#1 Pritchard proves he can do it towards the very best
With Jrue Vacation out, Payton Pritchard continued his surge in each minutes and utilization. His efficiency gave the Boston Celtics a activate the bench as he blended his capacity to penetrate together with his perimeter taking pictures and drive-and-kick creation.
Pritchard loved a robust displaying towards the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to shrug these performances off because of the difficulties these franchises have navigated this season. Seeing Pritchard rise to the event towards the Milwaukee Bucks—who seemed each inch the potential Japanese Convention Finals opponent—needs to be an encouraging signal because the postseason attracts nearer.
An enormous addition to Pritchard’s sport this season has been his capacity to create house across the rim, often through contact. This produces the gaps he must get his shot off with out the danger of it being swatted away.
In fact, he additionally offered his regular impression on the offensive glass, as groups proceed to view him as a non-factor when he’s crashing the boards. His tie-up with Brook Lopez was an enormous galvanizing issue for the Celtics and received the group amped up.
If that is the model of Pritchard they Celtics will get within the playoffs, he’ll change how many individuals view him as a main bench ball-handler.
#2 Hurting the Bucks’ regular lure
Milwaukee’s defensive system is based on funneling groups into the mid-range and creating low-quality pictures. They’re eighth within the NBA for defensive shot frequency across the rim and ninth on the perimeter. But, towards the Celtics, with their array of mid-range scoring expertise, that plan was at all times going to battle.
All through the season, we’ve spoken about Jaylen Brown’s mid-range sport and the way it gives a counter to when the protection is taking away the rim. We’ve additionally spoken about how Tatum’s presence within the publish or on the elbows is an elite weapon for the Celtics in scoring and creation. Think about Kristaps Porzingis’ offense on the nail or across the free-throw line prolonged, and it’s clear permitting middies was going to make life powerful for the Bucks.
The Celtics haven’t any points attacking out of short-rolls or through slip screens. They’ve additionally received no drawback letting it fly in house, no matter the place they’re on the ground. So, seeing Porzingis slip into a niche on the above possession earlier than pulling up and nailing a short-range bunny was not a shock. It was, nonetheless, the kind of shot Milwaukee desires — so long as they’re not stepping into.
Joe Mazzulla’s workforce has vastly improved by way of shot choice this season. They stress the rim, assault house in the midst of the ground, and make threes primarily in rhythm. Funneling the Celtics into the mid-range willn’t take them out of their offense; it should present a runway for them to get comfy and construct out their offensive dominance.
#3 JB’s protection
“It’s highly effective (watching Brown tackle the opposing groups finest participant),” Tatum advised CelticsBlog’s Jack Simone. “Only for our workforce. How significantly better it makes us. Seeing him take the problem of guarding the very best guard on the opposite workforce…It has an impression on the remainder of the the workforce and It actually offers all people else no excuses. If he can do that each one night time whereas nonetheless attempting to be efficient on the offensive finish, It’s nothing wanting particular.”
Brown spent 6:16 guarding Damian Lillard, totaling 34 partial possessions. When matched up with the All-Star guard, Brown held him to 2-of-4 taking pictures and compelled a turnover. He additionally sought to take Lillard out of rhythm on a number of possessions, particularly when selecting him up full court docket and forcing him to seek out methods to deliver the ball up.
This season, Brown has made his defensive manufacturing a spotlight level. As such, he’s rapidly rising as a flexible perimeter defender who can simply change onto the opposing workforce’s finest gamers, no matter whether or not they’re guards, wings, or forwards.
Brown has been stellar on the defensive finish this season whereas additionally producing arguably his finest (and most constant) offensive 12 months up to now. He’s can have a significant function to play throughout the postseason, and was clearly seeking to set the tone towards Lillard — who may very well be a possible roadblock when the Celtics are trying to make the NBA Finals.
My ultimate word on Brown’s protection: His display navigation seems to be so significantly better this 12 months. A main motive why he’s capable of comprise shifty and explosive guards is as a result of he hardly ever will get caught up on screens and has the size, velocity and athleticism to shut the hole as soon as he’s cleared the screener.
#4 Each groups shot properly
Only a basic statement for this takeaway. Each groups shot the ball extraordinarily properly. The Bucks shot 53.6% from the sector and 48.6% from deep. Boston shot 47.1% from the sector and 45% from deep.
Each groups have been executing at a excessive degree. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how issues shake out when each rosters are wholesome, although. In spite of everything, Giannis Antetokounmpo is among the most effective rim scorers in historical past, and Jrue Vacation is among the many finest defenders within the league. Together with each of them within the sport would definitely change some dimensions and alter the movement for each groups.
#5 Porzingis isn’t only a flooring spacer
Porzingis has revolutionized Boston’s spacing, and I believe we are able to all agree on that. With how a lot he operates on the perimeter, it’s typically straightforward to neglect that he’s additionally a worthwhile scorer within the mid-range and across the rim. There’s a motive why he’s the unique Unicorn, you already know.
The play within the clip above (which I shared as a part of my Tweet as a result of my response was real and within the second) reveals precisely why he’s such a troublesome cowl. The Bucks — and every other workforce — could attempt to run Porzingis off the 3-point line throughout the postseason. The difficulty is he’s cell sufficient to show the nook on protection, gifted sufficient to drive the lanes, and sufficiently big to shoot excessive of you.
