#1 – Spacing problem
The Boston Celtics’ elite spacing is… gone? No less than that’s what the numbers are saying. Recently, the Celtics have elevated their rim frequency, however the effectivity has gone down. On prime of that lack of effectivity on the rim, they aren’t in a position to generate free throws.
That is brought on by a few issues. First, Boston has performed extra with two huge males than final 12 months, which has shrunk the house within the paint. Celtics opponents can go away a participant within the paint after they have two facilities on the courtroom, turning the driving lane right into a packed highway.
On prime of that, groups are extra keen to depart the Celtics open from there. They’d relatively assistance on the driving lane and the pick-and-roll and shut laborious on the shooters if wanted.
The Celtics are going to wish their spacing again and discover a option to stretch the opposing groups’ defenses — particularly with their present defensive issues.
#2 – Ball-screen protection
The Raptors have multiplied the screens on the ball handlers — and so they have numerous gamers who can set screens and carry the ball. For instance, late within the sport, they used Olynyk as a ball handler on pick-and-roll motion, which tricked the Celtics’ protection and turned it into an open shot on the rim.
The Raptors additionally made the Celtics pay for his or her lack of defensive focus with stagger screens. Within the motion under, the 2 screens and Scottie Barnes’ cuts flip the protection’s consideration away from Mitchell, who can discover his option to the rim.
Boston’s protection on ball screens has been problematic recently. The switches are gentle and aren’t stopping the offense from discovering the shot place they’re on the lookout for.
#3 – Raptors in movement
The work and offense applied by Darko Rajaković are spectacular. Final evening, they made 35 assisted discipline targets — 11 greater than the Celtics over the sport. The Raptors don’t have a creator, in order that they create via movement and ball motion.
They’ve a whole lot of off-ball gamers who can punish Boston’s dimension and lack of mobility. They multiplied the cuts from Barrett, Barnes, Mitchell, and Dick to drive the Celtics’ protection to assist and rotate. Nevertheless, the Celtics couldn’t sustain and made a whole lot of defensive errors. Nate from CelticsBlog compiled the errors within the video under:
They used Poeltl as an offensive hub and moved round him. This labored out very well to create an environment friendly offense as a result of Poeltl dragged Porzingis away from the rim and compelled the opposite Celtics to return and assist. This had two unfavourable impacts for the Boston Celtics protection: the rim safety was much less worthwhile, and this opened up the corners.
On prime of that, Poeltl’s scoring appeared unstoppable for the Celtics’ protection.
#4 – Jakob Poeltl killing the Celtics protection
Over the three video games Jakob Poeltl has performed in opposition to the Celtics this season, he made 87% of his discipline targets! His scoring and skill to pull Boston’s rim protectors have been key for the Raptors. This season, Poeltl is scoring 20 factors per sport vs. the Celtics.
He has been superb as a roll-man within the pick-and-roll and is ready to punish the drop along with his floater contact. His potential to shoot from 10 ft away from the rim was one of many causes the Celtics’ zone protection didn’t work out as anticipated.
#5 – Ineffective zone protection
The Celtics tried the 3-2 zone protection to decelerate the Raptors’ offensive motion. But, the Raptors discovered their means once more by placing the ball across the free-throw line.
The Raptors weren’t bothered by this Celtics defensive trick, and so they have been okay pulling up above the large man from the quick mid-range zone. General, the Raptors didn’t even want their transition offense to dominate the Celtics’ protection.
#6 – Payton Pritchard nice offensive sport…
One of many solely vivid spots from final evening’s sport was Payton Pritchard’s offensive creation. The younger level guard performed half-hour and stored the offense going whereas increasing his sport. In fact, he had a few three-pointers from his ordinary off-ball motion, however there’s extra to his sport.
Certainly, as seen earlier this season, his driving sport appears to be rising once more after a gradual begin. He doesn’t hesitate to drive and use his nice deal with to beat his defender off the dribble. We additionally see that he’s extra keen to make use of his broad shoulders to submit up different guards and discover photographs on the rim.
Whereas the Celtics are in the course of a droop, Payton Pritchard’s offensive sport growth may result in nice issues for the Celtics, who undoubtedly want a push. Nevertheless, enjoying Payton Pritchard a whole lot of minutes has a value — a defensive one.
#7 – … whereas being hunted on protection
The Raptors don’t foul. The Celtics are identified for searching seals, however the Raptors are additionally nice at discovering the weak spot in a protection and simply going at it. With a whole lot of minutes from Payton Pritchard, the Raptors may run their offense round discovering a fantastic spot and isolating Pritchard defensively.
That is the rationale why final 12 months, the deeper the Celtics went within the playoffs, the much less Payton Pritchard performed. If the Celtics teaching workers needs to maintain him on the courtroom, they should discover a option to shield him.
#8 – Out of bounds stagger motion
A little bit good play name from the Celtics. A couple of video games in the past, we targeted on the stagger actions following out-of-bounds performs. They did it once more final evening vs. the Raptors. From the sideline, the ball goes to the post-up, whereas White runs via not one, however two screens and dives to the rim.
It is a good way of utilizing the spacing to generate nice photographs on the rim. A disgrace that the Celtics’ offense was stagnant final evening once we witnessed such nice motion.
#9 – Jayson Tatum lack of utilization
Jayson Tatum took solely 15 photographs and 5 free throws over 36 minutes in a sport the place nothing was going offensively. After a fantastic high-usage sport in opposition to New Orleans, it was painful to observe him probably not concerned within the offense. It’s even tougher to grasp whenever you see how a lot of a menace he’s on his drive.
Towards New Orleans, there was additionally a whole lot of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop with Kristaps Porzingis — the place did that go? This might have labored very well in opposition to the Raptors’ defensive protection and compelled Jakob Poeltl away from the rim. The Celtics are a fantastic collective crew, sure, however they should insist extra on Jayson Tatum when the offense is slowing down.
#10 – Is there an issue with Derrick White’s taking pictures?
Derrick White has made 10% of his three-point makes an attempt over the past 4 video games (3 losses and 1 win by a small margin). With the present spacing and defensive issues, the Celtics want Derrick White to search out his taking pictures contact again, sooner relatively than later.
No want to fret but — evidently all of the Celtics besides Payton Pritchard are fighting their photographs.
Nonetheless, within the standings, the Celtics are nearer to the Orlando Magic in fifth place than the Cavaliers in 1st seed. If the Celtics need to be in the very best place doable coming into the playoffs, they’re going to wish to regulate rapidly and discover their rhythm again.
