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#1 Locking in from the opening tip
From the opening tip, it was clear the Boston Celtics had been trying to dominate their second straight recreation in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets. They executed with precision. They obtained into their units with tempo. They usually executed on the defensive finish, too.
Contemplating this was Boston’s final recreation earlier than the All-Star break, they usually had defeated the Nets simply 24 hours earlier, I discovered their efficiency to be spectacular. They didn’t play right down to the competitors. There was no signal of a malaise — on both facet of the ground.
As a substitute, Boston got here into the sport trying to dominate. They gave the impression to be having enjoyable on the market. It’s that kind of method, whatever the opposition or the scenario surrounding a recreation, that depicts championship mentality.
We frequently converse concerning the on-court developments we see from the Celtics. Nevertheless, we noticed a improvement in Boston’s method on Wednesday. We noticed them look to safe a win, no matter who their opponent was. There was no query of friendship or preserving issues respectable. The Celtics got here in to whoop the Nets. And a whooping was what they dished out.
#2 Defensive focus
It’s true; Brooklyn isn’t an offensive juggernaut. They sit nineteenth within the NBA for offensive ranking. Nevertheless, Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas are not any joke. Each can get factors up in bunches. Dennis Schroder’s addition has given the Nets a real pick-and-roll risk in addition to somebody who can push the tempo and create off the dribble.
So, the Celtics locked in. They caught to their change 1-through-4 with 5 in drop system. They pressured the ball. They restricted off-ball motion. They pressured shot clock violations. And, there was little alternative to get an uncontested shot off.
I’m going to dive into why this possession (and others) had been profitable for the Celtics within the subsequent takeaway. For now, although, it’s enjoyable to see Boston setting an early tone with their defensive mindset and dedication to guarding all throughout the courtroom.
Right here’s one other instance.
Once more, the play happens within the first quarter. Boston is trying to proceed asserting their dominance on the defensive finish. They rotate with intent, shut out with velocity, and reduce off secondary-cutting alternatives.
Total, we noticed a sturdy defensive efficiency from the Celtics — particularly through the first half. Nevertheless, there was one particular space of their defensive efficiency that basically stood out as being extremely efficient, and that was their dedication to…
#3 High locking
High-locking is when a defensive participant restricts an off-ball participant from lifting towards a display screen or hand-off. Using this defensive precept is particularly efficient when taking part in in opposition to groups that run a number of hand-off actions or performs that contain broad pin-downs, and so on.
Usually, the highest lock will see a participant quit on making an attempt to elevate towards the ball and re-direct their reduce, normally right into a backdoor.
High-locking is totally different from canceling hand-offs or screens, which is when a participant will get in between the participant and the motion.
One of the simplest ways to acknowledge a top-lock is to see it as a large face-guard for an off-ball participant who’s trying to reduce off a pin-down.
Let’s return to that first play from the takeaway above.
Right here, we don’t get a top-locking motion. As a substitute, we see Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, and Jrue Vacation look to cancel, chopping actions towards the ball-handler. On the unique through reduce that Tatum defends with Hauser, Tatum is positioned to leap into the lane and top-lock the reduce, however the off-ball cutter reads the motion and counters on the fly.
Nonetheless, having so many cell defenders permits the Celtics to fly round and kill any potential hand-offs or pin-downs on each side of the ground. That pressures the ball-handler into making a fast resolution that’s outdoors the remit of the motion the group is prone to run.
On this possession, we get two top-locks happening. The primary is from Payton Pritchard, who then flows into rear-view protection, adopted by Tatum threatening a second top-lock by digging into the house between the off-ball participant on the wing and the ball-handler eager to provoke a hand-off.
As soon as once more, Boston’s willingness to cancel and/or take away the specter of Brooklyn’s broad pin-down actions produced a stifling impact on the offense, resulting in some disjointed decision-making.
