10 takeaways from the Celtics’ clutch finish in New York

#1 – A unicorn in New York

Ten years in the past, Kristaps Porzingis, the Unicorn, was drafted by the New York Knicks. A decade later, the Latvian massive man is now enjoying for the Boston Celtics. Final night time, at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place his NBA profession began, he reminded the world why he was the 4th decide.

The Celtics actually wanted his shot-making to beat the Knicks’ aggressive sport plan. The large man, from spot-up and pick-and-pop conditions, stacked three-pointers within the hearts of Knicks followers — even from 39 ft.

On prime of the unbelievable shot-making, there have been once more some flashes of passing and playmaking as an offensive hub, wanting like Karl-Anthony Cities frankly, the first decide of the 2015 draft. The 2 facilities provided a fantastic duel final night time, capturing from deep, driving, dominating from the post-up, whereas being the tallest gamers on the courtroom.

Humorous sufficient, regardless of each being facilities, they not often defended one another as a result of coaches love to combine matchups to play with spacing. Nonetheless, it was a pleasure to look at these two distinctive gamers dominating in the identical sport.

#2 – Coping with KAT

Karl-Anthony Cities’ offensive talent set could be very difficult to take care of. With the Boston Celtics utilizing Kristaps Porzingis as a roamer within the paint, they needed to attempt totally different gamers on him. Additionally they tried zone protection, however nothing actually labored. KAT is simply too tall and is ready to punish a smaller matchup if he will get the ball inside.

When he bought the ball on the skin, he was capable of drive due to the New York Knicks’ nice spacing. His means to dribble, mixed together with his measurement and energy, is difficult to cease. Together with his contact, he can cease for a floater or pull-up. If the rim is open, he can end with a pleasant finger roll.

The Celtics had been capable of decelerate the Knicks’ offense late within the second quarter with a double-big lineup. They performed with Luke Kornet and Porzingis, alongside Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Jrue Vacation. Tatum matched up with Cities, whereas Kornet and Porzingis had been on Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to remove the spacing and put our bodies within the paint.

With two bigs on the ground for the Celtics, it was more durable for the Knicks to run their regular offense round KAT with cuts and off-ball motion. Because of the tall-ball lineups, the Celtics compelled the final word turnovers late in additional time to win the sport.

#3 – Derrick White working the purpose

With Jaylen Brown out of the sport, White had extra tasks with the ball in his arms. Additionally, because the Knicks had been very aggressive in attempting to take the ball out of Jayson Tatum’s arms, D-White performed like a typical level guard throughout elements of the sport.

On the play beneath, he makes use of Kristaps Porzingis’ display screen to get the swap and provides the massive man the matchup he wants. Because the possession unfolds, the Knicks are switching off-ball to discover a higher defensive matchup in opposition to Porzingis. As this occurs, White handles the ball like a real level guard, and as quickly as he sees the opening, he sends a bullet move to Payton Pritchard, who’s reducing to the basket.

Somewhat later within the sport, from the identical set, White generates one other swap for Porzingis with a ball display screen. As KAT switches onto him, Derrick White takes his time to search out his spot, and as quickly as there may be sufficient area, he pulls up from three above the middle.

Derrick White is enhancing as a ball handler month after month, sport after sport, main me to surprise what he may do with an even bigger position.

#4 – Jayson Tatum searching Mikal Bridges

Earlier this season, in late February, I used to be fairly shocked after I noticed Jayson Tatum going after Evan Mobley, in search of the DPOY to be switched onto him. In New York yesterday, he did it once more. He went at top-of-the-line defensive gamers within the league and attacked him one-on-one.

From the post-up, Jayson Tatum was capable of dominate the matchup and seemed extra comfy than in opposition to OG Anunoby or Josh Hart. His sport was extra centered on leap pictures and fadeaways than regular, making an attempt solely two pictures on the rim.

When he’s feeling it like that, there’s not a lot a protection can do. He was pulling up for turnaround fadeaways prefer it was a layup and, when the Celtics wanted it probably the most, capped his nice efficiency with a pull-up three to tie the sport.

#5 – The Knicks profitable the possession battle

Joe Mazzulla is a shot margin psycho, and he at all times desires his group to create extra shot alternatives than their opponents. Final night time wasn’t the case — and it may have value the Celtics the sport.

To win the possession battle, groups concentrate on offensive rebounds and producing turnovers. Often, the Celtics are fairly good at limiting these. They rank second in limiting turnovers and seventh in terms of limiting offensive rebounds.

With Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson dominating the glass, the Knicks grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, whereas the Celtics had been restricted to 9. On prime of that, the Celtics misplaced 15 possessions due to OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges’ size and aggressive positioning.

The Knicks fell wanting profitable the sport, however their sport plan was fairly sensible to disrupt the Celtics’ regular tactical method. If Jayson Tatum wasn’t so clutch, the Knicks would have gained due to a clutch offensive rebound from Anunoby and a late turnover from White. Turnovers and offensive rebounds is perhaps the way in which to disrupt the Celtics.

#6 – Optimized spacing within the fourth

To complete the sport, the Celtics used a small lineup with a variety of capturing capabilities. Alongside Tatum, White, and Porzingis, Joe Mazzulla gave a variety of minutes to Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard. With these 5 gamers on the ground, the Celtics’ spacing was at its greatest, and so they had been capable of drive and kick till the defensive shell broke.

It’s not new to see the Celtics closing video games with Pritchard as an alternative of Jrue Vacation, as a result of groups have began to deal with him as a non-shooting risk. But, it was shocking to see the Celtics shut the fourth quarter with Sam Hauser as an alternative of Jaylen Brown or Luke Kornet — particularly with the Knicks being so aggressive on the offensive glass.

#7 – Extra measurement in additional time

Because the Knicks had been capable of dominate late within the fourth due to their measurement, the Celtics modified their method in additional time. They performed minutes with Vacation and Kornet to deliver physicality and measurement to keep away from being punished once more.

And it labored out fairly nicely. Kornet grabbed two offensive rebounds inside two minutes and stole the ball as soon as. Luke Kornet and Jrue Vacation’s measurement and defensive means had been additionally crucial in slowing down the Knicks’ elite offense in a very powerful minutes of the sport.

#8 – Attending to the road

In additional time, the Celtics discovered a brand new solution to generate offense when the pictures weren’t falling. Regardless of making half as many area objectives because the Knicks within the ultimate interval, the Celtics had been capable of rating extra factors as a result of they bought to the road usually.

General within the sport, the Celtics tried 25 free throws for 87 shot makes an attempt — an excellent and weird steadiness for a group that when once more confirmed they’ll adapt their offense primarily based on the opponent’s strengths and sport plan. Because the Knicks had been very aggressive, the Celtics took benefit of it and gained the sport from the road.

#9 – What is occurring with Jaylen Brown?

I’ve a tough time understanding what’s occurring with Jaylen Brown, who performed solely 22 minutes and was clearly not able to play — so why did he? He isn’t within the working for any All-NBA groups and isn’t 100%. So, why would he must play half a sport?

I’m no physician, however the newest selections regarding his enjoying time are questionable to me.

#10 – New York swept

Final however not least, the Celtics are dominating the Atlantic Division as soon as once more and have swept the New York Knicks.