#1 Turning up the strain
For essentially the most half, the Boston Celtics gave the impression to be answerable for their recreation towards the Philadelphia 76ers. Nonetheless, there have been moments when Nick Nurse’s staff created momentum and pulled themselves again into the competition. Nonetheless, with the Sixers having shaved the Celtics result in simply two factors within the fourth quarter, we noticed Joe Mazzulla’s staff crank issues up a notch.
A 15-0 run sealed Boston’s ninth consecutive win. It additionally reminded everybody that this staff has one other gear, maybe a few additional gears, that they will shift into when their backs are towards the wall, they usually’re trying to shut out a decent recreation.
Contemplating the lofty expectations on the Celtics’ shoulders this season, it’s encouraging to know there’s a degree we haven’t seen from this staff but. Moreover, seeing them play with a way of delight is encouraging. Philadelphia was with out Joel Embiid. Additionally they misplaced De’Anthony Melton within the second half.
This was a recreation the Celtics have been meant to presupposed to win. They gained’t get the credit score they deserve for assembly expectations. However they took care of enterprise when issues bought powerful. That’s signal.
#2 Did the Sixers discover a weak point?
The Celtics struggled to include the Sixers every time they went small. Multi-guard line-ups that pushed the tempo and have been lively within the passing lanes gave the Celtics some points. It’s how the Sixers stored tempo with Boston through the first half. It’s additionally how they rallied late within the third.
Groups have tried going small towards the Celtics on a number of events this season, but it surely’s by no means paid a lot dividends. But, by some means, Nurse discovered a method to make it work. A part of it’s right down to mentality.
The Sixers know they’re short-handed. Some rotation gamers are staking a declare of minutes. Nonetheless, the opposite half was execution. The Sixers stifled Boston’s traditional offensive actions, forcing them to play extra read-and-react basketball. So, the Sixers went small. They pushed the tempo. They jumped passing lanes. They usually tried to assault earlier than the protection might get set.
There aren’t many main studying curves for a staff at this level within the season. They’ve seen the totally different coverages groups will throw at them. They’ve had their slumps. They usually’ve had their video games the place all the pieces goes proper. Nonetheless, the Celtics will come away from this recreation with some homework to do. Regardless of the Sixers did to create these benefits when going small will assist the Celtics navigate these lineups later within the season or through the playoffs.
#3 Taking benefit
No Joel Embiid = restricted rim safety. The Sixers have been counting on Paul Reed and Mo Bamba to guard the paint and function as shot deterrents. For all of their skills, neither is understood for being stringent paint defenders. So, the Celtics tailored their recreation plan and pressured the rim at will.
I imply, it was sheer domination from Boston.
The Celtics have looked for a more healthy shot food plan in current video games. Sure, they’re a succesful perimeter-scoring staff. They’ve the perimeter capturing to be one of many highest-volume rosters within the league — which they’re. Nonetheless, when you will have constructed a staff of three-level scoring expertise, exploring different avenues on offense is sensible.
The Celtics might have come into this recreation towards the Sixers, bought their threes up, stored Philadelphia at arm’s size with their inside recreation and moved on. As an alternative, they labored on their rim strain. They explored methods to get downhill. They usually took benefit of a transparent gap inside the Sixers’ rotation.
After all, this appears fairly easy. In fact, it’s. But, whenever you’re so used to approaching issues in a sure approach, going towards these habits isn’t simple. Attacking an impediment in a different way from what you’ve develop into accustomed to takes a acutely aware effort. The very fact the Celtics are so prepared to diversify their method ought to be applauded, no matter how logical that adjustment could seem.
#4 This staff excels across the rim
Constructing off the final level. This Celtics staff has a lot expertise in slashing, inside scoring, and post-play.
Jaylen Brown’s athleticism and explosiveness make him a handful when attacking the lanes. This season, he’s driving with extra power and intent.
It’s changing into frequent to see him absorbing contact within the air as he assaults the rim. Contact hardly ever alters Brown’s trajectory. That’s why he is excelled as a featured scorer within the Celtics system this season. Nonetheless, he’s not the one participant on the roster that thrives when attacking across the cup. Jayson Tatum can be an distinctive scorer when driving the lane.
Equally to Brown, Tatum is embracing physicality and call. He’s utilizing his massive body to bounce defenders off him when getting downhill. He and Brown have been dialogue factors all through the season on account of their elevated physicality on drives.
Within the above clips present simply how simply the Celtics’ two All-Star wings can get to their spots when driving the rock. But, they’re not the one two which are stellar inside scorers. All through the sport, Al Horford nonetheless has one thing to supply when driving closeouts or working because the roll man. We all know Kristaps Porzingis can get buckets every time and nonetheless he chooses.
We’ve additionally seen Jrue Vacation function as an inverted dunker spot man this season. Whereas Sam Hauser has slowly however certainly been including baseline drives out of the nook to his recreation. I’m not saying Mazzulla ought to ask his staff to play a ’90s model of basketball. I’m saying there’s some critical expertise across the rim, which ought to be emphasised extra — identical to it was on Tuesday.
#5 Derrick White’s block get together
One other 10 takeaways, one other phase for Derrick White. As soon as once more, he made his presence felt on the defensive finish. He switched with tempo. He defended a number of positions. And he led the sport in blocks with three to his title.
White had some spectacular spells of particular person protection, particularly when guarding up. Right here’s instance from the primary quarter: he bought switched onto Tobias Harris and by some means managed to safe the block whereas giving up measurement and power.
