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#1 Tatum upped the aggression
After receiving important backlash on-line, Jayson Tatum got here into the sport in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers with renewed aggression. He drove purposefully, drawing fouls at will and persistently pressuring the rim. 9 of Tatum’s 11 made buckets got here contained in the three-point line, both within the mid-range or across the rim.
Nonetheless, Tatum’s perimeter effectivity continues to be a priority. He shot 2-of-8 in opposition to the Cavaliers, which has seen his playoff conversion charge sit at 26.5% regardless of him taking 6.1 makes an attempt from deep per sport. The Boston Celtics want extra from their star participant, particularly in the event that they want to proceed utilizing his perimeter gravity to create openings for others on the ground.
In fact, when Tatum is hitting persistently within the mid-range, his gravity can all the time be utilized in other ways. I used to be a giant fan of the Celtics going again to some screening units to get Tatum into the publish, such because the wedge display screen motion beneath.
What number of occasions have we seen the Celtics run an motion like this to get Tatum a mismatch within the publish? This can be a staple of how Joe Mazzulla’s group has appeared to work within the mid-range. Seeing the Celtics get again to a set that has persistently created favorable matchups and scoring alternatives was each enjoyable and inspiring.
When Tatum is enjoying with this degree of drive and aggression on the offensive finish, the Celtics are a unique degree of menace. As soon as he figures out his perimeter shot, his scoring numbers ought to take one other leap, and any questions relating to his degree of play ought to dissipate.
#2 Cleveland’s no-switch coverage
J.B. Bickerstaff was clearly in no temper to permit the Celtics to hunt mismatches on the offensive finish. Wherever attainable, the Cavaliers fought to stick with their man. For essentially the most half, they performed a straight-up model of protection, avoiding switches on the perimeter.
Within the above clip, the Celtics try to create a mismatch for Jaylen Brown by having Payton Pritchard set inverted screens. The Cavaliers do a superb job of recovering and protecting their matchups, forcing Boston to assault straight up relatively than having a bonus they will exploit.
Once more, the Celtics look to run inverted screening actions to create a mismatch. After the Cavs hedge the PnR, Darius Garland appears to get better to Derrick White. The purpose right here is to maintain their matchups and keep away from mismatches. Garland is a beat too sluggish within the second clip, permitting White to get his shot off.
However, Cleveland’s need to keep away from switching and play straight up made life a bit harder for a Celtics group that has hunted favorable matchups all through the season. However, the elevated drive of Boston’s assault helped fill the void that was created by their incapability to get favorable appears.
#3 Jaylen Brown’s drives bullied Cleveland
Jaylen Brown had a powerful scoring evening for the Celtics. Most of his offense got here by way of the drive — both from the slot or above the break. When Brown is bully-driving his approach to the rim, he’s tough to cease. Typically, he’s stronger, quicker and extra explosive than most perimeter and wing defenders, which implies he can often discover a bonus after probing on a few drives to start the sport.
The Celtics got here into their sport in opposition to the Cavaliers seeking to play at a better tempo and make selections at a faster tempo. Having gamers like Brown, who isn’t afraid to penetrate off the dribble, drive defensive rotations, and end on the rim, permits that model of play to thrive. It additionally helps counter a group that’s seeking to play you straight up, as when you get your defender in your hip, all the defensive rotation is a step behind the motion and seeking to catch up.
Brown scored 13-of-17 on Saturday. He solely took 3 makes an attempt from deep — hitting two of them. His inside sport has been distinctive all season. In a extremely aggressive sport that at occasions appeared to be getting fairly chippy, having a forceful finisher is crucial. Brown has taken that function in his stride this season. Boston will want him to proceed enjoying with this degree of aggression for the remainder of the postseason.
#4 Jrue Vacation stepped up
Like Tatum, Jrue Vacation’s playoff manufacturing has been questioned over the previous week. He isn’t scoring at an elite degree and he isn’t playmaking like a lead guard. Nonetheless, in sport three of the Japanese Convention semifinals, Vacation confirmed up in a giant manner. He was pushing the tempo, making good reads, scoring at a dependable charge, and defending his tail off.
Vacation ended the sport with 18 factors, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, oh he had a block, too.
In true Morey-ball trend, Vacation’s pictures got here from two places: three-point vary and within the restricted space. He hit 4 across the rim and three from deep.
Drives just like the one proven within the clip above are when Vacation is at his finest. His power and low middle of gravity enable him to play by way of his defender’s chest; he can bully his approach to his spots. He additionally has high-level footwork within the publish, particularly contemplating he’s a guard. His little up-and-under end right here was a nifty piece of talent that cut up his defenders and allowed for a fluid end.
The Celtics don’t want Vacation to be this model of himself each evening. However when Derrick White is struggling, having Vacation scale his offensive manufacturing could be the perfect approach to proceed having useful offense from the guard place. That’s the worth of the inventory alternate on that aspect of the ground.
#5 Boston’s switch-heavy protection created on-ball strain
Not like the Cavaliers, the Celtics caught with a switch-heavy protection (apart from when Luke Kornet was on the court docket.) Mazzulla has a number of point-of-attack defenders at his disposal. It’s very uncommon that the Celtics are put right into a scenario the place their protection is at an obstacle, and the opposing group has a good matchup.
However, with out Kristaps Porzingis anchoring the paint, there’s some extra strain on the rotation to lock down the perimeter and restrict the success their opponents have across the rim. Al Horford did a stable job because the Celtics drop defender, and when enjoying as a part of a swap one-through-five. I do have some questions relating to his skill to persistently eat near 40 minutes of enjoying time per evening, however that’s a dialogue for an additional day.
I’ll depart you with this good defensive sequence from Tatum and Brown. They could be a robust matchup on either side of the ground!
Wanting forward
The Celtics will swimsuit up for sport 4 on Monday evening. In the event that they win, they’ll return to the TD Backyard to attempt to shut out the collection in 5 video games on Wednesday. Earlier than that may occur, Mazzulla’s group should gear up for an additional robust sport whereas anticipating a response from Cleveland. Nonetheless, securing one other win places the Celtics within the driver’s seat. If they will shut this out in 5, they’ll get some much-needed relaxation earlier than heading into the Japanese Convention Finals.
No matter what occurs, I’ll be again right here on Tuesday with some extra takeaways!
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