No More Six Seven...
The Boston Celtics secured their 7th win of the season to move back to .500
Back to .500 after 14 games. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are both hitting their shots. Jordan Walsh has risen to the occasion. And, the big-man rotation of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza appears to be getting things done.
There was a lot to like about Sunday’s matinee win over the LA Clippers.
A lot to like.
Game 14: Clippers 118 — Celtics 121
📊 Key Stats
I’ve made no secret about my preference for a balanced shot profile from this version of the Celtics, and they delivered last night.
33% of their attempts came at the rim. 31% came from mid-range and 36% came from deep.
It doesn’t come much more balanced than that in terms of shot volume, and that helped Boston win the possession battle, despite having one possession less than the Clippers.
In terms of accuracy, the Celtics shot 45% at the rim, 40.6% in the mid-range and 41% from deep — all better numbers than the Clippers.
Boston’s ability to pressure ball-handlers, jump passing lanes and ultimately force turnovers is one of their biggest defensive strengths this season. We saw that again last night, as they won the turnover battle 13-6.
More encouragingly, they made use of those extra opportunities, generating 27 points off those turnovers.
That means in points off turnovers alone, the Celtics won the battle 10-27.
They’re finding ways to be successful in areas of strength, and in turn, it’s emboldening their approach and the pressure they’re generating.
22 minutes: that’s the combined playing time for Josh Minott and Andfernee Simons last night, and I’m rounding up.
They contributed 0 points, one rebound and 3 assists, with Simons being an anonymous participant throughout his minutes.
I’m not sure what’s happening with these two, or why they’re so out of rhythm and favor, but the Celtics need them both to snap out of their funks.
Both of those guys were key contributors during the opening weeks of the season. They’ve both proven they can be impactful in their roles, and despite the Celtics’ rotation and sub patterns changing, they need to fight for their minutes, as right now, they’re losing ground in terms of playing time, etc.
Queta is really improving as a screener and an overall hustle player.
He ended last night with 8 screen assists, totalling 21 points.
You can add 13 shot contests to that; however, the DFG% isn’t currently available to see how effective those shot contests were — something tells me they were decently effective.
Queta’s finishing around the rim is still a work in progress, as is his shot selection. Nevertheless, he keeps improving week in and week out and deserves his spot as the team’s starting big man.
💫 Star of the Game
Once again, we’ve got to give it to Jaylen Brown — at some point, we might need to give him a period of exclusion if he keeps playing like this.
Brown produced on both sides of the floor. He played some good defense, led the line as the featured scorer and took care of the ball, even when being crowded by the defense.
I mean, JB wasn’t making this pass a few years ago…
Brown’s shot profile was primarily at the rim, however, he did look to keep the defense honest with his shots from deep — where he was 1-of-7 — and his now customary forays into the mid-range.
I really like this version of Brown. His directness of play, athleticism and aggression are setting the tone, and those around him are starting to figure out how to leverage the gravity he creates.
📈 Improved Performer
Pritchard has been trending upward in recent games, but on Sunday, he was back to his best.
He dropped 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He rotated well on defense, holding his own as a result. And, he chipped in with 3 rebounds and 2 assists…Oh…he also didn’t turn the rock over.
Over the last week, White’s touches have trended downward as he moves into more of an off-ball role. In return, Pritchard’s and Brown’s have both trended up, albeit marginally.
If Pritchard continues to thrive in a more ball-dominant role, it makes sense for White to shift back into a role he’s already proven and impactful in. I don’t think we will see a drastic shift, but clearly, Mazzulla is making slight tweaks, and they’re paying off.
⚾ Curveball of the game
I was shocked to see Sam Hauser’s minutes cut short last night. However, his shooting slump is real. Throughout November (so far), which accounts for 8 games, Hauser is shooting 18.9% from deep. He’s 7-of-37.
That slump isn’t just on the perimeter, either. He’s shooting 14.3% from 2-point range over the same span, although on a limited number of attempts (1-of-7).
Mazzulla is certainly rolling the dice, though. Between Simons, Minott and Hauser, he’s coaching them hard, at the risk of hitting their confidence. It’s a fine line to walk.
Nevertheless, even with Hauser’s defense, his upside is limited if he’s not spacing the floor and is prone to trying to shoot himself back into rhythm. The bigger question is whether his minutes will continue to be minimized or whether Mazzulla will give him some more rope in the near future.
📋 Playbook Observation
I’ve really enjoyed how Boston has begun to embrace off-ball actions to open up space for shooters, cutters, etc. There was a good example of this in the third quarter last night, as the Celtics ran some off-ball goodies to create space for Garza to get up a three.
The play starts with Baylor Scheierman (whose increased minutes were another curveball) cutting from the weakside wing, threatening a flex screen for Brown.
Scheierman and Brown both split cut, with Scheierman using a Garza down screen to receive the ball in the strong side slot. Spotting the defensive coverage, Scheierman curls his dribble and gets a paint touch, forcing his defender to chase and Garza’s defender to close off his driving lane.
Of course, all that left Garza open on the perimeter, where a quick kick-out led to an open three.
The close-out was too late to impact the release or the shooting motion.
Boston also had Pritchard one pass away if Garza got shut down quickly and needed a release valve.
Movement = good looks.
💬 My Take on the Game
I’m trying to stay even-keeled. It’s hard to get too up, or too down, when you know the season has begun on a pendulum. It’s also fair to point out the injuries the Clippers are dealing with, and the in-game loss of Derrick Jones Jr. Yet, with all that being said, when the team plays like this — with pace, purpose, aggression and composure — what’s not to like?
A lot is going to be said about Mazzulla and his handling of Minott (what happened?), Simons, Hauser and whoever else is bouncing in and out of the rotation. However, it’s clear he’s holding everyone to the same high standards and rewarding those who rise to the occasion. Of course, that means the rotation is prone to change in the future, and that’s a good thing. The whole point of this season is to force development, construct a new identity and find the hidden gems.
The Clippers are a well-coached team. James Harden is still an elite scorer and playmaker (as he made sure we saw), and there is veteran depth throughout the roster. Yet, the Celtics made sure to play their game on their home court and see things through in the clutch. We’re seeing signs of development and growth with each passing game.
The Brooklyn Nets are up next, and at 2-11, this could be a game where that development helps lead to a big night. And, if Mazzulla is saving some of his struggling guys for a game against struggling opposition, this could be a night we see a little more of Hauser, Simons, etc. Either way, Sunday was a solid win with plenty of good signs. I’m always here for nights like that.