10 takeaways from the Celtics outclassing the Suns on both ends

#1 – Jaylen Brown’s effectivity

This has been talked about usually sufficient, so there’s no must dig an excessive amount of into it, however Jaylen Brown’s effectivity hasn’t met expectations this season. For context: among the many 50 gamers averaging greater than 20 factors per recreation, he ranks forty fifth in True Taking pictures share, trailing RJ Barrett and Paolo Banchero.

But final evening, Jaylen Brown scored 31 factors on spectacular effectivity. Let’s take a look at how that was attainable and what it means.

One in every of his first buckets got here from a backdoor lower. Brown’s chopping recreation has kinda disappeared since he turned an All-Star, however that was an enormous a part of his recreation when he was youthful. In his first yr within the league, he was taking 48% of his pictures on the rim. That quantity is now right down to 30%. Extra cuts—particularly within the Celtics’ spacing—might result in simpler pictures and higher effectivity.

One other space the place Jaylen Brown has struggled this season is above-the-break threes (the triples that aren’t from the corners). From there, he has been taking pictures simply 30%, whereas making 44% of his nook threes.

The pull-ups haven’t been falling for JB this season, and that’s why the play under is a superb instance of what he might do to make up for it. With nice persistence, he remoted and attacked Nick Richards to complete above the rim.

Regardless of the dearth of total effectivity, there may be one play kind he has been mastering all season: the post-up. He is likely one of the best gamers on this space, and final evening’s recreation was one other nice instance of why. Along with his bulk and measurement, he can get into the paint and end over his matchup.

One other motion that offers Jaylen loads of freedom is when he has the ball on an empty facet. On the best wing, for instance, that offers him loads of house to drive and assault with out assist from the protection.

General, this efficiency reveals how a lot Jaylen Brown ought to get to the rim and into the paint extra usually—and the way he can profit from the Celtics’ elite spacing.

#2 – Ebook couldn’t prepare dinner properly sufficient

With out Kevin Durant, it was anticipated we’d see loads of Devin Booker. The guard took one-third of the Phoenix Suns’ shot makes an attempt and half of their free-throw makes an attempt. The quantity was spectacular, however the effectivity wasn’t excessive sufficient to compensate for the dearth of expertise round him. With a 59% True Taking pictures share, Devin Booker wasn’t capable of carry out properly sufficient to counter the Celtics’ technique: letting Booker’s teammates attempt to beat them.

The screenshot under completely illustrates what the Celtics had been making an attempt to attain. On the play, there’s a unfold pick-and-roll in the course of the court docket with Booker on one wing. Notice how shut Al Horford is to Booker on the weak facet in comparison with the remainder of the Celtics gamers and their matchups. The Celtics had been pleased to allow them to play four-on-four so long as Devin Booker didn’t get the ball.

When Booker did get the ball, they put loads of stress on him, clogging the driving lanes and sending additional defenders within the pick-and-roll protection. Even when Devin Booker began possessions off-ball, the Celtics’ protection trapped him as quickly as he touched the ball.

With the dearth of supporting solid expertise—and Bradley Beal’s one-point efficiency—Devin Booker tried his finest however couldn’t do something towards the Celtics.

#3 – Jayson Tatum likes to assault huge males

Final evening in Boston wasn’t a great time to be a Suns huge man due to Jayson Tatum. The Celtics’ go-to man spent the sport attacking Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, and Nick Richards. Via drives, pick-and-rolls, and pull-ups, he was capable of dictate the offense and punish the Suns on each change.

The spotlight of that huge man hunt was this dunk over Ryan Dunn, and the evening reminded us all what an enormous man hunter Jayson Tatum may be.

#4 – Horns Flare variations

Somewhat little bit of X and O’s at present within the 10 takeaways. The Celtics used their basic Horns Flare motion. The play begins with a Horns set: two gamers within the corners, two on the free-throw line, and one on the prime. Derrick White handed the ball to Porzingis on the elbow and ran proper to make use of Jayson Tatum’s display on the reverse elbow.

Within the first instance under, Royce O’Neale desires to guard Bradley Beal from Jayson Tatum and stays low… which opens White for 3.

A couple of moments later, the Celtics ran the identical play with the very same set and actions. Nonetheless, this time, O’Neale didn’t wish to depart White open and positioned himself greater… leaving Beal on an island. When Tatum caught the ball, it was too late for Booker to assist—two free throws for the Celtics.

Additionally they ran the identical play with Al Horford later within the recreation.

Nice offensive design from the Celtics teaching employees as soon as once more. They’ve been doing nice work currently.

#5 – Attending to the road

As we simply noticed with Jayson Tatum’s lower to the basket from the Horns Flare, the Celtics had been capable of stretch the protection and get to the road greater than traditional. They’re one of many groups with the bottom free-throw charges (twenty seventh out of 30), with 17.5 free-throw makes an attempt per 100 discipline aim makes an attempt. This isn’t as a consequence of dangerous refereeing, however due to Boston’s shot weight loss plan, which is heavy on jumpers.

But final evening, the Celtics relentlessly attacked the rim by means of drives, cuts, and pick-and-rolls. Due to that emphasis on placing stress on the paint, they had been capable of generate twice as many free throws because the Suns.

#6 – One other Luke Kornet basic

For the second recreation in a row, Luke Kornet grabbed solely offensive rebounds. Is he the perfect NBA participant in relation to extending possessions?

#7 – Forcing powerful floaters

What stood out defensively was the variety of floaters and brief mid-range pictures the Phoenix Suns had been compelled to take—and the way properly the Celtics disrupted them.

From that zone, the Suns are probably the greatest groups within the NBA, taking pictures 48% on makes an attempt between 4 ft from the rim and the free-throw line. Final evening, that effectivity dropped to 34% on 23 makes an attempt—and solely two taking pictures fouls had been drawn.

Nice self-discipline from the Celtics’ rim protectors, who managed to remove the layup whereas nonetheless contesting the floaters.

#8 – Defending the rim in any respect prices

Talking of rim safety, Kristaps Porzingis gave all he had making an attempt to dam this dunk try from Cody Martin.

Fortunately, it turned out to be nothing critical for the Celtics huge man. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that Boston was capable of decrease the Suns’ rim effectivity regardless of Phoenix being the perfect crew within the NBA at rim discipline aim share (71%).

#9 – Brown & Kornet alley-oops

In a earlier 10 takeaways, we talked about Luke Kornet’s rising synergy within the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. Final evening, we received a take a look at Luke’s creating reference to Jaylen Brown, too.

Throughout the fourth quarter, the Celtics ran two pick-and-rolls in a row for JB and Kornet. Each performs led to nice alley-oop alternatives—stopped solely by Bradley Beal fouls.

Luke Kornet’s development as a rim runner and Jaylen Brown’s passing enhancements had been on full show.

#10 – New 3-point report

The Celtics broke the report for many three-pointers in an everyday season. Any ideas from Joe Mazzulla?