#1 – Empty aspect offense is again
Throughout the Jap Convention Finals final yr, the Boston Celtics used quite a lot of empty aspect offense. For those who’re not conversant in this method, it’s fairly easy. As an alternative of attacking from the center of the court docket, like NBA offenses typically do, the Celtics begin from a aspect the place the nook is empty.
On high of that, they ensure that Al Horford, or whoever is defended by the rim protector, is sitting on the slot on the alternative aspect. This 5-slot setup was popularized by Quin Snyder with the Hawks. It makes it very tough for a protection with a defensive anchor to return assist. Certainly, they need to maintain Myles Turner as shut as potential to the paint, so the remainder of the ground have to be coated by 4 gamers as a substitute of 5.
Enjoying from one empty aspect makes it even more durable as a result of the assistance can not come from the sturdy aspect, as there isn’t any one within the nook. It might’t come from the baseline, as there’s additionally nobody there. Due to this fact, it will probably solely come from the highest or the alternative nook, which places the protection a step behind and might open up alternatives for three-point pictures.
To benefit from this, the Celtics can both run pick-and-roll, understanding there received’t be any assist coming from the low man, or they will use their pace to drive or their energy to put up up, understanding that the assistance is simply too far to trouble them. Chess, not checkers.
#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam
Dealing with a robust frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner could possibly be tough for many defenses, particularly with two of the very best defensive gamers out (Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis). But, the Celtics have the instruments to adapt to most of their opponents.
Myles Turner is a pick-and-pop kind of middle, due to his capturing potential. Due to this fact, it could be powerful to comprise his duo with Tyrese Haliburton if the Celtics determined to drop with Al Horford. As an alternative of forcing Al to change onto Haliburton, they put Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum on Myles Turner and maintain Al away from the motion.
This has the additional benefit of Al Horford taking part in protection on Siakam one-on-one within the put up or isolation. As we’ve seen towards Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless try this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t contemplate Siakam a capturing risk, the Indiana Pacers received’t profit from nice spacing since Al stays near the paint when Siakam doesn’t have the ball.
#3 – Celtics unbothered by Pacers mixing up coverages
The Celtics have constructed a popularity for struggling towards zone protection, however that wasn’t the case final night time. Whereas mixing zone and particular person protection, the Pacers tried their greatest to maintain Myles Turner near the rim.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25807861/Pacers_1_3_1_Zone___Boston_Celtics.png)
Nonetheless, the Celtics’ ball motion made it inconceivable for the Pacers to maintain up. By eager to restrict entry to the rim, they had been pressured to go away the corners open.
The Pacers’ protection couldn’t match the Celtics’ motion, and the offense didn’t have sufficient juice to compensate.
#4 – Celtics put strain early on out-of-juice Pacers
The night time earlier than dealing with the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Dealing with two of the very best groups within the NBA in 24 hours isn’t precisely within the Christmas spirit, however the Celtics took benefit of it.
Proper from the beginning, the Celtics put onerous strain on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even high the Indiana Pacers’ fast type of play.
On protection, they picked up the ball handler early and tried to pressure turnovers as a lot as potential. By selecting up the ball handler at half-court, they pressured onerous passes, and Jaylen Brown was there to capitalize on them.
#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest
Jaylen Brown stays one among, if not the very best, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final night time towards the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up a bit of with a few simple dunks… after which exploded on Myles Turner!
Thirty seconds later, he stole the ball from Myles Turner and ran away with it to complete with a ravishing windmill dunk—gracious.
#6 – Jordan Walsh concerned early
With a couple of gamers out, it was anticipated to see some minutes from the “keep prepared” group. This time, it was Jordan Walsh who was invited to the present. Nonetheless, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching employees had fairly a tough project for him: stopping the nice TJ McConnell. TJ is perhaps one of the vital disruptive gamers, at all times shifting with or with out the ball—understanding methods to trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.
It was problem for the rookie and confirmed that he is perhaps extra suited to guarding a distinct kind of offensive participant. Certainly, after just a few minutes, he acquired caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. A bit of later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the short Pacers guard.
On offense, Walsh was extra lively than ordinary, able to set screens or crash the offensive boards. That is what the Celtics need him to do whereas ready for his deal with and close-out assault to become a brand new weapon.
On this final motion late within the recreation, we might see flashes of an already improved deal with and passing. Is it actual? Might this translate into significant minutes past rubbish time?
#7 – Payton Pritchard’s versatile recreation is rising
In opposition to the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply capturing. As talked about earlier, he was a significantly better matchup for TJ McConnell and blocked him on the Pacers’ first attempt to drive on him.
On the offensive aspect, Payton delivered fairly the efficiency. Not as a result of he flirted with a triple-double, however as a result of he impacted the offense in numerous methods. Off-ball, as ordinary, we noticed him operating and creating chaos within the protection. And with the ball, we witnessed new methods of utilizing him.
In opposition to Tyrese Haliburton, we noticed him play the post-up (not the empty aspect set talked about earlier). His sturdy core and low middle of gravity make him capable of overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On high of this uncommon method, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced recreation plan.
#8 – Third-quarter play name to maintain the Pacers away
The Pacers had been dominated and drained however remained shut till the fourth quarter. With the amount of three-pointers as of late, no lead is secure. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their recreation plan.
Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display screen earlier than popping to the three-point line whereas Derrick White had the ball. This forces Bennedict Mathurin to be behind Jayson Tatum, and Horford pops Turner away. Due to this fact, D-White solely needed to ship a pleasant cross above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.
One other set that labored very well (and needs to be used extra typically) got here in the course of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display screen for Jayson Tatum. Myles Turner hedges onto Tatum whereas Mathurin recovers, giving Horford time to be open on the three-point line whereas Jaylen Brown creates extra confusion by setting a second display screen. An awesome use of the Jays’ scoring threats.
#9 – Boston’s offensive feast
Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was wonderful final night time, in some ways. First, that they had a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, among the finest marks of the season concerning capturing effectivity.
On high of that, they dominated the possession battle with solely 11% turnovers whereas grabbing 39% of offensive rebounds after a miss! In addition they efficiently generated simple factors with extra free throws than ordinary.
An awesome total offensive recreation, and it could have been onerous to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.
#10 – Effectively-deserved Gino time
Like a late Christmas reward, the TD Backyard was lastly capable of take pleasure in a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. Might they prolong the Gino Time streak into the brand new yr?
