10 takeaways from the Celtics outlasting the Magic’s physical defense

#1 – Jaylen Brown carrying the offense

Going into the sport, there have been a variety of questions concerning who would lead the offense and inherit Jayson Tatum’s offensive load. Jaylen Brown was the plain reply, however there had been doubts concerning his well being for a couple of weeks. It may have been Kristaps Porzingis too, however the dimension and bodily sport of the Orlando Magic doesn’t actually swimsuit the Latvian large man. In fact, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and the remainder of the rotation had been anticipated to tackle extra duties too, however it was attention-grabbing to investigate who was going to be the go-to man to begin the sport.

The reply is Jaylen Brown, who retains giving nice hope concerning his restoration. To begin the sport, he scored 12 of the primary 17 factors for the Celtics. Appearing each as a creator and a finisher, Jaylen Brown was in a position to generate factors in opposition to a really spectacular Magic protection.

And what he did to begin the second half? He scored the primary six factors as effectively! He hunted down Carter Jr. and pulled up proper over him. An awesome search for the 2024 Finals MVP after a couple of weeks of doubts and rumors about his knee.

Later within the sport, there was a formidable sequence the place he drove on Paolo Banchero, completed on the rim, after which used his size to steal the ball and dunk in transition. It’s onerous to say if he’s at 100%, however he hasn’t regarded that good in a very long time.

Cherry on the cake, JB was actually clutch with a phenomenal jumper over Banchero’s head. The ball rose so excessive, it virtually went off the display screen.

Is Jaylen Brown again?

#2 – Punishing the Magic in the event that they change

Earlier than the sport, I requested Jamahl Mosley what he thought had labored greatest throughout Sport 1 when it comes to defensive protection. He didn’t actually reply the query and as a substitute emphasised that communication was an vital defensive talent as a staff.

From the surface, it looks like switching was their most suitable choice. As a result of most of their gamers are bodily and tall sufficient to offer the Celtics a very good problem, they aren’t too frightened by the mismatch hunt. Plus, the mismatch hunt slowed down the Celtics’ offense. They pile up screens, and the ball doesn’t at all times transfer a lot after they begin in search of a mismatch to assault.

But, the Celtics had been in a position to generate some nice high quality photographs by going after Cory Joseph and Cole Anthony, or the slower Wendell Carter. Right here, for instance, Jaylen Brown drove and dragged two defenders into the paint, then kicked out to Jrue Vacation — who did what he hardly ever does: he dunked!

Within the second quarter, the Celtics insisted with Porzingis and gave him some nice post-up alternatives. After a gradual begin, he was in a position to get going, and that modified all the things for the Celtics — particularly with Tatum sidelined.

So, you is perhaps questioning: what occurs in the event that they don’t change? Nicely, they get punished, too.

#3 – Punishing them too in the event that they don’t

Seeing how a lot the Celtics are scoring from mismatch conditions, logic would counsel that the Magic want one other strategy. Nonetheless, these different approaches are creating much more gaps within the protection. Early within the sport, they tried to double and get well to place stress on the ball handler. That would work, however the Celtics have such nice shooters and gamers in a position to play within the quick roll that it doesn’t cease the bleeding.

Later within the sport, they tried to play with Goga Bitadze. Whereas Wendell Carter Jr. is a middle who switches rather a lot, Bitadze is especially utilized in drop protection. So, when he enters the sport and has to defend a sideline motion, the Celtics know how you can punish that. The teaching workers referred to as for a stagger — two screens in the midst of the courtroom for a shooter. As Bitadze stays low, Anthony Black has to struggle by way of the screens, which leaves Pritchard open lengthy sufficient. Bingo.

So sure, the Celtics can punish the Magic after they change — however the invoice is even increased after they attempt totally different defensive approaches.

#4 – 1-3-1 zone protection late within the 1st

Due to their lack of taking pictures, the Magic rely closely on particular person scoring from Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. To take action, they hunt one of the best matchup doable. A great way to cease that’s to show from particular person protection into zone protection.

