10 takeaways from a developmental loss to the Magic

#1 – Sharing the rock

With solely 12 unassisted area targets made, it’s secure to say that the ball was transferring final evening. With none of the starters, the Keep Prepared group had a chance to shine collectively as a crew. With connectors like Luke Kornet, and shooters like Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser—who like to maneuver with and with out the ball—the ball was transferring to search out the open man.

Pritchard was superb at slicing after passing the ball to a middle. Each Kornet and Neemias Queta had been capable of finding him following a pass-and-go motion, the place Pritchard reduce into open house.

The favourite for the Sixth Man of the Yr award was on each side of the passing recreation, as he scored off assists but in addition delivered 10 assists himself. In transition, or when the protection collapsed on him, he was capable of finding Queta or Kornet on the rim, giving the ball again.

But when the ball was transferring so effectively, it’s as a result of the Celtics’ teaching workers’s playbook was on full show.

#2 – Off-ball motion

The teaching workers made positive the Keep Prepared group was within the recreation to be taught and construct habits inside the Celtics’ offensive system. Within the play beneath for instance, the five-man unit consists of JD Davison, Drew Peterson, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, and Sam Hauser. A quite uncommon lineup, however the play name has been used earlier than by the Celtics. It’s a double drag display adopted by a stagger motion.

So, at first, you could have two screens for the ball handler—the double drag. Cole Anthony goes below the display, there’s no change, so not a lot of a spot is created.

However the true motion begins proper after. As Davison dribbles to the correct, he offers house for Hauser to make use of two off-ball screens from the identical gamers. Certainly, as quickly as Walsh and Queta end screening for Davison, they run to Hauser to set two extra screens—this time off-ball—the stagger motion.

Due to Hauser’s gravity, this attracts three defenders onto him, leaving Walsh open for 3 and giving house for Queta to roll to the rim.

Sadly, the shot was missed—and it wasn’t the one one.

#3 – 18% from deep

Regardless of nice ball and physique motion, as noticed above, the Celtics weren’t in a position to convert these alternatives into factors. They shot 7-for-40 from three, resulting in the worst offensive efficiency throughout all groups this season. Per Cleansing the Glass, the Celtics final evening had the worst:

Offensive score in a recreation this season
Half-court offense in a recreation this season
Three-point proportion in a recreation this season

That’s irritating, as a result of the method appeared good, however the outcomes simply weren’t there. After all, a win wasn’t anticipated given the roster, and Orlando is a robust defensive crew, nevertheless it exhibits the hole between the starters and the remainder of the roster.

#4 – Defensive combine

The Orlando Magic began their recreation by concentrating on Payton Pritchard on protection, trying to rating over him with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. To guard him and strengthen the protection, the Celtics’ teaching workers adjusted effectively by mixing zone and particular person protection throughout numerous possessions.

The zone protection could be very efficient at slowing down the beginning of a possession, because it typically takes away the drive and places strain on the ball handler. Additionally, as a result of the defensive shell is completely different in zone, the offense could be thrown off by the bizarre positioning of the defenders.

Nonetheless, as soon as the offense begins transferring, switching again to particular person protection can function a second impediment—forcing the offense to reset the possession, as no gaps have been created.

#5 – Zoom actions

We appeared on the double drag and stagger actions earlier, however I needed to dive deeper into the assorted zoom actions the Celtics ran final evening—and the way they might assist unlock much more from Baylor Scheierman.

A zoom motion is fairly primary: a participant begins from one facet with out the ball and runs towards it. As he runs, he makes use of a primary display, referred to as a pindown, after which a second display—a handoff—from the participant with the ball. Usually, the primary display is about by a shooter, and the second by a curler. Instance beneath: Sam Hauser units the primary display and Luke Kornet the second.

As a result of the protection doesn’t need to go away Hauser open from three, that forces Baylor’s defender to go behind each screens. Since Scheierman arrives with velocity and management, he can drive as KCP tries to recuperate. With Kornet rolling, the driving lane stays open, and Baylor scoops it in.

Nonetheless, if, like beneath, Kornet’s defender stays excessive, Scheierman can discover the middle on the rim with a pleasant dish.

These actions are easy but extremely efficient for unlocking a participant’s potential. Many growing gamers are examined with these actions as a result of they provide freedom of motion with out the ball, but in addition require robust play-reading and courtroom mapping abilities to make the perfect choice.

#6 – Quite a lot of screens

I don’t have the monitoring numbers for the screens set by the Celtics, nevertheless it felt like they had been always making an attempt to liberate teammates. Right here’s an instance with three on-ball screens—fairly uncommon.

Trying on the stats from NBA.com, Boston scored 19 factors from display assists—twice as many because the Orlando Magic, regardless of scoring solely 76 factors. Teamwork actually makes the dream work.

#7 – Luke Kornet two-way influence

The Celtics misplaced by 20 factors however had a constructive internet score with Luke Kornet on the ground for 26 minutes. Meaning they misplaced by 22 factors within the 22 minutes he was on the bench.

On offense, Kornet was in a position to make good selections with the ball, set environment friendly screens, and provide nice verticality on the rim to compensate for the dearth of spacing.

On protection, whether or not within the double-big lineup or by himself, he was in a position to shield the rim and supply nice assist when his teammates wanted it. Possibly the Celtics might’ve had an opportunity to win if he performed extra, however I feel they’d quite hold him at 20 minutes to maintain him contemporary for the playoffs.

#8 – Scheierman is the true deal

Baylor performed 36 minutes final evening, and regardless of lacking lots of threes, it was one other nice alternative to research the participant he might develop into. Earlier, we checked out how zoom actions can unlock a few of his potential—however there’s extra to his recreation, on each ends of the ground.

Within the instance above, Scheierman begins on the high of the zone, then rotates neatly to comprise the drive and contest the shot. Off the miss, he shortly strikes into offense and drills a 3.

For a rookie, he’s very affected person and good along with his strikes and drives. He is aware of how you can manipulate defenders and when to decelerate to get the perfect layup alternative.

The truth that he’s greater than only a shooter makes him very worthwhile. On drives, he continues to indicate a viable deal with and the energy to complete by means of contact.

Nonetheless questioning how his position will evolve, however he feels just like the Tenth-best participant within the rotation after Sam Hauser.

#9 – The Neemias Queta Expertise

However, it’s laborious to attract clear conclusions about Neemias’ recreation—or his season, even. The vitality is at all times there, the need to offer every thing and influence the sport is clear. However the execution isn’t at all times dependable. There are flashes that make you surprise why he hasn’t develop into extra of a vertical menace or a passing hub from the slot.

After which, there are performs the place you surprise what’s taking place along with his courtroom mapping. Queta remains to be growing, however the basketball IQ hole between him and Kornet felt apparent final evening.

Nonetheless, the protection was nice after they had been each on the ground. He’s been wonderful at switching onto smaller gamers, which makes him very helpful in a tall-ball method.

#10 – Zero ball from the G-League MVP

I used to be very excited to see JD Davison play significant minutes after changing into the G-League MVP, and I loved it so much. Sure, the shot didn’t go in, however the course of was there. His deal with is robust, and he was in a position to get to his spots or discover himself open off-ball.

After scoring 0 factors final evening, it may solely go up—and I’m positive it’s going to. Two extra video games left to play towards Charlotte, and JD ought to have the ability to present why he was the MVP on the massive stage.