#1 This was a press release win
“I don’t think about it a press release win,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned post-game. “I think about it a win. I think about it a chance the place we performed effectively and a chance to determine the place we didn’t play effectively. We left loads on the desk so far as our execution and the issues we wish to accomplish. So I don’t think about it as a press release win.”
Sorry, Joe, I’m inclined to disagree. The Boston Celtics walked onto the LA Clippers house court docket and dealt with their enterprise. This isn’t a Clippers workforce that’s attempting to determine issues out or is in a rebuild. It is a workforce with goals of being a championship contender. It’s a workforce that had James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook lively inside their rotation.
There’s an argument to be made that the Clippers had been lacking Kawhi Leonard. It’s a good argument, too. Nonetheless, would he have turned the tide? Would he have impacted the sport sufficient to cease the Celtics from steamrolling their approach to one other win? What about if Kristaps Porzingis was additionally wholesome?
We are going to by no means know the solutions to these questions. The very fact is you may solely win in opposition to the opposition in entrance of you. You may’t management what occurs exterior of the 4 traces, so that you management what occurs inside them. That’s precisely what the Celtics did. This was a press release win in my ebook. Particularly on the highway.
#2 When each Jays are clicking
Wish to see the Celtics at their finest? You want each Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown working at a excessive degree. When the 2 All-Star wings are taking part in off of one another, and are impacting the sport on each side of the ground, Boston’s ceiling rises dramatically.
Brown is flourishing in his new position. Tatum performed with fluidity. The Clippers struggled to comprise two of one of the best two-way wings within the league.
I’ve come to take pleasure in how Brown has grow to be snug trying to find his spot within the mid-range. He likes to get low, drop his shoulder, and navigate towards the nail, the place he’s a severe risk off the pull-up. He reveals a degree of management and poise when doing this, and it continues to be a stable counter for the Celtics when the offense bogs down.
For Tatum, it’s his improved aggression in attacking the rim. He’s making sooner choices. He’s utilizing his footwork and measurement to create area. And he’s embracing contact when attending to the bucket. Liked this spin-off right into a dunk.
For many of their careers, Brown and Tatum have hardly ever had huge nights on the similar time. But, it’s slowly changing into extra frequent, and as that turns into a normality, the Celtics’ probabilities of profitable a championship rise exponentially.
#3 Vacation’s Offense
As a 3rd, generally fourth, generally fifth offensive choice, we don’t at all times get to see one of the best of Jrue Vacation. Nonetheless, there have been moments in opposition to the Clippers the place he flashed some high-level upside as a scorer, screener, and playmaker.
Right here, Vacation runs a slip-screen motion with Tatum. He rolls to the robust aspect dunker spot. Tatum finds the versatile guard with an entry cross earlier than Vacation hits slightly bounce hook after navigating into the restricted space. We’ve checked out Vacation getting used as an inverted dunker spot risk earlier than. Nonetheless, it continues to impress, particularly when he’s discovering methods to supply inside spacing across the rim and creating scoring alternatives.
Vacation’s hustle creation has additionally been a speaking level at instances this season. Even with the Celtics up by 20 and controlling the tempo of the sport, Vacation fights for each ball. Within the above clip, you may see him stick with a play regardless of the miss and regardless of Ivica Zubac securing the offensive rebound. Vacation finally ends up getting the steal, relocating onto the perimeter, and nailing a 3.
After the Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls within the in-season match group stage, Mazzulla famous how he hoped the Celtics would develop a distinct mindset by chasing a degree differential. Moments like this had been doubtless what he was speaking about. It’s one factor being up huge; it’s one other to maintain taking part in like the sport is on the road and combating for each scoring alternative potential.
Vacation’s affect has been noticeable throughout Boston’s West Coast highway journey. Hopefully, he can maintain his present degree shifting ahead.
#4 Gettin’ nerdy with it: Grenade DHO’s
With the quantity of athleticism and slashing expertise on the Celtics roster, I’ve been hoping to see them run extra grenade actions. The motion is straightforward: A participant (often a giant man) has the ball across the low block or mid-post; he dribbles towards the perimeter together with his again to the basket earlier than handing the ball off to a participant who drives downhill. The motion is often (however not at all times) run when there’s an empty nook, so there’s no robust aspect low man to stunt on the drive.
Right here, it’s Neemias Queta who initiates the “grenade DHO,” with Vacation being the receiver.
The logic behind this motion is that as the large man dribbles towards the perimeter, he drags the defending huge with him. There’s often an empty nook, so there’s no robust aspect, low man. Then, the large man screens the slasher’s defender, permitting them to blow by the defending huge and get an open have a look at the basket. If the defending huge drops, increase, a simple mid-range pull-up, or an opportunity to create a collapse and kick out to a shooter.
Within the clip above, Zubac stays low to remove a layup. As such, Vacation goes to a floater, which secures the bucket for Boston. Extra of those actions, please.
#5 Gettin’ nerdy with it half 2: Ducking in on the Chin
I’ve checked out “Chin actions” in earlier posts. In case you might have missed these, the usual design is like this.
- Ball handler makes a cross to a participant across the prime of the perimeter, often a wing or huge
- A secondary participant (additionally often a wing or huge) units a rip display (a again display) or an ordinary off-ball display.
