#1 – Aiming for weaknesses
Coming into the sport, the Washington Wizards have been twenty sixth at limiting pictures on the rim and final at defending the defensive rebound. So the Celtics simply went for the paint and made certain they put strain on the Wizards’ defensive frontcourt.
Total, by the tip, the Celtics created 19 extra possessions due to offensive rebounds. Like Joe Mazzulla stated after the sport, you don’t need to rely solely on offensive rebounds, however it should be managed, particularly on an evening the place the bounce pictures weren’t getting into.
#2 – Neemias Queta eruption to get going
To begin issues off properly, Queta determined to roll over your complete Wizards protection. He grabbed a number of offensive rebounds and scored from putback conditions, however the Celtics teaching employees additionally made certain to attract performs for him. Right here, a Spain pick-and-roll the place Sam Hauser units the back-screen that blocks Alex Sarr. With Derrick White and Jayson Tatum in every nook, Queta has all of the area he wants to complete on the rim.
It felt like he was at all times positioned in the appropriate place on the proper time. On this lovely drive and dish from Jaylen Brown, he arrives with excellent timing to position his layup. He additionally confirmed that he has developed a pleasant contact on the floater.
Like typically, the area he was in a position to make use of was created by his capacity to display screen and roll. On that possession, he understands that the Wizards are switching and places his defender on his again to have a greater probability to catch the ball on the roll. Then he used the scale benefit to dominate on the rim.
#3 – 12 minutes to place the Wizards away
Wanting again on the recreation, it felt just like the Celtics have been largely in management getting into the 4th quarter. The 20-point lead felt pure, however in actuality the Celtics solely dominated the 2nd quarter – however it was sufficient.
They began the second quarter with an fascinating play that concerned 4 completely different gamers, with a primary motion beginning with Payton Pritchard on the ball, then a second motion beginning with Derrick White operating towards the ball and Luka Garza.
This motion across the three-point line created chaos and area so the Celtics might as soon as once more assault the rim. Throughout that stretch, the Celtics additionally dominated on protection, resulting in a number of transitions. This gave us some nice highlights like this spin transfer from Queta, who was unstoppable final evening.
This nice momentum over these 12 minutes was sufficient to stay in management within the second half regardless of shedding it 59 to 47.
There have been questions in regards to the Celtics’ stability with the return of Jayson Tatum. Final evening’s recreation was an ideal show that there’s sufficient room for everybody on a successful workforce.
No person took greater than 20 pictures, however six gamers scored not less than 15 factors and 7 tried eight subject targets or extra. There have been additionally eight gamers with a number of assists, displaying that the ball strikes and everyone seems to be concerned.
However the scoring wasn’t solely balanced player-wise. The Celtics additionally confirmed a really versatile efficiency when it comes to taking pictures profile: 19 subject targets made on the rim, 10 from the mid-range, and 12 past the road.
With the bounce pictures not falling, the Celtics didn’t get caught within the mud and tailored. They have been capable of rating lots from putback conditions, turning misses into new possessions, like Baylor Scheierman and his seven missed pictures however 4 offensive rebounds.
#5 – Baylor really feel was displaying
Scheierman is amongst these gamers the place you possibly can see the sport slowing down for him, so he’s typically a step forward. This play with Sam Hauser is a good instance of that really feel for the sport. He appears like he acquired caught, however he is aware of the place Sam is situated and finds him with out even him beforehand.
His really feel is apparent on a spotlight like this one however may be seen in much less flashy conditions too. His understanding of the sport makes him an excellent offensive rebounder. Because the Celtics wished to dominate that side of the sport, they relied on him to place strain on his matchup anytime a shot was triggered by considered one of his teammates.
It’s not a shock that he retains being the participant with probably the most minutes behind the core six-man rotation late within the season.
#6 – Off-ball Tatum is a win-win
To get again to his ultimate type, Jayson will want time, however his affect on a protection construction is already again. When he’s off the ball, the protection nonetheless feels his gravity, which supplies nice area to his teammates. But it surely additionally provides him extra velocity. Whereas he’s getting again in form and studying the way to belief his legs once more, having him off the ball to begin the play can profit him and make him an even bigger risk.
On high of the velocity, having him off the ball is an effective way to optimize his taking pictures risk. When he doesn’t have the rock, the protection nonetheless retains a watch on him. And as quickly as he receives the ball, there are rapid collapses as a result of the risk couldn’t be larger than Jayson Tatum with the rock and area.
On the play above, as quickly because the basketball touches his arms, two defenders run to him, leaving White within the nook, and JT doesn’t hesitate for a second to swing the ball. A fantastic instance of why Tatum isn’t breaking the Celtics’ stability – he brings much more gravity and extra connectivity to use defensive errors.
In fact, we wish Tatum to play his isolation, however the affect he already has on the court docket when he doesn’t have the ball is again to elite – resulting in nice possessions for the workforce.
#7 – Tatum and Queta relationship
Talking of Tatum, his relationship with Queta within the pick-and-roll has been rising by way of these first 4 video games. And this may be a key to the Celtics’ success this season. When the offense was caught final yr, the Celtics didn’t hesitate to spam Tatum and Kornet pick-and-rolls. They may very well be doing the identical this yr with Queta.
The standard of Queta’s screens and his capacity to play as a hub on offense provide a number of prospects for the Celtics to construct round this duo.
On high of the advantages for them, this additionally creates nice alternatives for the three different gamers round them, like right here on that White triple.
It’s the identical play that gave a layup to Queta, however this time the protection put extra our bodies within the paint, resulting in a move to Hauser. Tre Johnson rotates and that leaves White open within the nook. That is all brought on by the pick-and-roll led by Tatum and Queta.
#8 – Might Tristan Vukčević be an fascinating pick-up?
If there’s one factor we realized during the last yr, it’s that the Celtics can flip a middle on a two-way contract right into a starter on a aggressive workforce – and after watching this final recreation, I’m wondering if Tristan Vukčević may very well be the subsequent one.
He has been out and in of the rotation for the Wizards during the last three years however might deliver some fascinating upside to the Celtics’ inside rotation. He has an ideal contact and we all know how a lot Brad Stevens loves a middle who can shoot.
Ideas on the Serbian heart?
#9 – There’s at all times room to be higher
I may be overthinking right here however aren’t there at all times methods to enhance, even in a recreation the place you had a 30-point lead? Effectively, final evening’s recreation there’s an space the place the Celtics ought to have been higher: transition protection.
The Wizards had a 1.63 points-per-possession effectivity in transition and this may very well be expensive in opposition to higher groups. Whereas this may be because of an absence of seriousness due to the standard of the opponent, it might additionally occur in opposition to extra aggressive groups. With gamers crashing the offensive glass, there may be some lapses within the protection when the tagging-up isn’t properly coordinated.
Could possibly be value monitoring in opposition to higher groups coming to city over the subsequent few weeks.
#10 – Some French affect in Boston?
Earlier than the sport, Joe Mazzulla talked about his assembly with Guillaume Vizade, Le Mans Basket head coach. They met again in France this summer time and Mazzulla stated he realized from the time they spent collectively. Might France have an affect on the Celtics’ new playstyle? Extra on that quickly…
