On Thursday evening, the Chicago Bulls got here in to TD Backyard and shocked the Celtics, leaving with a 117-108 victory. Boston had their second worst three-point taking pictures efficiency of the season, simply 25% as a staff, and that, too, on 56 makes an attempt. The sport was properly inside attain all through, and the Celtics have been even main to begin the 4th quarter, however Chicago introduced a late burst of vitality to push themselves excessive, coupled with a psychological collapse by the Celtics.
Whether or not warranted or not, Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown acquired technical fouls in a 3-point sport with simply over 5 minutes to play, and Jayson Tatum acquired one in every of his personal simply 2 minutes later. Tonight, the 2 groups match up once more, this time in Chicago.
How a lot focus do the Celtics placed on the paint if the three-point photographs proceed to fail?
The Celtics haven’t budged a lot relating to taking threes, averaging over 50 makes an attempt per sport this season. They’ve solely taken beneath 50 makes an attempt ten occasions this season, and have a file of 8-2 in such video games, the 2 losses coming to Atlanta (42 3PA) and Cleveland (49 3PA). That being stated, all six of their losses have are available in video games the place they shot at or beneath 40% from three.
Chicago isn’t a type of groups with an intimidating paint protector, Nikola Vucevic averaging simply 0.8 blocks per sport. The Celtics ended up scoring at a 77.3% clip within the circle on Thursday evening, 66.7% within the paint as a complete, which resulted in 44 complete factors. They have been in a position to rating there roughly at will, so if the threes proceed to bounce out, perhaps we see the Celtics look to assault the paint extra tonight.
Can the Celtics win the rebounding battle?
Within the first matchup towards the Bulls, Boston outrebounded Chicago 51 to 43. In Thursday’s matchup, the Bulls flipped the script, outrebounding the Celtics 56 to 45. In each video games, the Bulls ended the evening with the upper FG%, although by a wider margin within the final sport. If the Celtics wish to win tonight, they’re going to should do a greater job on the boards. Securing additional possessions whereas additionally stopping them for Chicago is one of the best ways to beat poor taking pictures performances.
Will the Celtics preserve their defensive depth all through the sport?
The Celtics began Thursday’s matchup with a block celebration, recording 3 blocks within the 1st quarter and 1 within the 2nd. There have been not less than a pair extra photographs that appeared like Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis have been in a position to have an effect on, however in the end weren’t added on to the stat sheet. They saved the celebration going within the 3rd quarter, with White and Porzingis combining for 3 extra blocks.
The staff had a defensive ranking of 110.2 within the 1st half, together with a ranking of 116.7 within the 3rd quarter. Within the 4th quarter, nonetheless, the staff had an abysmal defensive ranking of 140.0, which led to a internet ranking of -52.0 for the quarter. Even by the attention take a look at, Boston appeared sluggish and uncomposed. By the top, it felt as if Chicago was in a position to blow previous Boston’s defenders at will. It appeared as if the Celtics have been getting pissed off, and that frustration boiled over to the purpose the place it was directed on the officers.
In the end, their lack of effort on the defensive finish is what let Thursday’s matchup slip out of their palms. To keep away from a repeat, they’re going to have to come back out with a chip on their shoulder. Sustaining a robust protection all through everything of the sport is one of the best ways to help their offense, and assist them come out with a victory.
