CelticsWeek #16: Into the break

A little bit of an odd version CelticsWeek this time round, as we’re lumping within the Celtics’ closing two video games earlier than the break to create a jumbo-sized pre-All-Star Break model. Let’s get into it.

Photograph by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe by way of Getty Pictures

Boston Celtics, Weeks 16 and 17: 5-0 report, +74 differential

Wednesday, February 7: W vs Atlanta, 125-117

Friday, February 9: W vs Washington, 133-129

Sunday, February 11: W @ Miami, 110-106

Tuesday, February 13: W @ Brooklyn, 118-110

Wednesday, February 14: W vs Brooklyn, 136-86

The Celtics walked a razor-thin wire for the primary 4 of those video games. It’s the form of stretch that stirs up some angst even because the staff stays within the win column. The Wizards are one of many worst groups in basketball, and the Nets aren’t far behind — how are these groups pushing the most effective staff in basketball so exhausting? These are the ups and downs of an 82-game common season, although. It’s simply the way it goes. Main the NBA in report by 5.5 video games, the Celtics have a goal on their again in each recreation that they play. What’s vital is that they closed these video games out and continued to stack up wins.

The Atlanta Hawks have been enjoying moderately sturdy basketball heading into Wednesday’s recreation, winners of 4 of their final 5 video games earlier than falling to the Celtics (sans Jrue Vacation). The 2 groups have been carefully knotted for a lot of the evening, earlier than the Celtics surged within the fourth to place the Hawks to mattress. The Wizards recreation was uglier — the Celtics protection had no solutions for a lowly Washington offense, permitting 81 first half factors earlier than reclaiming the lead behind a 36-16 third quarter.

Since shedding seven straight video games in January, the Miami Warmth have regained a few of their mojo. Just like Atlanta, they received 4 of their previous 5 video games heading into their tilt with the Celtics, and although they lacked the providers of Jimmy Butler (private causes), they gave Boston all they may deal with. The Celtics took the lead on the finish of the primary quarter and by no means relinquished it, main by as many as 12 factors however having to fend off a late Miami surge to hold onto the win.

Lastly, the Celtics closed out the pre-break stretch on a reasonably respectable be aware. Going through a home-and-home collection with the Nets, they comfortably fended off Brooklyn within the first recreation behind a 41-point outing from Jayson Tatum, earlier than completely busting the doorways down within the second. A 50-point whalloping of the Nets at TD Backyard has to really feel good, as does changing into simply the third staff in NBA historical past to win a number of video games by 50+ factors in a single season. Tatum and the remainder of the starters hit the bench particularly early in a recreation the place solely Payton Pritchard eclipsed the 30-minute mark, offering an early begin to an eight-day trip.

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Participant of the Week: Kristaps Porzingis

4 GP, 28 MPG, 26.3 PPG (60% FG, 56% 3PT), 7 REB, 1.5 BLK, +28

It’s been troublesome to discover a window to speak about Porzingis on this area. Although he’s performed at a persistently excessive degree all season lengthy and the Celtics have regarded particularly potent when he takes the court docket, quite a few nagging accidents and the group’s extremely cautious method to his well being have made it fairly uncommon to see the colossal massive man to play all the staff’s video games in a given week.

Certainly, we’re nonetheless lacking a recreation right here — he sat out the street win towards Brooklyn as a part of his normal back-to-back relaxation swap with Horford — however the different 4 are compelling sufficient to take him excessive. Apologies to Tatum, who had one other sturdy week, but it surely’s time, ultimately, to speak concerning the unicorn within the room.

On the macro degree, Porzingis is having the most effective season of his profession on a per-minute foundation. He’s scoring 20 factors per recreation, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting about two photographs, par for the course for his requirements, however his effectivity has discovered an entire new degree. Capturing 64% contained in the arc and 37% behind it, he’s recording a comical 60% efficient area purpose share that simply breezes previous his earlier profession excessive (56.5%, final season). Defensively, he’s as efficient of a deterrent as he’s been in his profession, averaging 1.9 blocks per recreation and permitting a defensive area purpose share of 42.5%, greatest amongst facilities going through not less than 15 makes an attempt per recreation, per NBA Stats.

Offensively, his hyper-efficiency was on show in these video games. Porzingis maximized each shot try he noticed throughout this stretch, and aside from the Brooklyn blowout, the Celtics wanted each level. He eclipsed the 30-point threshold towards Atlanta and Washington and tacked on 25 towards Miami, and his averages for the week would look even gaudier if his providers had been essential for extra than simply 16 minutes towards Brooklyn — 16 minutes wherein he nonetheless managed 15 factors on 6-of-9 taking pictures. He made not less than two threes and blocked a shot in every recreation. That mixture of expertise is probably not fairly as uncommon because it was when Porzingis entered the league in 2015, however we will’t take with no consideration its worth.

