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#1 Tatum upped the aggression
After receiving vital backlash on-line, Jayson Tatum got here into the sport towards the Cleveland Cavaliers with renewed aggression. He drove purposefully, drawing fouls at will and constantly pressuring the rim. 9 of Tatum’s 11 made buckets got here contained in the three-point line, both within the mid-range or across the rim.
Nevertheless, Tatum’s perimeter effectivity remains to be a priority. He shot 2-of-8 towards the Cavaliers, which has seen his playoff conversion price sit at 26.5% regardless of him taking 6.1 makes an attempt from deep per recreation. The Boston Celtics want extra from their star participant, particularly in the event that they want to proceed utilizing his perimeter gravity to create openings for others on the ground.
In fact, when Tatum is hitting constantly within the mid-range, his gravity can at all times be utilized in alternative ways. I used to be a giant fan of the Celtics going again to some screening units to get Tatum into the submit, such because the wedge display screen motion under.
What number of instances have we seen the Celtics run an motion like this to get Tatum a mismatch within the submit? It is a staple of how Joe Mazzulla’s staff has seemed to work within the mid-range. Seeing the Celtics get again to a set that has constantly created favorable matchups and scoring alternatives was each enjoyable and inspiring.
When Tatum is enjoying with this stage of drive and aggression on the offensive finish, the Celtics are a special stage of risk. As soon as he figures out his perimeter shot, his scoring numbers ought to take one other leap, and any questions concerning his stage of play ought to dissipate.
#2 Cleveland’s no-switch coverage
J.B. Bickerstaff was clearly in no temper to permit the Celtics to hunt mismatches on the offensive finish. Wherever doable, the Cavaliers fought to stick with their man. For probably the most half, they performed a straight-up model of protection, avoiding switches on the perimeter.
Within the above clip, the Celtics try and create a mismatch for Jaylen Brown by having Payton Pritchard set inverted screens. The Cavaliers do an excellent job of recovering and holding their matchups, forcing Boston to assault straight up somewhat than having a bonus they will exploit.
Once more, the Celtics look to run inverted screening actions to create a mismatch. After the Cavs hedge the PnR, Darius Garland appears to be like to get well to Derrick White. The purpose right here is to maintain their matchups and keep away from mismatches. Garland is a beat too gradual within the second clip, permitting White to get his shot off.
Nonetheless, Cleveland’s need to keep away from switching and play straight up made life just a little more durable for a Celtics staff that has hunted favorable matchups all through the season. Nonetheless, the elevated drive of Boston’s assault helped fill the void that was created by their lack of ability to get favorable appears to be like.
#3 Jaylen Brown’s drives bullied Cleveland
Jaylen Brown had a robust scoring evening for the Celtics. Most of his offense got here through the drive — both from the slot or above the break. When Brown is bully-driving his technique to the rim, he’s tough to cease. Typically, he’s stronger, sooner and extra explosive than most perimeter and wing defenders, which implies he can normally discover a bonus after probing on a few drives to start the sport.
The Celtics got here into their recreation towards the Cavaliers trying to play at the next tempo and make choices at a faster tempo. Having gamers like Brown, who isn’t afraid to penetrate off the dribble, drive defensive rotations, and end on the rim, permits that type of play to thrive. It additionally helps counter a staff that’s trying to play you straight up, as when you get your defender in your hip, your entire defensive rotation is a step behind the motion and trying to catch up.
Brown scored 13-of-17 on Saturday. He solely took 3 makes an attempt from deep — hitting two of them. His inside recreation has been distinctive all season. In a extremely aggressive recreation that at instances seemed to be getting fairly chippy, having a forceful finisher is important. Brown has taken that position in his stride this season. Boston will want him to proceed enjoying with this stage of aggression for the remainder of the postseason.
#4 Jrue Vacation stepped up
Like Tatum, Jrue Vacation’s playoff manufacturing has been questioned over the previous week. He isn’t scoring at an elite stage and he isn’t playmaking like a lead guard. Nevertheless, in recreation three of the Japanese Convention semifinals, Vacation confirmed up in a giant means. He was pushing the tempo, making good reads, scoring at a dependable price, and defending his tail off.
Vacation ended the sport with 18 factors, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, oh he had a block, too.
In true Morey-ball style, Vacation’s photographs got here from two areas: three-point vary and within the restricted space. He hit 4 across the rim and three from deep.
Drives just like the one proven within the clip above are when Vacation is at his finest. His power and low heart of gravity enable him to play by means of his defender’s chest; he can bully his technique to his spots. He additionally has high-level footwork within the submit, particularly contemplating he’s a guard. His little up-and-under end right here was a nifty piece of ability that cut up his defenders and allowed for a fluid end.
The Celtics don’t want Vacation to be this model of himself each evening. However when Derrick White is struggling, having Vacation scale his offensive manufacturing can be the perfect technique to proceed having worthwhile offense from the guard place. That’s the worth of the inventory change on that aspect of the ground.
#5 Boston’s switch-heavy protection created on-ball strain
Not like the Cavaliers, the Celtics caught with a switch-heavy protection (apart from when Luke Kornet was on the courtroom.) Mazzulla has a number of point-of-attack defenders at his disposal. It’s very uncommon that the Celtics are put right into a state of affairs the place their protection is at a drawback, and the opposing staff has a good matchup.
Nonetheless, with out Kristaps Porzingis anchoring the paint, there’s some extra strain on the rotation to lock down the perimeter and restrict the success their opponents have across the rim. Al Horford did a stable job because the Celtics drop defender, and when enjoying as a part of a swap one-through-five. I do have some questions concerning his capability to constantly eat near 40 minutes of enjoying time per evening, however that’s a dialogue for an additional day.
I’ll go away you with this good defensive sequence from Tatum and Brown. They could be a robust matchup on either side of the ground!
Trying forward
The Celtics will go well with up for recreation 4 on Monday evening. In the event that they win, they’ll return to the TD Backyard to try to shut out the sequence in 5 video games on Wednesday. Earlier than that may occur, Mazzulla’s staff should gear up for an additional robust recreation whereas anticipating a response from Cleveland. Nonetheless, securing one other win places the Celtics within the driver’s seat. If they will shut this out in 5, they’ll get some much-needed relaxation earlier than heading into the Japanese Convention Finals.
No matter what occurs, I’ll be again right here on Tuesday with some extra takeaways!
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