Boston narrowly pulled out the victory over the Nets in extra time, and it wasn’t behind their often flurry of made 3’s. They received the 3PT battle barely, however completed the sport taking pictures a mediocre 26.4%. With little success behind the road, they needed to show as soon as once more that this staff can win in different methods.
The Celtics shot a mixed 25/34 (74%) within the paint, together with a formidable 14/18 on the rim. Regardless of the inefficiency from 3, Boston by no means stopped taking pictures them. They made essentially the most of each paint contact although, and that was sufficient to carry the Nets off.
That they had a strong defensive recreation too, with Brooklyn taking pictures 41% from the sector and 26.3% from 3. The Nets had their very own struggles, however Boston did a greater job with their inside protection comparatively, holding them to 27/54 (50%) within the paint.
Lacking two starters and having a poor taking pictures evening is a recipe for catastrophe. The C’s saved defending although, and by no means let the dearth of shotmaking discourage them. This Nets staff is best than anticipated, so it was good to see the Celtics end them off with execution.
2. Abandoning X with the starters.
I don’t need to name Mazzulla cussed, however he’s not one to throw a lineup away because of a few unhealthy minutes. For this recreation although, he acknowledged fairly rapidly that his choice to begin Tillman was backfiring.
The Nets obtained off to a fast 12-0 begin, and dominated all of Tillman’s 5:52 of recreation time. This was actually not all X’s fault, the Celtics appeared unorganized and sloppy, whereas the Nets had been urgent them and enjoying with physicality. His three missed 3’s didn’t assist although, and Joe went to Queta as a substitute.
It’s been a lower than excellent 12 months for Tillman early on, and I have to admit I had assumed it will be simpler to combine him after a full low season with the group. There’s loads of time for him to show it round, he simply has to remain assured and preserve working.
3. Jrue “Regular Palms” Vacation.
It was a wholesome dose of Vacation that helped the Celtics chop the Nets lead down to shut out the first quarter. He broke Boston’s scoring drought by getting deep submit place a number of occasions towards the Brooklyn’s beginning backcourt.
Jrue’s power is one in every of his most underappreciated traits as a basketball participant, and it permits him to reap the benefits of much less bodily guards.
He took the same method within the 4th quarter to assist them keep inside putting distance, and finally seize the lead. That is one thing I’ve touched on previously, however Jrue’s consolation making performs because the roll man is unbelievably helpful.
At the beginning of extra time, they ran a play to get Vacation a post-up. It doesn’t work precisely as meant with the Nets avoiding a swap, however Tatum fires it all the way down to him anyhow. Jrue snags it out of the air like a large receiver, will get proper into his post-up and finishes by means of the contact.
This felt like a type of video games the place the Celtics would have benefited from much more Jrue. He got here by means of in vital moments although and was a giant cause that they had sufficient juice even with out the three’s falling.
4. Queta’s inventory continues to rise.
This was not Queta’s greatest recreation, however it was very clear from the second he checked in that he could possibly be counted on once more. He subbed in for Tillman in the midst of the first quarter, and wasted no time.
Neemy didn’t rating a degree, however the Celtics received his 1st quarter minutes by 10. He had two blocks on the rim, and gave them an opportunity to finish the quarter with a extra cheap deficit.
He rebounded properly, which was useful in a recreation the place that they had hassle on the glass. Other than that, he didn’t add a ton to the field rating. It appears noteworthy although that Mazzulla known as on Queta to begin the extra time interval. It’s clear that he’s earned the belief of the teaching workers.
5. All aboard.
Please take your seats, the Payton Pritchard Sixth Man of the Yr marketing campaign is full pace forward.
Payton has by no means lacked confidence, however proper now he’s enjoying at a stage that’s often reserved for preseason or late March when all the starters are resting. He appears to be like like he has been absolutely empowered by his coaches and teammates to get busy. Typically that even means wanting off those self same teammates to name his personal quantity.
Pritchard is taking full benefit of the absence of some excessive utilization gamers, and Boston has wanted all of his scoring output. This consistency could possibly be laborious to maintain up when Brown and Porzingis return, however it doesn’t appear to be he or the Celtics plan to have him take a backseat. There’ll all the time be video games when they’re shorthanded, and this presents the proper alternative for Payton to proceed to show his worth to potential 6MOTY award voters.
