Winning gritty: 10 Takeaways from Celtics/Hornets

#1 Pritchard’s scoring

Payton Pritchard has 110 complete factors off the bench in Boston’s opening seven video games. That ranks him second within the NBA behind Tre Mann. To start the season, he instructed the media he’d spent the summer time growing his off-the-dribble capturing, leading to a much more aggressive model of himself across the perimeter.

“Getting extra constant off the dribble from the three-ball,” Pritchard instructed reporters on Oct. 4. “I assumed my ending and my mid-range recreation final yr took a giant soar so I assumed that was actually good. Clearly, I’m at all times engaged on that stuff but when I may be extra environment friendly capturing off the dribble from there, in addition to the catch and shoot, that completes my recreation.”

In opposition to the Hornets, 4 of his six made threes got here off the bounce.

Pritchard is operating his defenders into extra screens, trusting his handles when the protection hundreds up, and attacking house off the bounce. As one of many higher three-point capturing guards within the league, the addition of an off-the-bounce jumper has unlocked his complete recreation.

Final season, Pritchard showcased a capability to complete across the rim after creating house by way of contact — I prefer to name this “bump creation” — the place he would use his shoulders to create separation earlier than ending across the rim. Attributable to his improved perimeter recreation, we haven’t seen a lot of that to start the season, nevertheless, we did get to see one other new wrinkle to his offense on Saturday — a bump-off right into a mid-range fadeaway.

Pritchard is taking part in with the arrogance of a champion. I’m all-in on him constructing a Sixth Man of the 12 months marketing campaign, and primarily based on his opening run of performances, I don’t suppose it’s an excessive amount of of a stretch to suppose he can put himself firmly within the dialog.

#2 White’s fourth-quarter rim safety

Each of Derrick White’s blocked photographs got here within the fourth quarter. After the Celtics had surrendered their lead throughout the third, White stepped up as a rim protector when the group wanted him most. We’re used to that by now. He’s been doing at a excessive degree for many of his tenure with the Celtics. Nonetheless, it’s at all times enjoyable when he decides it is time to begin a block celebration.

Right here’s the primary block. White is the primary one again in transition. He will get himself between the ball and the bucket. A hand on Brandon Miller’s hip permits White to really feel the momentum shift as Miller goes right into a layup, giving him the required timing to stand up and contest the shot. Shot blocked, two factors probably saved.

We’ve acquired to credit score Neemias Queta on this play. He went straight as much as problem Miller’s shot try — which is an enchancment for the younger massive man. The momentum switch is what creates the pause impact in mid-air, permitting White to return from behind and get the swat. White thrives because the rear-guard shot-blocker, and I’m at all times right here for it.

I additionally wish to give White’s general manufacturing a shout-out. I mentioned this advert nauseam final season when penning this column: he and Jrue Vacation are elite at scaling their manufacturing primarily based on the group’s wants. With out Jaylen Brown within the rotation, White stepped up as a scorer (18 factors) and a rebounder (8 rebounds). And that’s earlier than we credit score his protection…

For a Celtics group that has struggled when guarding transition this season — Synergy has them sitting twenty sixth within the league, giving up 1.21 factors per 100 possessions — White’s hustle to get again on this early possession felt like a tone-setting second.

#3 Kornet two-way efficiency

Kornet has redefined how non-shooting bigs can thrive in a five-out offense. He’s earned his spot as a staple within the rotation and by no means seems to be misplaced when moving into the beginning 5. Again in March, I dove into how Kornet’s perimeter-based non-shooting recreation might translate nicely to different non-shooting bigs, comparable to Zach Edey; you’ll be able to learn that right here.

In opposition to the Hornets, we noticed Kornet produce arguably among the finest video games of his profession.

Kornet has developed persistence as a screener. He is aware of when to create contact, slip the display, or pop again onto the perimeter earlier than veering into one other display. His gravity in these actions is three-fold:

His measurement makes him a professional vertical ground spacer, no matter his restricted explosivness
He has develop into a high-level secondary creator out of the brief roll
If he pops again onto the perimeter, he’s a risk when initiating DHOs, realizing when to ‘hold’ and when at hand the rock off.

