There’s one thing in regards to the Orlando Magic that provides the Boston Celtics matches. Orlando at the moment are 3-2 over their final 5 video games towards the reigning champs.
Dec. 18, 2022: Magic 95, Celtics 92
Nov. 24, 2023: Magic 113, Celtics 96
Dec. 15, 2023: Celtics 128, Magic 111
Dec. 17, 2023: Celtics 114, Magic 97
Dec. 23, 2024: Magic 108, Celtics 104
Not many groups boast a profitable document towards Joe Mazzulla’s workforce. But one way or the other, a way, Jahmal Mosley has found out a recipe to concoct distress.
Boston’s night time bought off to a nasty begin when Jayson Tatum was a late scratch because of sickness. Subsequently, we had one other night time when the Celtics’ core beginning 5 was unable to get some much-needed reps in.
We’re 29 video games into the season, and the beginning lineup of Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis has performed a grand whole of 187 possessions collectively. They averaged -4 factors per 100 possessions over the small pattern measurement.
With out Tatum on the ground, the Celtics appeared to Brown to steer the road — each as the first scorer and lead playmaker.
Coming into final season, the narrative surrounding Brown was constructed on his assist-to-turnover ratio. Mazzulla’s system emphasizes ball and participant motion, so questions over Brown’s means to manage and dictate play pale into the background.
Nonetheless, after 568 regular-season video games, Brown’s assist-to-turnover price stays near 1:1. He’s dished out 1416 dimes and turned it over 1181. That’s an AST:TOV of 1.2/1.
So, it ought to be no shock that towards the Magic, Boston’s ball motion fell by the wayside. Look, this isn’t a knock on Brown. He’s taken vital leaps together with his passing and defensive manipulation lately. Moreover, it’s essential to do not forget that playmaking and assists are associated however not the identical. They’re cousins, or higher but, second cousins.
Take this play, for instance. Brown might have gotten the help, however his move was geared toward making a give-and-go with Horford. As an alternative, his exhausting lower to the rim ended up being his playmaking second, drawing the protection and making some extra area for Horford to get his shot off.
The move was inconsequential; the lower created the play. Though each facets are associated, just one made a real impression.
Why is that this essential? As a result of for many of this sport, Boston’s ball motion was a shadow of its typical self. As an alternative, we noticed extra ‘excessive’ and ‘facet’ pick-and-roll, with a heavy dose of isolation basketball. Why? As a result of that’s the place Brown thrives, and with out Tatum within the rotation, there wasn’t a real creator on the ground.
“There’s no purpose to be upset that we misplaced, as a result of this workforce is constructed round Jayson Tatum,” Billy Calabrese mentioned on at the moment’s Celtics Chronicle podcast. “They’re not constructed round Jaylen Brown. If Jaylen Brown was the primary choice. Brad would have a completely totally different type of workforce round him. He’d have higher ball handlers round him. He’d have a unique sort of bigs round him. However this workforce is constructed to intensify Jayson Tatum. And that features Jaylen Brown.”
Brown is an elite ahead—among the finest within the league. Nevertheless, he’s not some extent ahead or main ball-handler, but that was the position he was tasked with taking part in. A part of that is because of Derrick White’s working by a hunch.
One other half is as a result of Brown was the very best participant on the ground, and also you need to function that expertise at each flip — particularly when the threes aren’t dropping, and your greatest participant can also be an unstoppable pressure when getting downhill.
When the Celtics are taking part in by Brown, they have to regulate how they arrange actions. They will’t process him with creating for others once they’re asking him to function as a play finisher. Moreover, outdoors of Tatum, the roster is full of self-creators relatively than real playmakers. So, the method should change. White or Vacation should provoke the actions, with the deal with getting Brown going downhill or figuring out of the publish.
After all, that’s simpler mentioned than achieved when taking part in towards a protection as stern as Orlando’s.
Earlier this season, when the Celtics misplaced to the Golden State Warriors, I famous how Steve Kerr might have laid out a blueprint to stifle the Celtics on the perimeter. Orlando didn’t want a lot assist—they’re ranked third within the NBA for defensive score—however they actually appeared to construct on the platform the Warriors had offered.
To recap:
The Celtics have struggled towards excessive pick-up factors
Entering into their air area and below their hips has led to good outcomes for a protection
Bursting by screens to kill spatial creation has led to tough decision-making
Exhausting close-out secondary strain coming from the facet has labored in funneling Boston towards the paint.
Check out that clip above. Orlando’s defensive depth in that possession actually stood out to me — and it was the signal of issues to come back as they ramped up their execution within the second half.
“They pressured extra stay ball turnovers with their strain and their physicality,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned throughout his postgame information convention. “We had three empty possessions to start out the third quarter…When you get it shut, their workforce thrives on that…As soon as they smelt that they’d an opportunity they had been in a position to thrive on that, and it was a detailed sport, something can occur.”
Once you’re taking part in towards a workforce that is aware of easy methods to get into you, and also you’re working in a system designed with another person in thoughts because the spearhead, issues can get a bit of clanky.
Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Brown, Horford and Pritchard all had powerful nights on the perimeter. Watch the above defensive clip once more. Look how shortly the Magic strikes to suffocate any area whereas additionally denying passing lanes and forcing you into tough choices.
Boston’s spacing can alleviate a few of that strain, however now, when the ball isn’t falling from deep—or, extra importantly, when no one is slicing with out the ball and screening actions are scarce outdoors of the PnR—Orlando didn’t simply stymie the Celtics’ on-ball creation; they took every part away, leaving Boston trying just like the roster within the closing yr of Brad Stevens’ tenure.
Happily, the Celtics discovered some rhythm on the defensive finish. Their double-big lineup has been a saving grace over the previous few video games, particularly by way of weakside rim safety and further measurement alongside the baseline.
Seeing Porzingis rotate over and both impression shot releases or get to the shot for a block has been a enjoyable addition to the season. In spite of everything, he’s been lacking a big chunk of the video games up to now, and since he’s been again, it’s clear he’s been working towards full health.
You can even see Luke Kornet within the above clip. I like how he’s snug guarding up on the perimeter. He can shift between an ‘up-to-touch’ protection, drop protection and even guarding straight up close to the three-point line. Having Porzingis down on the block makes it way more palatable to have Kornet’s measurement up high, as you’re not compromising on rim safety or size.
The Celtics might boast one of many league’s greatest data (third behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder,) however Orlando is rising as their kryptonite. Whereas Tatum’s absence actually impacted their offensive rhythm, the Magic’s defensive blueprint uncovered deeper considerations about Boston’s means to regulate when groups efficiently disrupt their most popular offensive patterns — or take away their means to move into their early-offense or staple half-court units.
Instance staple motion: ‘Fast Fist’ (this ends in a lob of Luke Kornet.)
These regular-season setbacks might show precious for Mazzulla’s squad, as they spotlight the potential want for counterpunches towards aggressive perimeter protection.
Whereas the Celtics’ offense is intentionally constructed round Tatum’s distinctive skillset—with Brown thriving as an elite play finisher relatively than a main creator—the Magic have uncovered some vulnerabilities in that method when Tatum is out of the rotation.
Come playoff time, Mosley’s younger squad has proven that it has the defensive template and aggressive confidence to problem even the NBA’s elite.
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CelticsBlog graciously allowed this text to be cross-posted from my “Celtics Chronicle” publication.
