The Celtics beat the Pistons, 130-120, on Wednesday one week forward of a newly scheduled recreation between the 2 in Boston after each groups narrowly missed the NBA Cup. The win featured some stress between Jaylen Brown and Isaiah Stewart, Jayson Tatum’s first relaxation evening of the season and a frantic fourth quarter comeback try by Detroit.
1. Jaylen Brown returns to first quarter tone-setting position
Jaylen Brown performed the whole first quarter for less than the fourth time this season. Acknowledging his shift to sitting halfway via the opening body to permit Tatum to log total firsts has been an adjustment, Brown slid comfortably again into the tone-setting position as each a scorer and passer. He scored 16 factors to construct an early 19-point benefit for Boston, producing eight free throw makes an attempt, tying the second-most in 1 / 4 in his profession. Brown completed the evening with 28 factors, 4 rebounds, 9 assists and three steals on 10-of-21 taking pictures after his 5-for-8 begin within the first. Previous to Wednesday, he averaged 6.4 1Q factors per recreation, down from 7.2 final season, which tied for tenth within the NBA. Tatum now leads the league with 211 first quarter factors.
2. Jayson Tatum takes the evening off
Tatum appeared drained and out of sync on Monday in opposition to the Warmth, committing a season-high six turnovers after beginning the day on the damage report. Solely De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray logged extra enjoying time to start this season than Tatum’s 764 minutes via Monday. They’ve wanted him — Boston’s internet ranking is 6.5 factors per 100 possessions higher with Tatum off the ground in comparison with on this 12 months, in accordance with Cleansing the Glass. Whereas the Celtics’ offense boomed with Tatum on the ground previously, they’re permitting 8.2 factors per 100 fewer to opponents this 12 months when he’s enjoying (ninetieth percentile).
Like final 12 months, Boston’s offense has truly fared higher into second non-Tatum models. That confirmed on Wednesday, when Brown powered an 130-point effort whereas the Celtics’ protection lagged after they couldn’t pressure turnovers. Joe Mazzulla stated a number of instances this week he doesn’t wish to persuade Tatum and others to not play, however that they’ll take heed to staff medical employees and Tatum’s coach Nick Sang on the right way to greatest handle his enjoying time. Boston has gained eight of its final 9 video games when he sits, to allow them to get by with out utilizing him an excessive amount of.
3. Payton Pritchard works his method out of gradual begin
Wednesday appeared like the tip of the Boston Pritchard get together till a full fourth quarter the place he poured in 4-of-6 three level taking pictures, grabbed two contested offensive rebounds and staved off a 32-27 Pistons comeback try. It marked the ninth look in clutch time for Pritchard in 13 shut finishes for Boston. He’s taking pictures 66.7% from the sphere on six makes an attempt and 2-of-4 from three with three assists and no turnovers in these conditions. As groups grow to be extra conscious of Pritchard as a risk alongside Boston’s different stars, it’ll grow to be intriguing how typically Joe Mazzulla shifts to an more and more essential a part of the Celtics’ offense.
Expanded minutes with Vacation out within the final two video games allowed Pritchard to log over half-hour, essential on Wednesday to permitting the latter to flee a 1-of-7 begin from three. Which may not have been potential previously earlier than Pritchard’s position ballooned to start this season. Solely Brown and Tatum have scored extra clutch factors on the staff this 12 months, and Pritchard ranks tied for thirty third with 99 fourth quarter factors.
4. Sam Hauser emerges from struggles
Sam Hauser returned from lacking Monday’s recreation for private causes and began instead of Vacation, unloading his greatest recreation of the 12 months (5-10) from three. He’s declined to make use of an offseason again damage that compelled him to overlook three video games earlier this 12 months as an excuse for his slower-than-usual begin (35.1% 3PT) and labored above 36% on Wednesday. The Celtics have been in a position to make the most of bigger lineups to make up for his absence or limitations in spots, whereas Drew Peterson’s emergence in latest video games provides them another choice. Solely Hauser and Pritchard have 20-point scoring upside and the flexibility to unload droves of high quality threes, and having the previous look extra like himself helps push Boston nearer to boasting the very best offense within the league.
5. Luke Kornet squarely again within the depth middle position
Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis have performed collectively typically because the latter’s return, 38 minutes in three of his 4 appearances the place he’s averaged 21 PPG. That’s led to a continued want for some depth middle minutes that’ll return when Horford and Porziņģis relaxation sooner or later in Friday and Saturday’s back-to-back. Whereas Neemias Queta surpassed Luke Kornet final month, resulting in a DNP-CD in opposition to the Cavs earlier than he missed two video games with hamstring tightness, Kornet returned to a major position on Monday and blocked six photographs.
