#1 Sam Hauser’s motion
Sam Hauser shot 7-of-11 from deep in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets. Numerous his buckets got here by way of off-ball motion, particularly “shaking,” — which is a elaborate manner of claiming he lower out of the nook towards the wing or the baseline.
I’ll most likely say this a dozen extra occasions between now and every time the Boston Celtics season ends: Hauser is likely one of the greatest motion shooters within the NBA. His timing of when to re-locate into area to generate a passing lane for the ball-handler continues to get higher and higher. As you possibly can see within the above clip, Hauser “shakes” into area on the wing, the place Payton Pritchard has a greater angle to make the go. From there, it’s a simple bucket.
After all, Hauser is simply as dependable as a stationary catch-and-shoot risk.
He’s not at all times going to have these monster taking pictures nights, however they’re actually turning into extra frequent. Cherished what we noticed from him in opposition to the Hornets.
#2 Empty facet actions
Attacking open-corner actions is sensible for this Celtics crew. It gives additional spacing. It removes the low assist. And, it creates an open lane to drive and assault. What was fascinating was that the Celtics appeared to assault empty facet actions in transition — particularly within the first half and primarily by way of drag screens.
The Celtics’ offense is flexible sufficient to punish empty nook actions in a number of methods. Within the above clip, Tatum bursts by the protection and assaults the rim for a simple dunk. There’s no hole assist coming from the nook as a result of there’s no strong-side assist defender.
Different occasions, we might see the Celtics look to attract a double-team off the baseline and create passing lanes on the lower, or they might merely look to get right into a motion shot with little resistance.
Opening possessions with an empty nook is an effective manner of spacing the ground, particularly if you happen to’re seeking to get paint touches for spray threes or to strain the rim. Having somebody come over and fill the nook as soon as an motion is underway can be an effective way of spreading out the protection, because it’s attempting to comprise what’s occurring elsewhere on the ground.
Watch Vacation’s actions on this possession. They find yourself being inconsequential, however you possibly can see how transferring to fill the nook because the possession is going on on the opposite facet of the ground can pull the protection and create gaps to take advantage of from the perimeter.
#3 Pritchard’s Nash dribble
I’ve spoken about Pritchard’s “Nash” dribble earlier than. We’ve lined it advert nauseam in these takeaways. Nevertheless, it continues to impress me. By holding his dribble alive when attacking the rim, Pritchard has discovered a solution to generate high-quality offense off the dribble, thus enhancing his worth as an on-ball creator.
Two of his 5 dimes in opposition to the Hornets got here by way of one of these motion, each of them have been for Hauser within the weakside nook and each of them got here by way of a one-handed dime. Pritchard’s potential to differ his tempo, get low on the ball, and hold his motion going throughout the baseline can be a tricky wrinkle for groups to protect transferring ahead.
#4 Similar set, new variation
“Ram” actions have been a Celtics offense staple since Ime Udoka patrolled the sidelines. Joe Mazzulla has continued to make the most of them throughout half-court units. Working ram is a fast solution to create a mismatch, each on the perimeter and with the screener.
Towards the Hornets, the Celtics went to a brand new variation of this motion. Quite than setting the down display across the baseline, they set it close to the weakside nook, permitting Al Horford to chop on a extra diagonal line. Horford then rolled exhausting to the rim, forcing the change and giving him a mismatch to bully within the put up.
The idea was the identical. The execution was the identical. The placement of the preliminary display is all that modified. Nevertheless, that allowed Kristaps Porzingis to drift out to the nook and area the ground throughout the baseline, giving Horford extra room to work out of the put up and limiting the assistance protection that may come out of the sturdy.
#5 Tatum vs. Hornets
Jayson Tatum at all times performs effectively in opposition to the Hornets. Maybe it’s as a result of their protection has struggled for years on finish. Maybe it’s as a result of he enjoys taking part in of their enviornment. Who is aware of? All we do know is that Tatum has confronted them 23 occasions, and he’s averaging 26.9 factors, 6.9 boards and three.4 assists.