Within the above clip, Kornet has his fingerprints over the whole possession. The Celtics begin by operating a ‘robust chin’ (reverse the ball by making two passes to the opposite facet of the courtroom, non-ball facet reduce for the preliminary ball-handler) motion to enter the possession. Kornet then feeds White, who was the ‘chin screener’ for Sam Hauser, earlier than flowing straight right into a excessive PnR.

That is the place Kornet’s persistence comes into play, and for me, it is among the most spectacular facets of his function as a perimeter-screening massive. He waits for the hedge on White earlier than slipping into the house created by sending two on the ball. Brief-roll, White passes, Kornet re-directs, and now the protection is scrambling. Credit score Vacation for the middie, too.

Kornet additionally benefitted from being a part of a double-big lineup on protection. He might function as a drop defender whereas Horford labored larger up the ground. Or, he might play the weakside roamer function, guarding the nook and rotating over to supply some late-shot contests.

Within the above clip, Kornet begins the possession by guarding the perimeter. As Horford is pulled into the motion, Kornet goes right into a drop protection, timing the drive earlier than contesting the shot.

General, Kornet offered a powerful show on each ends of the ground. He may not be flashy or takeover a recreation with dominant athleticism or an infinite motor, however he performs the appropriate approach and finds methods to make an affect extra typically or not.

#4 Queta DHO’s

Queta has been studying from Kornet. This facet DHO was straight out of Boston’s non-shooting massive playbook, utilizing the large measurement and mobility to create scoring alternatives by way of re-screens.

Certainly one of Queta’s most important enhancements to start the season has been the quantity of house he’s producing together with his screens. He’s producing 2.8 display assists factors per recreation in 12.2 minutes of taking part in time. Horford leads the group with 7.2, whereas Kornet is second with 5.6.

Nonetheless, Queta’s greatest affect comes by way of his rim operating, rebounding and shot detterance when defending the rim. He’s slowly getting higher at contesting photographs with out fouling, and has been a real lob risk over the previous few video games.

Throughout Brad Stevens’ tenure as head coach, the middle place was at all times a weak level for the Celtics by way of depth. Since transferring to the entrance workplace, Stevens has ensured his personal coaches do not have the identical concern, and that depth is now a substantial energy for Joe Mazzulla’s roster.

#5 Hauser attacking closeouts

Hauser began engaged on attacking closeouts final season. He would take one or two dribbles earlier than pulling up for a mid-range jumper, or he would drive the lane and make a learn. We’re seeing extra of that to start this season, together with his drive off the perimeter in opposition to Charlotte as one among his extra assured forays towards the ring.

The motion right here is named ‘robust reject.’ Similar to the ‘robust’ a part of the ‘chin’ motion above, it’s merely a ball reversal from one facet of the ground to the opposite utilizing two passes. The ‘reject’ is Vacation rejecting the on-ball display. Hauser sells his shot, drives the closeout and will get all the way in which to the cup for a simple two.

Vacation rejecting the display and relocating to the dunker spot forces LaMelo Ball to develop into the rim protector on the motion, making life straightforward for Hauser as soon as he will get into the paint.

Oh, and who can neglect this fantastic thing about a go?

#6 Tatum, the scorer

Final season, Jaylen Brown was the tone-setter within the first quarter of video games. This yr, that accountability has fallen onto the shoulders of Jayson Tatum.

“It’s one thing new, as a result of often I’m the first-quarter man,” Brown instructed The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “I’m the one which’s setting the tone and getting off to a sizzling begin. However I believe (coach Mazzulla) needs to modify it up slightly bit. I suppose it’s cool. I can do no matter our group must be carried out.”

Tatum as the first scorer has seemed good to begin the season. As soon as once more, he performed all 12 minutes of the primary quarter, dropping 13 factors, grabbing 4 rebounds and doling out an help.

The above clip is indicative of the way in which Tatum has approached offense this season. He finds his spot, works his opponent, and will get the very best quality look potential. I really like how he bought the drive, sealed Miles Bridges’ hips, and spun off him to create a clear have a look at the backboard on this play.

Extra importantly, Tatum didn’t let a dreadful evening on the perimeter reduce his affect. He went 1-of-9 from deep, offering flashbacks to April, Could and June final season. Nevertheless, he drew 17 photographs from the free-throw line, price 14 factors, and he drained six two-point photographs on the evening.