As a result of the Magic gamers aren’t actually threatening from past the three-point line, it turns into simpler to defend in a zone. Plus, that strategy takes away particular person scoring because the courtroom will get crowded. Final however not least, the Celtics typically use it after a timeout to counter the play the coaches have drawn.

It’s a win-win — however it may be onerous to execute typically. I requested Joe Mazzulla how he felt concerning the Celtics’ zone protection execution, and he gave an awesome perception into what labored, what didn’t, and the aim of that zone.

#5 – Getting KP going

After making just one shot in Sport 1, there have been expectations for Kristaps Porzingis. The primary quarter was a gradual begin, however the spacing he generates nonetheless brings a variety of worth. When he got here again within the second quarter, the Celtics drew a play to get him going, serving to him join with the TD Backyard crowd.

Lower than a minute later, by enjoying quick, the Celtics had been capable of finding him in a post-up the place he had sufficient area to regulate the offense and rating one other bucket.

Total, he completed with 20 factors and 10 rebounds — a strong bounce-back efficiency from the Latvian large man. However the storyline of his sport wasn’t associated to his field rating.

#6 – Till he bleeds once more

Sure, Kristaps Porzingis discovered a strategy to bleed once more on the TD Backyard courtroom. Each the followers and Joe Mazzulla beloved it. In a sport the place the Magic gamers had been actually bodily, KP determined to return again to shoot the free throws regardless of the bleeding.

Slowly however absolutely, Porzingis is constructing himself a legacy within the hearts of Celtics followers — and he’s grateful for that chance. When requested why he had the need to return again whatever the harm, he talked about all of the lows he’s skilled in his profession. Boston, for him, is a novel alternative to play on the highest degree — and he received’t let that go.

#7 – Jrue Vacation’s will to drive

Since Jrue Vacation was traded to the Celtics, he has performed a special offensive position than earlier than. Since carrying the gorgeous inexperienced, he has performed extra like a connector and a finisher, leaving creation duties to Jaylen and Jayson. But final night time felt totally different.

We already talked about his dunk — which is fairly uncommon for him. However there was extra to it. He drove in opposition to Paolo Banchero and completed on the rim. The extent of aggressiveness with the ball in his fingers was increased than regular, and he used the spacing at its greatest.

Normally, he doesn’t drive and kick; he’s often on the receiving finish of those actions and solely triggers when he will get the ball within the nook. Nicely, final night time, when it mattered probably the most, he was in a position to drive and kick it to Brown, who hit the triple that killed the sport.

After a season of coping with accidents, it’s an awesome signal to see him transfer so effectively with the ball in his fingers, in a position to create offense whereas Jayson Tatum is resting.

#8 – After which, Derrick White occurred

Earlier than Jaylen Brown got here up clutch within the final minutes, there was a second the place the offense felt caught and the Magic had been getting actually shut. However that is additionally the second when Derrick White become a famous person for a minute and made not one however two pull-up triples.

After a gradual sport, Derrick White retains delivering when it issues. He has the texture, the contact, and the boldness to show right into a go-to man when the Celtics want him to step up.

#9 – Payton Pritchard celebrating

Earlier than the sport, Pritchard acquired the well-deserved Sixth Man of the Yr trophy. That would have been a very good cause to chill out and benefit from the second — however that’s not Pritchard’s approach. He talked about earlier than the sport that he was glad for a second, however rapidly remembered there was a sport to win the subsequent day, and a title to struggle for.

All through the sport, he confirmed actually good resistance in opposition to Paolo Banchero when he was looking him and located alternative ways to attain. Late within the sport, he additionally got here up clutch with a really sensible baseline reduce and an and-one on Carter Jr. — spectacular for the small guard.

Like the remainder of the Celtics, Payton Pritchard stepped up and delivered one other high-quality efficiency off the bench.

#10 – The Magic are fouling, rather a lot

There’s one statistical reality that completely highlights the extent of physicality within the Orlando Magic protection: the Celtics took solely 4 extra three-pointers than free throws (37 vs. 33). The earlier this collection ends, the higher for the Celtics — who’ve the next likelihood of getting injured because it goes on.