On Thursday evening, the Chicago Bulls got here in to TD Backyard and shocked the Celtics, leaving with a 117-108 victory. Boston had their second worst three-point capturing efficiency of the season, simply 25% as a group, and that, too, on 56 makes an attempt. The sport was effectively inside attain all through, and the Celtics had been even main to start out the 4th quarter, however Chicago introduced a late burst of vitality to push themselves excessive, coupled with a psychological collapse by the Celtics.
Whether or not warranted or not, Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown obtained technical fouls in a 3-point sport with simply over 5 minutes to play, and Jayson Tatum obtained one in all his personal simply 2 minutes later. Tonight, the 2 groups match up once more, this time in Chicago.
How a lot focus do the Celtics placed on the paint if the three-point photographs proceed to fail?
The Celtics haven’t budged a lot on the subject of taking threes, averaging over 50 makes an attempt per sport this season. They’ve solely taken beneath 50 makes an attempt ten instances this season, and have a report of 8-2 in such video games, the 2 losses coming to Atlanta (42 3PA) and Cleveland (49 3PA). That being stated, all six of their losses have are available in video games the place they shot at or beneath 40% from three.
Chicago isn’t a type of groups with an intimidating paint protector, Nikola Vucevic averaging simply 0.8 blocks per sport. The Celtics ended up scoring at a 77.3% clip within the circle on Thursday evening, 66.7% within the paint as a complete, which resulted in 44 complete factors. They had been capable of rating there roughly at will, so if the threes proceed to bounce out, possibly we see the Celtics look to assault the paint extra tonight.
Can the Celtics win the rebounding battle?
Within the first matchup towards the Bulls, Boston outrebounded Chicago 51 to 43. In Thursday’s matchup, the Bulls flipped the script, outrebounding the Celtics 56 to 45. In each video games, the Bulls ended the evening with the upper FG%, although by a wider margin within the final sport. If the Celtics wish to win tonight, they’re going to should do a greater job on the boards. Securing additional possessions whereas additionally stopping them for Chicago is one of the best ways to beat poor capturing performances.
Will the Celtics preserve their defensive depth all through the sport?
The Celtics began Thursday’s matchup with a block celebration, recording 3 blocks within the 1st quarter and 1 within the 2nd. There have been at the very least a pair extra photographs that appeared like Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis had been capable of have an effect on, however finally weren’t added on to the stat sheet. They saved the celebration going within the third quarter, with White and Porzingis combining for 3 extra blocks.
The group had a defensive ranking of 110.2 within the 1st half, together with a ranking of 116.7 within the third quarter. Within the 4th quarter, nevertheless, the group had an abysmal defensive ranking of 140.0, which led to a web ranking of -52.0 for the quarter. Even by the attention take a look at, Boston appeared sluggish and uncomposed. By the top, it felt as if Chicago was capable of blow previous Boston’s defenders at will. It appeared as if the Celtics had been getting pissed off, and that frustration boiled over to the purpose the place it was directed on the officers.
In the end, their lack of effort on the defensive finish is what let Thursday’s matchup slip out of their fingers. To keep away from a repeat, they’re going to have to come back out with a chip on their shoulder. Sustaining a robust protection all through the whole thing of the sport is one of the best ways to assist their offense, and assist them come out with a victory.
