Profitable gritty: 10 Takeaways from Celtics/Hornets

#1 Pritchard’s scoring

Payton Pritchard has 110 complete factors off the bench in Boston’s opening seven video games. That ranks him second within the NBA behind Tre Mann. To start the season, he informed the media he’d spent the summer season growing his off-the-dribble capturing, leading to a much more aggressive model of himself across the perimeter.

“Getting extra constant off the dribble from the three-ball,” Pritchard informed reporters on Oct. 4. “I believed my ending and my mid-range sport final 12 months took a giant leap so I believed that was actually good. Clearly, I’m all the time engaged on that stuff but when I might be extra environment friendly capturing off the dribble from there, in addition to the catch and shoot, that completes my sport.”

In opposition to the Hornets, 4 of his six made threes got here off the bounce.

Pritchard is working his defenders into extra screens, trusting his handles when the protection hundreds up, and attacking house off the bounce. As one of many higher three-point capturing guards within the league, the addition of an off-the-bounce jumper has unlocked his total sport.

Final season, Pritchard showcased a capability to complete across the rim after creating house by way of contact — I prefer to name this “bump creation” — the place he would use his shoulders to create separation earlier than ending across the rim. On account of his improved perimeter sport, we haven’t seen a lot of that to start the season, nonetheless, we did get to see one other new wrinkle to his offense on Saturday — a bump-off right into a mid-range fadeaway.

Pritchard is enjoying with the boldness of a champion. I’m all-in on him constructing a Sixth Man of the 12 months marketing campaign, and primarily based on his opening run of performances, I don’t assume it’s an excessive amount of of a stretch to assume he can put himself firmly within the dialog.

#2 White’s fourth-quarter rim safety

Each of Derrick White’s blocked pictures got here within the fourth quarter. After the Celtics had surrendered their lead through the third, White stepped up as a rim protector when the group wanted him most. We’re used to that by now. He’s been doing at a excessive degree for many of his tenure with the Celtics. Nonetheless, it’s all the time enjoyable when he decides it is time to begin a block social gathering.

Right here’s the primary block. White is the primary one again in transition. He will get himself between the ball and the bucket. A hand on Brandon Miller’s hip permits White to really feel the momentum shift as Miller goes right into a layup, giving him the required timing to stand up and contest the shot. Shot blocked, two factors probably saved.

We’ve received to credit score Neemias Queta on this play. He went straight as much as problem Miller’s shot try — which is an enchancment for the younger massive man. The momentum switch is what creates the pause impact in mid-air, permitting White to return from behind and get the swat. White thrives because the rear-guard shot-blocker, and I’m all the time right here for it.

I additionally need to give White’s total manufacturing a shout-out. I stated this advert nauseam final season when scripting this column: he and Jrue Vacation are elite at scaling their manufacturing primarily based on the group’s wants. With out Jaylen Brown within the rotation, White stepped up as a scorer (18 factors) and a rebounder (8 rebounds). And that’s earlier than we credit score his protection…

For a Celtics group that has struggled when guarding transition this season — Synergy has them sitting twenty sixth within the league, giving up 1.21 factors per 100 possessions — White’s hustle to get again on this early possession felt like a tone-setting second.

#3 Kornet two-way efficiency

Kornet has redefined how non-shooting bigs can thrive in a five-out offense. He’s earned his spot as a staple within the rotation and by no means appears misplaced when entering into the beginning 5. Again in March, I dove into how Kornet’s perimeter-based non-shooting sport might translate nicely to different non-shooting bigs, similar to Zach Edey; you possibly can learn that right here.

In opposition to the Hornets, we noticed Kornet produce arguably top-of-the-line video games of his profession.

Kornet has developed persistence as a screener. He is aware of when to create contact, slip the display screen, or pop again onto the perimeter earlier than veering into one other display screen. His gravity in these actions is three-fold:

1. His dimension makes him a reputable vertical ground spacer, no matter his restricted explosivness
2. He has turn into a high-level secondary creator out of the brief roll
3. If he pops again onto the perimeter, he’s a menace when initiating DHOs, realizing when to ‘maintain’ and when at hand the rock off.

