#1 – Empty facet offense is again
Through the Japanese Convention Finals final yr, the Boston Celtics used lots of empty facet offense. If you happen to’re not aware of this strategy, it’s fairly easy. As a substitute of attacking from the center of the courtroom, like NBA offenses usually do, the Celtics begin from a facet the place the nook is empty.
On high of that, they make sure that Al Horford, or whoever is defended by the rim protector, is sitting on the slot on the other facet. This 5-slot setup was popularized by Quin Snyder with the Hawks. It makes it very tough for a protection with a defensive anchor to return assist. Certainly, they need to preserve Myles Turner as shut as attainable to the paint, so the remainder of the ground should be coated by 4 gamers as an alternative of 5.
Taking part in from one empty facet makes it even tougher as a result of the assistance can not come from the sturdy facet, as there isn’t a one within the nook. It will probably’t come from the baseline, as there’s additionally nobody there. Subsequently, it may solely come from the highest or the other nook, which places the protection a step behind and might open up alternatives for three-point photographs.
To benefit from this, the Celtics can both run pick-and-roll, figuring out there gained’t be any assist coming from the low man, or they’ll use their velocity to drive or their power to submit up, figuring out that the assistance is simply too far to trouble them. Chess, not checkers.
#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam
Going through a robust frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner could possibly be tough for many defenses, particularly with two of the very best defensive gamers out (Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis). But, the Celtics have the instruments to adapt to most of their opponents.
Myles Turner is a pick-and-pop kind of middle, due to his taking pictures capacity. Subsequently, it will be robust to comprise his duo with Tyrese Haliburton if the Celtics determined to drop with Al Horford. As a substitute of forcing Al to modify onto Haliburton, they put Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum on Myles Turner and preserve Al away from the motion.
This has the additional advantage of Al Horford enjoying protection on Siakam one-on-one within the submit or isolation. As we’ve seen in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless do this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t contemplate Siakam a taking pictures risk, the Indiana Pacers gained’t profit from nice spacing since Al stays near the paint when Siakam doesn’t have the ball.
#3 – Celtics unbothered by Pacers mixing up coverages
The Celtics have constructed a status for struggling in opposition to zone protection, however that wasn’t the case final night time. Whereas mixing zone and particular person protection, the Pacers tried their greatest to maintain Myles Turner near the rim.
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Nevertheless, the Celtics’ ball motion made it inconceivable for the Pacers to maintain up. By eager to restrict entry to the rim, they have been pressured to depart the corners open.
The Pacers’ protection couldn’t match the Celtics’ motion, and the offense didn’t have sufficient juice to compensate.
#4 – Celtics put stress early on out-of-juice Pacers
The night time earlier than going through the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Going through two of the very best groups within the NBA in 24 hours isn’t precisely within the Christmas spirit, however the Celtics took benefit of it.
Proper from the beginning, the Celtics put onerous stress on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even high the Indiana Pacers’ fast fashion of play.
On protection, they picked up the ball handler early and tried to drive turnovers as a lot as attainable. By choosing up the ball handler at half-court, they pressured onerous passes, and Jaylen Brown was there to capitalize on them.
#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest
Jaylen Brown stays certainly one of, if not the very best, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final night time in opposition to the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up a bit with a few simple dunks… after which exploded on Myles Turner!
Thirty seconds later, he stole the ball from Myles Turner and ran away with it to complete with a wonderful windmill dunk—gracious.
#6 – Jordan Walsh concerned early
With a number of gamers out, it was anticipated to see some minutes from the “keep prepared” group. This time, it was Jordan Walsh who was invited to the present. Nevertheless, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching workers had fairly a tough task for him: stopping the good TJ McConnell. TJ may be one of the crucial disruptive gamers, all the time shifting with or with out the ball—figuring out trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.
It was a very good problem for the rookie and confirmed that he may be extra suited to guarding a special kind of offensive participant. Certainly, after just a few minutes, he obtained caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. A bit later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the fast Pacers guard.
On offense, Walsh was extra lively than typical, able to set screens or crash the offensive boards. That is what the Celtics need him to do whereas ready for his deal with and close-out assault to grow to be a brand new weapon.
On this final motion late within the recreation, we might see flashes of an already improved deal with and passing. Is it actual? May this translate into significant minutes past rubbish time?
#7 – Payton Pritchard’s versatile recreation is rising
Towards the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply taking pictures. As talked about earlier, he was a a lot better matchup for TJ McConnell and blocked him on the Pacers’ first attempt to drive on him.
On the offensive facet, Payton delivered fairly the efficiency. Not as a result of he flirted with a triple-double, however as a result of he impacted the offense in varied methods. Off-ball, as typical, we noticed him operating and creating chaos within the protection. And with the ball, we witnessed new methods of utilizing him.
Towards Tyrese Haliburton, we noticed him play the post-up (not the empty facet set talked about earlier). His sturdy core and low middle of gravity make him in a position to overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On high of this uncommon strategy, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced recreation plan.
#8 – Third-quarter play name to maintain the Pacers away
The Pacers have been dominated and drained however remained shut till the fourth quarter. With the amount of three-pointers nowadays, no lead is secure. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their recreation plan.
Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display earlier than popping to the three-point line whereas Derrick White had the ball. This forces Bennedict Mathurin to be behind Jayson Tatum, and Horford pops Turner away. Subsequently, D-White solely needed to ship a pleasant go above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.
One other set that labored rather well (and ought to be used extra usually) got here in the course of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display for Jayson Tatum. Myles Turner hedges onto Tatum whereas Mathurin recovers, giving Horford time to be open on the three-point line whereas Jaylen Brown creates extra confusion by setting a second display. An ideal use of the Jays’ scoring threats.
#9 – Boston’s offensive feast
Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was wonderful final night time, in some ways. First, they’d a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, among the best marks of the season concerning taking pictures effectivity.
On high of that, they dominated the possession battle with solely 11% turnovers whereas grabbing 39% of offensive rebounds after a miss! In addition they efficiently generated simple factors with extra free throws than typical.
An ideal general offensive recreation, and it will have been onerous to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.
#10 – Effectively-deserved Gino time
Like a late Christmas reward, the TD Backyard was lastly in a position to take pleasure in a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. May they lengthen the Gino Time streak into the brand new yr?