Mazzulla famous an elevated physicality they need Kornet to play with that continued in Wednesday’s win, the place he grabbed eight rebounds, blocked two extra photographs and generated two steals. As Boston shifts again to being a drop protection staff, search for Kornet to return to his effectiveness from final season. The Celtics have even explored big Kornet and Porziņģis minutes. Xavier Tillman Sr. performed 3:51 for switching functions, showing extra typically lately. Queta didn’t play in three of Boston’s final six video games.
6. Celtics rising weak to the three as rim safety improves
Since Porziņģis returned from damage, the Celtics’ defensive ranking has improved from 111.1 to 108.7. Improved rim safety with Boston enjoying larger and sometimes with a number of bigs, rising from bottom-10 in effectivity allowed inside 5 ft to top-three during the last 5 video games. The Celtics have solely allowed 57.3% taking pictures across the rim after leaking baskets across the rim at a 65% price to start the season. Whereas they’ve lower off the basket, opponents, together with the Pistons, have hunted threes. Boston allowed the fourth-fewest three level makes an attempt per recreation previous to Porziņģis’ return, and since have allowed 37.4 per recreation (14th) at a 38.5% price (twenty fourth).
Detroit hit 5-of-7 from three within the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter to chop a 20-point result in eight. Boston out-shot the Pistons 53-39 from deep to flee with a win in a recreation the place Detroit shot 51.3% from three. That’s why Mazzulla stresses producing and limiting threes, and he’ll undoubtedly alter to discover a steadiness on protection.
7. Boston didn’t sound bummed about lacking the Cup
The Celtics will play a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday earlier than enjoying solely two video games over the subsequent 11 days. They’ll have taken the court docket 24 instances in 46 days to start the 12 months, and 5 instances in seven days when this week finishes. A Cup look would’ve put them again on the ground in New York subsequent Wednesday earlier than doubtlessly touring to Las Vegas subsequent weekend. Hauser stated the Celtics got down to win the Cup earlier than the season. Mazzulla, who’s been hot-and-cold on the event, pointed again to the staff’s effort within the Atlanta loss. Some within the group exhaled on the diminished journey load, particularly after the preseason Abu Dhabi journey. The Celtics will host Detroit once more on Thursday and go to Washington DC on Dec. 15 as an alternative of participating within the Cup.
8. The Pistons appear like a possible first spherical opponent
Detroit pushed the Celtics after falling behind 26-7 early, outscoring Boston 113-104 the remainder of the way in which. Julian Benbow from The Boston Globe identified to me how profitable, typically, groups who’ve scored 58 factors within the first half had been to start this 12 months after they weren’t enjoying the Celtics. The Pistons have fought all 12 months, enjoying Boston inside 124-118 in Detroit in October. They’ve gained 9 video games already, which they didn’t do till Feb. 27 final season of their traditionally disastrous 12 months. Cade Cunningham is nice, turnovers apart, Isaiah Stewart and Brown jarred all through the evening and Malik Beasley has hit extra threes this 12 months than anybody not named LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and Tatum. The race for the play-in spots within the east is extensive open, the Pistons are 0.5 video games again, and there’s no motive to assume they’ll’t sneak into the playoffs because the eight seed underneath JB Bickerstaff’s teaching.
9. Derrick White’s passing thrives
All the time an underrated energy, Boston’s inside-out exercise allowed Derrick White to rack up 11 assists for less than the eighth time in his profession and the seventh time with the Celtics. He final did it in March — at Detroit. White achieved his preseason aim to set a profession excessive with 5.2 APG final 12 months. Wednesday’s win vaulted him to 4.9 this season. Horford, Porziņģis, Pritchard and Brown additionally handed effectively within the recreation, Boston ending with 30 assists on 45 baskets. The Celtics, nevertheless, mixed for 30 turnovers during the last two video games, one thing to look at.
10. Drew Peterson, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Jordan Walsh combating for depth wing position
Not one of the three excelled in restricted minutes, however Drew Peterson caught round with Boston and appeared in a 3rd straight recreation as Maine’s highway journey continued elsewhere. Whether or not for logistical seasons or attributable to an growing sense that Peterson may very well be rising because the staff’s depth wing, Boston hasn’t appeared in a rush to ship Peterson again to the G-League. Jordan Walsh began on Monday and performed 6:39 on Wednesday, lacking a layup for his solely shot try. His offensive involvement has diminished after a robust preseason regardless of staying with Boston all season and receiving constant alternatives early.
Tillman Sr., another choice on the 4 within the Celtics’ entrance court docket, performed 19 minutes over the previous two video games, however didn’t try a shot. Mazzulla has tried to maintain everybody concerned via the staff’s relaxation in latest weeks, and so they’ll probably stay so earlier than a Maine return may loom for Peterson, and probably even Walsh on Sunday afternoon because the staff’s Cup layoff begins.
