#1 Tatum upped the aggression
After receiving vital backlash on-line, Jayson Tatum got here into the sport towards the Cleveland Cavaliers with renewed aggression. He drove purposefully, drawing fouls at will and persistently pressuring the rim. 9 of Tatum’s 11 made buckets got here contained in the three-point line, both within the mid-range or across the rim.
Nevertheless, Tatum’s perimeter effectivity remains to be a priority. He shot 2-of-8 towards the Cavaliers, which has seen his playoff conversion fee sit at 26.5% regardless of him taking 6.1 makes an attempt from deep per sport. The Boston Celtics want extra from their star participant, particularly in the event that they want to proceed utilizing his perimeter gravity to create openings for others on the ground.
After all, when Tatum is hitting persistently within the mid-range, his gravity can all the time be utilized in other ways. I used to be a giant fan of the Celtics going again to some screening units to get Tatum into the publish, such because the wedge display motion under.
What number of instances have we seen the Celtics run an motion like this to get Tatum a mismatch within the publish? This can be a staple of how Joe Mazzulla’s group has appeared to work within the mid-range. Seeing the Celtics get again to a set that has persistently created favorable matchups and scoring alternatives was each enjoyable and inspiring.
When Tatum is taking part in with this stage of pressure and aggression on the offensive finish, the Celtics are a distinct stage of risk. As soon as he figures out his perimeter shot, his scoring numbers ought to take one other leap, and any questions relating to his stage of play ought to dissipate.
#2 Cleveland’s no-switch coverage
J.B. Bickerstaff was clearly in no temper to permit the Celtics to hunt mismatches on the offensive finish. Wherever attainable, the Cavaliers fought to stick with their man. For essentially the most half, they performed a straight-up model of protection, avoiding switches on the perimeter.
Within the above clip, the Celtics try and create a mismatch for Jaylen Brown by having Payton Pritchard set inverted screens. The Cavaliers do a superb job of recovering and conserving their matchups, forcing Boston to assault straight up somewhat than having a bonus they’ll exploit.
Once more, the Celtics look to run inverted screening actions to create a mismatch. After the Cavs hedge the PnR, Darius Garland seems to be to recuperate to Derrick White. The goal right here is to maintain their matchups and keep away from mismatches. Garland is a beat too gradual within the second clip, permitting White to get his shot off.
Nonetheless, Cleveland’s want to keep away from switching and play straight up made life a bit harder for a Celtics group that has hunted favorable matchups all through the season. Nonetheless, the elevated pressure of Boston’s assault helped fill the void that was created by their incapability to get favorable seems to be.
#3 Jaylen Brown’s drives bullied Cleveland
Jaylen Brown had a robust scoring night time for the Celtics. Most of his offense got here by way of the drive — both from the slot or above the break. When Brown is bully-driving his technique to the rim, he’s tough to cease. Typically, he’s stronger, quicker and extra explosive than most perimeter and wing defenders, which suggests he can often discover a bonus after probing on a few drives to start the sport.
The Celtics got here into their sport towards the Cavaliers seeking to play at the next tempo and make selections at a faster tempo. Having gamers like Brown, who isn’t afraid to penetrate off the dribble, pressure defensive rotations, and end on the rim, permits that fashion of play to thrive. It additionally helps counter a group that’s seeking to play you straight up, as when you get your defender in your hip, the complete defensive rotation is a step behind the motion and seeking to catch up.
Brown scored 13-of-17 on Saturday. He solely took 3 makes an attempt from deep — hitting two of them. His inside sport has been distinctive all season. In a extremely aggressive sport that at instances getting fairly chippy, having a forceful finisher is important. Brown has taken that position in his stride this season. Boston will want him to proceed taking part in with this stage of aggression for the remainder of the postseason.
#4 Jrue Vacation stepped up
Like Tatum, Jrue Vacation’s playoff manufacturing has been questioned over the previous week. He isn’t scoring at an elite stage and he isn’t playmaking like a lead guard. Nevertheless, in sport three of the Japanese Convention semifinals, Vacation confirmed up in a giant method. He was pushing the tempo, making sensible reads, scoring at a dependable fee, and defending his tail off.
Vacation ended the sport with 18 factors, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, oh he had a block, too.
In true Morey-ball style, Vacation’s photographs got here from two areas: three-point vary and within the restricted space. He hit 4 across the rim and three from deep.
Drives just like the one proven within the clip above are when Vacation is at his finest. His energy and low heart of gravity permit him to play by means of his defender’s chest; he can bully his technique to his spots. He additionally has high-level footwork within the publish, particularly contemplating he’s a guard. His little up-and-under end right here was a nifty piece of ability that break up his defenders and allowed for a fluid end.
The Celtics don’t want Vacation to be this model of himself each night time. However when Derrick White is struggling, having Vacation scale his offensive manufacturing could be the best technique to proceed having helpful offense from the guard place. That’s the worth of the inventory change on that facet of the ground.
#5 Boston’s switch-heavy protection created on-ball stress
In contrast to the Cavaliers, the Celtics caught with a switch-heavy protection (aside from when Luke Kornet was on the court docket.) Mazzulla has a number of point-of-attack defenders at his disposal. It’s very uncommon that the Celtics are put right into a state of affairs the place their protection is at a drawback, and the opposing group has a good matchup.
Nonetheless, with out Kristaps Porzingis anchoring the paint, there’s some further stress on the rotation to lock down the perimeter and restrict the success their opponents have across the rim. Al Horford did a strong job because the Celtics drop defender, and when taking part in as a part of a swap one-through-five. I do have some questions relating to his skill to persistently eat near 40 minutes of taking part in time per night time, however that’s a dialogue for one more day.
I’ll go away you with this good defensive sequence from Tatum and Brown. They could be a robust matchup on each side of the ground!
Trying forward
The Celtics will go well with up for sport 4 on Monday night time. In the event that they win, they may return to the TD Backyard to attempt to shut out the sequence in 5 video games on Wednesday. Earlier than that may occur, Mazzulla’s group should gear up for one more robust sport whereas anticipating a response from Cleveland. Nonetheless, securing one other win places the Celtics within the driver’s seat. If they’ll shut this out in 5, they may get some much-needed relaxation earlier than heading into the Japanese Convention Finals.
No matter what occurs, I’ll be again right here on Tuesday with some extra takeaways!
