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#1 Jaylen Brown is taking part in a few of his greatest basketball
After a stuttering begin to the season, the place Jaylen Brown was determining his new function inside the Boston Celtics offense, issues have began to click on. He’s presently taking part in among the greatest basketball in his profession so far and was arguably the most effective participant on the courtroom in Sunday’s win over the Orlando Magic.
Brown is taking part in with a newfound aggression on the offensive finish. He’s pressuring the rim at will, searching his spots, and making the suitable reads at any time when the protection rotates over on him. On a roster stuffed with playmaking expertise, Brown is being tasked with leaning into his scoring range and producing attractiveness for these round him when he forces the protection to commit.
One play that I actually appreciated was when Brown drove the lane late within the first quarter, obtained shut off, and had no launch valve passes obtainable. Slightly than panicking and forcing up a contested jumper, he stayed low, obtained into the center of the ground, discovered his spot, and rose up for the bucket.
There’s persistence in how Brown is approaching the sport proper now. Sure he’s being aggressive, however he’s not forcing issues. The sport is coming to him. Having that set spot in the course of the courtroom and that bump fadeaway that he’s grow to be so good at have allowed him to be assured in tight conditions. He’s being tasked as a main scorer — a play finisher — and he’s excelling. Lengthy could it proceed.
#2 Queta’s screening impresses
I touched on this after the Celtics win over Orlando on Friday. Queta’s enhancements as a screener from the beginning of the season to now and spectacular. He’s getting increased onto the hips of the defender, he’s producing extra contact, and he’s growing as a re-screener and secondary screener too. As a prototypical rim-runner, being a great display setter is a prerequisite for Queta to succeed.
Take the pin-in display from this play, for instance. Queta setting that display stops Jonathan Isaac from with the ability to flip round and contest Al Horford’s nook jumper. It’s a refined display that doesn’t soar out at you as having a huge impact, however it’s little moments like that that earn you extra taking part in time and develop belief between teammates.
Lower than a minute later, he’s setting a intestine display for Jayson Tatum, creating some further area across the rim. Queta and Tatum’s motion ended up being some window dressing on account of Payton Pritchard’s area creation off the dribble, however that didn’t cease the younger large man from combating for a dominant place across the glass.
Whereas Kornet is out with damage, Queta will maintain getting possibilities to impress because the third large within the rotation. The extra minutes and reps will probably be invaluable to his improvement, particularly on the defensive finish.
#3 The Celtics protection goes to a different degree
The Celtics presently boast a top-5 protection when it comes to defensive score. Over the previous couple of weeks, they’ve appeared to up their depth on that facet of the ground, and have been suffocating groups within the half-court. In latest additions of the takeaways, I’ve famous how they’re taking away center drives by having wings pinch into the elbows and the dropping large across the nail. I’ve additionally checked out how they’re seeking to cancel screens and hand-offs by getting in the course of these actions.
Each of these rules have grow to be commonplace inside the Celtics’ defensive system, as has their swarming switching execution, which has stifled groups at occasions this season.
The above possession is an effective instance of the depth with which the Celtics are approaching defensive possessions. There are a number of switches, some collapses, and a few fast close-outs. They combat across the glass. They make life powerful within the paint. And so they’re not afraid to say their physicality to guard the rim.
We’ve additionally seen some versatility in latest weeks. Placing Tatum on large males with a middle within the roaming place. Having Jrue Vacation guard as much as negate benefits on switches. Joe Mazzulla isn’t afraid to get artistic along with his recreation plans, and the Celtics aren’t displaying any worry of their execution.
I’ll go away you with one other defensive clip that caught my eye.
#4 Sam Hauser retains including to his recreation
Sam Hauser’s dunks are enjoyable, aren’t they? They’ve positively been an unexpected addition to his recreation this yr. But, a extra logical addition that’s began to look is his willingness to drive closeouts alongside the baseline or towards the middle of the courtroom.
The above clip is from Friday’s recreation. The clip under is from Sunday.
Each clips present Hauser profiting from his capturing gravity by driving a closeout. The enjoyable factor is every clip reveals a distinct consequence and why being able to place the ball on the courtroom and drive previous your defender in these eventualities is so vital. I’ve already written about why I appreciated the help from Hauser within the first clip.
Nevertheless, within the second clip, I actually like how he stayed composed and obtained the end regardless of the defender closing out on him.
#5 Payton Pritchard is again on observe
Pritchard has endured a sluggish begin to the season. Nevertheless, he appears like he’s turned the nook. When on the courtroom, he’s mixing up his tempo hitting his pictures (we have to speak about his nook capturing in some unspecified time in the future.) For now, although, it’s his rebounding and defensive hustle that’s letting him make his presence recognized.
As a second-string guard, Pritchard is proving that he can adapt his function based mostly on group wants. Contemplating he’s backing up Derrick White and Jrue Vacation, that’s the good mindset to have off the bench. On Friday, Boston wanted a scoring punch. On Sunday, it was about taking part in high-intensity protection and placing in an effort on the glass. Pritchard rose to the event in each cases.