Exterior of his protection, White additionally supplied some dependable playmaking and helped management the tempo of the sport together with his private tempo of play and his willingness to maneuver the rock and lower with out the ball.
This play was one in every of my favorites when it comes to processing velocity and punishing the protection. Boston goes to a “horns flare” motion, which has develop into a staple in current weeks. Brown seals his defender and angles his physique towards White after the move is made, offering the veteran guard with a transparent passing lane on the elbow.
The velocity with which White acknowledges Brown has a bonus and will get the ball out of his fingers highlights the processing velocity and the way the staff is working for each other. Brown then powers his approach by means of the protection, will get the bucket, and attracts the foul. It’s a simple help however deserves credit score for the velocity at which the decision-making happened.
#6 Horford hunted?
There have been occasions late within the third and fourth quarters when it felt just like the Sixers have been attempting to hunt Horford on the perimeter. Cameron Payne was a selected candidate to attempt to take Horford off the dribble or run him into screens. Because the oldest member of the Celtics rotation, it is sensible that Nurse would look to attempt to make the most of his waning mobility.
Nonetheless, it’s not fairly often you may get the higher of Horford on a constant foundation. He’s too savvy of a veteran. When he’s getting beat, he adjusts. I’ve stated it numerous occasions earlier than, however Horford’s longevity is partially right down to his capability to protect angles. He is aware of the way to shade gamers to their weaker hand. He understands the way to bait driving lanes.
Sure, at occasions, he’s going to get cooked off the dribble. That occurs whenever you’re within the last levels of your profession. Nonetheless, we hardly ever see Horford wrestle, and he didn’t wrestle towards Philadelphia. They hunted him, discovered early success, and he adjusted and shut it down. There’s no higher veteran for this Celtics roster than Horford.
I imply, he was diving on the ground for a unfastened ball at one level. He’s hungry. He desires it. And he would not let a stretch of being hunted have an effect on how he approaches the sport.
#7 A quiet massive evening for Tatum
Tatum completed the sport two assists shy of a triple-double. Sure, his three wasn’t falling. As talked about earlier, he discovered different methods to attain — primarily by attacking the rim. However, as he’s been doing all season, he discovered different methods to assist his staff recover from the hump, too.
He completed the sport with 11 rebounds. That’s only one board behind Porzingis, who led your entire recreation in boards. Tatum additionally led the sport in assists. And regardless of his touches, solely turned the ball over as soon as. That’s the kind of efficiency that we’ve come to count on from Tatum. A 29/11/8 evening is seen as run-of-the-mill for him.
Tatum was the perfect participant on the ground. He was essentially the most full participant on the ground. And if that is what you get on a random Tuesday in late February, I can’t wait to see what he’s bought in retailer when it’s a close-out recreation in Might or June.
#8 Nonetheless no Tillman
Luke Kornet didn’t have a nasty recreation. He made his presence felt. He screened. He ran the ground. And he supplied measurement across the rim. Nonetheless, when it comes to boxscore manufacturing, he didn’t have an impactful evening (I don’t subscribe to this outlook, however it is going to undoubtedly be a speaking level.)
Regardless of Kornet’s restricted manufacturing, Xavier Tillman remained glued to the bench. Even when Jaden Springer bought a couple of minutes run to shut out the sport, Tillman didn’t get his title known as. I discover this attention-grabbing. On the one hand, Tillman has come right into a staff that already has its big-man rotation established. He’s additionally getting back from an damage. On the opposite, he was seemingly acquired to supply competitors to Kornet and probably earn a job on the staff.
Possibly the matchups towards Bamba and Reed weren’t proper for Tillman. Possibly Mazzulla is being cautious together with his new participant. Or possibly we overestimated what to anticipate from a 14th man on the roster. No matter it’s, I’m on Tillman look ahead to the remainder of the season, primarily as a result of I discover the potential roster battle attention-grabbing.
#9 Porzingis made a distinction
Porzingis’ rim safety was a major issue within the Celtics securing their ninth straight win. He ended the sport with essentially the most shot contests (12) out of everybody on Boston’s roster. His versatile protection, particularly in drop protection, restricted the Sixers’ capability to strain the rim regardless of their velocity and willingness to curve actions to create driving lanes.
We additionally bought to see a few of Porzingis’ off-ball capability on this recreation. Essentially the most notable instance was throughout a sideline-out-of-bounds play that watched Porzingis curl his lower, obtain the inbounds move, after which end with a dunk by means of site visitors.
We additionally bought to see Porzingis hit this monster putback off a Brown missed layup.
This wasn’t Porzingis’ finest recreation, nonetheless, he was an vital member of the rotation and made a big impact on the defensive finish.
#10 Aiming for 10
I like spherical numbers. The Celtics face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. In the event that they win, they are going to prolong their win streak to 10 video games. That looks as if a pleasant spherical quantity to me. It’s additionally a strong objective to have. Nonetheless, the Mavericks gained’t be a simple out. They’re taking part in properly in the intervening time.
Nonetheless, the Celtics want the competitors. The entire level in ramping up manufacturing is to be prepared for the postseason. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will present that competitors. Whether or not the Celtics can rise to the event will stay to be seen. Nonetheless, I’d take pleasure in writing 10 takeaways after a tenth straight win.
Wanting forward
After Dallas, Boston will face the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Then, they face the surging Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, March 5. So, there’s a tough stretch of video games developing. It’s going to be enjoyable watching how the Celtics alter their method primarily based on every staff — as all of them present totally different challenges. Mazzulla has accomplished an important job of giving his staff the liberty to be versatile inside the circulation of the sport.
I’m excited for this mini-run. Catch you all on Friday!