So, it was no shock when he went for a double-double on Monday night time. He had 25 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block. In typical Tatum trend, he didn’t take over the sport; he simply took what got here to him and used his gravity to generate openings for his teammates.
Nonetheless, it’s at all times enjoyable to see Tatum on the market doing his factor, particularly in opposition to a crew he’s identified to cook dinner — for no good purpose in any respect.
#6 The return of 2-1-2 press
With the tip of the common season quickly approaching and the Celtics having little or no to play for at this level, it is sensible that Mazzulla is iterating by among the issues we noticed earlier within the season. A kind of issues was the 2-1-2 press.
Granted, we’ve seen the Celtics roll out this strain protection at occasions by the season, however for a very good stretch, it was seldom used. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable to see the Celtics return to it on Monday, and it was much more enjoyable to see that it generated a fast turnover from the Hornets.
There will certainly be a spot for one of these defensive strain within the post-season. Having additional reps and getting some extra possessions on movie is actually a very good factor — particularly when there’s not a lot driving on the sport.
#7 Grant Williams – good for you
Grant Williams was actually a polarizing determine when he was with the Celtics. I used to be a fan. I favored his defensive versatility, his spacing within the corners, and the very fact he was including drives into his sport to beat closeouts. Different sections of the fanbase have been undoubtedly not followers.
Both manner, I believe it’s nice to see Williams has discovered a job for himself on his hometown crew. He’s taking part in effectively for them. He had a strong night time in opposition to the Celtics. After a tricky — and surprisingly quick — stretch with the Dallas Mavericks, Williams will get the extra rope he must hold enhancing and rebuilding his worth across the league.
I’m at all times comfortable to see a former Celtic do effectively, particularly one who was drafted by the crew and performed a job in a run to the NBA Finals. Good for him. I hope he continues to thrive.
#8 Pinch actions
“Pinch” — an motion the place a participant (normally a giant one) has the ball on the elbow or within the put up (typically what began because the weak facet, however not at all times) with an empty nook behind him and normally nobody on the wing or slot. It’s taken from the Triangle offense system.
Within the clip above, the Celtics get Luke Kornet right into a pinch motion earlier than Al Horford and Derrick White set a stagger display for Payton Pritchard, who then goes right into a boomerang sequence with Kornet earlier than attacking off the dribble.
The Celtics wish to put Porzingis within the pinch when asking him to attain out of isolation. He discovered sucssess on two straight possessions due to it.
#9 “Hearth”
If you happen to’ve been watching JJ Redick and LeBron James’ “Thoughts The Recreation” podcast, you’ll have heard them discussing the time period “fireplace” which is a double crew from the nail. I had by no means heard that time period earlier than, but it surely’s one thing I’ve been looking for.
So, it was a cool second when you could possibly hear Steve Clifford yelling out “fireplace” to ship a double at Tatum from the nail on Monday.
#10 Porzingis’ measurement will at all times be an element
Porzingis measurement and flexibility will at all times be an element for the Celtics. He held his opponents to twenty-eight.7% taking pictures on the perimeter and 11-of-21 on the inside. He labored on the glass; he supplied measurement across the offensive rim.
There’s a purpose why he’s the Celtics X-Issue for the postseason. He simply brings so many alternative dimensions to Boston’s rotation. I do know this is not a lot of a game-based takeaway, however I simply needed to shout out his on-court impression once more, it undoubtedly felt prefer it had been some time since I’d finished that.
Trying forward
The Celtics will face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday. It’s arguably their final “massive” match of the common season. I’m excited to see a aggressive sport with each groups seeking to study one thing about themselves and one another. Nonetheless, I’m not going to place a lot inventory within the outcome. One other facet might select to mail it in on the night time.
Nonetheless, I’m hopeful we get to see some high-level aggressive basketball.
