In a earlier article, we deep dived into the Celtics stars’ offensive struggles. On this second story, we are going to look into the opposite aspect of the courtroom, the place each Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been problematic as properly. The execution, the power, and the main target typically went lacking — and it was expensive in such shut video games. These possessions might have been, and will have been, performed higher, and in the event that they have been, the Celtics wouldn’t be pressured to aim a 0-2 comeback.
We are going to first look into the half-court protection, the place Jaylen Brown appears to get misplaced infrequently.
Jaylen Brown half-court defensive collapses
Jaylen Brown’s protection was showcased as a power final yr after his spectacular work in opposition to Luka Doncic within the NBA Finals. But, protection is about greater than stopping your one-on-one matchup with the ball.
In actual fact, it’s not even an important a part of protection. Slowing down an offense is a collective effort that requires focus, communication, and anticipation. And to date on this collection in opposition to the New York Knicks, Brown has displayed not one of the above. Beneath is an instance the place he’s fully disconnected.
He’s the weak-side defender with the ball is on his proper and his matchup is on his left. Because the play unfolds, he simply stands nonetheless and doesn’t see the display screen from Mikal Bridges coming proper in entrance of him. He places his arms round him and appears towards his matchup, OG Anunoby, a killer from three-point vary. As Anunoby receives the ball, Brown lastly reacts, but it surely’s too late.
One other possession that showcases the defensive difficulty. Right here, Brown is within the stunt, prepared to assist on the drive if wanted. However Luke Kornet is already there, so his positioning isn’t very impactful. As he appears to be like for Miles McBride, his matchup, he sees him going to the nook. But, he doesn’t dash, will get caught by a late display screen from Mikal Bridges, and provides up one other open three — this time, purely because of lack of focus.
That very same lack of focus will later make him overlook Bridges within the nook for just a few seconds — simply sufficient for the previous Web to knock down a 3 and provides the Knicks a six-point lead in extra time.
The extra motion there’s, the extra his lack of focus and self-discipline turns into apparent. Right here, it’s Jalen Brunson who cuts to the nook utilizing a display screen from Bridges. Jrue Vacation sees the issue coming and clearly tells Jaylen Brown to change.
However Brown doesn’t swap. As a substitute, it’s one more open three within the nook for the Knicks — who desperately wanted simple factors to get again into Recreation 1 after being down by 20.
There have been a few different examples of misplaced focus — missed boxouts that led to putbacks, or when Brown jumped on a Brunson pump faux regardless of understanding the small guard would hunt at no cost throws, like he did in opposition to Detroit.
What may very well be actually irritating as a Celtics fan is to rely all of the factors generated from these errors in such a detailed recreation — particularly with the remainder of the protection being on level. However there have been different defensive issues, particularly in transition.
Lack of power from the Jays in transition protection
Joe Mazzulla usually talks in regards to the margin, the method, and the little particulars that flip a loss right into a win — or the opposite approach round. Transition protection is a type of little particulars. And each Celtics stars didn’t ship and lead by instance.
On this pull-up three, as an illustration, Jayson Tatum is simply too targeted on watching the missed shot and doesn’t see his matchup, Anunoby, sprinting in transition. When the Knicks wing receives the ball from Hart, he’s already on the three-point line — whereas Tatum continues to be on the Knicks’ aspect of the courtroom. That’s two free factors for New York.
A couple of seconds later, he offers an excessive amount of house to Jalen Brunson on a pull-up three and presents the Knicks one other open shot — regardless of a 2-on-4 state of affairs in transition.
In extra time, the sport is tied. The Celtics flip the ball over once more and should dash again to guard the paint. Tatum, as soon as once more, is simply too sluggish to react, and Anunoby sprints previous him to chop into the lane. Josh Hart finds him, and it’s an and-one for the Knicks — who are actually up three (after, like I like to recollect, being down by 20 factors).
Transition protection isn’t nearly working again — it’s additionally about communication. Right here, each Jaylen and Jayson look overwhelmed by the Knicks’ fastbreak. Tatum can’t comprise Miles McBride’s drive, and Brown isn’t even trying on the ball or serving to, which results in a dunk.
The defensive performances from the leaders and go-to guys have been disappointing — and value the Celtics a recreation, perhaps two. They nonetheless have loads of minutes to battle again and make up for his or her errors, each on offense and protection. Nonetheless, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have to step up — on each ends — in the event that they wish to give their group, and their followers, an actual shot at success.
