#1 – Spacing concern
The Boston Celtics’ elite spacing is… gone? No less than that’s what the numbers are saying. Currently, the Celtics have elevated their rim frequency, however the effectivity has gone down. On prime of that lack of effectivity on the rim, they aren’t in a position to generate free throws.
That is attributable to a few issues. First, Boston has performed extra with two huge males than final yr, which has shrunk the area within the paint. Celtics opponents can depart a participant within the paint once they have two facilities on the court docket, turning the driving lane right into a packed highway.
On prime of that, groups are extra prepared to depart the Celtics open from there. They’d relatively assistance on the driving lane and the pick-and-roll and shut laborious on the shooters if wanted.
The Celtics are going to wish their spacing again and discover a strategy to stretch the opposing groups’ defenses — particularly with their present defensive issues.
#2 – Ball-screen protection
The Raptors have multiplied the screens on the ball handlers — and so they have numerous gamers who can set screens and carry the ball. For instance, late within the sport, they used Olynyk as a ball handler on pick-and-roll motion, which tricked the Celtics’ protection and turned it into an open shot on the rim.
The Raptors additionally made the Celtics pay for his or her lack of defensive focus with stagger screens. Within the motion beneath, the 2 screens and Scottie Barnes’ cuts flip the protection’s consideration away from Mitchell, who can discover his strategy to the rim.
Boston’s protection on ball screens has been problematic recently. The switches are delicate and aren’t stopping the offense from discovering the shot place they’re in search of.
#3 – Raptors in movement
The work and offense carried out by Darko Rajaković are spectacular. Final evening, they made 35 assisted subject objectives — 11 greater than the Celtics over the sport. The Raptors don’t have a creator, in order that they create by movement and ball motion.
They’ve quite a lot of off-ball gamers who can punish Boston’s measurement and lack of mobility. They multiplied the cuts from Barrett, Barnes, Mitchell, and Dick to pressure the Celtics’ protection to assist and rotate. Nevertheless, the Celtics couldn’t sustain and made quite a lot of defensive errors. Nate from CelticsBlog compiled the errors within the video beneath:
They used Poeltl as an offensive hub and moved round him. This labored out very well to create an environment friendly offense as a result of Poeltl dragged Porzingis away from the rim and compelled the opposite Celtics to come back and assist. This had two damaging impacts for the Boston Celtics protection: the rim safety was much less precious, and this opened up the corners.
On prime of that, Poeltl’s scoring appeared unstoppable for the Celtics’ protection.
#4 – Jakob Poeltl killing the Celtics protection
Over the three video games Jakob Poeltl has performed in opposition to the Celtics this season, he made 87% of his subject objectives! His scoring and talent to pull Boston’s rim protectors have been key for the Raptors. This season, Poeltl is scoring 20 factors per sport vs. the Celtics.
He has been excellent as a roll-man within the pick-and-roll and is ready to punish the drop along with his floater contact. His skill to shoot from 10 toes away from the rim was one of many causes the Celtics’ zone protection didn’t work out as anticipated.
#5 – Ineffective zone protection
The Celtics tried the 3-2 zone protection to decelerate the Raptors’ offensive motion. But, the Raptors discovered their means once more by placing the ball across the free-throw line.
The Raptors weren’t bothered by this Celtics defensive trick, and so they had been okay pulling up above the large man from the quick mid-range zone. Total, the Raptors didn’t even want their transition offense to dominate the Celtics’ protection.
#6 – Payton Pritchard nice offensive sport…
One of many solely shiny spots from final evening’s sport was Payton Pritchard’s offensive creation. The younger level guard performed half-hour and stored the offense going whereas increasing his sport. After all, he had a few three-pointers from his ordinary off-ball motion, however there’s extra to his sport.
Certainly, as seen earlier this season, his driving sport appears to be rising once more after a sluggish begin. He doesn’t hesitate to drive and use his nice deal with to beat his defender off the dribble. We additionally see that he’s extra prepared to make use of his broad shoulders to put up up different guards and discover pictures on the rim.
Whereas the Celtics are in the midst of a hunch, Payton Pritchard’s offensive sport growth may result in nice issues for the Celtics, who positively want a push. Nevertheless, taking part in Payton Pritchard quite a lot of minutes has a worth — a defensive one.
#7 – … whereas being hunted on protection
The Raptors don’t foul. The Celtics are recognized for looking seals, however the Raptors are additionally nice at discovering the weak spot in a protection and simply going at it. With quite a lot of minutes from Payton Pritchard, the Raptors may run their offense round discovering an incredible spot and isolating Pritchard defensively.
That is the rationale why final yr, the deeper the Celtics went within the playoffs, the much less Payton Pritchard performed. If the Celtics teaching workers desires to maintain him on the court docket, they should discover a strategy to defend him.
#8 – Out of bounds stagger motion
Slightly good play name from the Celtics. A number of video games in the past, we targeted on the stagger actions following out-of-bounds performs. They did it once more final evening vs. the Raptors. From the sideline, the ball goes to the post-up, whereas White runs by not one, however two screens and dives to the rim.
It is a smart way of utilizing the spacing to generate nice pictures on the rim. A disgrace that the Celtics’ offense was stagnant final evening after we witnessed such nice motion.
#9 – Jayson Tatum lack of utilization
Jayson Tatum took solely 15 pictures and 5 free throws over 36 minutes in a sport the place nothing was going offensively. After an incredible high-usage sport in opposition to New Orleans, it was painful to look at him not likely concerned within the offense. It’s even more durable to grasp if you see how a lot of a menace he’s on his drive.
Towards New Orleans, there was additionally quite a lot of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop with Kristaps Porzingis — the place did that go? This might have labored very well in opposition to the Raptors’ defensive protection and compelled Jakob Poeltl away from the rim. The Celtics are an incredible collective crew, sure, however they should insist extra on Jayson Tatum when the offense is slowing down.
#10 – Is there an issue with Derrick White’s capturing?
Derrick White has made 10% of his three-point makes an attempt during the last 4 video games (3 losses and 1 win by a small margin). With the present spacing and defensive issues, the Celtics want Derrick White to seek out his capturing contact again, sooner relatively than later.
No want to fret but — it appears that evidently all of the Celtics besides Payton Pritchard are battling their pictures.
Nonetheless, within the standings, the Celtics are nearer to the Orlando Magic in fifth place than the Cavaliers in 1st seed. If the Celtics wish to be in the perfect place attainable coming into the playoffs, they’re going to wish to regulate shortly and discover their rhythm again.
