There’s one thing concerning the Orlando Magic that provides the Boston Celtics suits. Orlando are actually 3-2 over their final 5 video games in opposition to the reigning champs.
Dec. 18, 2022: Magic 95, Celtics 92
Nov. 24, 2023: Magic 113, Celtics 96
Dec. 15, 2023: Celtics 128, Magic 111
Dec. 17, 2023: Celtics 114, Magic 97
Dec. 23, 2024: Magic 108, Celtics 104
Not many groups boast a profitable document in opposition to Joe Mazzulla’s group. But by some means, a way, Jahmal Mosley has discovered a recipe to concoct distress.
Boston’s evening acquired off to a foul begin when Jayson Tatum was a late scratch attributable to sickness. Subsequently, we had one other evening when the Celtics’ core beginning 5 was unable to get some much-needed reps in.
We’re 29 video games into the season, and the beginning lineup of Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis has performed a grand complete of 187 possessions collectively. They averaged -4 factors per 100 possessions over the small pattern dimension.
With out Tatum on the ground, the Celtics appeared to Brown to guide the road — each as the first scorer and lead playmaker.
Coming into final season, the narrative surrounding Brown was constructed on his assist-to-turnover ratio. Mazzulla’s system emphasizes ball and participant motion, so questions over Brown’s capability to manage and dictate play pale into the background.
Nonetheless, after 568 regular-season video games, Brown’s assist-to-turnover charge stays near 1:1. He’s dished out 1416 dimes and turned it over 1181. That’s an AST:TOV of 1.2/1.
So, it ought to be no shock that in opposition to the Magic, Boston’s ball motion fell by the wayside. Look, this isn’t a knock on Brown. He’s taken important leaps along with his passing and defensive manipulation in recent times. Moreover, it’s necessary to do not forget that playmaking and assists are associated however not the identical. They’re cousins, or higher but, second cousins.
Take this play, for instance. Brown might have gotten the help, however his go was aimed toward making a give-and-go with Horford. As an alternative, his arduous lower to the rim ended up being his playmaking second, drawing the protection and making some further area for Horford to get his shot off.
The go was inconsequential; the lower created the play. Though each elements are associated, just one made a real affect.
Why is that this necessary? As a result of for many of this recreation, Boston’s ball motion was a shadow of its traditional self. As an alternative, we noticed extra ‘excessive’ and ‘aspect’ pick-and-roll, with a heavy dose of isolation basketball. Why? As a result of that’s the place Brown thrives, and with out Tatum within the rotation, there wasn’t a real creator on the ground.
“There’s no purpose to be upset that we misplaced, as a result of this group is constructed round Jayson Tatum,” Billy Calabrese stated on right now’s Celtics Chronicle podcast. “They’re not constructed round Jaylen Brown. If Jaylen Brown was the primary choice. Brad would have a very completely different form of group round him. He’d have higher ball handlers round him. He’d have a unique sort of bigs round him. However this group is constructed to intensify Jayson Tatum. And that features Jaylen Brown.”
Brown is an elite ahead—probably the greatest within the league. Nevertheless, he isn’t a degree ahead or major ball-handler, but that was the position he was tasked with taking part in. A part of that is because of Derrick White’s working by way of a hunch.
One other half is as a result of Brown was the most effective participant on the ground, and also you wish to function that expertise at each flip — particularly when the threes aren’t dropping, and your finest participant can also be an unstoppable pressure when getting downhill.
When the Celtics are taking part in by way of Brown, they need to regulate how they arrange actions. They’ll’t process him with creating for others after they’re asking him to function as a play finisher. Moreover, exterior of Tatum, the roster is stuffed with self-creators relatively than real playmakers. So, the strategy should change. White or Vacation should provoke the actions, with the give attention to getting Brown going downhill or figuring out of the publish.
After all, that’s simpler stated than accomplished when taking part in in opposition to a protection as stern as Orlando’s.
Earlier this season, when the Celtics misplaced to the Golden State Warriors, I famous how Steve Kerr might have laid out a blueprint to stifle the Celtics on the perimeter. Orlando didn’t want a lot assist—they’re ranked third within the NBA for defensive ranking—however they definitely appeared to construct on the platform the Warriors had supplied.
To recap:
The Celtics have struggled in opposition to excessive pick-up factors
Entering into their air area and underneath their hips has led to good outcomes for a protection
Bursting by way of screens to kill spatial creation has led to troublesome decision-making
Arduous close-out secondary strain coming from the aspect has labored in funneling Boston towards the paint.
Check out that clip above. Orlando’s defensive depth in that possession actually stood out to me — and it was the signal of issues to come back as they ramped up their execution within the second half.
“They compelled extra dwell ball turnovers with their strain and their physicality,” Joe Mazzulla stated throughout his postgame information convention. “We had three empty possessions to start out the third quarter…When you get it shut, their group thrives on that…As soon as they smelt that that they had an opportunity they had been capable of thrive on that, and it was an in depth recreation, something can occur.”
Whenever you’re taking part in in opposition to a group that is aware of easy methods to get into you, and also you’re working in a system designed with another person in thoughts because the spearhead, issues can get somewhat clanky.
Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Brown, Horford and Pritchard all had powerful nights on the perimeter. Watch the above defensive clip once more. Look how shortly the Magic strikes to suffocate any area whereas additionally denying passing lanes and forcing you into troublesome choices.
Boston’s spacing can alleviate a few of that strain, however now, when the ball isn’t falling from deep—or, extra importantly, when no one is reducing with out the ball and screening actions are scarce exterior of the PnR—Orlando didn’t simply stymie the Celtics’ on-ball creation; they took all the things away, leaving Boston wanting just like the roster within the ultimate 12 months of Brad Stevens’ tenure.
Happily, the Celtics discovered some rhythm on the defensive finish. Their double-big lineup has been a saving grace over the previous few video games, particularly when it comes to weakside rim safety and additional dimension alongside the baseline.
Seeing Porzingis rotate over and both affect shot releases or get to the shot for a block has been a enjoyable addition to the season. In spite of everything, he’s been lacking a big chunk of the video games so far, and since he’s been again, it’s clear he’s been working towards full health.
You can even see Luke Kornet within the above clip. I like how he’s snug guarding up on the perimeter. He can shift between an ‘up-to-touch’ protection, drop protection and even guarding straight up close to the three-point line. Having Porzingis down on the block makes it much more palatable to have Kornet’s dimension up high, as you’re not compromising on rim safety or size.
The Celtics might boast one of many league’s finest data (third behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder,) however Orlando is rising as their kryptonite. Whereas Tatum’s absence definitely impacted their offensive rhythm, the Magic’s defensive blueprint uncovered deeper issues about Boston’s capability to regulate when groups efficiently disrupt their most well-liked offensive patterns — or take away their capability to move into their early-offense or staple half-court units.
Instance staple motion: ‘Fast Fist’ (this ends in a lob of Luke Kornet.)
These regular-season setbacks may show useful for Mazzulla’s squad, as they spotlight the potential want for counterpunches in opposition to aggressive perimeter protection.
Whereas the Celtics’ offense is intentionally constructed round Tatum’s distinctive skillset—with Brown thriving as an elite play finisher relatively than a major creator—the Magic have uncovered some vulnerabilities in that strategy when Tatum is out of the rotation.
Come playoff time, Mosley’s younger squad has proven that it has the defensive template and aggressive confidence to problem even the NBA’s elite.
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CelticsBlog graciously allowed this text to be cross-posted from my “Celtics Chronicle” publication.
