10 takeaways from Celtics’ bounce-back win over the Pacers

#1 – Empty facet offense is again

Throughout the Japanese Convention Finals final 12 months, the Boston Celtics used lots of empty facet offense. Should you’re not conversant in this method, it’s fairly easy. As an alternative of attacking from the center of the courtroom, like NBA offenses typically do, the Celtics begin from a facet the place the nook is empty.

On prime of that, they be sure that Al Horford, or whoever is defended by the rim protector, is sitting on the slot on the other facet. This 5-slot setup was popularized by Quin Snyder with the Hawks. It makes it very troublesome for a protection with a defensive anchor to come back assist. Certainly, they wish to hold Myles Turner as shut as potential to the paint, so the remainder of the ground have to be lined by 4 gamers as an alternative of 5.

Taking part in from one empty facet makes it even tougher as a result of the assistance can’t come from the robust facet, as there isn’t a one within the nook. It will possibly’t come from the baseline, as there’s additionally nobody there. Due to this fact, it could solely come from the highest or the other nook, which places the protection a step behind and might open up alternatives for three-point pictures.

To reap the benefits of this, the Celtics can both run pick-and-roll, realizing there gained’t be any assist coming from the low man, or they will use their pace to drive or their power to submit up, realizing that the assistance is just too far to hassle them. Chess, not checkers.

#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam

Going through a powerful frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner may very well be troublesome for many defenses, particularly with two of the perfect defensive gamers out (Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis). But, the Celtics have the instruments to adapt to most of their opponents.

Myles Turner is a pick-and-pop sort of heart, because of his taking pictures skill. Due to this fact, it might be robust to include his duo with Tyrese Haliburton if the Celtics determined to drop with Al Horford. As an alternative of forcing Al to change onto Haliburton, they put Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum on Myles Turner and hold Al away from the motion.

This has the additional advantage of Al Horford taking part in protection on Siakam one-on-one within the submit or isolation. As we’ve seen in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless try this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t take into account Siakam a taking pictures risk, the Indiana Pacers gained’t profit from nice spacing since Al stays near the paint when Siakam doesn’t have the ball.

#3 – Celtics unbothered by Pacers mixing up coverages

The Celtics have constructed a repute for struggling in opposition to zone protection, however that wasn’t the case final evening. Whereas mixing zone and particular person protection, the Pacers tried their greatest to maintain Myles Turner near the rim.

Nevertheless, the Celtics’ ball motion made it unimaginable for the Pacers to maintain up. By eager to restrict entry to the rim, they have been pressured to depart the corners open.

The Pacers’ protection couldn’t match the Celtics’ motion, and the offense didn’t have sufficient juice to compensate.

#4 – Celtics put stress early on out-of-juice Pacers

The evening earlier than dealing with the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Going through two of the perfect groups within the NBA in 24 hours isn’t precisely within the Christmas spirit, however the Celtics took benefit of it.

Proper from the beginning, the Celtics put laborious stress on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even prime the Indiana Pacers’ fast type of play.

On protection, they picked up the ball handler early and tried to drive turnovers as a lot as potential. By selecting up the ball handler at half-court, they pressured laborious passes, and Jaylen Brown was there to capitalize on them.

#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest

Jaylen Brown stays one in every of, if not the perfect, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final evening in opposition to the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up somewhat with a few straightforward dunks… after which exploded on Myles Turner!

Thirty seconds later, he stole the ball from Myles Turner and ran away with it to complete with a good looking windmill dunk—gracious.

#6 – Jordan Walsh concerned early

With a number of gamers out, it was anticipated to see some minutes from the “keep prepared” group. This time, it was Jordan Walsh who was invited to the present. Nevertheless, Joe Mazzulla and the teaching employees had fairly a troublesome task for him: stopping the nice TJ McConnell. TJ may be one of the crucial disruptive gamers, all the time transferring with or with out the ball—realizing methods to trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.

It was a very good problem for the rookie and confirmed that he may be extra suited to guarding a distinct sort of offensive participant. Certainly, after only some minutes, he bought caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. A bit later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the short Pacers guard.

On offense, Walsh was extra lively than ordinary, able to set screens or crash the offensive boards. That is what the Celtics need him to do whereas ready for his deal with and close-out assault to grow to be a brand new weapon.

On this final motion late within the sport, we may see flashes of an already improved deal with and passing. Is it actual? Might this translate into significant minutes past rubbish time?

#7 – Payton Pritchard’s versatile sport is rising

In opposition to the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply taking pictures. As talked about earlier, he was a significantly better matchup for TJ McConnell and blocked him on the Pacers’ first attempt to drive on him.

On the offensive facet, Payton delivered fairly the efficiency. Not as a result of he flirted with a triple-double, however as a result of he impacted the offense in varied methods. Off-ball, as ordinary, we noticed him working and creating chaos within the protection. And with the ball, we witnessed new methods of utilizing him.

In opposition to Tyrese Haliburton, we noticed him play the post-up (not the empty facet set talked about earlier). His robust core and low heart of gravity make him in a position to overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On prime of this uncommon method, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced sport plan.

#8 – Third-quarter play name to maintain the Pacers away

The Pacers have been dominated and drained however remained shut till the fourth quarter. With the quantity of three-pointers as of late, no lead is protected. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their sport plan.

Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display earlier than popping to the three-point line whereas Derrick White had the ball. This forces Bennedict Mathurin to be behind Jayson Tatum, and Horford pops Turner away. Due to this fact, D-White solely needed to ship a pleasant go above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.

One other set that labored very well (and ought to be used extra typically) got here in the midst of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display for Jayson Tatum. Myles Turner hedges onto Tatum whereas Mathurin recovers, giving Horford time to be open on the three-point line whereas Jaylen Brown creates extra confusion by setting a second display. A terrific use of the Jays’ scoring threats.

#9 – Boston’s offensive feast

Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was superb final evening, in some ways. First, that they had a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, the most effective marks of the season concerning taking pictures effectivity.

On prime of that, they dominated the possession battle with solely 11% turnovers whereas grabbing 39% of offensive rebounds after a miss! In addition they efficiently generated straightforward factors with extra free throws than ordinary.

A terrific general offensive sport, and it might have been laborious to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.

#10 – Effectively-deserved Gino time

Like a late Christmas reward, the TD Backyard was lastly in a position to get pleasure from a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. Might they prolong the Gino Time streak into the brand new 12 months?