10 takeaways from tactical struggle towards fast-paced Grizzlies

1# – Shedding bias

Within the chapter Profitable Bias, Ben Taylor writes in his e book:

“Narratives, by nature, are simplistic and infrequently dichotomous. They take large, sweeping factors and drive them residence with little regard for context or variance, typically with the aim to seize consideration. As people, we love characters to play outlined roles, like hero and goat. Participant A is a winner! Participant B, a loser! We yearn for drama and relatable tales, which is why so many on a regular basis qualities are injected into sports activities narratives.”

Certainly, we have a tendency to attract conclusions a few sport or an motion based mostly on the way it ends. shot is simply thought-about good if it goes in, whereas a sport is deemed well-played solely when it’s received. Following this line of thought, one may argue that the Celtics misplaced final evening resulting from a poor efficiency. But, if you happen to ask me, the Celtics performed fairly properly.

They stayed within the sport and even took the lead regardless of making solely 30% of their threes and lacking 9 free throws. Whereas the Grizzlies wanted simply 33 makes an attempt from past the arc to make 15 three-pointers, the Celtics managed 18 out of 60. Most of those have been open threes—great-quality makes an attempt that ought to have translated into factors. Nonetheless, the Celtics couldn’t make the pictures they normally do, whilst Memphis gave the impression to be on fireplace.

I stay assured that this was a powerful exhibiting by the Celtics. Variance allow them to down, however they stayed aggressive for the complete 48 minutes.

#2 – Memphis go away Jrue Vacation open

As Sam LaFrance famous, one of many sport’s large tales was Memphis’s determination to go away Jrue Vacation open. This may appear daring, contemplating Vacation’s three-point numbers over the previous few seasons. Nonetheless, it labored out properly, with the previous Bucks participant taking pictures simply 4/17 from deep for an general effectivity of 0.85 factors per shot.

Why guess on Vacation lacking his pictures, very similar to the Warriors did towards Jaylen Brown final winter? Jrue Vacation has been an inconsistent shooter all through his profession and has by no means had a excessive quantity. The Grizzlies knew they needed to make a big gamble to disrupt the Celtics’ elite spacing. To take action, they needed to go away somebody within the beginning 5 unguarded.

Up to now, this participant may need been Derrick White, as seen within the 2022 Finals. Earlier than the summer time trades, it might have been Marcus Sensible. Satirically, the Celtics employed an identical technique towards their former participant.

#3 – Boston give Marcus Sensible the identical therapy

In 2017, Mike Prada wrote an article titled Marcus Sensible is a horrible shooter who’s by some means important to the Celtics’ offense. He described Sensible as somebody who might “faux it until you make it (even if you happen to by no means do)” by taking pictures threes regardless of inefficient outcomes. This typically tricked defenses into seeing him as an offensive menace: “he’s so good at pretending to be a authentic offensive participant that he cons defenses into pondering he really is.”

Now with Memphis, Sensible can not idiot his former group. Simply as Jaren Jackson Jr. roamed the paint towards Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis did the identical towards Sensible, forcing him into out-of-rhythm pull-ups and negating spacing when the 2022 DPOY was on the ground.

It’s amusing that each Sensible and his “alternative,” Jrue Vacation, have been handled equally in the identical sport. Each groups even responded the identical approach—utilizing them as screeners and benching them throughout clutch moments.

#4 – Grizzlies outpace the Celtics

Not way back, we mentioned the growing tempo of NBA video games. The Grizzlies took this pattern additional final evening. Averaging 11.9 seconds per possession, Memphis was three seconds sooner than the league common.

With the Celtics enjoying on a back-to-back, Memphis capitalized on the chance to outpace the reigning NBA champions. This was no shock. The Bulls and the Grizzlies, the 2 groups with the quickest tempo, each depend on pace as a major energy.

In contrast to the Bulls, although, Memphis boasts star gamers like Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant—gamers who thrive in high-speed conditions. The Celtics did their finest to maintain up however couldn’t overcome their poor taking pictures luck.

