#1 – Empty aspect offense is again
In the course of the Japanese Convention Finals final 12 months, the Boston Celtics used plenty of empty aspect offense. When you’re not acquainted with this method, it’s fairly easy. As a substitute of attacking from the center of the court docket, like NBA offenses typically do, the Celtics begin from a aspect the place the nook is empty.
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On prime of that, they be sure that Al Horford, or whoever is defended by the rim protector, is sitting on the slot on the other aspect. This 5-slot setup was popularized by Quin Snyder with the Hawks. It makes it very troublesome for a protection with a defensive anchor to return assist. Certainly, they wish to maintain Myles Turner as shut as doable to the paint, so the remainder of the ground have to be lined by 4 gamers as an alternative of 5.
Taking part in from one empty aspect makes it even more durable as a result of the assistance can’t come from the sturdy aspect, as there isn’t a one within the nook. It may’t come from the baseline, as there may be additionally nobody there. Due to this fact, it will possibly solely come from the highest or the other nook, which places the protection a step behind and may open up alternatives for three-point photographs.
To reap the benefits of this, the Celtics can both run pick-and-roll, understanding there gained’t be any assist coming from the low man, or they will use their pace to drive or their power to put up up, understanding that the assistance is simply too far to trouble them. Chess, not checkers.
#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam
Dealing with a powerful frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner may very well be troublesome for many defenses, particularly with two of the very best defensive gamers out (Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis). But, the Celtics have the instruments to adapt to most of their opponents.
Myles Turner is a pick-and-pop kind of middle, due to his taking pictures capacity. Due to this fact, it might be robust to include his duo with Tyrese Haliburton if the Celtics determined to drop with Al Horford. As a substitute of forcing Al to change onto Haliburton, they put Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum on Myles Turner and maintain Al away from the motion.
This has the additional benefit of Al Horford taking part in protection on Siakam one-on-one within the put up or isolation. As we’ve seen in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless do this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t think about Siakam a taking pictures menace, the Indiana Pacers gained’t profit from nice spacing since Al stays near the paint when Siakam doesn’t have the ball.
#3 – Celtics unbothered by Pacers mixing up coverages
The Celtics have constructed a fame for struggling in opposition to zone protection, however that wasn’t the case final evening. Whereas mixing zone and particular person protection, the Pacers tried their finest to maintain Myles Turner near the rim.
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Nonetheless, the Celtics’ ball motion made it unimaginable for the Pacers to maintain up. By desirous to restrict entry to the rim, they had been pressured to depart the corners open.
The Pacers’ protection couldn’t match the Celtics’ motion, and the offense didn’t have sufficient juice to compensate.
#4 – Celtics put strain early on out-of-juice Pacers
The evening earlier than going through the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Dealing with two of the very best groups within the NBA in 24 hours isn’t precisely within the Christmas spirit, however the Celtics took benefit of it.
Proper from the beginning, the Celtics put onerous strain on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even prime the Indiana Pacers’ fast type of play.
On protection, they picked up the ball handler early and tried to pressure turnovers as a lot as doable. By selecting up the ball handler at half-court, they pressured onerous passes, and Jaylen Brown was there to capitalize on them.
#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest
Jaylen Brown stays considered one of, if not the very best, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final evening in opposition to the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up slightly with a few straightforward dunks… after which exploded on Myles Turner!
Thirty seconds later, he stole the ball from Myles Turner and ran away with it to complete with a stupendous windmill dunk—gracious.
#6 – Jordan Walsh concerned early
With a number of gamers out, it was anticipated to see some minutes from the “keep prepared” group. This time, it was Jordan Walsh who was invited to the present. Nonetheless, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching workers had fairly a troublesome project for him: stopping the nice TJ McConnell. TJ is perhaps probably the most disruptive gamers, at all times transferring with or with out the ball—understanding how one can trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.
It was an excellent problem for the rookie and confirmed that he is perhaps extra suited to guarding a distinct kind of offensive participant. Certainly, after only some minutes, he acquired caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. Slightly later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the fast Pacers guard.
On offense, Walsh was extra lively than typical, able to set screens or crash the offensive boards. That is what the Celtics need him to do whereas ready for his deal with and close-out assault to grow to be a brand new weapon.
On this final motion late within the recreation, we may see flashes of an already improved deal with and passing. Is it actual? May this translate into significant minutes past rubbish time?
#7 – Payton Pritchard’s versatile recreation is rising
In opposition to the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply taking pictures. As talked about earlier, he was a a lot better matchup for TJ McConnell and blocked him on the Pacers’ first attempt to drive on him.
On the offensive aspect, Payton delivered fairly the efficiency. Not as a result of he flirted with a triple-double, however as a result of he impacted the offense in varied methods. Off-ball, as typical, we noticed him operating and creating chaos within the protection. And with the ball, we witnessed new methods of utilizing him.
In opposition to Tyrese Haliburton, we noticed him play the post-up (not the empty aspect set talked about earlier). His sturdy core and low middle of gravity make him capable of overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On prime of this uncommon method, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced recreation plan.
#8 – Third-quarter play name to maintain the Pacers away
The Pacers had been dominated and drained however remained shut till the fourth quarter. With the quantity of three-pointers lately, no lead is secure. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their recreation plan.
Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display screen earlier than popping to the three-point line whereas Derrick White had the ball. This forces Bennedict Mathurin to be behind Jayson Tatum, and Horford pops Turner away. Due to this fact, D-White solely needed to ship a pleasant move above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.
One other set that labored rather well (and needs to be used extra typically) got here in the midst of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display screen for Jayson Tatum. Myles Turner hedges onto Tatum whereas Mathurin recovers, giving Horford time to be open on the three-point line whereas Jaylen Brown creates extra confusion by setting a second display screen. An important use of the Jays’ scoring threats.
#9 – Boston’s offensive feast
Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was wonderful final evening, in some ways. First, they’d a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, among the best marks of the season relating to taking pictures effectivity.
On prime of that, they dominated the possession battle with solely 11% turnovers whereas grabbing 39% of offensive rebounds after a miss! Additionally they efficiently generated straightforward factors with extra free throws than typical.
An important total offensive recreation, and it might have been onerous to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.
#10 – Nicely-deserved Gino time
Like a late Christmas present, the TD Backyard was lastly capable of get pleasure from a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. May they lengthen the Gino Time streak into the brand new 12 months?
