Celtics bounce back on defense: Five takeaways from the Pelicans win

Protection has not often emerged as a narrative round these Celtics all yr after their inconsistency on that finish turned a difficulty sporadically all through the 2023 marketing campaign till it outlined their playoff woes. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each set a tone coming into this season by aspiring to achieve all-defense standing, whereas Joe Mazzulla meant to speak about protection extra. That culminated in a No. 3 rating on protection by Saturday that hasn’t wavered.

But performances like Saturday’s, a clinic in disruptiveness, versatility and top-of-the-line stifling quarters you’ll ever see in a contemporary NBA sport, confirmed the next ceiling than the typical night time of Boston’s protection. The Celtics held the Pelicans to 92 factors, the fourth-fewest they’ve allowed all yr, in a comeback win they closed 76-35 throughout the ultimate three quarters. That record is plagued by Detroit, Memphis, Brooklyn and Toronto-caliber groups. New Orleans ranked because the fourth greatest one within the NBA based on web score — twelfth in offense.

1. An 11-point quarter on protection shattered Boston’s earlier greatest this yr

Previous to Saturday, the Celtics’ greatest defensive quarter got here to begin and end video games towards the Nets, Grizzlies and Jazz by permitting 15 factors. Solely 5 groups boast defensive frames higher than the 11 factors Boston held New Orleans to after halftime within the win. The Pelicans shot 4-for-23 (17%) and 2-for-9 capturing from deep truly bolstered a 2-for-14 effort within the paint. The Celtics allowed solely two free throws and compelled three turnovers, whereas efficiently defending three out of 4 second-chance alternatives. Kristaps Porzingis blocked two photographs and recorded a steal. Jaylen Brown blocked one other earlier than Sam Hauser and Al Horford closed the quarter with steals. The aggressiveness of the protection stood out.

2. Jaylen Brown set a tone once more with physicality, athleticism and embracing a matchup

Brown made the signature play of the win by blowing up a Pelicans set by stealing the ball from Zion Williamson at half court docket, stumbling into the backcourt to get well the unfastened ball and getting off a layup try that Derrick White put again. Brown tweaked his left hand on the play and mentioned he’ll get it checked out again in Boston, casting some doubt on his standing at Charlotte. Nonetheless, he performed by a number of onerous falls, a sore again and the hand ailment in a 17-point effort the place he added seven rebounds and 6 assists. Pelicans gamers shot 2-for-14 on makes an attempt guarded by Brown. Williamson fell to 2-for-8 with 5 factors, three assists and 5 turnovers towards Brown in two video games this season. Brown couldn’t restart his streak of 14 straight video games with 20 or extra factors after it ended on Thursday. Protection mattered most on Saturday.

3. Night time two again collectively for the starters went effectively too

Jrue Vacation’s return to the lineup on Thursday reunited Boston’s common starters for the primary time in three weeks, choosing up the place they left off by outscoring the Hawks by 13.1 factors per 100 possessions regardless of the loss. They constructed on that on Saturday by dominating the Pelicans of their minutes by 17.1 factors per 100 possessions. They’re now posting a 121.8 offensive score and 109.2 defensive score for the season, whereas the Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis mixture confirmed promise once more with Horford again after lacking Thursday’s loss. They held the Pelicans to 74.1 factors per 100 of their 14 minutes collectively on Saturday, posting a +33.6 web score that vaulted their partnership to +12.1 this yr. Double massive will stay a part of the rotation into the playoffs. So who will play backup?

4. One other step for Xavier Tillman Sr.

Xavier Tillman Sr. logged the third heart minutes whereas Horford and Porzingis shared the ground for a good portion of the win. He solely shot 1-for-3 on offense and didn’t try a 3, splitting a pair of free throws, the Celtics gained his minutes by seven factors and the Pelicans shot 2-for-7 on makes an attempt that Tillman guarded. Opponents have now shot 52.6% towards Tillman since he joined the Celtics, the next quantity than they’d hope for, however performances like Thursday’s present his potential to impression on protection towards groups that attempt to pound the paint and pose much less of a fringe problem.

Horford and Tillman have outscored opponents by 14.7 factors per 100 of their minutes collectively, a tough quantity to disregard even throughout 5 video games and 49 minutes collectively. Tillman advised CLNS Media/CelticsBlog that he feels 75% acclimated to Boston on Thursday, and admitted he’ll need to handle knee swelling that compelled him to overlook Monday’s loss for the remainder of the yr. He additionally shrugged off his struggles from three (3-17), mentioning that he’s capturing one every night time.

5. An essential bounceback for Kristaps Porzingis

Porzingis stuffing Williamson on consecutive photographs on the rim might match each bit because the signature play of Saturday’s win as Brown’s backcourt steal. That he might dominate towards New Orleans’ energy got here as a optimistic signal, blocking 4 photographs after struggles competing bodily and on the boards within the Atlanta mini-series. Porzingis mixed for 37 factors on 15-for-34 capturing, 5 defensive rebounds, together with 0 within the first sport, and -11 minutes (in +/-).

Hardly ever did his play draw scrutiny because the distinction in dropping this yr, requiring that he bounced again after straight enjoying a task in these let-downs. Saturday noticed him nearer to the participant he’s been for a lot of the season, posting 19 factors, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and 4 blocks whereas capturing 6-for-14. His 45.5% capturing (36.4% 3PT) and over two fewer free throw makes an attempt per sport from April are value watching into April. He scored practically three fewer factors per sport this month, the place he missed 5 video games with a hamstring harm that compelled him to endure imaging that exposed one thing important sufficient to overlook prolonged time. Porzingis mentioned he’d in all probability play by these sorts of illnesses within the playoffs. If he’s hurting, it’s value questioning if his play diminishes simply sufficient to impression sport outcomes.