The Porzingis expertise in Boston has been a superb, if fragile, one up to now. The Celtics seem like a unique beast when he’s capable of play, and although he’s missed a good quantity of video games, he’s additionally averted any accidents with long term penalties. They want him on the court docket when the postseason arrives.

The Parquet Play: Boston’s (different) big-time dunker

Jaylen Brown stands out as the one within the Slam Dunk Contest, however let’s take a second to understand Jayson Tatum for his work on the rim. He could not have the identical form of violent athleticism or artistic aptitude as his co-star, however for my cash, his brute-force, two-handed jams are practically as satisfying.

Across the League: Commerce deadline fallout

Thursday, February 8 introduced maybe the most-anticipated day of a given NBA common season — the commerce deadline. In all, we noticed 16 trades finalized on the deadline, together with two the day earlier than. Nothing matched the dimensions of the OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam offers earlier within the season, however a couple of contenders discovered enhancements on the margins. It’s value taking a second to look at the strikes we noticed that would matter.

The headliner of the day was probably probably the most related transfer to the Celtics’ pursuits: the New York Knicks fortified their rotation by bringing in Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons. Whereas I believe the duo is likely to be a bit overstated on their very own — we’re speaking about two gamers nicely into their 30s who have been rotation gamers for one of many worst groups of all time — they need to be a web optimistic in New York. Quentin Grimes, two second-rounders and wage filler is hardly a steep worth to pay.

On paper, these Knicks are deep now, however we’ve but to see that depth on the court docket and don’t have an thought of the way it will lend itself to postseason success. They’ve misplaced 4 straight video games since buying the Detroit duo, actually hurting within the absences of Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, and a few of the buzz has toned down a contact. The Knicks can roll 9 or 10 deep on high quality NBA gamers (relying on how you’re feeling about Treasured Achiuwa), however they continue to be a playoff contender depending on an undersized lead guard (Jalen Brunson) and a ahead who has struggled tremendously within the postseason (Randle). That’s not a mix traditionally indicative of title competition. How they assemble all of those items once they return to full energy will make for one of the fascinating storylines within the Jap Convention down the stretch.

Elsewhere, previous buddy Grant Williams discovered himself on the transfer once more, maybe unsurprisingly. By no means fairly feeling like a clear slot in Dallas — and having fallen out of a playoff staff’s common rotation for a second season in a row — the Mavericks shipped Williams to Charlotte together with Seth Curry and a doubtlessly very priceless 2027 first spherical choose (top-two protected) in alternate for fifth-year ahead PJ Washington.

This looks like a poor piece of labor for Dallas. Williams most likely wanted to be proven to the door, but it surely’s not completely clear that Washington is far of an improve. Stylistically, he brings some shot creation juice that Williams lacks, however on a broad scale, he’s an inefficient scorer who has gotten worse each season and at greatest an unproven defender (Charlotte’s system actually hasn’t set him as much as look good on that finish of the ground). Sending out a lightly-protected first rounder to make this swap could possibly be a transfer we glance again on as an utter disaster. Successfully buying and selling a 2028 choose swap (by way of Oklahoma Metropolis) so as to add heart Daniel Gafford ups the chance issue much more.

Different strikes of be aware embrace the Thunder buying Charlotte’s Gordon Hayward, giving them a helpful wing who can fill some gaps of their rotation (if wholesome). The 76ers acquired Buddy Hield as a part of their fence-sitting method to the rest of the season, as they wait to find whether or not Joel Embiid will return for the postseason. The Suns and Bucks added some protection for comparatively low price, with the previous selecting up wing Royce O’Neal and the latter guard Patrick Beverley. The Minnesota Timberwolves added a helpful rotation guard in Monte Morris as a part of the continued Pistons hearth sale.

Subsequent Up: Trip

Wednesday’s 50-point win despatched the Celtics into a pleasant stretch of relaxation on a excessive be aware. Aside from Tatum and Brown’s appearances within the All-Star Break (and Brown’s efficiency within the Slam Dunk Contest), the Celtics will likely be off completely by way of Thursday, February 22. A well-earned relaxation for the most effective staff in basketball.

Once they return, they’ll face a two-game half-week, touring to Chicago to face the Bulls that Thursday earlier than touring to New York for an intriguing matchup with the new-look Knicks. Unquestionably, we’ll all be jonesing for Celtics basketball by that time, so we’ll be again with a brand new model of CelticsWeek to look at the staff’s return to play — maybe with some bonus protection of this weekend’s All-Star celebrations.