Proof of Concept
The Boston Celtics looked drastically improved as they dispatched the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Back-to-back wins for the Boston Celtics! The mood around the team — from the fanbase’s standpoint — has certainly shifted. The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t hit the ground running this year, but they’re still the most talented team Boston has faced to begin the new season.
Securing a win will do wonders for the team’s confidence, as it will for the majority of the fanbase. With that, let’s dive in…
Game 5: Cavaliers 105 — Celtics 125
📊 Key Stats
The Celtics are 27th in the league for assists per game throughout the opening week of the season.
Against the Cavaliers, Joe Mazzulla’s team showcased some much-improved movement — both with and without the ball. The result was 29 assists, accounting for 69% of the total points scored.
It was also the Celtics’ best night so far, in terms of moving the ball. In fact, the past two games have seen a considerable jump in assists — and while some of that can be attributed to shot-making, it feels like the approach is now rewarding movement.
Boston won the rebounding battle, despite the Cavaliers having both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley on the floor.
A big part of that success was down to the team’s willingness to box out. The Celtics won that battle 17-13.
And while those box outs aren’t solely to thank for the rebounding production, they certainly are a key part of how this C’s team is going to hold its own when facing rosters that can field multiple bigs at once.
Allen was especially subdued on the glass, grabbing just 6 boards, as opposed to the 15 from Josh Minott and the 13 from Neemias Queta.
Chef’s Kiss.
The Celtics maximized their offensive production. According to Cleaning The Glass, Mazzulla’s team had 91 possessions throughout the game. They shot a 54.8 eFG%, limited turnovers (8.8% of their total offensive possessions) and attacked the space in the middle of the floor.
32% of the Celtics' offense came from the mid-range. They shot 50% on those attempts.
Boston also made the most out of their rim attacks, hitting 62.5% when within four feet of the bucket.
Mazzulla’s team also won the battles in the margins…They had 19 points off turnovers, 23 second-chance points, 34 points in the paint, and 33 deflections (1 less than Cleveland).
The Celtics fought on every possession, winning most of the smaller duels within the game and, most importantly, controlling the tempo and pace of the game.
Off-ball movement was key to a lot of what Boston did throughout the game.
Derrick White and Payton Pritchard continue to struggle from the perimeter.
The duo combined for 4-of-20 shooting from deep.
💫 Star of the Game
I found it really hard to choose a “star” from this game, because multiple guys deserved the nod. However, I’m going to run with Josh Minott.
His energy was infectious, his hustle admirable, and his production undeniable.
Minott was starting in his second consecutive game and didn’t look out of place with the current starting unit.
The defensive versatility he provides, especially in his ability to guard multiple positions, has been key to back-to-back improvements on that side of the floor.
I’m also a big fan of his athleticism on both sides of the ball.
If he can figure out his 3-point shot, just a little bit, then he could become a nightmare to guard. We saw multiple corner crashes and sharp cuts last night, now imagine if he had shooting gravity to go with that movement…
📈 Improved Performer
Sam Hauser gets the honor today. His 15-point opening quarter helped set the tone for the Celtics and significantly impacted how the Cavaliers defended the 3-point line.
Hauser brings so much value to the Celtics rotation, especially when he’s going nuclear off the catch.
I was a big fan of the below bucket, primarily due to how Hauser caught the ball and let it come off his fingertips within a split second. He was already in his pocket as the pass was made, which allowed him to literally redirect the rock with quality shooting form.
There’s no dip on this shot. Hauser doesn’t need to go into his mechanics to get his pocket and rhythm. He catches the rock, ball already on his fingertips, and lets it go straightaway — very few players are capable of that shot.
Hauser’s value is often overlooked, but last night, against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, he reminded everyone why he’s more than just an afterthought. Loved it!
📋 Playbook Observation
The Celtics have added a few different looks out of split cuts to their playbook. We got a look at another one of those looks last night.
The action starts with a weakside stagger screen for Jaylen Brown. Brown’s defender looks to deny the screen, allowing Brown to reject the stagger action, force the switch and re-locate.
As Brown rejects the screen and cuts through the paint, Luka Garza “splits” out of the stagger to receive the ball in the delay.
While all this has been happening, Payton Pritchard has been making his way across the baseline, where he then turns the jets on and comes off the staggered pindow — reminiscent of a “floppy” action.
The Celtics flow into a zoom action, Pritchard kicks it back to Hauser for the open three.
The reason this play worked out, in terms of generating a quality shot, was:
A, the movement forced the defense to rotate and make quick decisions.
B, Garza darted into a screen for Hauser after issuing Pritchard with the rock, meaning one of the league’s best catch-and-shoot threats had a wide-open look at the bucket.
⚾ Curveball of the game
Honestly? How the Celtics managed to subdue the Cavaliers from start to finish. Not only did Mazzulla’s team snuff out the frontcourt threat, but they also impacted how successful Donovan Mitchell was from the field.
It’s far too early in the season to believe this outcome could be replicated throughout the year, but if you’re a Celtics fan, last night would have been proof of concept regarding Mazzulla’s new system.
There was something about the way the Celtics played last night that felt like it could easily be replicated over and over again.
Boston wasn’t expected to be much of a defensive threat this season — especially around the rim. So, to see a total team effort limit Kenny Atkinson’s roster was super encouraging.
💬 My Take on the Game
Two wins on the bounce means the Celtics are one more dub away from being .500 on the season. And while that doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, at least at this early juncture, the chase for a 50% win rate has undoubtedly improved how the fanbase is currently viewing this team.
I’ll be honest, when looking at the schedule last week, I had the Cavaliers as easy winners, even with the game being in front of the TD Garden. Of course, I’m more than happy to be wrong there…It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last either.
Still, win or lose, the process is starting to make a lot more sense. The movement is deliberate, creating lanes, screening opportunities and or open shot attempts. There’s a method within the chaos, while the overall tempo makes it much harder for defenses to bunker down and drag the Celtics into a slugfest.
Even on defense, the process is working. The pressure is speeding up teams. The high pick-up points are generating turnovers and/or mistakes. And, the pinching/ gap help is denying primary and potentially secondary drives, forcing teams to use more of the clock whenever possible.
The win over Cleveland is fantastic from both a bragging rights and momentum standpoint. Yet, for me, it’s an important step in helping build trust in the new system. A win over such a talented squad is a great launching pad, especially for a style of play that is still developing and evolving with each passing game.
Bring on the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday…