Mazzulla shrinks Celtics lineup to combat Magic’s rebounding

The Boston Celtics opened up the playoffs in opposition to the bodily Orlando Magic, securing a 103-86 in Recreation 1. Whereas the Magic saved it shut early, and even held the lead heading into halftime, Boston was ultimately in a position to draw back, and didn’t look again.

The Magic are an enormous, younger staff. Their offense could also be a weak level, however they’re extraordinarily bodily defensively. To beat the Celtics, Orlando’s finest wager is forcing turnovers whereas additionally controlling the boards.

So far as counting stats go, they had been among the many league’s finest when it got here to forcing turnovers, however they had been removed from a high rebounding staff throughout the common season. Orlando completed 14th in offensive rebounds per recreation (OREB), twenty eighth in defensive rebounds per recreation (DREB), and twenty seventh in whole rebounds per recreation (REB). These numbers don’t essentially inform the entire story, although.

When it got here to defensive rebounding proportion (DREB%), a measure of what proportion of obtainable defensive rebounds a staff comes away with, the Magic completed sixth general, one spot forward of the Celtics. Orlando additionally completed twelfth general in offensive rebounding proportion (OREB%), Boston ending 18th.

The Magic acquired out to a robust first-half on Sunday, turning the Celtics over 6 instances, and successful the rebounding battle 23 to 19. Of their 23 first-half rebounds, 10 of them had been on the offensive glass and their further efforts helped them head into halftime main 49-48.

Joe Mazzulla needed to alter the story, and whereas it might appear counterintuitive, he determined to downsize. Luke Kornet performed 9:33 minutes within the first half, however only one:39 within the second. Equally, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford performed a mixed 28:half-hour within the first half whereas taking place to 22:46 minutes within the back-half of the sport. Even Jaylen Brown noticed a discount, taking part in about 6 much less second-half minutes than he did within the first.

The primary beneficiaries of the minutes shift had been Jrue Vacation and Payton Pritchard. Payton noticed the most important bounce, including on over 11 extra minutes within the second half than he had within the first. Jrue noticed virtually a 6-minute enhance himself.

With the change in rotations, Boston was in a position to flip the script on each turnovers and rebounds. Within the second half, they out-rebounded Orlando 23 to 18, and restricted the Magic to only 3 offensive boards. The Celtics additionally gave the ball away simply 3 instances whereas forcing Orlando into 8 turnovers.

The guards weren’t even essentially those getting the boards, Tatum lead the Celtics in rebounds for each halves. Their exercise and ground spacing unfold out the Magic gamers and hold them off the glass, although.

We’ll should see if Mazzulla continues to have the Celtics play smaller on this sequence, or if that was primarily a results of Payton, Jrue, and Derrick all popping out blazing in Recreation 1. Each groups are positive to make loads of changes all through this primary spherical of playoff basketball.