Good day, good day! The Boston Celtics’ 2024-25 common season is within the books. For the second straight 12 months, Joe Mazzulla’s workforce has ended the marketing campaign with 60 or extra wins — the final time that occurred was 2008 and 2009 with the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce roster.
Each groups sat their main rotation. We obtained to see a whole lot of some high-level position gamers and much more from deep-bench guys and developmental skills. So, forgive me if in the present day’s takeaways are rather less in-depth than regular — there’s solely a lot you possibly can garner from the ultimate recreation of the season.
Anyway, let’s dive in.
#1 Kornet was in all places
With out the top-six rotation, the Celtics appeared to Luke Kornet to imagine an even bigger position throughout the rotation. One factor I wish to shortly level out, is that we’ve seen Kornet turn out to be the most effective non-shooting bigs within the NBA over the previous 18 months or so. Most younger bigs coming into the league ought to examine his means to function on the perimeter with out being a taking pictures risk.
In opposition to the Hornets, Kornet caught to the fundamentals: he screened properly, spaced the ground within the weakside slot, and ran some play initiation when working within the delay ( a elaborate approach of claiming he had the ball on the perimeter as a part of a five-out).
Nonetheless, the beneath play is the one which undoubtedly garned essentially the most consideration from Celtics followers, because it ended up with Kornet taking a one-dribble mid-range jumper.
I do know that Kornet taking the middie was a enjoyable wrinkle, however for me, it was the decision-making that led to him taking the shot. Boston had flowed right into a secondary motion, which turned out to be a zoom motion (a pin-down right into a hand-off), with Baylor Scheierman elected to obtain the rock.
Josh Okogie did a unbelievable job of sticking with Scheierman off the pin-down and getting himself between Scheierman and Kornet, thus denying the hand-off. Relatively than let the play fizzle out, Kornet rejected the hand-off and flowed straight right into a counter, which ended up being his mid-range shot.
The truth that Kornet is recognizing the counter so shortly is a serious plus for Boston. He isn’t simply studying the sport; he’s beginning to assault these reads with snappy decision-making.
Oh, and if you wish to make it much more enjoyable, that offensive possession got here off the again of a Kornet block on the defensive finish.
Kornet has turn out to be the kind of participant who finds methods to impression a recreation. Generally, meaning he’s setting three, 4 and even 5 screens on one possession. Different occasions, he’s choosing out a cross, both within the delay or on the short-roll. And others, he’s containing opposing ball-handlers when defending the pick-and-roll or blocking pictures on the rim.
I needed to share the above clip as the primary takeaway as a result of, for me, Kornet has been one of the enjoyable developmental tales of the season.
#2 Payton Pritchard is ridiculously good
Kornet could have been one of the enjoyable tales, however Payton Pritchard sits atop the record. I imply, severely, what’s to not like? Pritchard performs his position, comes up huge when wanted and relishes the chance to guide the offense for stretches. So, when he was given the beginning in opposition to Charlotte, you knew he was going to do his finest to indicate out.
34 factors, 7 rebounds and seven assists…I believe it’s secure to say it was mission accomplished for the Sixth Man of the 12 months shoo-in (I hope).
Earlier this season, Pritchard detailed the work he’d put into creating a variety of shot choices for himself, guaranteeing he was at all times a risk to attain.
“It’s simply placing myself in numerous conditions,” Pritchard mentioned. “It’s not essentially doing a sure drill; it’s sure conditions the place they’re guarding me, what’s the proper shot to get to right here? In the event that they play it a sure approach, if I’m on this facet of the courtroom and so they guard me at this angle, then I ought to get to this shot, these pictures. Simply having an arsenal for these various things.”
I’m positive that all through the common season, Azad and whoever else has written these takeaways have spoken glowingly of Pritchard’s perimeter-scoring exploits. Rightly so, too.
However, for me, this easy reverse layup stood out in opposition to Charlotte.
Final season, Pritchard added ‘bump creation’ to his repertoire, creating area by bumping into his opponent. This season, he is added the flexibility to complete immediately off the bounce, each across the rim and elsewhere on the ground. For me, his offensive recreation started to flourish as soon as he proved he was a risk to attain on the rim, regardless of his lack of dimension.
Layups just like the clip above unlocked every part for Pritchard, so seeing him proceed to maintain defenses sincere when the sport has little that means was an satisfying illustration of his competitiveness.
#3 Baylor Scheierman ought to be a rotation participant subsequent season
I get that his field rating would not look fairly. However Baylor Scheierman performs with a swagger. A braggadocious aptitude that makes him unpredictable when the ball is in his fingers. Scheierman continues to showcase his passing means, particularly when threading the needle or choosing passes out of skinny air.
I additionally like the expansion we’ve seen from Scheierman on the defensive finish. He doesn’t have the athleticism or burst to hold with a whole lot of NBA forwards, so, he is begun to play the angles, utilizing his dimension and IQ to chop off lanes or management the area a ball-handler has accessible to them.
