10 takeaways from the Celtics experimenting their way past the Jazz

#1 – Leaning into Porzingis passing

A number of weeks in the past in January, when the Celtics’ offense was struggling a bit, I prompt in an article that Kristaps Porzingis’ passing might assist the Celtics add some versatility to their offense. Certainly, due to his measurement and gravity, the house on the ground is totally different when he has the ball on the high or from the post-up.

Final night time, by means of numerous actions, the Celtics designed their offense to compensate for Jaylen Brown’s absence, and Porzingis’ passing was one of many keys. Utilizing the Latvian as an offensive hub disrupts the defensive construction as a result of he both drags the rim protector away from the paint, or the mismatch causes a double crew and opens issues up for his teammates.

Superb self-discipline from the Celtics. They noticed this recreation as a possibility to attempt new approaches and preserve sharpening their instruments, even towards a 16-win crew. Curious to see if this new offensive pattern will stay towards among the greatest groups and within the Playoffs.

#2 – Empty aspect pick-and-roll

Because the Celtics tried to make use of scheme, additionally they labored on their standard performs. Certainly one of these performs is a pick-and-roll on an empty aspect. As nobody is within the strong-side nook, the defensive assist choices are totally different. Subsequent to the choose, the Celtics like to put a participant on the high so the ball might be swung to him earlier than he passes it to the participant down within the paint. That is the play the Celtics used to take a giant lead towards the Lakers within the third quarter just a few weeks in the past.

Final night time, the Celtics did it once more towards the Jazz with Horford and Porzingis transferring in house. The construction of this play name can take totally different kinds, because the ball-handler could possibly be anybody between Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, or Jayson Tatum right here; and the screener could possibly be actually any of the gamers on the court docket, because the Celtics love to combine the matchups.

The Celtics’ half-court offense is quantity two in effectivity this season, and Joe Mazzulla’s progressive playbook is without doubt one of the the reason why.

#3 – Jazz placing the massive in rotation

Final night time’s recreation was additionally insightful in exhibiting how offenses might attempt to break the Celtics’ defensive shell. As they performed some minutes with two bigs on the ground, the Jazz tried to generate motion and compelled the massive man to be within the rotation. An ideal instance beneath reveals two ghost screens that induced Al Horford to be switched onto the ball-handler. This isn’t the most effective scenario for Al, much more so if he has to cope with a pick-and-roll. As Horford defends on the ball, Porzingis is the choose defender—and that’s what the Jazz had been aiming for. As a result of Horford and Porzingis are much less cell than the opposite gamers on the court docket, and higher at rim safety, forcing them to each defend the pick-and-roll turned the Celtics’ protection the wrong way up and generated some gaps.

There are methods to forestall that, similar to zone protection or off-ball switching. But, I believe it is very important discover that even tanking groups can discover weaknesses to take advantage of, and there are tactical insights to be realized in each recreation of the common season.

#4 – Containing Sexton

The second defensive problem for the Celtics was to discover a strategy to decelerate Collin Sexton. You won’t realize it, however Collin Sexton is secretly one of the environment friendly guards during the last two seasons, and he confirmed it fairly effectively final night time in Salt Lake Metropolis.

Like Tyrese Maxey or Donovan Mitchell, Sexton is the kind of participant the Celtics have a tough time coping with, as they’re a bit quicker than Derrick White or Jrue Vacation. Regardless of their lack of measurement, these quick guards often do effectively towards the Celtics’ elite protection.

Sooner or later within the recreation, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching workers had seen sufficient and determined to cease Collin Sexton, difficult the opposite 4 gamers on the court docket to beat them. They began blitzing Sexton on the pick-and-roll, forcing him to present the ball to one among his teammates.

After they began pressuring the Jazz guard, the rating was 67–60 and he had scored 26 factors in 20 minutes. He performed 15 extra minutes and scored solely 4 extra factors, and the Utah Jazz offense couldn’t sustain within the second half. Nice adjustment from the teaching workers.

#5 – Tatum defensive playmaking

Talking of protection, Jayson Tatum began the sport robust with three steals within the first quarter. Normally, the Celtics aren’t too aggressive in relation to forcing turnovers. Nonetheless, the Utah Jazz’s ball administration is one among their weaknesses, and the Celtics knew they may put stress on their offense and create transition in the event that they had been pugnacious on the ball and within the passing lanes.

Due to this strategy, the Celtics scored 22% of their factors off the Jazz’s turnovers—an awesome mark for a crew that often has a extra conservative strategy.

#6 – Derrick White three behind-the-back steals

Lately, Jack Simone, former author for CelticsBlog, did an insightful video on Derrick White’s secret defensive abilities.

Nicely, Derrick White’s steals from behind may nonetheless be a secret for some groups, as the previous Spur was capable of pressure three turnovers from these conditions. In transition or in a half-court set, the defensive-minded guard was capable of show nice hand and eye coordination to generate transition for the Inexperienced Military.

#7 – Publish-up offense

Regardless of being pictured as a really trendy offense with quite a lot of threes, the Celtics are additionally dominating in one of the old-school play sorts: the post-up. With nearly seven actions completed with a post-up try, the Celtics are the third crew with essentially the most of those actions this season.

Final night time, with Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics punished the Jazz’s particular person defensive weaknesses by posting up repeatedly. Regardless of not being a really environment friendly offensive strategy (1.03 factors per possession on post-ups), the post-up typically tricked the protection into committing a foul or sending two gamers to the ball.

#8 – Luke Kornet rim safety

Primarily based on current statistical analysis from Owen Phillips, Luke Kornet has been among the best rim protectors this season.

In drop protection, when the Jazz tried to assault his lack of mobility or in transition, Luke Kornet as soon as once more disrupted share of the rim makes an attempt when he was on the court docket.

Having each him and Kristaps Porzingis on the roster is extremely worthwhile for the Celtics’ rim safety.

#9 – Is Baylor Scheierman the brand new tenth man?

So, sure, he didn’t rating a single level, however Baylor performed 12 minutes in final night time’s recreation. The season is nearly over and the Playoffs begin in lower than a month, main me to ask: Have Baylor Scheierman’s current performances made him the tenth man within the Celtics’ rotation?

#10 – The Cavaliers are solely 5 wins away

What would have sounded completely insane every week in the past may appear much less loopy at this time: can the Celtics meet up with the Cavaliers? As Boston has one of many best remaining schedules within the NBA and Cleveland is struggling to get again within the win column, might or not it’s potential for Joe Mazzulla’s crew to finish up on the high of the Japanese Convention? Or ought to the Celtics give attention to resting the crew earlier than the Playoffs? Time will inform.