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 taking pictures, 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 recreation final 12 months took an enormous leap so I believed that was actually good. Clearly, I’m all the time engaged on that stuff but when I will be extra environment friendly taking pictures off the dribble from there, in addition to the catch and shoot, that completes my recreation.”

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

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

Final season, Pritchard showcased a capability to complete across the rim after creating house through contact — I wish to name this “bump creation” — the place he would use his shoulders to create separation earlier than ending across the rim. As a result of his improved perimeter recreation, we haven’t seen a lot of that to start the season, nevertheless, 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 arrogance of a champion. I’m all-in on him constructing a Sixth Man of the Yr marketing campaign, and based mostly on his opening run of performances, I don’t suppose it’s an excessive amount of of a stretch to suppose he can put himself firmly within the dialog.

#2 White’s fourth-quarter rim safety

Each of Derrick White’s blocked photographs 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 workforce wanted him most. We’re used to that by now. He’s been doing at a excessive stage 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 mandatory timing to stand up and contest the shot. Shot blocked, two factors probably saved.

We’ve bought 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 huge 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 wish to give White’s general 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 based mostly on the workforce’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 workforce 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 to be like misplaced when entering into the beginning 5. Again in March, I dove into how Kornet’s perimeter-based non-shooting recreation might translate nicely to different non-shooting bigs, akin 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 official vertical flooring spacer, no matter his restricted explosivness
2. He has grow to be 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, figuring out when to ‘maintain’ and when handy the rock off.

Within the above clip, Kornet has his fingerprints over all the possession. The Celtics begin by operating a ‘sturdy chin’ (reverse the ball by making two passes to the opposite facet of the courtroom, non-ball facet minimize 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 likely one of the most spectacular points of his function as a perimeter-screening huge. He waits for the hedge on White earlier than slipping into the house created by sending two on the ball. Brief-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 larger up the ground. Or, he might play the weakside roamer function, guarding the nook and rotating over to supply 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 offered a robust show on each ends of the ground. He may not be flashy or takeover a recreation with dominant athleticism or an limitless motor, however he performs the correct approach and finds methods to make an affect extra typically or not.

#4 Queta DHO’s

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

Certainly one of Queta’s most vital 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 recreation in 12.2 minutes of enjoying time. Horford leads the workforce with 7.2, whereas Kornet is second with 5.6.

Nonetheless, Queta’s largest affect comes through his rim operating, rebounding and shot detterance when defending the rim. He’s slowly getting higher at contesting photographs 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 by way of depth. Since shifting to the entrance workplace, Stevens has ensured his personal coaches haven’t got the identical situation, and that depth is now a substantial power 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 in opposition to Charlotte as one in all his extra assured forays towards the ring.

The motion right here is known as ‘sturdy reject.’ Similar to the ‘sturdy’ a part of the ‘chin’ motion above, it’s merely a ball reversal from one facet 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 best way to the cup for a simple two.

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

Oh, and who can overlook 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 often 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 sizzling begin. However I feel (coach Mazzulla) desires to modify it up slightly bit. I assume it’s cool. I can do no matter our workforce must be performed.”

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

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

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

Tatum has discovered his groove early. Throughout the early components of his profession, it was accepted that we wouldn’t see his finest 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 far-off.

Hyperbole? Possibly.

True? Positively.

#7 Charlotte is disruptive

Charles Lee has already improved the Hornets. They play with a brand new stage of aggression on either side of the ground. You may see his animated teaching via possessions on the sideline. They’re slowly shopping for into the little particulars it takes to be a great defensive workforce. And in the end, they’re going to determine how you can make their expertise work for them.

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

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

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

#8 Horford brings steadiness within the double huge

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

Solely Kornet contested extra photographs 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 consequence 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 modify 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 photographs 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 should promote you on what Horford brings to Boston’s rotation, or no less than, I hope not. He’s a professionals professional. He’s a hooper. And when he is rested and locked in, he’s nonetheless one of the vital impactful veterans within the league.

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

Since taking on as head coach, Mazzulla’s bread-and-butter offense has been getting the Celtics to generate high-level alternatives through 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 worthwhile.

Nonetheless, through the third quarter of Saturday’s recreation, 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 recreation. Whereas this season has a much smaller pattern dimension, they at present sit thirteenth with 23.4.

Nonetheless, making certain there aren’t many repeats of the third-quarter stagnation shifting ahead can be vital.

Contemplating how dominant the Celtics offense has seemed over the primary seven video games, there is no motive to be involved, however it’s undoubtedly one thing I needed to level out.

#10 6-1

Exterior of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve loved a monster begin to the brand new season, the Celtics have the perfect report within the Jap Convention. They’ve received huge. They’ve received gritty. And now, they’ve received video games the place the opposite workforce doesn’t wish to allow them to play their very own recreation.

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

6-1 to begin 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 recreation…And if he performs, which is way from assured proper now, an enormous night time from Jaylen Brown.