Elite ball movement leads Celtics to victory over Wizards

It’s getting onerous to seek out new methods of praising this present Celtics crew. From their distinctive protection to their vastly improved decision-making, we’ve touched on all of it. However on Sunday afternoon, the Celtics served us all a reminder that they’re able to taking their offense to new ranges.

Going through off towards the league’s 25th ranked defense, the Celtics completed the competition with a season-high 39 assists on 56 made baskets, as they tore open Washington’s protection time after time. For reference, the Celtics are 14th in assists per game, and 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Every time discussing a bump in manufacturing, our preliminary response is to hone in on the gamers with the most important help numbers.

Jayson Tatum’s courtroom imaginative and prescient and processing pace have each advanced into new monsters as this season has worn on, and Marcus Good’s capacity to manage the tempo of video games has reached new heights. These developments have been undoubtedly a catalyst for the crew’s passing show towards the Wizards.

Praising the expansion of particular person gamers is honest, and is smart to a sure diploma, however, towards the Wizards, it was the crew’s execution that stood out.

Take this early help from Tatum. Positive, the move and imaginative and prescient have been each distinctive, however with out Daniel Theis reducing onerous to the rim, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would have been capable of slide over to Al Horford and take away the passing lane. And with out the veteran huge man timing his minimize because the path man, Tatum wouldn’t have had a simple outlet out of the lure.

It’s all concerning the transferring elements. When Ime Udoka got here in because the crew’s head coach, he usually spoke of enjoying selfless basketball, and it’s these secondary cuts that show why his level was so essential.

Shifting with out the ball and manipulating the protection is never going to get the popularity of regional or nationwide media, just because that sort of basketball doesn’t promote – but it surely does contribute to successful.

Right here’s one other instance of Theis reducing to open a passing lane for Tatum. This time, the veteran heart engages the low assist defender, leaving Grant Williams huge open within the nook for a catch-and-shoot alternative. After all, because the move is made, the protection scrambles to shut out on the shot, however by that time, the harm has already been performed.

Off-ball motion has at all times been among the finest methods to create scoring alternatives for others, but it surely’s not the one method. Another excuse the Celtics have been capable of compile such a lofty help quantity was merely that guys have been hitting their pictures.

Abruptly, a crew that’s struggled to transform from deep this season was hitting their threes, and with that, the ground spacing turned a weapon the crew has been ready to wield all season.

As such, easy “one participant away” passes have been leading to simple buckets, forcing the protection to start out enjoying increased up the ground, which then created back-door alternatives or allowed guys to drive into the tooth of the protection.

Take the above play for instance. The Wizards try to get the ball out of Tatum’s palms, in order that they’re enjoying as much as contact on the display, with Caldwell-Pope trying to hedge or lure as Tatum comes over.

The All-Star wing reads the protection and forces them to break down as he drives in the direction of the nail, Good then provides additional stress onto the protection by executing his personal shallow drive earlier than feeding Tatum on the put up for a simple bucket.

In our closing clip, we’re simply taking a look at a easy move in transition to get Payton Pritchard a shot in rhythm. After all, the shot falls, as a result of that’s what the Oregon alum does – get buckets.

The purpose is, not solely did the Celtics’ off-ball motion get the crew going early, but it surely additionally helped construct confidence, and as soon as that occurs, the rim appears to be like like a singularity, absorbing the whole lot that comes close to it.

When peeling one other layer off, plenty of Boston’s success towards the Wizards got here all the way down to how nicely the crew is executing Udoka’s 0.5 system. The ball isn’t sticking, guys are transferring, and the protection by no means will get an opportunity to get well as soon as a bonus has been created. What follows is an array of simple alternatives across the rim, excessive conversion charges on pictures, and a crew that’s enjoying as a single unit.

Based on Cleaning The Glass, the Celtics entered rubbish time with 8:26 remaining within the fourth quarter. Once you’re enjoying in the direction of your optimum offensive stage, towards a crew lacking a few of their greatest gamers, successful so dominantly is what’s presupposed to occur. However, we’ve seen the Celtics play all the way down to their competitors in latest seasons, so witnessing them execute their recreation plan with no regard for his or her opponent’s emotions or pleasure is an encouraging signal heading into the post-season.

Nonetheless, there are sterner assessments forward for this Celtics roster, but when they will proceed to maneuver the ball as they did towards the Wizards whereas remaining strong on the defensive finish, there’s each motive to be excited concerning the upcoming post-season.