#1 – One of the best offense vs. one of the best protection since December twentieth
What an effective way to advertise a recreation from Sean Grande.
Final evening’s recreation was a duel between the Celtics’ offensive surge and the Raptors’ defensive wall. Sadly, Scottie Barnes’ harm made it tougher for Toronto to stay elite on the defensive finish, however the recreation was nonetheless a 48-minute tactical battle.
#2 – Boston gained the sport in transition
Boston’s transition offense, and protection, have been the keys to profitable that recreation final evening. Whereas the Celtics struggled to comprise Toronto’s half-court offense, their transition self-discipline was much better.
Joe Mazzulla’s workforce was capable of restrict Toronto’s effectivity in transition to 1.06 factors per possession — which is sort of exceptional, contemplating they have been scoring 1.24 factors per possession in half-court conditions.
On the opposite finish, the Celtics scored 1.85 factors per possession in transition, creating a niche that the Raptors couldn’t compensate for with their sturdy half-court offense.
#3 – The Raptors have been capable of punish the Celtics’ aggressive protection
The Celtics wished to decelerate the ball as a lot as attainable, however it got here at a value. Whereas they did a terrific job of containing the ball-handler, limiting drives and free-throw alternatives (solely 10 photographs on the line for the Raptors),
this strategy opened up different zones of the courtroom, particularly the corners. Right here, on Toronto’s first basket, Payton Pritchard stunts onerous on the ball to remove the drive, which ends up in an open three within the nook.
By sending two gamers to the ball, the Celtics gave the Raptors a chance to show their sturdy passing recreation (39 assists final evening). Right here once more, the protection creates a four-on-three state of affairs, and as Jaylen Brown overhelps on the move, it generates one other open three within the nook.
This was most likely one thing the Celtics have been keen to stay with, because the Raptors aren’t a terrific three-point capturing workforce. Boston made the wager to guard the paint in any respect prices and take care of the outcomes of capturing variance. Total, it was shut, however the transition protection compensated for the capturing luck Toronto had.
#4 – Toronto doesn’t change to begin the sport
One thing fairly stunning occurred to begin the sport, earlier than the Raptors finally shifted to extra zone protection and a switch-everything scheme. Toronto clearly wished to keep away from the Celtics’ typical mismatch-hunting offense, so that they averted switching and fought over screens — however created one other downside.
With sturdy screeners like Neemias Queta and elite shooters like Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, or Sam Hauser, not switching can provide up loads of house. Right here, Pritchard goes by one handoff, one ghost display, and one display from Queta, giving him the house wanted to tug the set off.
By not switching, the Raptors additionally gave away loads of driving alternatives, which the Celtics made positive to punish.
This uncommon defensive strategy had a really fascinating consequence on the Celtics’ shot profile. For the primary time this season, Boston took extra photographs on the rim than from past the arc.
#5 – Extra lay-ups than threes
Per Cleansing the Glass, the Celtics had 32 makes an attempt on the rim (35% frequency) in comparison with simply 26 three-point makes an attempt (28% frequency). The final time the Celtics took extra photographs on the rim than from past the arc was in April 2024, with a beginning lineup of Payton Pritchard, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and Luke Kornet.
One other enjoyable truth on that evening from April 2024, it was Mike Gorman final evening as a TV play-by-play announcer.
#6 – Payton’s capacity to get to the paint
Amongst all of the Celtics, Pritchard’s capacity to get into the paint final evening was fairly wonderful. Throughout the earlier matchup towards the Raptors, he had already proven how comfy he’s attacking mismatches like Sandro Mamukelashvili, and he did it once more final evening.
His driving recreation, particularly out of the pick-and-roll, was significantly spectacular. His sense of timing and deal with enable him to lure defenders into the display, giving him loads of house to assault. Regardless of being the smallest tree on the market, the paint appears to be his backyard.
#7 – Creating photographs for Hauser
Again within the beginning lineup these days, the Celtics wished to verify to create shot alternatives for Sam Hauser. First, they went to their typical Spain pick-and-roll actions, the place he units a again display and pops past the arc.
Then, nonetheless early within the recreation, they ran a pleasant play name the place Hauser set a display on the ball to create chaos within the defensive group earlier than working right into a flare display from Queta. Because the Raptors averted switching, this left him open.
Nonetheless within the first quarter, the Celtics stored capitalizing on Toronto’s resolution to keep away from switching. Right here, a pindown display from Luka Garza, mixed with Sandro’s drop protection, created one other open search for an elite shooter.
His final basket got here within the fourth quarter with the identical play name. This time, he used the house and punished the drop protection with a mid-range jumper.
#8 – Jaylen Brown bought the decision he wished
After one other irritating evening not too long ago, Jaylen Brown lastly bought the free throws he wished, proper from the opening tip. On the primary possession of the sport, Ja’Kobe Walter bites on the faux, sending Brown to the road for his first journey of the evening.
Total, he completed with 13 free-throw makes an attempt on 16 field-goal makes an attempt — definitely a very good feeling after the Nuggets recreation, the place he felt he deserved extra calls.
#9 – Simons’ second quarter
Anfernee Simons performed simply 5 seconds within the first quarter — after which sat solely 5 seconds within the second. Throughout that stretch, he scored or assisted on 20 of the Celtics’ 31 factors. From catch-and-shoots, pull-ups, and transition performs, his offensive impression was good for conserving the momentum after a 37-point first quarter.
His gravity continues to create benefits, like right here, the place his reference to Jaylen Brown results in open photographs. He takes full benefit of the house he has on the catch, driving earlier than kicking it proper again to Brown for an additional open three.
He retains displaying sturdy integration in his position as a sixth man — although the commerce discuss gained’t cease till the deadline passes.
#10 – Speedy Gonzalez is wonderful
After a powerful block a couple of days in the past, Hugo Gonzalez amazed me as soon as once more with a block seemingly out of nowhere.
He additionally had some very good drives, together with this lovely layup, wanting like a Spanish Michael Jordan.
