Even with their two centerpiece stars out of fee and two extra rotation gamers out of the lineup, the Orlando Magic have been a gremlin to cope with on Monday night time.
Gone was the scoring punch of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, changed as an alternative by a halfcourt protection that attacked out of switches, clogged the paint, blew up actions and despatched aggressive off-ball assist that utterly flipped momentum within the second half.
The primary half was a unique story. A quicker tempo and an “assault the paint” mindset performed a serious position in Boston constructing its lead as much as 15 at halftime, regardless of capturing simply 20% from past the arc.
Even with a harsh vacation damage bug, Orlando’s protection has remained one of the vital efficient within the league, at present holding the seventh finest defensive score (110.1) previously 10 video games.
To assault a protection that’s been so efficient at blowing up units and studying actions with preternatural velocity, the Celtics sped their very own recreation up, specializing in early offense and quick-hit paint assaults.
Coming into the night time, a mean Celtics possession lasted 15.2 seconds, tied for the twenty third slowest within the league with the Jazz and Clippers. Off any missed area purpose try, that ticks all the way down to 11.33 seconds (twenty fifth within the league). By the top of the primary quarter, the Celtics have been averaging 12.6 seconds per possession and 9.2 off misses. That charge stayed true into halftime at 12.56 seconds per possession and 9.8 off missed pictures.
Off this early first quarter Orlando miss, Jaylen Brown is trying to assault after an errant Trevelin Queen layup, noticing an open paint with Goga Bitadze occupied within the nook with Derrick White.
Shortly after that bucket, Brown pulls right into a mid-range look earlier than firing a late go to a rolling Al Horford that was created 4 seconds after he crossed mid-court. Discover the spacing shouldn’t be out of the odd for the Celtics. Orlando is unfold out, Bitadze is introduced into the motion to the perimeter with Horford’s display, and the passing lane is extensive open for Brown to fireplace by way of. Spacing like this was a lot more durable to come back by within the second half.
Even with an off-shooting night time from deep, Boston was 20/30 (67%) on 2-point makes an attempt within the first half in comparison with Orlando’s 13/33 (39%). Within the third quarter, Boston was 3/10 on appears contained in the arc, with a tempo slowed all the way down to 14 seconds per possession.
That’s partly due to Orlando’s emphasis on packing the paint and committing laborious to change/blitz display protection that rattled Boston’s ballhandlers.
On this early third quarter turnover, Orlando has two weakside defenders touching the paint, Tristan Da Silva actively partaking the change onto Jrue Vacation, and Jalen Suggs working with low man assist from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to utterly encompass the rolling Kristaps Porzingis.
On this possession ending in a Queen block, Orlando has a row of defenders surrounding the paint space, with Wendell Carter Jr. enjoying off Luke Kornet and Da Silva sucked in with Horford within the nook. Brown appears to realize a head of steam, however Cole Anthony engages the change laborious, forcing a retreat and a kick to a popped out Payton Pritchard, who doesn’t get it off after a improbable restoration from Queen.
The third quarter was disastrous for Boston, however the offense did produce higher leads to the fourth quarter.
The Magic stormed out of the gate with a 7-0 run within the first two minutes of the fourth, however the Celtics did discover success of their early offense once more.
On this possession, Brown takes the great distance round to the paint, however he will get the place he must be with Carter defending Horford on the elbow. It’s a seven-second course of that takes Orlando unexpectedly after a made bucket.
On this late-game play that saved hope alive, it was again to a quicker course of, however as an alternative of a drive, it was a artful ghost flare to the slot from Vacation, who will get into his motion two seconds after Derrick White crosses half court docket.
A quicker tempo helped the Celtics construct their lead and in the end get again right into a recreation that slipped away, however Orlando pulled the upset off, successful the prized 3-point battle with 5 extra makes on only one extra try than Boston.
The Celtics took a punch to the mouth from a banged up playoff workforce. With their subsequent matchup towards the Magic 24 days away, we’ll see how tempo (and the provision of various star gamers) components into this Jap Convention matchup.
