First, our apologies for not getting out Ten Takeaways for the ultimate two video games of the street journey in Orlando and Philadelphia. We’ve acquired a “life first, weblog second” motto right here at CelticsBlog and so a lot of writers had been busy over the vacation. We’ll try to not let that occur once more.
And now, on to Ten Takeaways from the Celtics’ 131-95 homecoming romp over the Grizzlies.
In simply his third profession begin, the third 12 months professional out of Arkansas didn’t disappoint. Walsh didn’t simply begin — he began with a defensive task on Jaren Jackson Jr.
In Orlando and Philadelphia, Walsh was a revelation defending Tyrese Maxey and making key offensive performs in opposition to the Magic, together with hitting the game-clinching nook three. In opposition to JJJ, he personally held Memphis’ star large man to 0-for-4 capturing and frustated him sufficient to power two offensive fouls.
So most of the Celtics wings have had their moments to date on this younger season. First, it was Hugo Gonzalez. Then Josh Minott took the baton. And for the final three video games, it’s been the fruits of two-plus seasons for Walsh to get his time to shine.
Jaylen Brown is mid and that’s peak
Final week, CelticsBlog’s Azad Rozay wrote about JB’s dramatic shift in his capturing profile:
With extra duties, Brown’s offensive sport now depends way more on bounce pictures. His utilization price went from 29% to 35% per Cleansing the Glass, the Sixth-highest offensive load within the NBA this season. This new stage of duty has had a direct influence on his shot profile.
Final season, JB’s lengthy mid-range makes an attempt represented 13% of his FGA — already lots (88th percentile). However this season, he has taken the mid-range to an entire new stage, with 29% of his pictures coming from that zone. That’s greater than Kevin Durant or Brandon Ingram. Throughout the whole NBA, solely DeMar DeRozan has an even bigger share of lengthy mid-ranges, at 41% of his FGA.
In opposition to the Grizzlies, Brown was once more an murderer within the mid-range. You possibly can by no means criticize him for his dimension and energy from 18-feet and now, his deal with and footwork have caught up. He was 5-for-8 from what’s often thought-about a “unhealthy shot” and completed with 19 factors, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in beneath 26 minutes.
After posting two duds to shut out the street journey, Payton Pritchard put collectively arguably his finest sport of the season with 24 factors (5-of-10 from behind the arc), 6 rebounds, and 9 assists in opposition to Memphis for a +42. To not be outdone, Derrick White chipped in with an environment friendly 22 factors (6-of-11), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
During the last 5 video games, Boston’s beginning backcourt has hit 27-of-72 (37.5%) from 3. That’s not precisely lights out, however significantly better than their 24.1% clip of their first eight video games.
ChatGPT and StatsMuse couldn’t deal with the question, however I’m guessing there are few instances in his profession than Anfernee Simons had extra assists than factors in a single sport. In opposition to Memphis, he hit simply two pictures, however racked up seven assists in slightly below 22 minutes of play. Few had been of the spectacular kind (aside from a slippery pocket cross to a slicing Neemias Queta for an and-1). Nevertheless, he appeared extra aggressive together with his drive which led to some kick-outs to Luka Garza — sure, Luka Garza — and White. He dished out a season-high 5 dimes in Philly after which surpassed that quantity the next evening. Emoji eyes.
Queta’s 6-for-6 evening was already the third time this season that he’s gone excellent from the sector (4-for-4 in opposition to the Jazz and 7-for-7 in opposition to the Wizards); on Opening Night time in opposition to Joel Embiid and the 76ers, he missed on an alley-oop try from Pritchard. Most of his makes an attempt are of that selection — he’s acquired magnetic arms and good hops which are shades of Robert Williams in his prime in Boston.
He’s additionally proven Kevin McHalesque footwork within the put up and tried a couple of fadeaway jumpers and hook pictures so as to add to his repertoire, too. Increasing his sport will in all probability drop his gaudy 65% FG%, however that selection will make him extra of a risk sooner or later.
Luka Garza is concurrently making me overlook and reminding me of Al Horford
Possibly it’s the best way the 26-year-old Garza runs just like the 39-year-young Horford. Possibly it’s their catapult launch on their threes. Possibly it’s simply how exhausting they play. Right here’s Mazzulla on Garza:
Make sure that to take a look at Noa Dalzell’s function on LG and his father.
In our CelticsBlog Slack channel, we talked about tempo and extra particularly, how the Celtics rank twenty ninth within the league at 96.69. To be clear, that’s 96.69 possessions per 48 minutes of regulation play. By comparability, the Miami Warmth lead the NBA at 106.70, over ten possessions per sport over Boston.
After preaching all through coaching camp that the Celtics wished to be one of many quickest groups this season, you’d suppose that Joe Mazzulla would envy Erik Spoelstra’s frantic tempo. However let’s be clear: tempo doesn’t simply imply turning the parquet right into a 100-meter sprint and getting up and down the courtroom in transition simply to generate extra possessions. It’s extra about churning groups by means of a number of actions within the half courtroom and in the end, carrying them out.
On an evening when Boston set their season-high in assists (34), it’s performs like this that present you a lot Boston desires to place you in a blender:
Controlling the controllables
Certain, it got here in opposition to a banged up 4-8 Grizzlies crew with out Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke, however Boston dominated the glass, giving up simply 15 offensive rebounds and received the second likelihood factors margin 34 to 12. They coughed up the ball simply ten instances they usually’re nonetheless main the league in taking good care of the ball at simply 11.4 turnovers a sport.
Zooming out after the blowout, the Celtics now have the eighth finest internet ranking within the league (4.9). They’re once more top-10 in offensive and defensive ranking, however the one top-15 crew with a sub-.500 report.
Relaxation and restoration begins early with Gino Time
At 6-7, the Celtics lastly have their first stretch of a number of days remainder of the season. They received’t play once more till early Sunday evening after they host the Los Angeles Clippers.
