#1 – Spacing subject
The Boston Celtics’ elite spacing is… gone? Not less than that’s what the numbers are saying. Recently, the Celtics have elevated their rim frequency, however the effectivity has gone down. On prime of that lack of effectivity on the rim, they aren’t capable of generate free throws.
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That is attributable to a few issues. First, Boston has performed extra with two large males than final yr, which has shrunk the house within the paint. Celtics opponents can depart a participant within the paint after they have two facilities on the courtroom, turning the driving lane right into a packed street.
On prime of that, groups are extra keen to go away the Celtics open from there. They’d quite assistance on the driving lane and the pick-and-roll and shut laborious on the shooters if wanted.
The Celtics are going to want their spacing again and discover a technique to stretch the opposing groups’ defenses — particularly with their present defensive issues.
#2 – Ball-screen protection
The Raptors have multiplied the screens on the ball handlers — and so they have varied gamers who can set screens and carry the ball. For instance, late within the recreation, they used Olynyk as a ball handler on pick-and-roll motion, which tricked the Celtics’ protection and turned it into an open shot on the rim.
The Raptors additionally made the Celtics pay for his or her lack of defensive focus with stagger screens. Within the motion beneath, the 2 screens and Scottie Barnes’ cuts flip the protection’s consideration away from Mitchell, who can discover his technique to the rim.
Boston’s protection on ball screens has been problematic currently. The switches are comfortable and aren’t stopping the offense from discovering the shot place they’re on the lookout for.
#3 – Raptors in movement
The work and offense applied by Darko Rajaković are spectacular. Final night time, they made 35 assisted area targets — 11 greater than the Celtics over the sport. The Raptors don’t have a creator, so that they create by way of movement and ball motion.
They’ve a number of off-ball gamers who can punish Boston’s dimension and lack of mobility. They multiplied the cuts from Barrett, Barnes, Mitchell, and Dick to pressure the Celtics’ protection to assist and rotate. Nevertheless, the Celtics couldn’t sustain and made a number of defensive errors. Nate from CelticsBlog compiled the errors within the video beneath:
They used Poeltl as an offensive hub and moved round him. This labored out rather well to create an environment friendly offense as a result of Poeltl dragged Porzingis away from the rim and compelled the opposite Celtics to come back and assist. This had two unfavorable impacts for the Boston Celtics protection: the rim safety was much less invaluable, and this opened up the corners.
On prime of that, Poeltl’s scoring appeared unstoppable for the Celtics’ protection.
#4 – Jakob Poeltl killing the Celtics protection
Over the three video games Jakob Poeltl has performed towards the Celtics this season, he made 87% of his area targets! His scoring and skill to tug Boston’s rim protectors have been key for the Raptors. This season, Poeltl is scoring 20 factors per recreation vs. the Celtics.
He has been superb as a roll-man within the pick-and-roll and is ready to punish the drop along with his floater contact. His skill to shoot from 10 toes away from the rim was one of many causes the Celtics’ zone protection didn’t work out as anticipated.
#5 – Ineffective zone protection
The Celtics tried the 3-2 zone protection to decelerate the Raptors’ offensive motion. But, the Raptors discovered their approach once more by placing the ball across the free-throw line.
The Raptors weren’t bothered by this Celtics defensive trick, and so they have been okay pulling up above the large man from the brief mid-range zone. General, the Raptors didn’t even want their transition offense to dominate the Celtics’ protection.
#6 – Payton Pritchard nice offensive recreation…
One of many solely shiny spots from final night time’s recreation was Payton Pritchard’s offensive creation. The younger level guard performed half-hour and stored the offense going whereas increasing his recreation. In fact, he had a few three-pointers from his typical off-ball motion, however there’s extra to his recreation.
Certainly, as observed earlier this season, his driving recreation appears to be rising once more after a gradual begin. He doesn’t hesitate to drive and use his nice deal with to beat his defender off the dribble. We additionally see that he’s extra keen to make use of his broad shoulders to put up up different guards and discover pictures on the rim.
Whereas the Celtics are in the course of a stoop, Payton Pritchard’s offensive recreation enlargement may result in nice issues for the Celtics, who undoubtedly want a push. Nevertheless, taking part in Payton Pritchard a number of minutes has a worth — a defensive one.
#7 – … whereas being hunted on protection
The Raptors don’t foul. The Celtics are identified for looking seals, however the Raptors are additionally nice at discovering the weak spot in a protection and simply going at it. With a number of minutes from Payton Pritchard, the Raptors may run their offense round discovering an important spot and isolating Pritchard defensively.
That is the explanation why final yr, the deeper the Celtics went within the playoffs, the much less Payton Pritchard performed. If the Celtics teaching workers needs to maintain him on the courtroom, they should discover a technique to defend him.
#8 – Out of bounds stagger motion
A bit of good play name from the Celtics. A couple of video games in the past, we targeted on the stagger actions following out-of-bounds performs. They did it once more final night time vs. the Raptors. From the sideline, the ball goes to the post-up, whereas White runs by way of not one, however two screens and dives to the rim.
It is a smart way of utilizing the spacing to generate nice pictures on the rim. A disgrace that the Celtics’ offense was stagnant final night time after we witnessed such nice motion.
#9 – Jayson Tatum lack of utilization
Jayson Tatum took solely 15 pictures and 5 free throws over 36 minutes in a recreation the place nothing was going offensively. After an important high-usage recreation towards New Orleans, it was painful to observe him not likely concerned within the offense. It’s even more durable to grasp whenever you see how a lot of a menace he’s on his drive.
Towards New Orleans, there was additionally a number of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop with Kristaps Porzingis — the place did that go? This might have labored rather well towards the Raptors’ defensive protection and compelled Jakob Poeltl away from the rim. The Celtics are an important collective group, sure, however they should insist extra on Jayson Tatum when the offense is slowing down.
#10 – Is there an issue with Derrick White’s capturing?
Derrick White has made 10% of his three-point makes an attempt during the last 4 video games (3 losses and 1 win by a small margin). With the present spacing and defensive issues, the Celtics want Derrick White to seek out his capturing contact again, sooner quite than later.
No want to fret but — plainly all of the Celtics besides Payton Pritchard are combating their pictures.
Nonetheless, within the standings, the Celtics are nearer to the Orlando Magic in fifth place than the Cavaliers in 1st seed. If the Celtics wish to be in the most effective place potential coming into the playoffs, they’re going to want to regulate shortly and discover their rhythm again.