- The preliminary passer then cuts on the non-ball aspect of the screener
- Go receiver then appears to feed the cutter with an entry cross
Right here is an annotated instance of a Chin motion. Every part till Tatum rolls to the rim is customary observe. Nonetheless, Boston added a variance on this play.
Shifting onto what we noticed in opposition to the Clippers. As soon as once more, the Celtics added a variance to their “Chin collection” besides this time, it was having Tatum duck right into a excessive post-up as he got here off the non-ball-side reduce.
As soon as Tatum will get the ball within the excessive submit, he can go straight to work. On this occasion, he turns proper right into a no-dribble jumper and drains it. I actually take pleasure in it when the Celtics add variations to plain performs, particularly when it will get guys to their spots. I particularly loved they had been nonetheless working actions regardless of holding a cushty double-digit lead.
#6 Neemy is knocking on the door
It received’t be lengthy. Queta is making an enormous impression in Luke Kornet’s absence. His vitality and hustle have been impactful on each ends of the ground. He’s acquired two double-double performances on this West Coast journey, each of which have been through spectacular shows.
He’s rebounding at a excessive degree. His screening has improved. His motor appears limitless. And his measurement and body make him a dependable shot deterrent within the paint.
If Queta retains performing like this, Brad Stevens might prolong him a full-time contract to fill the open fifteenth roster spot. Queta has earned it. For Boston, it’s one other profitable challenge participant that graduates from their two-way system, which matches a protracted approach to defining a tradition of participant enchancment. The extra gamers come by Maine right into a full-time deal, the extra prospects will view the Celtics as a superb touchdown spot on a two-way contract because of the clear path into first-team alternatives.
#7 However he’s nonetheless a bit uncooked
This error by Queta stood out to me in real-time.
I don’t perceive why he felt the necessity to get well to his man on the perimeter when Derrick White was shading over, and he was defending from the drive. But, these errors occur for younger gamers, particularly ones which are nonetheless studying a defensive system. Nonetheless, it was a sign of how uncooked Queta is.
This isn’t a purpose to keep away from giving him taking part in time or to counter any argument for him incomes a full-time deal. It’s simply to level out there may be nonetheless work to be achieved, which is completely wonderful at this stage of his growth and younger profession.
#8 Protection wins championships
The Celtics protection has been nice in current weeks (for probably the most half.) What I like is that once in a while, they are going to flip up the strain to stifle the offense and take management of the sport. It at all times seems like a turning level when this occurs.
For me, this was the possession that took Boston to a different degree for the remainder of the sport. They fully shut down what the Clippers had been attempting to do. Everyone hustled and sprinted. Rotations had been sharp. Switches had been crisp.
And, in fact, the Celtics even have some distinctive particular person defenders, with Derrick White persevering with to show that he’s a middle trapped in a guard’s physique.
#9 Brissett flashed some upside
Oshae Brissett has been taking advantage of the restricted minutes he’s been getting over the previous few video games. He’s flattening his open threes, hustling on protection, and making good choices when the ball is in his palms.
In 18 minutes of play in opposition to the Clippers, he shot 4-of-5 from the sector and grabbed a few boards. That’s precisely the position the Celtics want from him. Take his open pictures, be good and fast together with his resolution making and supply a bodily presence on protection.
I’ve been fairly low on Brissett since Boston acquired him in the summertime, but when he can maintain impacting video games off the bench in a low-usage position, then he will likely be a dependable backup shifting ahead.
#10 The place is Jordan Walsh?
The query on everybodies minds because the Celtics emptied their bench for the ultimate minutes of the fourth quarter. Even current addition Drew Peterson acquired an opportunity to indicate what he can do. But, Jordan Walsh — the participant who impressed throughout Summer time League, remained rooted to the bench. In truth, he was the one member of the Celtics gameday roster to not see the court docket. Why?
What harm wouldn’t it have achieved to present the rookie two or three minutes of taking part in time? Absolutely, by retaining him cemented on the sideline, his confidence took a slight hit? I’m unsure why Walsh didn’t get an opportunity to play, but it surely was unusual to see a participant with such a defensive upside anchored to the pine like that.
As an apart, Peterson flashed some good upside in his restricted displaying. He hit a 3 and made a pleasant dish for an help. Queta may not be the one two-way product to earn some taking part in time this 12 months — sure, I’m being hyperbolic.
A fast message
As I sit right here writing these takeaways, it’s not misplaced on me that it’s Christmas Eve. In case you rejoice, then I wish to want you a Merry Christmas from my household to yours. In case you don’t, I hope you benefit from the further time with household, buddies, and family members, no matter it’s you find yourself doing.
And for any of you who can’t be with household, buddies, or family members through the vacation interval, I hope the net Celtics group, each right here on the weblog and elsewhere on-line, may help brighten up this robust interval for you. That is my third Christmas with out my Nan, so I perceive how the vacations might be bittersweet.
Care for yourselves, and when you select to observe, take pleasure in tomorrow’s sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers. Thanks all for selecting to learn the stuff I write; it’s a blessing I don’t take with no consideration.
Merry Christmas.
