1. Provided that the Boston Celtics misplaced their final sport earlier than the All-Star break in disappointing trend, there was some concern about how they’d begin this post-break stretch run. Take into account these issues dissipated.
Boston as soon as once more led wire-to-wire in a dominating street victory. Sure, the Brooklyn Nets have been undermanned, however the Celtics destroyed them. Once more. This sport was by no means actually at risk at any level.
It seems like Boston acquired bit by that pesky pre-break bug. That loss to the Detroit Pistons was one the place the group didn’t appear overly targeted. We’ll reduce them some slack, because it looks like an aberration vs a return to the inconsistency that plagued this group within the first half of the schedule.
2. Al Horford was requested about what’s modified for the group throughout this era of success. Amongst a handful of issues, Horford talked about pushing the ball and taking part in with higher tempo. That began on the Celtics first basket of the evening, when Marcus Sensible discovered Horford for a transition dunk:
Derrick White has helped drive the Celtics new up-tempo philosophy and this was a pleasant pullup in a 2-for-1 transition alternative:
Horford is driving the faster tempo himself by using one in every of his finest abilities: ripping and operating off the boards. This can be a good push and a heads-up cross to seek out Jaylen Brown with solely Seth Curry in entrance of him:
3. One different factor Al Horford referred to as out was how necessary it’s to have Marcus Sensible operating the offense and controlling the tempo of the sport. Sensible performed a wonderfully in-control sport, as he made 5-of-6 three-pointers, picked up six assists and had the Celtics offense buzzing.
You noticed the dime to Horford in transition, however Sensible’s favourite goal this yr has been Robert Williams. When Sensible can add a little bit spice to these lobs, a lot the higher:
2-for-1 alternatives have been fairly dangerous for the Celtics in recent times. They usually appear to botch the primary probability. Derrick White executed one earlier within the Takeaways on the finish of the primary quarter and right here’s Sensible taking benefit to finish the second interval:
This can be a good fastbreak. Horford shops to Sensible to get them operating. Then, Sensible slows issues up simply sufficient to let Grant Williams fill the lane, whereas additionally drawing the defender to him. That opened up the no-look cross and the layup:
4. Postgame, Ime Udoka referred to as out the Celtics protection first, however had a whole lot of reward for the group’s ball motion. Boston had 28 assists on 46 baskets. That’s a very good quantity in a sport that featured heavy rubbish time, which tends to be a whole lot of ISO ball.
This play is good as a result of it options endurance and good spacing. No pressured passes right here, as Marcus Sensible finally ends up with an open three:
Udoka additionally stated the Celtics are commonly “passing up good pictures for excellent pictures”. This play is an efficient instance of that. It begins with Grant Williams driving a closeout, which is a daily prevalence now. He kicks to Jaylen Brown and Brown passes up a superb look to swing it to Al Horford for an important look:
Good ball motion doesn’t all the time must lead to an open jumper. This can be a good cross by Jayson Tatum to seek out Brown. Brown then passes up a drive or quick shot to hit Horford for the simple layup:
5. As talked about above, the Celtics protection is locked in proper now. They’re linked and switching on a string. Robert Williams performing as this roaming, free security kind has given the protection a brand new dimension, and it’s why sticking with the two-big beginning group works. Al Horford defends the middle, whereas Ime Udoka places Williams on the weakest shooter. That works as a result of Jaylen Brown, Marcus Sensible and Jayson Tatum can defend whoever else is on the market 1-4 with out a lot fear.
The Nets shot simply 37.8% within the first three quarters of this sport. Boston’s perimeter defenders made life robust on the Brooklyn shooters, whereas the bigs held issues down inside.
This grouping works. So, for the remainder of this season, let’s lay off the “Double bigs once more?” griping. It’s grow to be comically misplaced and is complaining for complaining’s sake.
6. One other manner Ime Udoka has Boston clicking is with after timeout (ATO) performs. Boston has commonly been at, or close to, the highest of the NBA all season in factors scored on ATOs.
Udoka tends to do it by protecting issues pretty easy. And generally that ends in one thing spectacular like this hammer from Jayson Tatum:
(Apologies for the shortage of a straight spliced-in clip, however the NBA has this performed flagged as a unique one for some cause!)
7. We’ve talked lots on this house about Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith (and our dearly departed Romeo Langford) not taking benefits of their alternatives sufficient. After the commerce deadline, Derrick White has taken on all the Josh Richardson minutes, and a few of the Dennis Schroder minutes, as Ime Udoka has largely caught together with his eight-man rotation.
The man who has seen further time, consuming up the remaining Schroder minutes, is Pritchard. And he’s been efficient. Hitting pictures like this no-hesitation pullup off a display screen goes a good distance in direction of protecting Pritchard within the rotation:
This one is nice stuff, as a result of Pritchard takes an additional, arduous dribble on the massive to get him to again up earlier than he sticks the pullup triple:
8. There’s no actual evaluation right here, however basketball is basically enjoyable generally:
9. Jaylen Brown performed a very underneath management flooring sport on this one. He didn’t have any of the head-down rushes into the protection with no plan. He let the sport come to him and took what was there. This can be a good instance of Brown protecting his head as much as make a play. Brown reads that James Johnson type of sticks in no-man’s land as Rob Williams rolled into the paint. Good spacing retains the opposite defenders house and Brown delivers a superb cross to get Williams a straightforward dunk:
10. It’s too early to know if that is the beginning of a brand new lengthy win streak, however you’ll be able to’t go on a streak with out getting the primary one!
Boston is now off to Detroit then Indiana for the uncommon weekend matinee, late afternoon back-to-back. These are two winnable video games for the Celtics. However they aren’t wanting previous what’s subsequent or fascinated about something greater. When requested if the Celtics need revenge on the Pistons, Jayson Tatum stated “I don’t learn about revenge. As Brad Stevens would say ‘All of them depend for one sport’.”
So, it’s on to Detroit. Nothing greater than that for the second. And that mentality has served the Celtics properly in 2022.