Taking part in towards physicality continues to be a query mark I’ve over Porzingis, particularly in a half-court, win-or-go-home setting. He’s given me, or any of us, any motive to doubt him, although. So, I’m excited to see what his postseason manufacturing seems to be like, particularly if we’re getting offensive moments just like the one within the above clip.
#6 Tillman’s inclusion made sense
Speaking of physicality. Giving Xavier Tillman the lion’s share of backup big-man minutes made sense towards the Bucks. He’s bodily sufficient to take care of Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis however cell sufficient to modify onto guards and wings when guarding the pick-and-roll.
Tillman did, nonetheless, battle to impression his man’s pictures. He ended the sport with a defensive subject objective share of 71.4%, permitting 5-of-7 taking pictures. Nonetheless, his presence offers the Celtics a distinct dimension on either side of the ground. I’ve a sense he will probably be worthwhile if Boston faces Giannis, Joel Embiid (if he returns from damage), or Nikola Jokic within the postseason.
#7 Khris Middleton continues to be an X-Issue
Prefer it or not, Khris Middleton will nonetheless be an X-Issue if the Celtics face Milwaukee within the postseason. He’s actually misplaced half a step as a result of his latest run of accidents, and his raise doesn’t appear as excessive on his jumper. But, he can nonetheless nail catch-and-shoot threes and has the footwork and positioning to be a menace when driving closeouts, particularly in the event that they’re single dribble jumpers.
I don’t see Middleton as a swing issue on the defensive finish. We’ve seen the Celtics hunt and undergo him on a number of events. Nonetheless, his spacing is an actual menace on offense and can make sure the Celtics can’t assist off when Giannis or Lillard are driving the lane.
Middleton can nonetheless function as a motion shooter, peeling off screens, curling, discovering house, and letting his shot fly.
Actions just like the one above will probably be troublesome for the Celtics to take care of, particularly if the Bucks have secondary cutters flying in from the perimeter so as to add further rim stress.
Mazzulla and his teaching employees should devise a plan to take care of Middleton’s presence on offense and manipulate him and Lillard to be on the court docket collectively when attacking the Bucks’ protection in half-court conditions.
#8 Mindset issues
The Celtics have been the extra bodily workforce. They got here into the sport with a mindset of controlling issues on the defensive finish of the ground and profitable the battles within the margins. For a workforce that has constantly been questioned about its toughness, their efficiency towards Milwaukee felt like a message for all of their doubters.
That mindset additionally carried over to the offensive finish. The Celtics stayed poised all through the night time, meticulously selecting Milwaukee aside with chopping, passing, and motion .
I felt just like the above possession was a very good instance of Boston sticking to their offensive mindset. Final season, Brown would have taken the nook three after securing the offensive rebound. Not now, although. As an alternative, he sized up his man, received him to commit his lead hip, and drove it straight to the cup.
On protection, the Celtics stayed dedicated. They didn’t over-react to pictures going up or rebounds being secured. They saved our bodies on bigs and boxed out with power. They usually performed the passing lanes with intent and aggression.
#9 Horford on the 4
With Vacation lacking the sport as a result of damage, Horford resumed his place inside the Celtics beginning lineup. All through the takeaways this season, I’ve been vocal about my choice for single-big lineups. But, I do really feel just like the Bucks is a matchup the place having the extra frontcourt measurement is smart, particularly as Horford doesn’t diminish the spacing and may function as a creation hub.
Horford additionally has a stable monitor file towards Giannis, so there’s that. He additionally led the workforce in shot contests, holding his man to 10-of-20 taking pictures. Nonetheless, there have been instances when Lillard was looking him within the pick-and-roll.
The Celtics might want to discover methods of limiting Horford’s susceptibility to being hunted on the defensive finish in the event that they’re going to have a double-big rotation in sure playoff collection. Nonetheless, Horford’s total impression on either side of the ball is evident to see. He was a robust issue for the Celtics on Wednesday.
#10 Tatum is playoff-ready
Tatum is playoff-ready. He amassed 31 factors, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a pair of blocks towards the Bucks. There have been moments once I would have most well-liked him to not isolate on the perimeter. Nonetheless, he had it going, hit his pictures, and produced an enormous query mark for the Bucks’ protection.
It’s straightforward to miss how constant Tatum has develop into at getting downhill, attacking house, and attending to the rim. Sure, his perimeter sport continues to be a significant a part of his total offense, but it surely’s his capacity to muscle his technique to his spots that has seen him elevate into a real top-10 expertise within the league.
Tatum has seemed playoff-ready since coming back from the All-Star break. His efficiency towards the Bucks compounded my assumption. At instances, it seemed like nobody on the ground may guard him. It was additionally nice to see him taking part in protection at such a excessive degree, too.
Trying forward
The Celtics are again in motion on Friday after they face the Detroit Pistons. Yesterday’s sport was arguably the largest remaining matchup on their schedule — except you’re curious how they do towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
I might anticipate Mazzulla to proceed resting a few of his stars on Friday because the Celtics look to navigate the ultimate stretch of video games whereas retaining everybody wholesome but additionally guaranteeing they’re in rhythm. The Pistons are a greater workforce than their file suggests, however I’m hopeful Boston can proceed including wins to their season tally.
Catch you all on Saturday.
