10 takeaways from a excessive octane night time in Chicago

#1 – The Boston Celtics tried to match the Chicago Bulls’ tempo

Up to now this season, the Bulls are the quickest group within the NBA. After a made basket by their opponents, Bulls’ possessions final 15.5 seconds on common, in comparison with the league common of 17.3 seconds and the Celtics’ 17.9 seconds. Towards the reigning NBA champions, Billy Donovan’s group knew they wanted to push the tempo even more durable—they usually did.

After Celtics’ made photographs, the Bulls averaged 14.6 seconds per possession. They aimed to disrupt Boston’s protection by operating extra and stopping the Celtics from establishing their normal schemes. The Bulls’ 129 factors recommend this technique labored. Nevertheless, the Celtics additionally accelerated their tempo.

Joe Mazzulla’s group mirrored the Bulls’ strategy, shortening their possessions by a median of 1.5 seconds after made baskets. By matching the Bulls’ tempo whereas leveraging their superior expertise, the Celtics scored 139 factors—their second-highest output this season.

Whereas the Bulls use pace to compensate for an absence of expertise, the Celtics tailored and proved their versatility, in the end prevailing with their superior ability and flexibility.

#2 – Jayson Tatum’s effectivity masterclass

With solely 18 area aim makes an attempt, Jayson Tatum scored 35 factors. He took only one mid-range shot, focusing as an alternative on threes and photographs on the rim. The Bulls had no solutions. Their lack of rim safety was evident on this drive: Tatum posted up Lonzo Ball, drove to the rim, and Vucevic barely contested him.

The Bulls’ protection struggled much more once they went small, leaving Josh Giddey to protect Tatum. Tatum’s ending on the rim, now at 79% this season, continues to enhance. On this play, he remained calm, composed, and picked up, demonstrating why his effectivity has reached new heights. His jumper additionally seems as sharp as ever.

Whether or not the Bulls dropped or switched on pick-and-rolls, Tatum’s deadly pull-ups made life inconceivable for his or her protection.

They merely had no reply for his scoring brilliance.

#3 – Higher spacing opens up the rim

The Celtics tried 30 photographs on the rim final night time, changing 74%—a uncommon incidence for this group. Kristaps Porziņģis performed a major position in creating this dynamic.

By positioning Jrue Vacation and Jaylen Brown within the corners in opposition to weaker defenders like Zach LaVine and Coby White, the Celtics restricted the Bulls’ defensive rotations. This additionally pressured Nikola Vucevic into actions he wasn’t comfy with.

The Celtics’ use of screens and switches put the Bulls in lose-lose conditions. When the Bulls adjusted to contest threes, Boston shifted to attacking the rim, showcasing their means to adapt.

#4 – Payton Pritchard’s unconscious fourth-quarter run

In simply 5 minutes, Payton Pritchard scored 19 factors—a efficiency for the ages. The range in his scoring actions was outstanding.

After hitting a spot-up three, he set a ghost display screen for Jaylen Brown, freezing the Bulls’ protection and creating one other open three.

Subsequent, he drove previous Josh Giddey, utilizing completely timed steps to keep away from the protection and end on the rim with composure.

He additionally delivered spotlight performs, like this step-back jumper after almost dropping his steadiness:

Pritchard completed with 29 factors in 28 minutes, including 4 offensive rebounds and glorious playmaking—a robust case for Sixth Man of the Yr.

#5 – Kristaps Porziņģis’ mobility Is essential

Coming off an extended damage, Porziņģis’ mobility was in query. Final night time, he proved doubters fallacious by sprinting into early screens and taking part in with noticeable pace and fluidity.

In a single sequence, he sprinted to set a display screen for Derrick White, forcing Vucevic into motion. Then, he faked a dribble handoff and freed Lonzo Ball underneath the rim.

His agility additionally created alternatives for himself. On one other play, he used a ghost display screen to achieve separation, then attacked the rim like a guard driving in opposition to a close-out.

Porziņģis’ pace and decision-making have been encouraging indicators for his comeback.

#6 – Put up-up dominance from Kristaps Porziņģis

The Celtics returned to their high-post actions, utilizing Porziņģis to take advantage of mismatches in opposition to smaller guards. Even tall defenders like Josh Giddey regarded helpless in opposition to KP’s dimension and endurance.

Porziņģis displayed glorious composure, utilizing fakes and energy dribbles to attain or draw fouls. He completed with three area targets and 7 free throws from post-up performs, including one other dimension to Boston’s elite offense.

#7 – Late changes by the Bulls

After an extended night time of switching on each Celtics display screen, the Bulls lastly began sending two gamers on the ball handler to drive the ball to maneuver. After a strong recreation at caring for the ball, the Celtics lose the ball thrice within the final three minutes of the sport.

Nonetheless, after a few unhealthy offensive possessions, the Celtics adjusted to verify the Bulls had no alternative however to change Vucevic on the ball. They multiplied the screens to verify the large man was transferring and concerned within the motion and ran as quick as potential in transition. This lower brief the Bulls expectations of a comeback.

#8 – Nikola Vucevic’s recreation confirmed why the Celtics’ protection may be crushed

The Montenegrin large man is the archetype of a participant who can disrupt the Celtics’ defensive scheme with two key abilities: capturing and post-up scoring.

Typically, the Celtics assign Jayson Tatum to protect the opponent’s middle and let Porziņģis roam as a assist defender in opposition to the weakest shooter. This strategy labored properly in final yr’s NBA Finals as a result of Daniel Gafford, for instance, couldn’t exploit Tatum with post-ups.

Nevertheless, Vucevic is a distinct problem. He can assault Tatum within the publish or make the most of any swap to punish smaller defenders after screens. The Celtics can’t merely assign Porziņģis to protect him both, as Vucevic’s capturing would drag Porziņģis away from the paint, leaving Boston’s rim safety uncovered.

Vucevic’s versatility created issues for the Celtics all through the sport, highlighting a recurring difficulty of their defensive setup. As Marc Campbell famous final yr, a capturing large man with post-up means could be the one kind of participant who can actually dismantle Boston’s in any other case elite protection.

#9 – Jaylen Brown: the most effective in-game dunker

Jaylen Brown’s means to throw down posters is unmatched. Let’s not take his spectacular in-game dunks without any consideration.

#10 – Celtics’ NBA Cup hopes keep alive

Regardless of the Hawks’ win over the Cavaliers, the Celtics nonetheless have a path to advance within the NBA Cup. Per Khari A. Thompson, listed here are the situations:

“The Knicks blow out the Magic by 37 or extra and Bucks beat Pistons by 5 or extra. Orlando (+60) has a large benefit over the Celtics (+23) in level differential that may solely be overcome if New York beats Orlando by 37 or extra. If the Knicks beat the Magic by that a lot or extra, the Celtics would have the tiebreaker over Orlando. The Pistons (+28) differential would fall under the Celtics’ (+23) differential if Detroit loses to Milwaukee by 6 or extra.

The Knicks blow out the Magic by 37 or extra and Pistons beat Bucks (+29) by 7 or extra. Identical situation as above, besides Milwaukee could be tied with Boston and would their level differential would drop under +23 with a 7 level loss or extra.

Magic win, Pistons beat Bucks by 7 or extra. The Knicks (+15) could be tied with the Celtics at 3-1, and since their differential is already smaller than the Celtics, any Knicks loss would give the Celtics the tiebreaker over them irrespective of the rating.

Magic win, Bucks beat Pistons by 6 or extra. Celtics would get level differential tiebreaker over these groups as defined above.”