Tatum has discovered his groove early. Through the early components of his profession, it was accepted that we wouldn’t see his greatest till after the All-Star break. If he takes his manufacturing up a few notches within the months to return, that MVP award he’s been vocally chasing will not be too far-off.

Hyperbole? Perhaps.

True? Undoubtedly.

#7 Charlotte is disruptive

Charles Lee has already improved the Hornets. They play with a brand new degree of aggression on each side of the ground. You may see his animated teaching by way of possessions on the sideline. They’re slowly shopping for into the little particulars it takes to be a very good defensive group. And ultimately, they’re going to determine make their expertise work for them.

For now, although, they’re a disruptive group that always will get overzealous with their defensive depth. On Saturday, they registered 25 fouls. LaMelo Ball fouled out for the second straight recreation.

In complete, over the back-to-back, the Hornets had 51 fouls in 96 minutes of play. That’s quite a bit.

Lee doesn’t need the Hornets to let groups get right into a rhythm. He needs the sport to be uneven. Chippy. Irritating. And from there, you’ll be able to construct an identification whereas holding groups off their swagger. Doing that to the reigning champions isn’t going to work, however there will probably be loads of groups across the NBA the place it has the specified impact.

#8 Horford brings stability within the double massive

Horford’s presence in recreation two of the back-to-back had its traditional impact. The Celtics seemed higher on protection. Their offense flowed extra. He ended the evening with 4 factors, six rebounds, and 5 assists — a typical evening for the veteran massive man who does his work within the margins.

Solely Kornet contested extra photographs for the Celtics (13), with Horford contesting seven two-point makes an attempt and three perimeter jumpers.

Earlier in these takeaways, we checked out how Kornet was in a position to function as a weak-side roamer for stretches, primarily attributable to Horford’s presence on the ground. Within the above play, which was an early defensive possession, we will see Horford defending up-to-touch on the display. That enables the Celtics to modify the motion and put Horford onto a ball-handler the place essential. It additionally provides measurement on hole or nail assist whereas making three-point photographs off PnR actions harder to return by.

And the way about this defensive possession? Cuts the angle on the preliminary drive, rotates to get the strip, after which contests the shot with out fouling earlier than securing the defensive rebound.

I don’t should promote you on what Horford brings to Boston’s rotation, or no less than, I hope not. He’s a execs professional. He’s a hooper. And when he is rested and locked in, he’s nonetheless one of the crucial impactful veterans within the league.

#9 Celtics offense was lacking the drive-and-kick

Since taking on as head coach, Mazzulla’s bread-and-butter offense has been getting the Celtics to generate high-level alternatives by way of the drive-and-kick (spray offense). Their screening actions across the perimeter are sometimes designed to create penetration and trigger defensive rotations, making kick-outs extra invaluable.

Nevertheless, throughout the third quarter of Saturday’s recreation, the place the ball wasn’t transferring, and nobody was driving the rock. The Celtics wanted paint touches. Badly.

It’s a small pattern measurement, however the Celtics are touching the paint barely extra this season than in 2023-24. Boston ranked thirteenth within the NBA for paint touches, with 22.2 per recreation. Whereas this season has a much smaller pattern measurement, they at present sit thirteenth with 23.4.

Nonetheless, guaranteeing there aren’t many repeats of the third-quarter stagnation transferring ahead will probably be essential.

Contemplating how dominant the Celtics offense has seemed over the primary seven video games, there is not any cause to be involved, but it surely’s undoubtedly one thing I needed to level out.

#10 6-1

Outdoors of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve loved a monster begin to the brand new season, the Celtics have the most effective file within the Jap Convention. They’ve received massive. They’ve received gritty. And now, they’ve received video games the place the opposite group doesn’t wish to allow them to play their very own recreation.

Because the defending champions, they’re getting everyone’s greatest. Different groups see beating the Celtics as a approach of proving themselves. Within the brief time period, which means some uncomfortable possessions, however over the season, it’s solely going to make Boston higher. The Celtics are being battle-tested evening in and evening out.

6-1 to begin the season, with each opponent eager to knock you off your perch is nothing to whiff at. They flip their consideration to the Atlanta Hawks, who’re 2-4. One thing tells me we might be in for a high-tempo and enjoyable recreation…And if he performs, which is much from assured proper now, a giant evening from Jaylen Brown.