Substance over model: small ball, double bigs, and every thing in between is an choice for Boston

What did the Celtics change after a stunning loss to the Warmth in Recreation 2? Not a lot. Positive, they tightened up just a few issues right here and there. It’s the postseason in any case and that requires extra intesity and focus. After ending fourth in opponent three-point proportion within the common season, they cleaned up their closeouts on the perimeter and allowed fewer triples within the ensuing Video games 3, 4, and 5 mixed.

Offensively, they took to job the league’s fifth greatest protection and blew them out in all their wins. They continued to punish mismatches, stored their turnovers down, and sure, shot a ton of threes. That is usually been their M.O.

However as they are saying, the NBA Playoffs are all about changes and changes to these changes and there could also be a much bigger reckoning of types heading in to Spherical 2 and (knocks on wooden) past.

And the Celtics can be prepared.

“One of many issues coming into the season was having the ability to win in numerous methods with completely different lineups,” head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned after eliminating the Warmth in Recreation 5. “Even when KP was wholesome, we nonetheless performed small. We did a bunch of various stuff. We performed double bigs. We simply should develop a bunch of various identities to have the ability to get into completely different playoff sequence when you have got completely different matchups. We’ve been ready to do this as a result of the blokes [have] an consideration to element and their buy-in in direction of making essentially the most sense, doing no matter it takes to win that individual sport and having completely different identities.”

Beating a banged up Warmth crew together with your strengths is one factor, however taking part in outdoors of your consolation zone and successful 4 video games is one other.

Whether or not it’s the Cavaliers or Magic, each potential opponents are large with frontcourts of Jarrett Allen (6’9) and Evan Mobley (6’11) or Franz Wagner (6’10), Paolo Banchero (6’10), and Wendell Carter Jr. (6’10). In a lot of Boston’s losses, opposing groups have been in a position to gradual the Celtics down and crash the offensive glass.

With Kristaps Porzingis out for most certainly the whole sequence, Boston may lean closely on taking part in sooner and faster in an try and create house. A lot has been made on how Luke Kornet and/or Xavier Tillman Sr. will fill in minutes for KP, however Mazzulla may simply flip the script and play Oshae Brissett or Jaden Springer because the eighth man off the bench in an effort to hurry up and house out the sport.

On the opposite aspect of the Japanese Convention bracket, the winner of Knicks-Pacers will pose a unique downside and the gears must swap once more. Assuming the Celtics advance and Porzingis returns by the convention finals, they’ll be up in opposition to both guard-heavy crew. Once more, that might name for an additional costume change for the Cs. Boston leaned closely into their defensive strengths in opposition to Miami they usually’ll want that much more vs. Tyrese Haliburton or Jalen Brunson. May the Celtics play double bigs to shore up their rim safety? May Mazzulla elect to match measurement and pace and play extra three guard lineups? We’ll see.

Additional down the highway, it is exhausting to not daydream what a possible Finals may look liike in opposition to two titans who’ve already began their second spherical sequence. The Nuggets and Timberwolves are large and larger and simply as loaded with expertise.

In a means, consider Denver and Minnesota as some amalgamation of the remaining East groups. Image the Magic with Brunson or Haliburton on the controls in Cleveland. That is Jamal Murray backed up by Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. or KAT and Gobert fronted by Anthony Edwards. Within the quest for an additional Larry O’Brien, Boston’s id change could require a telephone sales space and a cape.