Within the above clip, Kornet has his fingerprints over the complete possession. The Celtics begin by working a ‘robust chin’ (reverse the ball by making two passes to the opposite aspect of the courtroom, non-ball aspect reduce for the preliminary ball-handler) motion to enter the possession. Kornet then feeds White, who was the ‘chin screener’ for Sam Hauser, earlier than flowing straight right into a excessive PnR.

That is the place Kornet’s persistence comes into play, and for me, it is without doubt one of the most spectacular facets of his function as a perimeter-screening massive. He waits for the hedge on White earlier than slipping into the house created by sending two on the ball. Quick-roll, White passes, Kornet re-directs, and now the protection is scrambling. Credit score Vacation for the middie, too.

Kornet additionally benefitted from being a part of a double-big lineup on protection. He might function as a drop defender whereas Horford labored increased up the ground. Or, he might play the weakside roamer function, guarding the nook and rotating over to offer some late-shot contests.

Within the above clip, Kornet begins the possession by guarding the perimeter. As Horford is pulled into the motion, Kornet goes right into a drop protection, timing the drive earlier than contesting the shot.

General, Kornet supplied a powerful show on each ends of the ground. He won’t be flashy or takeover a sport with dominant athleticism or an limitless motor, however he performs the proper manner and finds methods to make an impression extra typically or not.

#4 Queta DHO’s

Queta has been studying from Kornet. This aspect DHO was straight out of Boston’s non-shooting massive playbook, utilizing the massive dimension and mobility to create scoring alternatives by way of re-screens.

Considered one of Queta’s most important enhancements to start the season has been the quantity of house he’s producing along with his screens. He’s producing 2.8 display screen assists factors per sport in 12.2 minutes of enjoying time. Horford leads the group with 7.2, whereas Kornet is second with 5.6.

Nonetheless, Queta’s greatest impression comes by way of his rim working, rebounding and shot detterance when defending the rim. He’s slowly getting higher at contesting pictures with out fouling, and has been a real lob menace over the previous few video games.

Throughout Brad Stevens’ tenure as head coach, the middle place was all the time a weak level for the Celtics when it comes to depth. Since shifting to the entrance workplace, Stevens has ensured his personal coaches haven’t got the identical problem, and that depth is now a substantial energy for Joe Mazzulla’s roster.

#5 Hauser attacking closeouts

Hauser began engaged on attacking closeouts final season. He would take one or two dribbles earlier than pulling up for a mid-range jumper, or he would drive the lane and make a learn. We’re seeing extra of that to start this season, along with his drive off the perimeter towards Charlotte as one in every of his extra assured forays towards the ring.

The motion right here is named ‘robust reject.’ Identical to the ‘robust’ a part of the ‘chin’ motion above, it’s merely a ball reversal from one aspect of the ground to the opposite utilizing two passes. The ‘reject’ is Vacation rejecting the on-ball display screen. Hauser sells his shot, drives the closeout and will get all the way in which to the cup for a straightforward two.

Vacation rejecting the display screen and relocating to the dunker spot forces LaMelo Ball to turn into the rim protector on the motion, making life simple for Hauser as soon as he will get into the paint.

Oh, and who can neglect this fantastic thing about a move?

#6 Tatum, the scorer

Final season, Jaylen Brown was the tone-setter within the first quarter of video games. This 12 months, that duty has fallen onto the shoulders of Jayson Tatum.

“It’s one thing new, as a result of normally I’m the first-quarter man,” Brown informed The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “I’m the one which’s setting the tone and getting off to a scorching begin. However I feel (coach Mazzulla) needs to change it up somewhat bit. I assume it’s cool. I can do no matter our group must be carried out.”

Tatum as the first scorer has regarded good to start out the season. As soon as once more, he performed all 12 minutes of the primary quarter, dropping 13 factors, grabbing 4 rebounds and doling out an help.

The above clip is indicative of the way in which Tatum has approached offense this season. He finds his spot, works his opponent, and will get the highest quality look doable. I really like how he offered the drive, sealed Miles Bridges’ hips, and spun off him to create a clear have a look at the backboard on this play.

Extra importantly, Tatum didn’t let a dreadful evening on the perimeter reduce his impression. He went 1-of-9 from deep, offering flashbacks to April, Might and June final season. Nevertheless, he drew 17 pictures from the free-throw line, value 14 factors, and he drained six two-point pictures on the evening.