Once you take away a group’s major offensive system, they’re pressured to seek out new methods to assault a protection. Sadly, when locked in, the Celtics protection is likely one of the greatest within the NBA. Within the above clip, you possibly can see the Nets shifting away from their broad pin-down units and trying to break down the protection with ball motion and chopping.
It doesn’t work. The Celtics change with tempo. They count on an off-ball pin-down, so defenders angle their our bodies accordingly.
I beloved this dedication to taking away considered one of Brooklyn’s major weapons. Particularly with how nicely the Celtics executed the plan total.
#4 2-1-2 zone with the stay-ready group
In yesterday’s modified takeaways, I discussed how I anticipated to see some extra 2-1-2 spy protection from the Celtics on their second evening of a back-to-back in opposition to the Nets. What I didn’t have on my bingo card, although, was that it could come by way of the “Keep Prepared” group. I’m not mad at it both. I assumed Eddie Home, who was pleasant on the play-by-play, had an ideal level: The Celtics can nonetheless be taught from possessions within the movie room.
The end result from going to the zone wasn’t a lot totally different from what we’ve seen all through the previous few months. All people remains to be figuring it out. There’s nonetheless a scarcity of stress. The pick-up factors want tweaking, and the vitality when on this set-up appears low. Hopefully, time, movie work, and shopping for into why the zone is a mandatory winkle of the defensive playbook will all assist elevate this technique into being a core a part of the group’s identification on that facet of the ground.
#5 Some Jordan Walsh minutes
“I believe, since Christmas, he got here on the West Coast journey with us,” Mazzulla stated after the sport. “He’s made a acutely aware effort to have an understanding that protection is the way you make it on this league as a younger participant. And what you do within the G-League from a statistical standpoint is vital. However, it’s extra vital about your day by day method, professionalism and protection. I believe he’s actually grown in that space. Within the video games I’ve watched, the suggestions from Maine, and his method right here with us, his protection has drastically improved.”
By the sounds of it, Jordan Walsh has earned his minutes. The rookie wing, who entered the NBA with a fame of being a dependable defensive presence, obtained the possibility to shine in Boston’s ultimate recreation earlier than the All-Star break.
Walsh ended up taking part in 18 minutes, a few of which was because of Boston sitting their starters within the ultimate quarter. Nevertheless, he obtained a possibility within the first quarter and began the second. Proper now, his offense remains to be a step behind. That can include reps, particularly because the nerves start to subside and being on an NBA courtroom turns into a normality.
Nonetheless, Walsh does appear to be he’ll deliver some defensive upside. His wingspan is an unbelievable bodily device that can permit him to contest pictures with out absolutely committing to closeouts. It’s additionally how he managed to get the beneath block with out leaving his ft.
Already, Walsh appears to be like able to navigating the courtroom in opposition to NBA-level gamers. He reads screeners nicely and is aware of methods to place his physique to stay within the play on protection. That’s why he was in a position to get well into place on the above possession and why he was in a position to present some assist protection.
He’s nonetheless very uncooked. He’s a prospect participant, there’s no denying that. Nonetheless, in considered one of our largest samples of Walsh’s skillset, an NBA-level defender can nonetheless dramatically enhance.
#6 A lot of Horns actions
We’ve seen the Celtics run by a bunch of various offensive methods this season. They began the basketball yr leaning into empty-corner actions. Then, there have been a number of stagger units being thrown round. Towards Brooklyn, Boston closely leaned into their Horns Sequence.
The beauty of working Horns is that it’s not often complicated. It’s normally one or two screens, a reduce, a learn, and a shot try. It flows nicely, it’s straightforward to execute, and for the Celtics, it’s been a high-yield offensive sequence all season lengthy.
Right here you might have the Celtics in a Horns set. Pritchard feeds Kristaps Porzingis on the elbow. He then v-cuts (a really shallow model) off a Tatum display screen and receives the ball again. Because the protection reacts to Pritchard’s three-point gravity, it permits him to feed Tatum, who’s posting up his defender. From there, it’s straightforward cash for the five-time All-Star. No dribbles, one jab step, a pull-up jumper from the nail, money.
