a block.
On this possession, discover how far Oshae Brissett has shaded over in order that if the ball-handler goes into taking pictures movement after coming off the display, there shall be a hand in his face. That forces the drive.
Stable adjustment from the teaching workers at halftime had a big effect on the movement of the sport.
#5 Derrick White, All-Star
28 factors on 13 photographs. 6 of 9 from deep. 7 assists. 3 blocks. What can’t Derrick White do? Proper now he’s arguably (unquestionably?) the Celtics third-best participant behind Tatum and Brown. I’ve written about White Advert Neausam in latest iterations of the takeaways. So, I’m holding this phase quick. As a result of what extra can I say? How else can I say it?
He’s a baller. He’s a hooper. He’s a hoopers hooper. And shortly sufficient, he shall be (higher be?) an All-Star.
I’m going to go away you with this clip of White blowing up the Kings’ “Ghost Flare” motion early within the sport.
#6 Jrue Vacation’s finest sport as a Celtic?
Vacation is type of like White in that he offers you what you want on a game-to-game foundation. Want him to step into a much bigger offensive position? He’s obtained you. Want him to lock in on being an All-Defensive expertise? He’s obtained you there too.
With Tatum out, Vacation needed to perform a little bit extra of every little thing. He’s used to that type of position. He did it for years with the Milwaukee Bucks.
White is the kind of expertise that makes every little thing look easy at instances. He ended the sport with a double-double in factors and assists.
Vacation has produced some spectacular performances since becoming a member of the Celtics. Nevertheless, this one is true up there. Not solely as a result of he made an impression throughout the board, however as a result of he confirmed extra aggression with out letting the rise in utilization have an effect on his sport.
He was acquired to make this type of impression. Vacation stepped as much as the plate with the Celtics down considered one of their star gamers.
#7 Payton Pritchard, what extra can I say?
The gradual begin is firmly behind him. Pritchard has discovered his rhythm and is beginning to show he will be the bench guard Boston wants. He’s hustling on protection. He’s screening when off-ball, and he’s discovered his taking pictures contact from his spots on the courtroom.
Quite a bit shall be stated about his 6 of 11 taking pictures from deep. Nevertheless, it’s moments just like the one within the clip under that stood out to me.
Pritchard executes a well-timed “Peel Change” to kill a drive towards the rim after White had gotten caught up on the display. Little issues like this, the place gamers are combating for one another and masking for one another, are the kind of successful habits you all the time hear about. The truth that Pritchard had such a big effect on this defensive possession was additionally spectacular.
After which we now have this screening motion:
Pritchard is doing greater than scoring, and it’s uplifting the Celtics whereas additionally permitting them to proceed producing mismatches when the second unit is on the ground.
#8 No drained legs
Second evening of a back-to-back after an time beyond regulation loss the evening earlier than. Someway, the Celtics appeared contemporary. They stored up with the Kings. They sprinted on offense. They sprinted on switches, x-outs, and peels. They sprinted into screens. All-in-all the Celtics didn’t present the slightest signal of fatigue.
That was all the time the priority, proper? A troublesome loss to the Warriors, adopted by a visit to a Sacramento staff that likes to push the tempo and boasts one of many quickest gamers within the league. If something was going to derail Boston on Wednesday, my cash was on their legs getting heavy. It by no means occurred. As an alternative, the Celtics matched Sacramento’s tempo and overpowered them with physicality.
What’s to not love about that?
#9 One other good evening for Neemy
At this level, it’s truthful to imagine that Neemias Queta is near incomes himself a full-time cope with the Celtics. Brad Stevens has made selections like that earlier than. He did it with Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet a few seasons in the past — and look how that labored out!
Queta continues to be uncooked. Everyone knows that. Nevertheless, he’s proven speedy enchancment as a screener. Has the dimensions to be an element across the rim (on each side of the ground) and works his tail off each second he’s on the ground.
For all of the speak of the Celtics needing yet one more huge physique within the rotation for insurance coverage functions, Queta makes essentially the most sense. He’s already a part of the staff. He’s studying the system. He’s impressing. And, most significantly, he’s younger sufficient to maintain enhancing.
Within the above clip, Queta’s jostle on the strongside block stood out to me. It was a sensible play on his half, as he seemed to seal his man and supply Pritchard with an open drive to the rim if the Kings managed to shut out on his taking pictures try. Little moments like that illustrate the expansion in how Queta is studying the sport.
If he’s enhancing this shortly, taking a flyer on him shouldn’t be arduous to speak your self into.
#10 Hauser’s taking pictures hunch was short-lived
Hauser went 0 of seven from deep in opposition to the Golden State Warriors. You could possibly have been forgiven for worrying {that a} taking pictures hunch akin to the one he suffered final season was on the horizon. Nevertheless, Hauser has dramatically improved since then. He snapped out of his short-lived taking pictures hunch with two perimeter buckets in opposition to the Kings.
Nevertheless, what I like essentially the most is how Hauser has begun to assault closeouts by taking one or two dribbles earlier than making a choice whether or not to shoot a mid-range jumper or redistribute the rock. I really feel assured that he’s Boston’s seventh man and has a task each now and within the postseason.
Trying Forward
The Celtics have two days off now. On Saturday, they’ll journey to Los Angeles and put together for an early sport in opposition to the LA Clippers. After that, they’ve a Christmas Day sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers to shut out their street journey. Each LA groups will present a stern take a look at for the Celtics. I’m hopeful for 2 wins. I’m excited for 2 extremely aggressive video games and the extra classes we’re going to find out about this staff within the course of. Till then! Have an important couple of days!
