Despite the fact that it hasn’t appeared onerous for the Celtics over the previous few seasons, successful within the NBA is tough, irrespective of the opponent. Successful with out your two finest gamers is much more tough and the Celtics discovered a manner to try this on Tuesday night time. With out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics discovered a approach to beat the Brooklyn Nets, 104-96.
Brooklyn won’t be one of many higher groups within the league however they play onerous and have good gamers on the roster. Nevertheless, 25 factors, 13 rebounds and three blocks for Kristaps Porzingis and a profession excessive 20 factors and 6 three pointers for Baylor Scheierman performed an enormous half in Boston successful earlier than hitting the street for a six-game journey.
It was on the defensive finish that Boston actually shined. The Celtics held the Nets to an offensive score of 104.8; admittedly, Brooklyn’s offense hasn’t been good this season at 109.2 (twenty seventh within the NBA), however Boston’s protection was nonetheless actually good, holding them under their season common.
Producing baskets has been onerous for Boston with out Tatum or Brown on the ground this season and it was onerous for the Celtics to take action on Tuesday night time. 104 factors is down from their 116.8 season common and their 110.6 offensive score is down from 119.1 offensive score they’d coming into the night time.
Nevertheless, they did discover methods to attain sufficient factors on this one.
A method Boston was capable of generate some open appears to be like have been by Porzingis post-ups. In reality, the primary two Boston baskets got here off of KP post-ups.
KP will get good place on Cam Johnson within the submit, one dribble will get him to his spot on the low block the place he’s fouled and will get the and-1 alternative.
To have the ability to seal off D’Angelo Russell on his hip after which catch the ball whereas ending with one arm, multi functional movement, is unbelievable stuff from Porzingis. “Oh, come on,” is an ideal response by Jackie MacMullan.
Jrue Vacation and Al Horford passes have been one other manner Boston was capable of generate good open appears to be like. Vacation completed with 8 assists whereas Horford completed with 6.
On this one, Al catches the ball off of the quick roll and as soon as he notices the protection collapse, he kicks it out to a large open Scheierman, who drains the three.
With no one within the paint, Jrue assaults the protection on a drive and will get it to break down round him, resulting in the kick out to a wide-open Sam Hauser three.
Jrue once more assaults the protection with a dribble-drive, blowing previous Day’Ron Sharpe. Scheierman makes an amazing reduce off and Jrue makes a really spectacular soar move resulting in the layup.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the hubs for the Boston Celtics on each ends of the courtroom. Nevertheless, it’s the offensive finish which they’re featured most prominently. The Celtics have struggled to attain with them on the bench this season and whereas it was not all the time fairly on Tuesday night time, they discovered a approach to rating sufficient factors and win the sport.
