#1 – Surviving due to Jaylen
At half-time, Jaylen Brown had scored or assisted on 50% of the Celtics’ factors. Because the Timberwolves have the most effective rim protections within the league, Brown’s potential to be considerably environment friendly from the mid-range is what obtained the offense going.
The issue the Wolves typically have is that, due to Gobert, the spacing will get too crowded and their offense struggles. That is likely one of the causes they had been caught at 14 factors after the primary quarter. Within the second interval, the Wolves had been capable of go on a run with the Frenchman out, thanks to higher spacing but additionally extra aggressive protection.
But, these moments with out Rudy Gobert create one other downside for the Wolves: Jaylen’s drives. Within the first half, the Celtics had been capable of get to the rim due to Brown and benefit from the shortage of rim safety. Right here, JB first will get the change he desires and goes for a formidable reverse drive.
However after a outstanding begin, Jaylen Brown slowed down within the second half, going 3-for-13 from the sphere. And, like the remainder of the workforce, he collapsed within the fourth quarter, when the depth was at its peak for the Wolves.
#2 – A fourth quarter to neglect
To start out the final quarter, the Wolves determined to go small and be cell moderately than tall. They put strain on the ball as early as potential within the possession and tried to disrupt the offense that the Celtics had been making an attempt to run. As Joe Mazzulla stated, the Wolves’ protection with out their massive man disrupted the Celtics’ offense much more.
On this drive from Jaylen Brown, we are able to see that the strain on the ball comes a lot greater than within the first quarter, and the display from Luka Garza isn’t actually set. The All-Star drives early—possibly too early—and goes right into a crowd of three Wolves prepared to guard the paint.
Behind the Celtics’ collapse within the fourth, there was additionally a giant capturing hunch, going 0-for-7 from deep. A few of these pictures had been very well contested, and the Celtics weren’t capable of get the great 2-vs-1 conditions they wished.
These misses created one other downside: the Wolves might assault way more in transition and didn’t should take care of the Celtics’ half-court protection.
#3 – The quickness off the bench
Whereas the small-ball protection gives way more mobility for the Wolves, it additionally gave them a chance to run quicker in transition and keep away from being caught in half-court conditions. With out Anthony Edwards, the Wolves should keep away from stagnant conditions as a lot as potential as a result of they lack the driving power that often creates gaps.
So, as quickly as they obtained a rebound, they ran. On the play beneath, you possibly can see the willingness to push the ball up the ground as rapidly as potential, with everybody working to supply passing choices to the ball-handler till somebody cuts to the rim.
With extra pace off a miss, the Wolves might additionally power the matchups they wished early within the possession. Right here, Naz Reid will get a post-up towards Brown whereas his regular matchup, Luka Garza, is much away from the ball. So this isn’t strictly transition, however as a result of the Celtics weren’t capable of get an offensive rebound or cease the break, Reid will get the ball precisely the place he desires it towards a good matchup.
Because the Celtics stored lacking, the Wolves had an increasing number of alternatives to play quick, get away from half-court offense, and capitalize on their defensive depth.
#4 – Getting Jayson Tatum in rhythm
The primary half was a bit brutal for Jayson, with one help, one turnover, and 4 missed pictures. However to get his groove again, the Celtics teaching employees concerned him instantly after half-time. A few play calls with Neemias Queta notably stood out. They went to a Spain pick-and-roll motion, with Sam Hauser positioned to hassle Gobert. That offers a bit more room to JT after Queta’s second display to assault the rim.
Identical play name on the possession beneath. This time, Jayson snakes the pick-and-roll, and we are able to see that Queta isn’t totally used to that sample. But, Tatum isn’t bothered and may launch a triple like he used to when a protection is in drop protection. Bang!
With this motion placing a participant behind Gobert, the Celtics might punish his presence on the courtroom and provides Jayson Tatum the momentum wanted to get again on observe. Nonetheless, Tatum wanted Queta’s screens, and the Portuguese massive did a terrific general job serving to him assault the Frenchman’s coverages.
#5 – Going round Mount Gobert
Earlier than the sport, Joe Mazzulla and Chris Finch talked in regards to the central position of Rudy Gobert within the Minnesota Timberwolves. They each highlighted that the French middle has improved his versatility and is doing a greater job on the perimeter than earlier in his profession.