#5 – Boston performs tall and dominate the rebound

The Celtics’ teaching workers anticipated Memphis’s quick tempo and emphasis on offensive rebounding. The Grizzlies safe offensive boards on 32% of their misses, rating among the many league’s finest in extending possessions.

To counter this, Boston used a number of bigs throughout varied stretches and targeted on boxing out successfully. It labored properly, as they restricted Memphis to grabbing offensive rebounds on simply 23% of their misses—a 9% drop from their ordinary efficiency.

This displays the Celtics’ wonderful preparation and course of for the sport.

#6 – Bounce again Payton Pritchard

In opposition to the Bucks, Payton Pritchard struggled to make a shot after a streak of sturdy offensive video games. The great thing about the NBA is that there’s all the time an opportunity to bounce again. Lower than 24 hours after the Bucks sport, Pritchard had the proper alternative to redeem himself.

Whereas the Grizzlies ignored Jrue Vacation past the arc, they couldn’t afford to do the identical with Pritchard. Taking part in your entire fourth quarter, he stored the Celtics aggressive together with his shot-making and skill to seize offensive rebounds.

Joe Mazzulla left Pritchard on the ground to shut the sport, benching Jrue Vacation as an alternative. This improved spacing but in addition created a possible defensive legal responsibility for the Grizzlies to use. Each teaching determination has its trade-offs.

#7 – Jaylen Brown’s fourth quarter

One other key teaching determination was leaving Jaylen Brown on the ground for the ultimate 12 minutes. Like Jayson Tatum the evening earlier than, Brown scored 14 factors within the fourth quarter whereas additionally delivering some wonderful assists.

After a quiet begin, with simply 5 shot makes an attempt within the first three quarters, Brown took over within the fourth. He helped the Celtics regain the lead early within the quarter with good play-calling, aggressive drives, and post-ups. His offensive surge got here as the remainder of the group struggled to hit open threes.

Whereas Brown and Pritchard mixed to hit 4 of their 7 three-point makes an attempt within the fourth, the remainder of the group transformed simply 1 of 9.

#8 – No reply for JJJ

Jaylen Brown wasn’t the one participant to attain 14 factors within the ultimate 12 minutes—Jaren Jackson Jr., the 2023 DPOY, matched his output. Jackson is just not fairly the unicorn that Kristaps Porzingis is, however he stays a singular expertise: an enormous man who can dribble, shoot from wherever, and submit up in varied positions.

In opposition to the Celtics, Jackson scored towards anybody they threw at him. Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Porzingis all struggled to maintain up together with his quickness, whereas Jrue Vacation and Jaylen Brown couldn’t match his measurement or energy.

Thankfully for the Celtics, gamers like Jackson are uncommon sufficient that his dominant efficiency isn’t a significant concern. The identical applies to Ja Morant, who made the Celtics’ protection work exhausting but in addition shot unusually properly from three. Regardless of dealing with a unicorn, an offensive celebrity, and a high-paced roster, Boston delivered a commendable general efficiency.

#9 – Tennessee’s grand theft auto

The Celtics dedicated simply 13 turnovers final evening, and each single one was the results of a Memphis steal. There have been no shot clock violations, out-of-bounds errors, or offensive fouls—solely the Grizzlies’ energetic arms and defensive strain.

These steals led to quite a few fast-break alternatives for Memphis, who used their size, crowded the paint, and pressured Boston’s ball handlers. Nonetheless, the Celtics did an excellent job of recovering on protection after these turnovers, with highlights like Derrick White’s spectacular block showcasing their effort.

#10 – Time to relaxation

Between December 1st and December seventh, the Celtics performed 5 video games—a grueling schedule. Thankfully, they now have an opportunity to get better. Their subsequent sport isn’t till Thursday, once they’ll host one other fast-paced group, the Detroit Pistons.