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After a irritating 121-118 extra time loss to the 4-9 Hornets, Jayson Tatum said, “we gotta regroup. We’ve gained 6or 7 video games in a row. It might be straightforward to get complacent, issues like that. We paid for it tonight.”
The Celtics didn’t play their greatest basketball on their 3-1 highway journey. Toronto was a decent rope and Memphis got here down to 2 missed pictures on the Grizzlies’ remaining possession that might have gained the sport. All that poor play appeared to meet up with them on the again finish of a back-to-back in Charlotte. Head coach Joe Mazzulla stated that they didn’t take note of the main points and took some performs off. All these observations could be true even when Boston had discovered a method to proceed their successful streak, however let’s break down the Celtics’ breakdown within the closing minutes and decide whether or not the method was good regardless of the unhealthy outcomes.
Up six with over two minutes to go, it’s a four-possession sport. A rating right here would make it extremely difficult for the Hornets to make a comeback. The Celtics go to considered one of their bread-and-butter actions: the Jaylen Brown-Kristaps Porzingis pick-and-roll/pop.
Aspect be aware: as irritating as Brown has been as a playmaker at occasions, I really like Mazzulla utilizing the early a part of the common season as a coaching floor for this two-man sport.
Sure, Jayson Tatum was on a heater and possibly giving it to the man that had already torched the Hornets for 40 massive is a good suggestion. And but, they strike gold right here once more. Brown is affected person and finally attracts two defenders. Porzingis subsequently occasions his lower completely, sucks in Jrue Vacation’s defender, and Brown finds Vacation for an open 3.
Once more, the JB-KP choose above the three-point line. They get the change, however it’s not precisely a positive one. As an alternative of forcing the difficulty on the rim in opposition to Mark Williams, Brown elects for the fadeaway. During the last two years, that’s develop into considered one of Brown’s signature strikes and he’s one of many league’s greatest within the mid-range. It’s not the perfect shot (a kick out to Sam Hauser was seemingly obtainable), however after milking the clock down, it may need been the perfect within the second.
Can’t actually argue in opposition to the decision-making right here both. Boston 1) will get it to Tatum on the wing in opposition to Gordon Hayward who he had been getting by all night time and a pair of) Tatum attracts two and instantly finds the chopping Vacation within the restricted space and Vacation pings it to Brown open behind the arc. You wish to see the ball transfer sooner than the protection.
If there’s room for criticism, it could be that slight hesitation to hit Hauser with the protection in rotation, however I believe Brown finally reads it appropriately. Brandon Miller sticks to Hauser so Brown has to take a barely contested 3.
A unfastened ball foul offers the Celtics the ball again with simply over a minute to go and once more, Joe Mazzulla seemingly makes the proper name once more, isolating Tatum above the break in opposition to his former teammate. Sadly, he blows the layup. Good determination, unhealthy outcome.
After a Porzingis block and a Williams put again, it’s a one possession sport. So far, they’d gone to their two franchise cornerstones to some success. Curiously, to lastly ice the sport, it’s Vacation dribbling out the clock, muscling LaMelo Ball to the cup, and drawing free throws. And once more, that labored. All in all, it’s laborious to be important right here.
When you suppose Boston’s late sport decision-making is a matter, their downside would possibly stem from not having that go-to play within the clutch. On Wednesday, we’ll absolutely see a bunch of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo working a ton of PnR. We’ve already seen Joel Embiid work out of the excessive publish. However for a Celtics roster loaded with expertise, there hasn’t been that one factor, that one play that they’ll hammer groups with after they completely want a bucket. As former CelticsBlogger Keith Smith said, “Boston is enjoying just a little bit an excessive amount of ‘equal alternative offense.’”
Or, possibly that’s what makes them actually harmful.
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