#1 – Jaden Springer defensive mission
Who would have thought the Celtics would want assist slowing down Kevin Porter Jr. in opposition to the Clippers’ bench? And who may have seen Jaden Springer because the Celtics’ savior? Effectively, not me.
But, regardless of dealing with a Clippers group lacking Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, Kris Dunn, and Nicolas Batum, the Celtics made issues harder than anticipated. Fortunately, the group is resourceful and deployed certainly one of their defensive jokers: Jaden Springer.
The guard stepped up and performed the ultimate 17 minutes of the sport. His mission was easy: do what not one of the Celtics had been in a position to accomplish—cease Kevin Porter Jr. from scoring. Jaden Springer took satisfaction within the task and caught to Porter Jr. like glue.
Springer didn’t lose him off-ball and refused to modify when the Clippers set screens. Due to his defensive skills and focus, Springer stole the ball 4 instances in 20 minutes and contested Kevin Porter Jr.’s shot makes an attempt as a lot as doable.
With the Celtics struggling offensively (111 offensive ranking in opposition to the Clippers final evening), they wanted Springer’s defensive power to cease the bleeding. His enhance from the bench helped the group shut out and win what may have been a entice recreation.
#2 – Jayson Tatum’s pick-and-roll
Jayson Tatum’s pick-and-roll recreation has been a brilliant spot not too long ago, and the Celtics began the sport by leaning into it. With a few step-up screens from Luke Kornet, the Celtics generated two open threes:
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By involving a 3rd participant like Sam Hauser, they discovered one other strategy to punish the Clippers’ drop protection:
Right here’s one other instance, the place Payton Pritchard faked the display screen and moved to the dunker spot as a substitute, dragging the weak-side defender. This opened the nook once more, thanks to a different Jayson Tatum pick-and-roll:
Tatum additionally used his driving potential when the protection switched or introduced a participant to the extent of the display screen:
Total, this was an important show of Tatum’s evolution as a pick-and-roll creator. He retains bettering, and the Celtics would possibly need to lean on this method extra in crunch time.
#3 – Struggles in opposition to the Clippers’ aggressive protection
The Celtics couldn’t get their offense right into a constant rhythm. Regardless of a stable taking pictures evening (57.4% eFG, 40% from three), the Clippers’ protection—mixing zone, man-to-man, and drop—disrupted Boston’s stream.
The Celtics struggled to reply to the Clippers’ physicality, and the stats mirror it. With solely eight offensive rebounds and 16 made free throws, the group couldn’t match the Clippers’ power and willpower off the bench.
#4 – Couldn’t maintain on to the lead within the clutch
The Celtics additionally struggled to carry their lead. Within the ultimate 60 seconds of regulation, they watched their six-point cushion disappear. After all, dangerous luck performed an element, and maybe Joe Mazzulla ought to have referred to as timeout earlier than Jaylen Brown’s turnover. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that the Celtics have a 118 defensive ranking within the clutch this season—twenty sixth out of 30 groups.
Might this imply the Celtics must step up their protection within the ultimate moments of shut video games?
#5 – Bounce photographs in additional time sealed the win
On the offensive facet, the Celtics discovered success in additional time—due to their leap taking pictures. They began the interval by taking a fast six-point lead with two triples, holding on simply lengthy sufficient to safe the win.
Of their 10 shot makes an attempt in additional time, 9 had been leap photographs. After the early triples, the Celtics made solely certainly one of their subsequent 5 makes an attempt, permitting the Clippers to crawl again into the sport.
In the end, Jaden Springer, the hero of the evening, knocked down a vital jumper from the nook when the Clippers left him open.
#6 – Kornet on DJJ didn’t work out
To take advantage of the Clippers’ lack of taking pictures, Joe Mazzulla and his workers assigned Luke Kornet to Derrick Jones Jr.—a daring transfer. Nevertheless, Jones Jr. isn’t afraid to shoot threes and might assault the rim successfully.
The Celtics have tried this method earlier than, placing Kornet on T.J. McConnell (Pacers) or Aaron Wiggins (OKC). Whereas this technique might help with rim safety, it usually leaves an excessive amount of house for the participant Kornet is guarding. Final evening, Jones Jr. took full benefit of the mismatch.
Jones Jr. completed with a profession excessive, capitalizing on the Celtics’ resolution to stay with this method regardless of its early struggles.
#7 – Clippers on hearth from mid-range
The Clippers had certainly one of their greatest lengthy mid-range performances of the season—a zone the Celtics are normally content material to depart open.
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The Clippers took 16% of their photographs from the lengthy mid-range (96th percentile) and made an unimaginable 71% of them. This effectivity from the least priceless zone on the court docket was outstanding.
#8 – Jaylen and Jayson’s turnover troubles
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mixed for 10 turnovers final evening, and the Clippers made essentially the most of them, changing 82% of the turnovers into shot makes an attempt.
Eight of those turnovers got here within the second half, giving the Clippers the alternatives they wanted to remain within the recreation. The Clippers’ protection knew which buttons to press, utilizing exhausting stunts on Tatum’s drives:
And double-teaming Brown within the put up:
These turnovers practically price the Celtics a much-needed win.
#9 – Is Jaylen Brown’s protection slipping?
A troubling pattern has reappeared—Jaylen Brown’s defensive lapses. Whereas his on-ball protection peaked final season, notably within the Finals in opposition to Luka Dončić, his off-ball protection stays a difficulty. Final evening was an ideal instance.
Brown continues to lose observe of his defensive assignments on baseline cuts and weak-side actions. Usually, his sturdy on-ball protection compensates for these lapses, however final evening, even his on-ball protection was under par:
This decline may be linked to his bodily situation, one thing value monitoring. For now, Brown’s protection isn’t finally season’s stage.
#10 – Second evening in LA with Horford and Porziņģis?
The Celtics face the Lakers tonight, hopefully with extra focus and with Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis again within the lineup. A back-to-back sweep in LA could be a lift for the group and the followers.