6. 1st Group All-DWhite.
Derrick has obtained some properly deserved credit score for his defensive talents since arriving in Boston, however whereas we’re on the subject of award voting.. it’s time to provide him his rightful place on the All-Defensive 1st staff.
He completed the evening with 3 blocks, together with his final coming reasonably emphatically as he rotated to guard the rim.
White is averaging over a block per recreation, and is presently top-20 within the league for whole blocks. In the intervening time, his 12 blocks are tied with reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert. Bear in mind, it is a 6’4 guard we’re speaking about right here, this isn’t regular.
7. Maintain taking pictures Sam.
It’s honest to say we have now not seen the most effective of Sam Hauser this season. Beginning the 12 months with a again harm has clearly restricted his capability to get right into a groove from deep. You could possibly see at occasions the seen frustration he was feeling, like after his seventh miss of the evening on a large open nook 3 to tie the sport.
Hauser has hit this shot numerous occasions in additional intense eventualities, which makes his disappointment comprehensible. A typical trait on the planet’s best shooters is the following shot mentality, the place you’ll be able to shrug off any earlier end result the second that ball hits your finger suggestions.
Sam confirmed as soon as once more that he lives by that code.
Initially, this was an excellent cross from Tatum. The boldness required to point out zero hesitation on the shot is strictly why there’s no use worrying about Hauser. It received’t take lengthy for him to climb again as much as his baseline of 40% from 3, and there’s doubtless a giant recreation coming quickly.
8. Mazzulla’s go-to play
In one of many recreation’s most important moments, Mazzulla drew up one in every of his favourite late recreation performs.
This fast entry, adopted by a lower from Tatum has traditionally been a particularly efficient play for Boston. It’s a good way to provide Tatum a bonus whereas he will get downhill towards the rim.
If there was any critique of the Celtics clutch execution, it will be the character of their remaining possession.
Clearly you’re not going to run the identical play, however it looks like a mistake to begin the possession with Tatum heading away from the basket. Happily, this didn’t find yourself mattering, it’s value preserving in thoughts although in the event that they discover themselves in the identical scenario throughout one other recreation.
9. The duality of Cam Thomas
Brooklyn’s main scorer is without doubt one of the premier robust shot makers within the NBA.
Thomas is exclusive within the sense that he genuinely would possibly choose taking pictures over tighter contests. This turns into fairly irritating when the protection has spent a full shot clock making him work, solely to be hit with one in every of these:
He’s not the quickest, tallest or most athletic guard, however he has a good deal with and the power to pull-up from wherever. Whereas the scoring is spectacular, the protection is.. not. Boston made it their mission to contain Thomas within the motion throughout practically all the video games crucial possessions.
10. Closing time.
As beforehand talked about, there was a giant pink goal painted on the again of Cam Thomas’s jersey. Jaylen Brown briefly defined Mazzulla and the Celtic’s “Killer whale offense” throughout his look on Scorching Ones. The Celtics searching Thomas in crunch time was an ideal instance of what it appears to be like like after they’ve discovered a seal.
This was the primary of a string of extra time possessions that allowed Boston to take management of the sport. This clip ends with a Pritchard missed 3, however it’s vital to notice that Payton was used as a screener to drive Cam Thomas to modify on Tatum. As soon as the Nets conceded that swap, they rapidly introduced a double staff over to guard Thomas.
Understanding that Brooklyn will promote out to guard Thomas is essential. On the next possession, they used Pritchard as a screener once more.
This time Tatum rejects the display and will get downhill. Thomas was saved momentarily, however appeared to neglect the play wasn’t over. Pritchard cuts proper behind him, Tatum drops within the cross and Thomas sends him to the freethrow line.
Boston switches it up barely, deploying Tatum as a screener for Pritchard this time. This causes one other double staff to verify Tatum doesn’t get that matchup, however he assaults the double and threads a needle to Horford who drills the broad open clutch 3.
Jrue turns into the initiator with Thomas guarding him now, and as soon as once more Tatum will get concerned to hunt out that swap. This ends in the primary time Tatum will get him 1-on-1, and it ends precisely how the Nets had been anxious it will.
This is able to finally go on to be the game-winning shot, and it completely illustrates the issue that groups face when Boston goes attempting to find seals.