To start the season, Scheierman appeared like he would wish a 12 months or two to be prepared for the NBA. The pace of his enhancements, the arrogance he performs with, and the swagger he brings to the courtroom all imply that I’m anticipating (extra like hoping) that he makes the core rotation subsequent season.
#4 JD Davison must be extra assured taking pictures threes
JD Davison has earned his shot with the Celtics. He’s steadily improved his recreation throughout his three seasons in Maine and has patiently waited for his alternative. Nonetheless, now that he’s formally a part of Joe Mazzulla’s roster, he must get extra snug with letting the rock fly from deep.
I’m a fan of Davison’s floater recreation. I believe it’s an amazing a part of his ability set, particularly with how he likes to throw lob passes and the confusion it may well trigger for defenders. Nonetheless, I can’t think about Mazzulla was finest happy when Davison hesitated on the perimeter whereas vast open earlier than opting to take a mid-range two. I think about this can be a key space of enchancment for Davison within the coming months.
#5 Jordan Walsh jogs my memory of Aaron Nesmith on protection
Not in the best way that Aaron Nesmith was often known as ‘crash’ for his typically overzealous hustle performs. However within the sense that Jordan Walsh usually appears a bit of sped up, perhaps considerably uncontrolled, however in some way, someway, he persistently supplies a optimistic impression on the defensive finish.
Walsh continues to be uncooked. He’s nonetheless figuring issues out and studying from his errors. Nonetheless, nobody can query the hassle, hustle and depth he brings off the bench. In that approach, I do suppose he jogs my memory a bit of little bit of Nesmith.
#6 A primary-quarter run set the tone
The Celtics went on a 16-2 run between the 10-minute and 4-minute mark within the first quarter. Throughout that point, the Hornets went 1-of-11 from the sector and 0-of-5 from deep. That little 6-minute run set the tone for the remainder of the sport. Boston’s reserves had management and grew in confidence.
A 12-point collapse within the third drew issues shut, because the Hornets made essentially the most of a 1-of-7 taking pictures hunch from Scheierman. Nonetheless, a 7-point, 5-point, and 7-point run, all within the fourth quarter, helped the Celtics finish the common season on a excessive be aware.
#7 Torrey Craig might have to indicate extra
Torrey Craig was signed to be a veteran presence on the bench and break-glass insurance coverage coverage on the ahead place. At this level, we’ve all spoken, debated, and fretted about Jaylen Brown’s knee harm and what that might imply in the course of the playoffs. Nicely, if Brown is out for no matter motive, Craig might discover his quantity being referred to as to step into the rotation.
Over the past two video games, Craig has totaled 40 minutes of taking part in time. He’s offered dependable protection throughout these minutes whereas additionally knocking down a complete of 12 rebounds and meting out 5 assists. However are you aware what he hasn’t completed? Rating. He’s obtained 2 factors in 40 minutes, stretching two video games.
If, for no matter motive, Craig is pushed right into a bigger-than-expected position in the course of the postseason, the Celtics will want him to search out some rhythm on offense. Hitting only one bucket in opposition to a Hornets workforce lacking all of its starters is way from encouraging.
#8 It was purported to be scrappy
That’s what occurs once you sit your main rotations and provides a few of the youthful guys and ageing veterans an opportunity to play. I imply, we had Taj Gibson crashing the glass at age 39. We additionally had 19-year-old Tidjane Salaun attempting to interrupt down Boston’s protection.
With such a various vary of gamers, ages, and developmental gamers, the sport was by no means going to rival what we noticed from the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors later within the day. It wasn’t purported to, both. Boston took care of their enterprise by way of the common season.
Charles Lee’s workforce continues to be a piece in progress, however credit score to him for the work he’s doing over there.
Anyway, I used to be fantastic with the scrappy nature of the sport. In some methods, it saved the sport fascinating and was actually a whole lot of enjoyable.
#9 Who do you concern? Orlando or Atlanta?
Fast one right here…I’m extra petrified of the Orlando Magic. I get the Atlanta Hawks and the Dyson Daniel of all of it, the Trae Younger of all of it, and the Quin Snyder of all of it. I get that Atlanta usually offers the Celtics some issues, too. However Paolo Banchero is not any joke. None of that Magic workforce are a joke. For me, they’re the workforce I wish to keep away from within the opening spherical. What about you?
#10 Convey on the playoffs!
The common season is over. Now, we enter the countdown to a different championship (fingers crossed). This Celtics workforce is prepared. If they will keep wholesome, play their model of basketball, and rediscover the identical defensive depth as final season, then the duck boats can be out in pressure later in the summertime.
I, for one, can’t look ahead to this playoff run. It is going to be the primary one I cowl for the Celtics Chronicle e-newsletter, so it doesn’t matter what, it is going to be memorable for me.
I hope you’re all excited for what’s to come back, too! And have loved the season up to now!
Go C’s!