Tatum has discovered his groove early. Throughout the early elements of his profession, it was accepted that we wouldn’t see his greatest till after the All-Star break. If he takes his manufacturing up a few notches within the months to return, that MVP award he’s been vocally chasing is probably not too distant.

Hyperbole? Perhaps.

True? Positively.

#7 Charlotte is disruptive

Charles Lee has already improved the Hornets. They play with a brand new degree of aggression on each side of the ground. You possibly can see his animated teaching by way of possessions on the sideline. They’re slowly shopping for into the little particulars it takes to be a superb defensive group. And in the end, they’re going to determine the right way to make their expertise work for them.

For now, although, they’re a disruptive group that usually will get overzealous with their defensive depth. On Saturday, they registered 25 fouls. LaMelo Ball fouled out for the second straight sport.

In complete, over the back-to-back, the Hornets had 51 fouls in 96 minutes of play. That’s loads.

Lee doesn’t need the Hornets to let groups get right into a rhythm. He needs the sport to be uneven. Chippy. Irritating. And from there, you possibly can construct an identification whereas protecting groups off their swagger. Doing that to the reigning champions isn’t going to work, however there might be loads of groups across the NBA the place it has the specified impact.

#8 Horford brings stability within the double massive

Horford’s presence in sport two of the back-to-back had its typical impact. The Celtics regarded higher on protection. Their offense flowed extra. He ended the evening with 4 factors, six rebounds, and 5 assists — a typical evening for the veteran massive man who does his work within the margins.

Solely Kornet contested extra pictures for the Celtics (13), with Horford contesting seven two-point makes an attempt and three perimeter jumpers.

Earlier in these takeaways, we checked out how Kornet was in a position to function as a weak-side roamer for stretches, primarily as a result of Horford’s presence on the ground. Within the above play, which was an early defensive possession, we will see Horford defending up-to-touch on the display screen. That permits the Celtics to change the motion and put Horford onto a ball-handler the place vital. It additionally provides dimension on hole or nail assist whereas making three-point pictures off PnR actions tougher to return by.

And the way about this defensive possession? Cuts the angle on the preliminary drive, rotates to get the strip, after which contests the shot with out fouling earlier than securing the defensive rebound.

I don’t must promote you on what Horford brings to Boston’s rotation, or at the very least, I hope not. He’s a execs professional. He’s a hooper. And when he is rested and locked in, he’s nonetheless one of the impactful veterans within the league.

#9 Celtics offense was lacking the drive-and-kick

Since taking up as head coach, Mazzulla’s bread-and-butter offense has been getting the Celtics to generate high-level alternatives by way of the drive-and-kick (spray offense). Their screening actions across the perimeter are sometimes designed to create penetration and trigger defensive rotations, making kick-outs extra beneficial.

Nevertheless, through the third quarter of Saturday’s sport, the place the ball wasn’t shifting, and nobody was driving the rock. The Celtics wanted paint touches. Badly.

It’s a small pattern dimension, however the Celtics are touching the paint barely extra this season than in 2023-24. Boston ranked thirteenth within the NBA for paint touches, with 22.2 per sport. Whereas this season has a much smaller pattern dimension, they presently sit thirteenth with 23.4.

Nonetheless, guaranteeing there aren’t many repeats of the third-quarter stagnation shifting ahead might be vital.

Contemplating how dominant the Celtics offense has regarded over the primary seven video games, there is not any cause to be involved, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing I wished to level out.

#10 6-1

Outdoors of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve loved a monster begin to the brand new season, the Celtics have the perfect document within the Japanese Convention. They’ve gained massive. They’ve gained gritty. And now, they’ve gained video games the place the opposite group doesn’t need to allow them to play their very own sport.

Because the defending champions, they’re getting all people’s greatest. Different groups see beating the Celtics as a manner of proving themselves. Within the brief time period, which means some uncomfortable possessions, however over the season, it’s solely going to make Boston higher. The Celtics are being battle-tested evening in and evening out.

6-1 to start out the season, with each opponent desirous to knock you off your perch is nothing to whiff at. They flip their consideration to the Atlanta Hawks, who’re 2-4. One thing tells me we could possibly be in for a high-tempo and enjoyable sport…And if he performs, which is much from assured proper now, a giant evening from Jaylen Brown.