10 takeaways from the Celtics experimenting their way past the Jazz

#1 – Leaning into Porzingis passing

Just a few weeks in the past in January, when the Celtics’ offense was struggling a bit of, I recommended in an article that Kristaps Porzingis’ passing may assist the Celtics add some versatility to their offense. Certainly, due to his dimension and gravity, the area on the ground is totally different when he has the ball on the prime or from the post-up.

Final evening, by means of numerous actions, the Celtics designed their offense to compensate for Jaylen Brown’s absence, and Porzingis’ passing was one of many keys. Utilizing the Latvian as an offensive hub disrupts the defensive construction as a result of he both drags the rim protector away from the paint, or the mismatch causes a double staff and opens issues up for his teammates.

Excellent self-discipline from the Celtics. They noticed this sport as a chance to strive new approaches and hold sharpening their instruments, even in opposition to a 16-win staff. Curious to see if this new offensive development will stay in opposition to among the finest groups and within the Playoffs.

#2 – Empty facet pick-and-roll

Because the Celtics tried to make use of scheme, in addition they labored on their normal performs. One in every of these performs is a pick-and-roll on an empty facet. As nobody is within the strong-side nook, the defensive assist choices are totally different. Subsequent to the choose, the Celtics like to put a participant on the prime so the ball could be swung to him earlier than he passes it to the participant down within the paint. That is the play the Celtics used to take an enormous lead in opposition to the Lakers within the third quarter a couple of weeks in the past.

Final evening, the Celtics did it once more in opposition to the Jazz with Horford and Porzingis transferring in area. The construction of this play name can take totally different varieties, because the ball-handler might be anybody between Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, or Jayson Tatum right here; and the screener might be actually any of the gamers on the courtroom, because the Celtics love to combine the matchups.

The Celtics’ half-court offense is quantity two in effectivity this season, and Joe Mazzulla’s modern playbook is among the the explanation why.

#3 – Jazz placing the large in rotation

Final evening’s sport was additionally insightful in displaying how offenses may attempt to break the Celtics’ defensive shell. As they performed some minutes with two bigs on the ground, the Jazz tried to generate motion and compelled the large man to be within the rotation. An awesome instance under exhibits two ghost screens that induced Al Horford to be switched onto the ball-handler. This isn’t one of the best state of affairs for Al, much more so if he has to take care of a pick-and-roll. As Horford defends on the ball, Porzingis is the choose defender—and that’s what the Jazz have been aiming for. As a result of Horford and Porzingis are much less cellular than the opposite gamers on the courtroom, and higher at rim safety, forcing them to each defend the pick-and-roll turned the Celtics’ protection the other way up and generated some gaps.

There are methods to stop that, comparable to zone protection or off-ball switching. But, I believe it is very important discover that even tanking groups can discover weaknesses to use, and there are tactical insights to be realized in each sport of the common season.

#4 – Containing Sexton

The second defensive problem for the Celtics was to discover a option to decelerate Collin Sexton. You may not understand it, however Collin Sexton is secretly one of the vital environment friendly guards over the past two seasons, and he confirmed it fairly nicely final evening in Salt Lake Metropolis.

Like Tyrese Maxey or Donovan Mitchell, Sexton is the kind of participant the Celtics have a tough time coping with, as they’re a bit quicker than Derrick White or Jrue Vacation. Regardless of their lack of dimension, these quick guards normally do nicely in opposition to the Celtics’ elite protection.

Sooner or later within the sport, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching workers had seen sufficient and determined to cease Collin Sexton, difficult the opposite 4 gamers on the courtroom to beat them. They began blitzing Sexton on the pick-and-roll, forcing him to provide the ball to one among his teammates.

After they began pressuring the Jazz guard, the rating was 67–60 and he had scored 26 factors in 20 minutes. He performed 15 extra minutes and scored solely 4 extra factors, and the Utah Jazz offense couldn’t sustain within the second half. Nice adjustment from the teaching workers.

#5 – Tatum defensive playmaking

Talking of protection, Jayson Tatum began the sport sturdy with three steals within the first quarter. Normally, the Celtics aren’t too aggressive relating to forcing turnovers. Nevertheless, the Utah Jazz’s ball administration is one among their weaknesses, and the Celtics knew they might put stress on their offense and create transition in the event that they have been pugnacious on the ball and within the passing lanes.

Due to this strategy, the Celtics scored 22% of their factors off the Jazz’s turnovers—an awesome mark for a staff that normally has a extra conservative strategy.

#6 – Derrick White three behind-the-back steals

Just lately, Jack Simone, former author for CelticsBlog, did an insightful video on Derrick White’s secret defensive abilities.

Nicely, Derrick White’s steals from behind may nonetheless be a secret for some groups, as the previous Spur was capable of pressure three turnovers from these conditions. In transition or in a half-court set, the defensive-minded guard was capable of show nice hand and eye coordination to generate transition for the Inexperienced Military.

#7 – Put up-up offense

Regardless of being pictured as a really trendy offense with a number of threes, the Celtics are additionally dominating in one of the vital old-school play varieties: the post-up. With virtually seven actions completed with a post-up try, the Celtics are the third staff with essentially the most of those actions this season.

Final evening, with Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics punished the Jazz’s particular person defensive weaknesses by posting up repeatedly. Regardless of not being a really environment friendly offensive strategy (1.03 factors per possession on post-ups), the post-up typically tricked the protection into committing a foul or sending two gamers to the ball.

#8 – Luke Kornet rim safety

Primarily based on latest statistical analysis from Owen Phillips, Luke Kornet has been the most effective rim protectors this season.

In drop protection, when the Jazz tried to assault his lack of mobility or in transition, Luke Kornet as soon as once more disrupted a superb share of the rim makes an attempt when he was on the courtroom.

Having each him and Kristaps Porzingis on the roster is extremely beneficial for the Celtics’ rim safety.

#9 – Is Baylor Scheierman the brand new tenth man?

So, sure, he didn’t rating a single level, however Baylor performed 12 minutes in final evening’s sport. The season is nearly over and the Playoffs begin in lower than a month, main me to ask: Have Baylor Scheierman’s latest performances made him the tenth man within the Celtics’ rotation?

#10 – The Cavaliers are solely 5 wins away

What would have sounded completely insane per week in the past might sound much less loopy right this moment: can the Celtics meet up with the Cavaliers? As Boston has one of many best remaining schedules within the NBA and Cleveland is struggling to get again within the win column, may or not it’s attainable for Joe Mazzulla’s staff to finish up on the prime of the Japanese Convention? Or ought to the Celtics deal with resting the staff earlier than the Playoffs? Time will inform.