The Wolves’ coach additionally talked about that, with Neemias Queta at middle, the Celtics don’t have the everyday stretch-five they’d with Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis. Nonetheless, just lately, the Celtics have began utilizing the Portuguese massive man as a hub on the perimeter.
With Queta’s display high quality, the Wolves had been typically compelled to change as a substitute of staying in drop protection. Right here, Reid will get caught within the display lengthy sufficient that Gobert has to change on the perimeter, which opens a reduce to the rim for Queta.
#6 – Coping with Julius Randle
The Celtics’ protection is elite however nonetheless has a few weaknesses: fast guards and heavy wings like Julius Randle are amongst them. Going into the sport, the Celtics knew they must regulate: do they let him play one-on-one, or ship assist and rotate behind his passing?
The most important menace comes from his post-ups due to his body, but additionally as a result of his passing improves when he’s stationary. The Wolves knew that and began the sport instantly with a post-up for Randle. What I didn’t anticipate was to see Hauser matched up with him. But, you possibly can clearly see that the others are prepared to assist and keen to depart Jaden McDaniels open, for instance.
With gamers like McDaniels and Gobert on the courtroom, the Wolves made it simpler for the Celtics to determine tips on how to defend. As usually, the aim was to guard the paint and go away below-average shooters open, so long as the drive didn’t break the primary defensive position.
That is one more reason the Wolves went small later within the sport. Reid is a significantly better offensive match subsequent to Randle. Right here, he units the display, and Garza is caught for a second defending towards a possible drive from Julius. This results in more room for Reid when he catches the ball, and the shot is open.
As we stated earlier, the Celtics wrestle with fast guards and heavy wings. And whereas Julius Randle’s menace was effectively managed, the quickness of Bones Hyland was not. The guard, who was first signed on a two-way contract, is exhibiting superb offensive potential for the Wolves. Not solely was he quick in transition, however he additionally uncovered the Celtics’ pick-and-roll protection.
However, as Joe Mazzulla talked about after the sport, it was his pace in transition that brought on the most important issues. On this play, he outruns everybody and will get to the rim in simply a few seconds. Brown doesn’t have time to get set, and the Wolves get one other layup.
#8 – The aggressiveness is rising
After the Thunder, the Suns, the Warriors, and now the Wolves, that is the fourth workforce in current video games making an attempt to keep away from the Celtics’ half-court protection as a lot as potential by pushing in transition.
Whereas the three different groups largely did it by forcing turnovers, the Wolves had been capable of mix pace off dwell rebounds with on-ball aggressiveness to disrupt the Celtics’ move.
Opponents are actually conscious that the Celtics’ potential to handle the ball can be utilized towards them. They will assault extra freely but additionally be sure that they’re set defensively. With the Thunder and the Hawks coming to city this week, will probably be fascinating to see how the Celtics adapt to that stage of aggressiveness.
#9 – Shedding the guess towards McDaniels
Within the second half, the Celtics paid the value for his or her guess on McDaniels’ capturing. We talked about earlier that Celtics defenders had been usually serving to off McDaniels as a result of he was seen because the lesser capturing menace. Nonetheless, he scored 9 factors from deep within the second half, fueling the Wolves’ run.
The protection would moderately go below screens towards him to guard the paint, however this provides him an opportunity to punish that method if the capturing variance swings his approach. It was a daring alternative contemplating his effectivity from deep this season (41%), however the Celtics’ paint safety is typically definitely worth the gamble. It simply didn’t work this time.
After the sport, Jaylen Brown spoke candidly and stated, “we didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight,” and used a phrase I had by no means heard again in French faculty: “lackadaisical.” For individuals who, like me, hadn’t heard it earlier than, it means “missing life, spirit, or zest.” And I feel that completely captures the Celtics’ efficiency as soon as the Wolves went small and attacked them with pace and depth.
The Celtics might want to regroup and discover their “zest” once more earlier than Wednesday to be prepared for the most important sport of the season: OKC Thunder at residence, with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Williams again on the courtroom.”
