10 takeaways from the Celtics’ clutch finish in New York

#1 – A unicorn in New York

Ten years in the past, Kristaps Porzingis, the Unicorn, was drafted by the New York Knicks. A decade later, the Latvian huge man is now enjoying for the Boston Celtics. Final night time, at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place his NBA profession began, he reminded the world why he was the 4th decide.

The Celtics actually wanted his shot-making to beat the Knicks’ aggressive recreation plan. The massive man, from spot-up and pick-and-pop conditions, stacked three-pointers within the hearts of Knicks followers — even from 39 ft.

On high of the unimaginable shot-making, there have been once more some flashes of passing and playmaking as an offensive hub, trying like Karl-Anthony Cities frankly, the first decide of the 2015 draft. The 2 facilities provided a fantastic duel final night time, capturing from deep, driving, dominating from the post-up, whereas being the tallest gamers on the court docket.

Humorous sufficient, regardless of each being facilities, they not often defended one another as a result of coaches love to combine matchups to play with spacing. Nonetheless, it was a pleasure to look at these two distinctive gamers dominating in the identical recreation.

#2 – Coping with KAT

Karl-Anthony Cities’ offensive ability set may be very difficult to take care of. With the Boston Celtics utilizing Kristaps Porzingis as a roamer within the paint, they needed to attempt totally different gamers on him. In addition they tried zone protection, however nothing actually labored. KAT is just too tall and is ready to punish a smaller matchup if he will get the ball inside.

When he bought the ball on the skin, he was capable of drive because of the New York Knicks’ nice spacing. His means to dribble, mixed together with his dimension and energy, is tough to cease. Together with his contact, he can cease for a floater or pull-up. If the rim is open, he can end with a pleasant finger roll.

The Celtics had been capable of decelerate the Knicks’ offense late within the second quarter with a double-big lineup. They performed with Luke Kornet and Porzingis, alongside Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Jrue Vacation. Tatum matched up with Cities, whereas Kornet and Porzingis had been on Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to remove the spacing and put our bodies within the paint.

With two bigs on the ground for the Celtics, it was tougher for the Knicks to run their ordinary offense round KAT with cuts and off-ball motion. Because of the tall-ball lineups, the Celtics pressured the final word turnovers late in time beyond regulation to win the sport.

#3 – Derrick White operating the purpose

With Jaylen Brown out of the sport, White had extra tasks with the ball in his arms. Additionally, because the Knicks had been very aggressive in making an attempt to take the ball out of Jayson Tatum’s arms, D-White performed like a typical level guard throughout components of the sport.

On the play beneath, he makes use of Kristaps Porzingis’ display to get the swap and provides the massive man the matchup he wants. Because the possession unfolds, the Knicks are switching off-ball to discover a higher defensive matchup in opposition to Porzingis. As this occurs, White handles the ball like a real level guard, and as quickly as he sees the opening, he sends a bullet move to Payton Pritchard, who’s reducing to the basket.

Just a little later within the recreation, from the identical set, White generates one other swap for Porzingis with a ball display. As KAT switches onto him, Derrick White takes his time to search out his spot, and as quickly as there may be sufficient area, he pulls up from three above the middle.

Derrick White is bettering as a ball handler month after month, recreation after recreation, main me to surprise what he might do with a much bigger position.

#4 – Jayson Tatum looking Mikal Bridges

Earlier this season, in late February, I used to be fairly stunned after I noticed Jayson Tatum going after Evan Mobley, on the lookout for the DPOY to be switched onto him. In New York yesterday, he did it once more. He went at probably the greatest defensive gamers within the league and attacked him one-on-one.

From the post-up, Jayson Tatum was capable of dominate the matchup and appeared extra comfy than in opposition to OG Anunoby or Josh Hart. His recreation was extra targeted on soar photographs and fadeaways than ordinary, making an attempt solely two photographs on the rim.

When he’s feeling it like that, there’s not a lot a protection can do. He was pulling up for turnaround fadeaways prefer it was a layup and, when the Celtics wanted it probably the most, capped his nice efficiency with a pull-up three to tie the sport.

#5 – The Knicks profitable the possession battle

Joe Mazzulla is a shot margin psycho, and he at all times desires his workforce to create extra shot alternatives than their opponents. Final night time wasn’t the case — and it might have price the Celtics the sport.

To win the possession battle, groups give attention to offensive rebounds and producing turnovers. Normally, the Celtics are fairly good at limiting these. They rank second in limiting turnovers and seventh on the subject of limiting offensive rebounds.

With Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson dominating the glass, the Knicks grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, whereas the Celtics had been restricted to 9. On high of that, the Celtics misplaced 15 possessions due to OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges’ size and aggressive positioning.

The Knicks fell in need of profitable the sport, however their recreation plan was fairly sensible to disrupt the Celtics’ ordinary tactical strategy. If Jayson Tatum wasn’t so clutch, the Knicks would have received because of a clutch offensive rebound from Anunoby and a late turnover from White. Turnovers and offensive rebounds is perhaps the best way to disrupt the Celtics.

#6 – Optimized spacing within the fourth

To complete the sport, the Celtics used a small lineup with lots of capturing capabilities. Alongside Tatum, White, and Porzingis, Joe Mazzulla gave lots of minutes to Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard. With these 5 gamers on the ground, the Celtics’ spacing was at its finest, they usually had been capable of drive and kick till the defensive shell broke.

It’s not new to see the Celtics closing video games with Pritchard as an alternative of Jrue Vacation, as a result of groups have began to deal with him as a non-shooting risk. But, it was stunning to see the Celtics shut the fourth quarter with Sam Hauser as an alternative of Jaylen Brown or Luke Kornet — particularly with the Knicks being so aggressive on the offensive glass.

#7 – Extra dimension in time beyond regulation

Because the Knicks had been capable of dominate late within the fourth due to their dimension, the Celtics modified their strategy in time beyond regulation. They performed minutes with Vacation and Kornet to carry physicality and dimension to keep away from being punished once more.

And it labored out fairly nicely. Kornet grabbed two offensive rebounds inside two minutes and stole the ball as soon as. Luke Kornet and Jrue Vacation’s dimension and defensive means had been additionally essential in slowing down the Knicks’ elite offense in crucial minutes of the sport.

#8 – Attending to the road

In time beyond regulation, the Celtics discovered a brand new solution to generate offense when the photographs weren’t falling. Regardless of making half as many discipline objectives because the Knicks within the ultimate interval, the Celtics had been capable of rating extra factors as a result of they bought to the road typically.

General within the recreation, the Celtics tried 25 free throws for 87 shot makes an attempt — an excellent and strange stability for a workforce that when once more confirmed they will adapt their offense based mostly on the opponent’s strengths and recreation plan. Because the Knicks had been very aggressive, the Celtics took benefit of it and received the sport from the road.

#9 – What is going on with Jaylen Brown?

I’ve a tough time understanding what’s occurring with Jaylen Brown, who performed solely 22 minutes and was clearly not able to play — so why did he? He isn’t within the operating for any All-NBA groups and isn’t 100%. So, why would he must play half a recreation?

I’m no physician, however the newest choices regarding his enjoying time are questionable to me.