Boston had a string of those Horns units, every with totally different variations, and the bulk resulting in a scoring play.
#7 Luke Kornet will get again on monitor
Since coming back from damage, Luke Kornet has seemed barely behind the eight-ball. Nevertheless, with Al Horford sitting out and Porzingis solely taking part in restricted minutes, Kornet obtained some prolonged run. That allowed him to rediscover his rhythm and make an influence, particularly as his dimension was an issue for the Nets all through the sport.
Kornet ended the sport with 8 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and three blocks in 18 minutes of play. He additionally set good screens, made himself accessible within the dunker spots, and operated nicely as a hand-off hub across the perimeter.
Little “boomerang” actions just like the one above assist maintain the protection in rotation, whereas Kornet’s dimension can create capturing house for his teammates, particularly if he flows right into a display screen after getting off the ball.
With Xavier Tillman on the group, Kornet might want to present this sort of manufacturing constantly. There’s reputable competitors for the third-big-man spot on the Celtics roster now. Kornet received’t simply be handed these minutes. Performances like this one are vital if he desires to maintain his spot within the rotation for the rest of the season.
#8 Headband Jay
Who doesn’t love taking part in basketball with a scarf on? I’m not one to consider {that a} piece of apparel goes to alter the way you play. Possibly I’m fallacious right here. Possibly I’m not. Both method, it was a enjoyable little wrinkle in what was a enjoyable recreation the place Boston ran up the rating.
Tatum, who was coming off the again of a 40+ level evening, glided by the protection at will. Nevertheless, it felt like he was content material being a facilitator for his teammates reasonably than being the scoring menace we noticed from the evening earlier than. That’s the fantastic thing about Tatum at this level in his profession; he can damage you in so many various methods, all of that are as troublesome to cease because the final one.
Tatum had 20 factors, 9 assists, and seven rebounds in 28 minutes of play. He was composed all through the sport. He made the rights learn. He was locked in on protection. And he didn’t drive something. It was an ideal recreation to have heading into the All-Star break, the place Tatum shall be a prevalent determine.
#9 An early evening for Porzingis
Porzingis went into the locker room at halftime and didn’t return onto the courtroom. As a substitute, he sat with the group on the bench, cheering on his teammates. Contemplating how the Celtics had been taking part in and the management that they had over the sport, it is sensible that the teaching workers took a cautious method with him.
Porzingis was having a very good recreation earlier than his recreation ended early.
When he’s hitting pictures just like the one above, and the whole lot is wanting clean (together with his motion) Porzingis is an unfair addition to Boston’s rotation. His multi-faceted offensive risk makes him — and the Celtics, nearly unguardable. He was stringing collectively a strong efficiency through the first half.
Nonetheless, he probably wouldn’t have performed a lot after halftime anyway. So, sitting him early made no distinction and ensured he obtained a barely longer break than he would have if he returned to the rotation after half-time.
#10 Deliver on the All-Star break
Whether or not you like the All-Star break or not, the break is all the time good. Video games come at you thick and quick as soon as the NBA season is underway. Typically, it’s good to take a step again, re-watch some movie, and revel in every week with out new video games being thrown at you.
In fact, we additionally get the dunk competitors, the three-point contest, and the All-Star recreation — so there are some enjoyable issues to stay up for.
The Celtics shall be again in motion subsequent Thursday. They are going to be in Chicago taking part in the Chicago Bulls. That’s every week from as we speak. A lot of time to dive into the stats, catch some highlights, and take a bit of break earlier than the NBA returns are the stretch run begins. After that, it’s the playoffs. After which, hopefully, it’s the championship parade.
For now, although, benefit from the break, benefit from the All-Star recreation, and the Takeaways shall be again subsequent Friday!
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