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

#1 – Empty facet offense is again

Throughout the Jap Convention Finals final yr, the Boston Celtics used lots of empty facet offense. In the event you’re not aware of this strategy, 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 certain 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 tough for a protection with a defensive anchor to come back assist. Certainly, they need to preserve Myles Turner as shut as potential to the paint, so the remainder of the ground should 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 not come from the robust facet, as there is no such thing as a one within the nook. It will possibly’t come from the baseline, as there may be additionally nobody there. Due to this fact, it may well solely come from the highest or the other nook, which places the protection a step behind and might open up alternatives for three-point photographs.

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

#2 – Al Horford on Pascal Siakam

Dealing with a powerful frontline like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner may very well be tough 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 kind of middle, because of his capturing potential. Due to this fact, it will be powerful 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 preserve Al away from the motion.

This has the additional benefit of Al Horford taking part in protection on Siakam one-on-one within the submit or isolation. As we’ve seen towards Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, he can nonetheless try this. Furthermore, because the Celtics don’t contemplate Siakam a capturing 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 popularity for struggling towards 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 not possible for the Pacers to maintain up. By desirous to restrict entry to the rim, they have been compelled to go away 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 strain early on out-of-juice Pacers

The evening earlier than dealing with the Celtics, the Pacers had already performed the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Dealing with 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 onerous strain on each ends of the ground. On offense, they attacked early within the possession, ensuring to match and even prime the Indiana Pacers’ fast fashion of play.

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

#5 – Jaylen Brown’s personal dunk contest

Jaylen Brown stays considered one of, if not the perfect, in-game dunkers within the NBA. Final evening towards the Pacers was one other nice instance of that. He warmed up a bit of with a few simple 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 an attractive 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 tough project for him: stopping the good TJ McConnell. TJ is likely to be some of the disruptive gamers, all the time shifting with or with out the ball—understanding the way to trick you into forgetting him and discovering an open look.

It was a great problem for the rookie and confirmed that he is likely to be extra suited to guarding a special kind of offensive participant. Certainly, after just a few minutes, he acquired caught off-ball earlier than being outspeed by TJ McConnell on a drive. A bit of later, the Celtics tailored their protection by assigning Payton Pritchard to the short Pacers guard.

On offense, Walsh was extra lively than typical, 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 recreation, we might 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 recreation is rising

In opposition to the Pacers, Payton Pritchard confirmed once more that there’s extra to him than simply capturing. 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 numerous methods. Off-ball, as typical, we noticed him operating 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 middle of gravity make him capable of overpower the tall however slim Pacers level guard. On prime of this uncommon strategy, he delivered nice passes and helped the Celtics offense play their fast-paced recreation 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 lately, no lead is protected. Whereas forward by 20 factors, it was good to see the Celtics executing their recreation plan.

Early within the third, they ran a pleasant set the place Horford set a down display screen 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 move above the Pacers’ guard, and Tatum delivered.

One other set that labored very well (and must be used extra typically) got here in the course of the third. The Celtics performed a double drag display screen 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 screen. An important use of the Jays’ scoring threats.

#9 – Boston’s offensive feast

Alongside the spectacular rating, the Boston Celtics’ offensive effectivity was wonderful final evening, in some ways. First, they’d a 61% eFG% earlier than rubbish time, the most effective marks of the season relating to capturing 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 simple factors with extra free throws than typical.

An important total offensive recreation, and it will have been onerous to do a greater job bouncing again after the final two video games.

#10 – Properly-deserved Gino time

Like a late Christmas reward, the TD Backyard was lastly capable of take pleasure in a well-deserved Gino time. The Celtics nonetheless have two video games left in Boston earlier than 2025. Might they lengthen the Gino Time streak into the brand new yr?