10 takeaways from Boston’s composed dismantling of the Blazers

#1 – Jayson Tatum unstoppable scoring

With Jaylen Brown out for just a few video games, the Celtics’ opponents can focus their protection on Jayson Tatum—and the Portland Path Blazers did simply that. But, Tatum as soon as once more confirmed he can get himself entering into any state of affairs. On the primary ball display with Al Horford, Tatum snakes the pick-and-roll and places Toumani Camara on his again. Then, he waits till the final second to vary course on his drive, dropping Donovan Clingan and opening a path to the rim.

His nice shot-making was additionally on show final evening with this stunning fadeaway following a cut up motion with Luke Kornet and JD Davison. It was a terrific reminder of his elite capturing contact from the mid-range, the place he hit eight discipline objectives.

The Celtics focused numerous mismatches, and within the second half, the purpose was to make Clingan swap onto Jayson Tatum. First, they ran a flare display off the ball—this appears to be like like a play that OKC typically runs for Chet Holmgren as a trailer. Right here, the Celtics are enjoying in from a made basket, but it surely works too.

On the subsequent play, the Celtics use Horford once more as a ball handler on a handoff. This two-man sport pressured Clingan to change as soon as extra onto Tatum, and the All-NBA ahead punished it with a four-point play.

From mid-range, on the rim, or from three, Jayson Tatum stored killing the Portland Path Blazers’ protection — however what about his playmaking?

#2 – And his versatile playmaking

The synergy with Luke Kornet was very apparent once more. With or with out the ball, Kornet’s screening capacity and Jayson Tatum’s offensive really feel generated high-quality appears to be like. Right here, Tatum makes use of the flare display away from the ball to free himself and finds Kornet for the alley-oop.

On the very subsequent play, one other nice pick-and-roll navigation from Tatum, who finds his approach between two defenders following a Kornet display. The defensive shell cracks as he finds Davison within the nook, who swings it to Baylor Scheierman, who fakes and pulls up from three. This gained’t depend as an help for JT, however as soon as once more, he’s the initiator and playmaker.

On the finish, Jayson Tatum as soon as once more comes near a triple double with 9 assists and 9 rebounds alongside 30 factors.

#3 – Scheierman early minutes

With Payton Pritchard’s early foul hassle, the rookie was referred to as into obligation fairly early within the sport. He shortly made an influence with a sensible drive-and-kick from the nook. He will get the ball and is affected person sufficient to trick his matchup into pondering he would possibly shoot, then drives into the paint because the protection collapses, and finds Derrick White open for 3.

As soon as once more, he additionally confirmed nice instincts on protection by being well-positioned and displaying plenty of vitality. On the identical play, he tried to attract a cost, then obtained again up, fought for the rebound, and secured the ball.

Currently, he has been the primary participant referred to as outdoors the same old rotation, and it’s straightforward to grasp why.

#4 – Punishing Clingan drop protection

Mount Clingan is tough to climb, however fortunately, the Celtics can do plenty of harm from deep. They seemed for methods to both make the massive man go away the paint or punish his deep positioning with open pictures. Essentially the most primary motion is a straightforward pick-and-roll to generate an open pull-up three.

The Celtics additionally put the ball in Horford’s fingers to pull Clingan away from the rim. Within the play under, they first tried a stagger twirl motion—a few off-ball screens with a lower within the center—however this didn’t open something. So, Baylor Scheierman obtained right into a two-man motion with Horford to assault Clingan’s lack of mobility. The 2 drives and kicks led by the rookie collapsed the protection and opened one other clear look.

With Horford on the court docket, the Celtics additionally ran plenty of pick-and-pop with him. This play is understood to be a drop protection killer.

The final instance — and my favourite — got here late within the second quarter with a sideline motion. The Celtics used Kornet as a connector on a handoff to pull Clingan away from the rim and power a assist from the nook.

#5 – Nice capturing evening from Sam Hauser

The electrical Celtics shooter hit eight triples—a powerful mark that highlights how good he has been currently. During the last 20 video games, he’s capturing over 42% from three, a terrific signal heading into the postseason.

One play stood out to me and showcased what a terrific offensive reader he’s. Within the second half, he executed a Danny Inexperienced lower completely. The Blazers had been mixing particular person and zone defenses. To trick them, Hauser moved their backs from one nook to the opposite, used the ball’s gravity to be forgotten, and punished them for leaving him open.

#6 – Kornet offensive influence

In lower than 20 minutes, the Celtics’ reserve huge man scored 13 factors with no miss, grabbed three offensive rebounds, and delivered three assists. Whereas Horford was helpful for spacing the ground, Kornet’s capacity to attach performs and dominate the glass helped so much. His verticality additionally gives a type of spacing, vertical spacing, we may name it.

Luke Kornet enjoying above everybody is a superb reminder that court docket geometry is cubic, not flat. If a participant can’t house the ground horizontally, he can nonetheless be a vertical menace.

#7 – Payton Pritchard particular evening

For the primary time this season, the Celtics’ sixth man was within the beginning 5—prepared to tug the set off near the Oregon faculty the place he made his identify within the NCAA. Final time he confronted Portland, Pritchard scored his profession excessive, and he’s normally at his finest towards this staff.

Nevertheless, the sport didn’t begin as anticipated. On account of foul hassle, he was shortly changed by Baylor Scheierman. The rookie additionally began in his place within the second half, whereas Pritchard returned to the bench. However coming off the bench within the second half put him in his extra pure function, and he bounced again with a terrific efficiency.

Absolutely, his mother and father had been pleased about it.

#8 – Al Horford is preparing for the Playoffs

Slowly however absolutely, Al Horford is enjoying nearer to the rim late within the season. Because the Playoffs strategy, the Celtics need to guarantee all their scoring choices are prepared. This sport felt like most up-to-date ones the place Horford was requested to focus on mismatches and contribute inside.

The visible impression that Horford is enjoying nearer to the rim is backed by the numbers. With 38% of his scoring now coming within the paint, it appears he has adjusted his shot distribution to be nearer to the bucket, diversifying the Celtics’ offense.

#9 – Jayson Tatum and the referees

Regardless of a excessive utilization fee and plenty of paint makes an attempt, Jayson Tatum shot solely seven free throws—and it was clear he was pissed off with the referees.

Ought to Tatum get extra calls? With solely 11% of his possessions ending in capturing fouls this season, that’s near a profession low. However on the identical time, his rim frequency can be near a profession low. Laborious to get calls on soar pictures.

#10 – Prepared for Sacramento

No relaxation for the Celtics. Tonight, they’re enjoying the Sacramento Kings—an offense-minded staff that dominated Boston earlier this season. But, issues have modified since then, and the Celtics are actually one of the best highway staff within the league. Ought to be a enjoyable one!