#1 – Empty aspect offense is again
In the course of the Japanese Convention Finals final 12 months, the Boston Celtics used plenty of empty aspect offense. In the event you’re not acquainted with this method, it’s fairly easy. As a substitute of attacking from the center of the court docket, like NBA offenses typically do, the Celtics begin from a aspect the place the nook is empty.
On high of that, they make certain Al Horford, or whoever is defended by the rim protector, is sitting on the slot on the alternative aspect. This 5-slot setup was popularized by Quin Snyder with the Hawks. It makes it very troublesome for a protection with a defensive anchor to return assist. Certainly, they need to hold Myles Turner as shut as attainable to the paint, so the remainder of the ground should be coated by 4 gamers as a substitute of 5.
Enjoying from one empty aspect makes it even tougher as a result of the assistance can not come from the sturdy aspect, as there isn’t any one within the nook. It could possibly’t come from the baseline, as there may be additionally nobody there. Subsequently, it might solely come from the highest or the alternative nook, which places the protection a step behind and may open up alternatives for three-point photographs.
To benefit from this, the Celtics can both run pick-and-roll, realizing there received’t be any assist coming from the low man, or they will use their velocity to drive or their power to publish up, realizing that the assistance is simply too far to trouble them. Chess, not checkers.
#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam
Going through a powerful frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner could possibly be troublesome for many defenses, particularly with two of the most effective defensive gamers out (Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis). But, the Celtics have the instruments to adapt to most of their opponents.
Myles Turner is a pick-and-pop sort of heart, due to his taking pictures skill. Subsequently, it will be robust to comprise his duo with Tyrese Haliburton if the Celtics determined to drop with Al Horford. As a substitute of forcing Al to modify onto Haliburton, they put Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum on Myles Turner and hold Al away from the motion.
This has the additional benefit of Al Horford enjoying protection on Siakam one-on-one within the publish or isolation. As we’ve seen in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless do this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t think about Siakam a taking pictures risk, the Indiana Pacers received’t profit from nice spacing since Al stays near the paint when Siakam doesn’t have the ball.
#3 – Celtics unbothered by Pacers mixing up coverages
The Celtics have constructed a popularity for struggling in opposition to zone protection, however that wasn’t the case final night time. Whereas mixing zone and particular person protection, the Pacers tried their greatest to maintain Myles Turner near the rim.
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Nonetheless, the Celtics’ ball motion made it inconceivable for the Pacers to maintain up. By desirous to restrict entry to the rim, they had been compelled to go away the corners open.
The Pacers’ protection couldn’t match the Celtics’ motion, and the offense didn’t have sufficient juice to compensate.
#4 – Celtics put stress early on out-of-juice Pacers
The night time earlier than dealing with the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Going through two of the most effective groups within the NBA in 24 hours isn’t precisely within the Christmas spirit, however the Celtics took benefit of it.
Proper from the beginning, the Celtics put onerous stress on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even high the Indiana Pacers’ fast model of play.
On protection, they picked up the ball handler early and tried to power turnovers as a lot as attainable. By choosing up the ball handler at half-court, they compelled onerous passes, and Jaylen Brown was there to capitalize on them.
#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest
Jaylen Brown stays one in all, if not the most effective, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final night time in opposition to the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up a bit with a few simple dunks… after which exploded on Myles Turner!
Thirty seconds later, he stole the ball from Myles Turner and ran away with it to complete with an exquisite windmill dunk—gracious.
#6 – Jordan Walsh concerned early
With just a few gamers out, it was anticipated to see some minutes from the “keep prepared” group. This time, it was Jordan Walsh who was invited to the present. Nonetheless, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching workers had fairly a troublesome project for him: stopping the good TJ McConnell. TJ is perhaps some of the disruptive gamers, all the time shifting with or with out the ball—realizing how you can trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.
It was an excellent problem for the rookie and confirmed that he is perhaps extra suited to guarding a unique sort of offensive participant. Certainly, after just a few minutes, he received caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. Somewhat later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the fast Pacers guard.
On offense, Walsh was extra lively than regular, able to set screens or crash the offensive boards. That is what the Celtics need him to do whereas ready for his deal with and close-out assault to turn into a brand new weapon.
On this final motion late within the sport, we might see flashes of an already improved deal with and passing. Is it actual? May this translate into significant minutes past rubbish time?
#7 – Payton Pritchard’s versatile sport is rising
Towards the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply taking pictures. As talked about earlier, he was a significantly better matchup for TJ McConnell and blocked him on the Pacers’ first attempt to drive on him.
On the offensive aspect, Payton delivered fairly the efficiency. Not as a result of he flirted with a triple-double, however as a result of he impacted the offense in varied methods. Off-ball, as regular, we noticed him working and creating chaos within the protection. And with the ball, we witnessed new methods of utilizing him.
Towards Tyrese Haliburton, we noticed him play the post-up (not the empty aspect set talked about earlier). His sturdy core and low heart of gravity make him capable of overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On high of this uncommon method, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced sport plan.
#8 – Third-quarter play name to maintain the Pacers away
The Pacers had been dominated and drained however remained shut till the fourth quarter. With the amount of three-pointers as of late, no lead is protected. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their sport plan.
Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display earlier than popping to the three-point line whereas Derrick White had the ball. This forces Bennedict Mathurin to be behind Jayson Tatum, and Horford pops Turner away. Subsequently, D-White solely needed to ship a pleasant go above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.
One other set that labored very well (and ought to be used extra typically) got here in the midst of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display for Jayson Tatum. Myles Turner hedges onto Tatum whereas Mathurin recovers, giving Horford time to be open on the three-point line whereas Jaylen Brown creates extra confusion by setting a second display. An awesome use of the Jays’ scoring threats.
#9 – Boston’s offensive feast
Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was superb final night time, in some ways. First, they’d a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, among the finest marks of the season concerning taking pictures effectivity.
On high of that, they dominated the possession battle with solely 11% turnovers whereas grabbing 39% of offensive rebounds after a miss! In addition they efficiently generated simple factors with extra free throws than regular.
An awesome general offensive sport, and it will have been onerous to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.
#10 – Effectively-deserved Gino time
Like a late Christmas present, the TD Backyard was lastly capable of take pleasure in a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. May they lengthen the Gino Time streak into the brand new 12 months?
