There’s one thing concerning the Orlando Magic that offers the Boston Celtics matches. Orlando are actually 3-2 over their final 5 video games towards the reigning champs.
Dec. 18, 2022: Magic 95, Celtics 92
Nov. 24, 2023: Magic 113, Celtics 96
Dec. 15, 2023: Celtics 128, Magic 111
Dec. 17, 2023: Celtics 114, Magic 97
Dec. 23, 2024: Magic 108, Celtics 104
Not many groups boast a profitable report towards Joe Mazzulla’s workforce. But by some means, a way, Jahmal Mosley has discovered a recipe to concoct distress.
Boston’s night time obtained off to a foul begin when Jayson Tatum was a late scratch as a result of sickness. Subsequently, we had one other night time when the Celtics’ core beginning 5 was unable to get some much-needed reps in.
We’re 29 video games into the season, and the beginning lineup of Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis has performed a grand complete of 187 possessions collectively. They averaged -4 factors per 100 possessions over the small pattern dimension.
With out Tatum on the ground, the Celtics appeared to Brown to guide the road — each as the first scorer and lead playmaker.
Coming into final season, the narrative surrounding Brown was constructed on his assist-to-turnover ratio. Mazzulla’s system emphasizes ball and participant motion, so questions over Brown’s capability to regulate and dictate play pale into the background.
Nonetheless, after 568 regular-season video games, Brown’s assist-to-turnover price stays near 1:1. He’s dished out 1416 dimes and turned it over 1181. That’s an AST:TOV of 1.2/1.
So, it needs to be no shock that towards the Magic, Boston’s ball motion fell by the wayside. Look, this isn’t a knock on Brown. He’s taken important leaps along with his passing and defensive manipulation lately. Moreover, it’s vital to keep in mind that playmaking and assists are associated however not the identical. They’re cousins, or higher but, second cousins.
Take this play, for instance. Brown could have gotten the help, however his go was geared toward making a give-and-go with Horford. As an alternative, his laborious reduce to the rim ended up being his playmaking second, drawing the protection and making some further area for Horford to get his shot off.
The go was inconsequential; the reduce created the play. Though each facets are associated, just one made a real affect.
Why is that this vital? As a result of for many of this recreation, Boston’s ball motion was a shadow of its ordinary self. As an alternative, we noticed extra ‘excessive’ and ‘aspect’ pick-and-roll, with a heavy dose of isolation basketball. Why? As a result of that’s the place Brown thrives, and with out Tatum within the rotation, there wasn’t a real creator on the ground.
“There’s no cause to be upset that we misplaced, as a result of this workforce is constructed round Jayson Tatum,” Billy Calabrese stated on at this time’s Celtics Chronicle podcast. “They’re not constructed round Jaylen Brown. If Jaylen Brown was the primary choice. Brad would have a completely totally different form of workforce round him. He’d have higher ball handlers round him. He’d have a distinct sort of bigs round him. However this workforce is constructed to intensify Jayson Tatum. And that features Jaylen Brown.”
Brown is an elite ahead—top-of-the-line within the league. Nonetheless, he’s not some extent ahead or main ball-handler, but that was the function he was tasked with enjoying. A part of that is because of Derrick White’s working by a hunch.
One other half is as a result of Brown was the most effective participant on the ground, and also you wish to characteristic that expertise at each flip — particularly when the threes aren’t dropping, and your finest participant can also be an unstoppable power when getting downhill.
When the Celtics are enjoying by Brown, they need to alter how they arrange actions. They will’t job him with creating for others once they’re asking him to function as a play finisher. Moreover, exterior of Tatum, the roster is crammed with self-creators somewhat than real playmakers. So, the strategy should change. White or Vacation should provoke the actions, with the deal with getting Brown going downhill or figuring out of the submit.
In fact, that’s simpler stated than finished when enjoying towards a protection as stern as Orlando’s.
Earlier this season, when the Celtics misplaced to the Golden State Warriors, I famous how Steve Kerr could have laid out a blueprint to stifle the Celtics on the perimeter. Orlando didn’t want a lot assist—they’re ranked third within the NBA for defensive ranking—however they definitely appeared to construct on the platform the Warriors had supplied.
To recap:
The Celtics have struggled towards excessive pick-up factors
Stepping into their air area and below their hips has led to good outcomes for a protection
Bursting by screens to kill spatial creation has led to tough decision-making
Laborious close-out secondary stress coming from the aspect has labored in funneling Boston towards the paint.
Check out that clip above. Orlando’s defensive depth in that possession actually stood out to me — and it was the signal of issues to return as they ramped up their execution within the second half.
“They compelled extra dwell ball turnovers with their stress and their physicality,” Joe Mazzulla stated throughout his postgame information convention. “We had three empty possessions to begin the third quarter…When you get it shut, their workforce thrives on that…As soon as they smelt that they’d an opportunity they had been capable of thrive on that, and it was an in depth recreation, something can occur.”
Once you’re enjoying towards a workforce that is aware of the best way to get into you, and also you’re working in a system designed with another person in thoughts because the spearhead, issues can get a little bit clanky.
Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Brown, Horford and Pritchard all had powerful nights on the perimeter. Watch the above defensive clip once more. Look how shortly the Magic strikes to suffocate any area whereas additionally denying passing lanes and forcing you into tough selections.
Boston’s spacing can alleviate a few of that stress, however now, when the ball isn’t falling from deep—or, extra importantly, when no one is slicing with out the ball and screening actions are scarce exterior of the PnR—Orlando didn’t simply stymie the Celtics’ on-ball creation; they took all the pieces away, leaving Boston wanting just like the roster within the remaining yr of Brad Stevens’ tenure.
Luckily, the Celtics discovered some rhythm on the defensive finish. Their double-big lineup has been a saving grace over the previous few video games, particularly by way of weakside rim safety and additional dimension alongside the baseline.
Seeing Porzingis rotate over and both affect shot releases or get to the shot for a block has been a enjoyable addition to the season. In any case, he’s been lacking a big chunk of the video games to this point, and since he’s been again, it’s clear he’s been working towards full health.
It’s also possible to see Luke Kornet within the above clip. I like how he’s comfy guarding up on the perimeter. He can shift between an ‘up-to-touch’ protection, drop protection and even guarding straight up close to the three-point line. Having Porzingis down on the block makes it way more palatable to have Kornet’s dimension up prime, as you’re not compromising on rim safety or size.
The Celtics could boast one of many league’s finest information (third behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder,) however Orlando is rising as their kryptonite. Whereas Tatum’s absence definitely impacted their offensive rhythm, the Magic’s defensive blueprint uncovered deeper issues about Boston’s capability to regulate when groups efficiently disrupt their most popular offensive patterns — or take away their capability to movement into their early-offense or staple half-court units.
Instance staple motion: ‘Fast Fist’ (this ends in a lob of Luke Kornet.)
These regular-season setbacks may show worthwhile for Mazzulla’s squad, as they spotlight the potential want for counterpunches towards aggressive perimeter protection.
Whereas the Celtics’ offense is intentionally constructed round Tatum’s distinctive skillset—with Brown thriving as an elite play finisher somewhat than a main creator—the Magic have uncovered some vulnerabilities in that strategy when Tatum is out of the rotation.
Come playoff time, Mosley’s younger squad has proven that it has the defensive template and aggressive confidence to problem even the NBA’s elite.
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CelticsBlog graciously allowed this text to be cross-posted from my “Celtics Chronicle” publication.
