#1 – Is Jayson Tatum some extent guard?
During the last two video games, Jayson Tatum has delivered 19 assists and is averaging seven assists per sport in February. Because the season progresses, his method to the sport appears to have shifted to a extra ball-dominant function. He’s turning into extra heliocentric, and his pick-and-roll quantity has elevated considerably.
With Karl-Anthony Cities’ incapacity to play drop protection and his lack of lateral motion, the Celtics uncovered the Knicks’ defensive weaknesses as soon as once more. Alongside Porziņģis or Kornet ball screens, Jayson Tatum can manipulate the protection. If the Knicks drop, he takes the pull-up or dishes it to Porziņģis on the pick-and-pop.
In the event that they swap, Tatum can both assault the mismatch or feed his teammates. Regardless of the protection tries to do, stopping him feels not possible. Even when defenses ship two gamers at him, his size, passing, and ball dealing with assist him maneuver round it and discover nice options.
#2 – Porziņģis appears to be like actually wholesome
One of many causes Tatum has been so efficient within the pick-and-roll is Porziņģis’ improved well being. When he returned from damage—sooner than anticipated—he appeared a bit rusty. That wasn’t the case final evening.
On each ends of the ground, Porziņģis was transferring nicely, which offered vital worth. For the reason that basketball court docket is cubic and never flat, having a participant his measurement who can transfer so nicely is a game-changer. Because of this mixture, he can constantly be current within the paint to disrupt opposing offenses.
Usually, he roams the paint, leaving a non-shooter open—taking part in like a goalkeeper. And when he’s in fine condition, like final evening, he may also transfer nicely when switching or working in transition. Porziņģis’ rim safety and taking pictures are so beneficial that he nonetheless supplies affect even when off form—however when his physique responds nicely, he turns into the final word difference-maker for the Celtics.
#3 – Knicks can’t defend the rim
Talking of rim safety, the Knicks don’t have any. Not too long ago, Celtics opponents have been leaving their middle within the paint, ignoring Jrue Vacation past the three-point line. The Knicks, nonetheless, can’t try this.
They merely don’t have a rim protector. In consequence, it was Brunson who was defending Vacation. Since Jrue Vacation is a good screener and may exploit mismatches within the submit, his presence on the ground is an amazing asset.
#4 – Jrue Vacation reminds us why he’s key
Recently, Vacation has struggled to affect the sport the best way he did final yr. His taking pictures isn’t as efficient, and as talked about earlier, groups are starting to think about him a non-shooting risk. Due to that, the Celtics’ spacing hasn’t been as elite with him on the ground. In consequence, Payton Pritchard has typically taken his place, which presents defensive challenges since opposing groups steadily goal him.
But, yesterday afternoon, Jrue Vacation reminded us why he’s so necessary—particularly on protection. As a result of his taking pictures wasn’t a difficulty for spacing, he performed 32 minutes and showcased his defensive versatility. He switched onto everybody, from Jalen Brunson to Karl-Anthony Cities.
His lively fingers, nice positioning, and powerful body had been key in disrupting the Knicks’ offense. If the Celtics face the Knicks in a playoff collection, Vacation’s defensive affect can be essential, and New York might want to discover a approach round him to have an opportunity at profitable.
#5 – Josh Hart uncovered Boston’s transition drawback
One factor the Knicks did nicely final evening was expose the Celtics’ transition protection—or lack thereof. Josh Hart is without doubt one of the most spectacular transition gamers within the league, and he put that on full show.
Repeatedly, Hart pushed the tempo in transition, and the Celtics couldn’t sustain. Fortunately, Boston restricted turnovers and dominated the offensive glass, lowering transition alternatives. Nonetheless, on the few defensive rebounds the Knicks secured, it felt just like the Celtics had no approach of stopping them as soon as they bought out and ran.
#6 – Derrick White’s informal 19/9/7
There hasn’t been a lot All-Star buzz round Derrick White this season, however the former Spur stays the most effective—if not the perfect—non-All-Star gamers within the league. He suits seamlessly alongside Jayson Tatum due to his taking pictures, passing, and screening.
He can both be the ball-handler or the screener in pick-and-roll actions, and his taking pictures makes it not possible for defenses to double Tatum with out giving White an open shot. He additionally makes use of his passing on quick rolls, punishing groups that over-help.
Like Tatum, he may also feed his teammates when defenses swap. Offensively, it’s onerous to discover a flaw in his sport, and that versatility brings a lot flexibility to the Celtics.
#7 – Jaylen Brown on the transfer
Jaylen Brown has one of many lowest percentages of assisted subject objectives amongst NBA gamers this season—simply 47%. The Finals MVP generates his personal offense and doesn’t depend on teammates as a lot as others to get buckets. But, his scoring has been down this season, and his general effectivity is beneath league common.
In opposition to the Knicks, Brown adjusted his offensive method with extra off-ball motion and a better tempo in transition—an method that might assist enhance his effectivity. Final evening, 60% of his made subject objectives had been assisted, signaling a rise in his off-ball exercise.
This reduce alongside Porziņģis is a good instance of how Brown can profit from higher spacing if he will increase his off-ball motion. Will Joe Mazzulla and Brown proceed on this course and switch issues round for the All-Star offensively? Wanting ahead to discovering out.
#8 – Pritchard’s synergy with the starters
Pritchard had an off evening—each individually and collectively. It occurs, nevertheless it’s necessary to know why. His synergy with the starters when Tatum was on the bench felt off. As a result of Tatum was sitting, Pritchard needed to tackle extra on-ball creation, which isn’t his very best function within the Celtics’ system.
The great thing about Pritchard’s sport is his off-ball risk and talent to create chaos when catching the ball on the transfer. However when he has to provoke offense from scratch, it’s not as efficient. This highlights not solely Tatum’s significance but in addition the necessity for the opposite 4 starters to step up in creation when he’s off the ground.
No matter Tatum’s presence, Pritchard must be benefiting from another person’s on-ball creation—not the opposite approach round.
#9 – Dominican battle
It was enjoyable to see two of the perfect Dominican gamers, Al Horford and Karl-Anthony Cities, go at it—the outdated and new era.
Each are trendy bigs who’ve helped form basketball’s evolution towards higher spacing. Hopefully, they’ll encourage the subsequent wave of Dominican expertise—as a result of the basketball world may use extra gamers like Horford and Cities.
#10 – Again display screen on baseline motion
A brand new wrinkle appeared within the Celtics’ baseline actions on Sunday. Not too long ago, that they had been utilizing stagger screens from sideline or baseline units—however not final evening. As a substitute, they went to a basic again display screen to use the Knicks’ lack of rim safety.
For the reason that Knicks don’t have a real rim protector, they matched Karl-Anthony Cities with Porziņģis. By setting a again display screen on Cities, the Celtics allowed Porziņģis to slide free and discover a straightforward path to the rim.
It could appear to be a small element, however in an in depth sport, these two buckets may have been game-changing.
