The Celtics were tested with the In-Season Tournament, and now it’s time to learn from it

If we realized something from final evening’s loss, the Indiana Pacers are passionate, and so are their followers. You’ll’ve thought this was an NBA championship recreation.

The Boston Celtics made a robust assertion after their 27-blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls to advance to the In-Season Event first spherical final week. They needed to go to Vegas.

On Monday evening, they fell wanting a victory over the Indiana Pacers. Whereas some may argue the In-Season Event is distracting, I imagine it was the closest approximation of a playoff ambiance and matchup as you possibly can get.

Actually, the Celtics had been examined Monday evening, during which they had been caught sleeping, particularly within the third quarter. Which such a newly constructed roster, is a little bit competitors early on within the season such a nasty factor? Let’s break it down.

The C’s nonetheless have a .750-win percentage and stand at 15-5 after the defeat on Monday. Main the league with a +8.4-point differential, Boston has a median level differential of +13.7 factors in profitable matchups. Whereas just a few wins have been shut in opposition to the Bucks, Grizzlies, and the Raptors, the Celtics cruised to a number of victories. Actually, they’ve received a majority of video games to date by a big margin.

The Indiana Pacers are a sleeper crew, they usually have a particularly deep bench. To be truthful, I didn’t anticipate Indiana, led by Rick Carlisle, to steer the NBA in offensive effectivity and complete factors scored with the emergence and stardom of Tyrese Haliburton, former Knick Obi Toppin and former Celtic Aaron Nesmith. You mix these gamers with Myles Turner, Bruce Brown, and Buddy Hield, that is completely a contending crew. Not solely have they got a strong beginning 5, however in addition they lead the league in complete bench factors per recreation. This can be a harmful crew that assaults from wherever on the courtroom, no matter their defensive struggles this season.

The matchup on Monday was essential, with each groups clearly having the will to advance to the semis. In its inaugural season, the event provides groups an opportunity that haven’t seen a lick of playoff success in years, or ever for that matter. Having by no means received a championship in franchise historical past, the Pacers felt the playoffs vibes for the primary time because the 2019-2020 season. Carlisle’s crew didn’t let their foot off the fuel for 48 minutes and performed every possession as if it was Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals.

And to prime it off, up by 7 factors, Buddy Hield sunk a three-point shot to rub it in.

“I don’t care, I may care much less,” Joe Mazzulla instructed the press when requested in regards to the ultimate shot. For Mazzulla, the Celtics had a horrendous third quarter, and made it clear you possibly can’t win video games with 18 turnovers. To be blunt, the Celtics merely had been caught off guard with the extent of effort and grit placed on show by the Pacers. Haliburton completed together with his first profession triple double, and couldn’t be tamed wherever on the courtroom.

For many championship contenders, they don’t see the sort of ambiance till April, until it’s an intense rival matchup. With a 7-point lead at half time, the Cs utterly collapsed, falling behind 83-75 with 1:30 left within the third. Outscoring Boston 37-23, the Pacers pressured 6 turnovers alone within the third quarter, and held the C’s to simply 9-22 discipline objective taking pictures. Mazzulla’s squad put their previous habits on full show in one of the vital very important video games of the 12 months up to now.

There are three classes the Celtics can take away from this loss. First, they didn’t play at their very own pace and determined to full throttle it in opposition to the opponent’s tempo. With Indiana main the league in tempo, they’re an aggressive crew with lightning pace. Usually occasions, they have already got a shot off 2 to three seconds as much as courtroom. That type of offense actually threw off the Celtic’s protection, not giving them ample time to reset.

Second, taking part in at that stage of pace will depart this crew exhausted, particularly a unit that’s extraordinarily prime heavy. Not executing at a cushty tempo left the C’s struggling to arrange offensive performs, particularly within the fourth quarter.

Third, it was an excellent first trial for a unit that doesn’t have a ton of chemistry collectively. Whether or not you’re keen on the event or not, this was a easy win or go residence kind of matchup. Down 11 factors, the Celtics panicked, and sometimes rushed pictures, particularly down the stretch.

Tied 105 all with 1:38 left to go in regulation, everybody was on their toes, together with the followers and either side of the benches. With Tyrese Haliburton sinking a go-ahead four-point play, the C’s fell sufferer to the ambiance and power round them. Whereas this can be a nice first analysis, we will’t neglect the Pacers presently sit because the quantity 6 seed within the East.

Though Kristaps Porzingis was out with a calf harm, Boston as soon as in opposition to struggled with perimeter taking pictures, and defending penetration to the basket. Whereas Banner 18 is the one objective in thoughts, the Celtics might want to discover ways to adapt to any specific play type, whereas staying poised in strain conditions with out folding in April. Whereas all of the common season wins are nice, the Pacers are an ideal instance of a crew that might probably knock off the next seed, in the event that they attain the playoffs.