It was a busy week on the parquet. The Celtics dabbled in Magic like an Etsy witch, splitting a two-game highway collection in Orlando. Boston confirmed down with Philly as soon as once more; regardless of the schedule makers eager to get these matchups out of the way in which, it went all the way down to the final possession for the third time. Lastly, there was a dismantling of the Grizzlies that felt like placing a sick animal down greater than a basketball recreation.
A lot got here up on the tape, and I did my finest to distill it down into the choicest nuggets. So begins the combat towards my intuition to put up one million issues.
Now, let’s get into the movie.
All through the week, I take down notes about what I wish to arrange and write up. Their “Zoom” actions stood out, a typical Mazzulla staple, and I felt the necessity to spotlight them. All of the sudden, the conclusion dawned on me that I’d be writing a few 6-7 workforce working Zoom. I had a extreme “Is any of this actual?” second. If there may be an architect of the simulation on the market, it’s a 20-year-old with extreme mind rot. Joe Mazzulla, do you could have the gall to create a Jet 2 Vacation motion?
Zoom is an easy idea the place a down display frees a participant from the nook, and so they run right into a dribble handoff. Towards groups that wish to swap ball screens, it might probably create maddening communication lapses, particularly when Boston has so many electrical pull-up three-point shooters.
These seems are important to handle a key downside for the Celtics: perimeter rim strain. Jaylen Brown is their finest guard by way of rim fee, rating within the forty second percentile relative to his place. He’s adopted by Derrick White (14th percentile), Payton Pritchard (twelfth), and Anfernee Simons (2nd!!!). Sure, the math-ball three-point chucking performs a task, however all three gamers are down from final season’s rim charges.
However what occurs after they face a workforce that doesn’t wish to swap?
A quantity that haunts Nico Harrison in his sleep, most ball enjoyers affiliate the quantity 77 with the Lakers’ celebrity. Nevertheless, 77 can also be teaching shorthand for double drag screens; you may additionally hear it known as 55. Below the broader umbrella of staggered screens, they’re the last word bane of a workforce like Orlando that doesn’t wish to swap.
That first clip specifically made me snicker. The on-ball double drag screeners instantly flowing into an off-ball stagger elevate for Jaylen Brown is sick, sick stuff. In basic Mazzulla model, why cease right here? It’s two screeners that could possibly be doing extra. And it’s not the one approach that the Celtics determined to make use of the screeners for a secondary screening motion.
Take into consideration Boston’s personnel. I really like Josh Minott as a lot as the subsequent man, however he’s not the best screen-and-pop menace on the roster. Use Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown, and even Chris Boucher of their place. The probabilities are infinite with the variety of ball handlers and tall guys who can display and shoot. It’s fantasy land for staggered on and off ball actions. Talking of tall guys who can shoot…
It was a giant week for Wendell Carter Jr. Now it’s official: WCJ has locked down a relationship with the Bayou Barbie, Angel Reese. However he doesn’t simply shoot his shot off the courtroom. Boston was blissful to let Wendell let it fly from the perimeter, and it bought them in bother.
Look again at these clips and watch how Neemias Queta reacts to the photographs. He hardly needs to depart the paint. We all know he has the athleticism to shut it out a bit extra, however he stayed anchored for probably the most half. Why?
As a result of, as most of , the Celtics stink at defensive rebounding. Solely the Brooklyn Nets, a workforce designed to lose, permit a better offensive rebounding fee than the Celtics. They’ll’t afford to have their finest rebounder spaced out to the perimeter trying to cease a 32% three-point shooter.
With their struggles in rebounding, this could possibly be a pattern that persists going ahead. I’m to see the place the road falls; how good of a shooter do you could be for Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman to shut you out? We must always get extra knowledge on this of their subsequent recreation towards the Clippers, who make use of John Collins and Brook Lopez.
That’s all for this version of my Celtics movie round-up. We’ll verify in subsequent week to see what’s shaking with the C’s.