#6 Gettin’ Nerdy With It: Ram actions
We’ve checked out “Ram actions” earlier than. Nevertheless, the Celtics had some success with them towards the Magic on Sunday, and so they’re rapidly changing into a core a part of the group’s offensive system, particularly when seeking to generate and assault mismatches. So, I wished to try two possessions out of Boston’s “ram” sequence once more right now.
The primary clip is of a “ram pop.” Discover how Tatum drags out his dribble after the display to attract two defenders with him and create the capturing area for Kristaps Porzingis, who is working because the second screener within the ram motion and the popper (as a result of he pops off the display.)
The possession begins with Tatum being guarded by Jalen Suggs. Derrick White units the down display for Porzingis, who then units the ball display for Tatum. The purpose right here is to pressure a change and get Tatum a positive matchup on Goga Bitadze. Slightly than driving straight off the display, Tatum drags his dribble towards the wing, bringing each Bitadze and Suggs with him.
Porzingis has popped into area on the perimeter and is large open. Tatum finds him with the go, Bitzade is sluggish to get better, and increase, a simple three.
Right here, we see the Celtics go to a counter out of their “ram” motion, because the Magic protection defends the set properly. With two defenders seeking to strain Brown, Hauser comes off his display and turns into a short-roll outlet for Brown.
From there, Hauser has a straight-line drive to the rim. Isaac digs from the robust facet however doesn’t get deep sufficient to strain the dribble. As such, Hauser’s largest process is ending by contact on the best way to the ring, which he does with little points.
I appreciated this play for 2 causes. 1 — As a result of the Celtics had a counter to the Magic’s protection. 2 — As a result of Hauser confirmed that he can embrace physicality on the offensive finish, whereas nonetheless staying composed and getting the end.
#7 That Tatum block
Beloved the block. Beloved the rotation on protection. Beloved the power for the celebration.
Tatum learn the offense properly. Brown had been put into a troublesome spot on the weak facet, the place he was tasked with limiting drives and maintaining observe of shooters. A cut-and-replace motion between Suggs and Caleb Houston created some confusion for Brown, permitting Paolo Banchero (what a participant) to dart towards the rim.
Tatum adopted the motion, timed his rotation, and obtained the block on his fellow Duke product.
#8 Sticking with Tatum for a second
Lots has been mentioned about Tatum’s manufacturing in latest weeks. For some, his perimeter capturing has did not impress. Others consider he’s coasting too regularly. There’s a good and legitimate argument for each of these observations.
Nevertheless, Tatum has notoriously ramped up his manufacturing after the All-Star break. He spends the opening months feeling issues out, getting snug along with his teammates, after which, because the playoffs draw close to, clicks into a brand new gear.
I like what Tatum has been providing this season. He’s taking part in stable protection and has proven main enhancements in his processing pace and passing skill. He’s grow to be a rebound vacuum. And he’s added a post-game to his scoring profile together with an even bigger give attention to getting downhill to strain the rim.
The Celtics are constructed in order that they’re not reliant on particular gamers. Everyone seems to be sacrificing and everybody may have nights the place they step up. Because the season wears on and the video games get extra intense, Tatum will undoubtedly start to remind everybody why he’s anticipated to be at an MVP degree.
#9 Al Horford continues to point out no indicators of getting older
Every time Horford steps onto the courtroom, he’s making a huge impact. His dedication to rebounding has been very important to the Celtics this season, as has his willingness to make fast passes and proceed taking open threes.
In opposition to the Magic, I beloved this contact go to search out Brown open within the nook, regardless of Horford being the one who sprinted the entire courtroom and had a possible bucket ready for him in consequence.
I maintain folders on my arduous drive from each recreation. They’re full of notes and clips. I additionally maintain a pocket book the place I write down ideas from every recreation. On each my arduous drive and in my pocket book, I’ve this play labeled as “Horford Unselfishness.”
You possibly can see by how Horford has positioned his physique on the catch that he’s solely thought is creating a top quality look. He had no intention of hammering the rock house regardless of being comparatively open across the rim. All of this after beating everybody up the ground at 37 years outdated.
When gamers speak of selfless performs that grow to be infectious for his or her teammates, it’s moments like this that they’re referencing.
#10 Inverted dunker spot roles
That is extra of a basic statement of the season to date. Mazzulla has been utilizing Vacation, White, and even Lamar Stevens as inverted dunker spot guys. What you lose in vertical spacing, you make up for in decision-making and flexibility. Everybody Mazzulla is positioning down low is a risk off the dribble, can hit floaters, and has sufficient decrease physique power to carry their very own when posting folks up.
I like that Mazzulla is mixing issues up on either side of the courtroom. It bodes properly for later within the season when that sort of creativity is important to beat scouting studies and break down extra strong defenses as groups chase seeding and start ramping up for the postseason.
The Celtics are 20-5 proper now. They’ve gained all 14 of their house video games. There’s lots to love.
Trying forward
Up subsequent is a troublesome West Coast street journey. Video games towards the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, and Los Angeles Lakers all await the Celtics. This will probably be a terrific take a look at for this roster, because the final time Boston had a West Coast swing like this, the wheels fell off. The following 4 video games will give us a greater concept of the place this group is in comparison with final yr and what they should proceed engaged on shifting ahead.
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