10 takeaways from the Celtics outclassing the Suns on both ends

#1 – Jaylen Brown’s effectivity

This has been talked about typically sufficient, so there’s no have to dig an excessive amount of into it, however Jaylen Brown’s effectivity hasn’t met expectations this season. For context: among the many 50 gamers averaging greater than 20 factors per recreation, he ranks forty fifth in True Capturing share, trailing RJ Barrett and Paolo Banchero.

But final evening, Jaylen Brown scored 31 factors on spectacular effectivity. Let’s take a look at how that was doable and what it means.

One among his first buckets got here from a backdoor reduce. Brown’s slicing recreation has kinda disappeared since he grew to become an All-Star, however that was an enormous a part of his recreation when he was youthful. In his first yr within the league, he was taking 48% of his pictures on the rim. That quantity is now all the way down to 30%. Extra cuts—particularly within the Celtics’ spacing—may result in simpler pictures and higher effectivity.

One other space the place Jaylen Brown has struggled this season is above-the-break threes (the triples that aren’t from the corners). From there, he has been capturing simply 30%, whereas making 44% of his nook threes.

The pull-ups haven’t been falling for JB this season, and that’s why the play under is a superb instance of what he may do to make up for it. With nice persistence, he remoted and attacked Nick Richards to complete above the rim.

Regardless of the shortage of general effectivity, there may be one play sort he has been mastering all season: the post-up. He is among the best gamers on this space, and final evening’s recreation was one other nice instance of why. Together with his bulk and dimension, he can get into the paint and end over his matchup.

One other motion that offers Jaylen numerous freedom is when he has the ball on an empty aspect. On the proper wing, for instance, that offers him loads of house to drive and assault with out assist from the protection.

Total, this efficiency exhibits how a lot Jaylen Brown ought to get to the rim and into the paint extra typically—and the way he can profit from the Celtics’ elite spacing.

#2 – E book couldn’t cook dinner nicely sufficient

With out Kevin Durant, it was anticipated we’d see numerous Devin Booker. The guard took one-third of the Phoenix Suns’ shot makes an attempt and half of their free-throw makes an attempt. The quantity was spectacular, however the effectivity wasn’t excessive sufficient to compensate for the shortage of expertise round him. With a 59% True Capturing share, Devin Booker wasn’t in a position to carry out nicely sufficient to counter the Celtics’ technique: letting Booker’s teammates attempt to beat them.

The screenshot under completely illustrates what the Celtics have been attempting to attain. On the play, there’s a unfold pick-and-roll in the midst of the court docket with Booker on one wing. Observe how shut Al Horford is to Booker on the weak aspect in comparison with the remainder of the Celtics gamers and their matchups. The Celtics have been completely happy to allow them to play four-on-four so long as Devin Booker didn’t get the ball.

When Booker did get the ball, they put numerous strain on him, clogging the driving lanes and sending additional defenders within the pick-and-roll protection. Even when Devin Booker began possessions off-ball, the Celtics’ protection trapped him as quickly as he touched the ball.

With the shortage of supporting solid expertise—and Bradley Beal’s one-point efficiency—Devin Booker tried his greatest however couldn’t do something towards the Celtics.

#3 – Jayson Tatum likes to assault large males

Final evening in Boston wasn’t time to be a Suns large man due to Jayson Tatum. The Celtics’ go-to man spent the sport attacking Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, and Nick Richards. By drives, pick-and-rolls, and pull-ups, he was in a position to dictate the offense and punish the Suns on each change.

The spotlight of that large man hunt was this dunk over Ryan Dunn, and the evening reminded us all what an enormous man hunter Jayson Tatum could be.

#4 – Horns Flare variations

A little bit little bit of X and O’s at present within the 10 takeaways. The Celtics used their basic Horns Flare motion. The play begins with a Horns set: two gamers within the corners, two on the free-throw line, and one on the prime. Derrick White handed the ball to Porzingis on the elbow and ran proper to make use of Jayson Tatum’s display on the reverse elbow.

Within the first instance under, Royce O’Neale needs to guard Bradley Beal from Jayson Tatum and stays low… which opens White for 3.

Just a few moments later, the Celtics ran the identical play with the very same set and actions. Nevertheless, this time, O’Neale didn’t need to depart White open and positioned himself increased… leaving Beal on an island. When Tatum caught the ball, it was too late for Booker to assist—two free throws for the Celtics.

Additionally they ran the identical play with Al Horford later within the recreation.

Nice offensive design from the Celtics teaching employees as soon as once more. They’ve been doing nice work these days.

#5 – Attending to the road

As we simply noticed with Jayson Tatum’s reduce to the basket from the Horns Flare, the Celtics have been in a position to stretch the protection and get to the road greater than standard. They’re one of many groups with the bottom free-throw charges (twenty seventh out of 30), with 17.5 free-throw makes an attempt per 100 area objective makes an attempt. This isn’t attributable to unhealthy refereeing, however due to Boston’s shot eating regimen, which is heavy on jumpers.

But final evening, the Celtics relentlessly attacked the rim via drives, cuts, and pick-and-rolls. Due to that emphasis on placing strain on the paint, they have been in a position to generate twice as many free throws because the Suns.

#6 – One other Luke Kornet basic

For the second recreation in a row, Luke Kornet grabbed solely offensive rebounds. Is he the most effective NBA participant in terms of extending possessions?

#7 – Forcing powerful floaters

What stood out defensively was the variety of floaters and quick mid-range pictures the Phoenix Suns have been compelled to take—and the way nicely the Celtics disrupted them.

From that zone, the Suns are among the finest groups within the NBA, capturing 48% on makes an attempt between 4 ft from the rim and the free-throw line. Final evening, that effectivity dropped to 34% on 23 makes an attempt—and solely two capturing fouls have been drawn.

Nice self-discipline from the Celtics’ rim protectors, who managed to remove the layup whereas nonetheless contesting the floaters.

#8 – Defending the rim in any respect prices

Talking of rim safety, Kristaps Porzingis gave all he had attempting to dam this dunk try from Cody Martin.

Fortunately, it turned out to be nothing critical for the Celtics large man. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that Boston was in a position to decrease the Suns’ rim effectivity regardless of Phoenix being the most effective crew within the NBA at rim area objective share (71%).

#9 – Brown & Kornet alley-oops

In a earlier 10 takeaways, we talked about Luke Kornet’s rising synergy within the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. Final evening, we received a have a look at Luke’s creating reference to Jaylen Brown, too.

Through the fourth quarter, the Celtics ran two pick-and-rolls in a row for JB and Kornet. Each performs resulted in nice alley-oop alternatives—stopped solely by Bradley Beal fouls.

Luke Kornet’s progress as a rim runner and Jaylen Brown’s passing enhancements have been on full show.

#10 – New 3-point report

The Celtics broke the report for many three-pointers in a daily season. Any ideas from Joe Mazzulla?