10 takeaways from the Raptors swooping in on the Celtics

#1 – Spacing problem

The Boston Celtics’ elite spacing is… gone? Not less than that’s what the numbers are saying. Recently, the Celtics have elevated their rim frequency, however the effectivity has gone down. On prime of that lack of effectivity on the rim, they aren’t in a position to generate free throws.

That is attributable to a few issues. First, Boston has performed extra with two massive males than final yr, which has shrunk the house within the paint. Celtics opponents can go away a participant within the paint after they have two facilities on the court docket, turning the driving lane right into a packed highway.

On prime of that, groups are extra prepared to go away the Celtics open from there. They’d reasonably assistance on the driving lane and the pick-and-roll and shut exhausting on the shooters if wanted.

The Celtics are going to wish their spacing again and discover a strategy to stretch the opposing groups’ defenses — particularly with their present defensive issues.

#2 – Ball-screen protection

The Raptors have multiplied the screens on the ball handlers — they usually have numerous gamers who can set screens and carry the ball. For instance, late within the recreation, they used Olynyk as a ball handler on pick-and-roll motion, which tricked the Celtics’ protection and turned it into an open shot on the rim.

The Raptors additionally made the Celtics pay for his or her lack of defensive focus with stagger screens. Within the motion under, the 2 screens and Scottie Barnes’ cuts flip the protection’s consideration away from Mitchell, who can discover his strategy to the rim.

Boston’s protection on ball screens has been problematic recently. The switches are comfortable and aren’t stopping the offense from discovering the shot place they’re in search of.

#3 – Raptors in movement

The work and offense applied by Darko Rajaković are spectacular. Final night time, they made 35 assisted area objectives — 11 greater than the Celtics over the sport. The Raptors don’t have a creator, in order that they create by movement and ball motion.

They’ve a number of off-ball gamers who can punish Boston’s dimension and lack of mobility. They multiplied the cuts from Barrett, Barnes, Mitchell, and Dick to power the Celtics’ protection to assist and rotate. Nevertheless, the Celtics couldn’t sustain and made a number of defensive errors. Nate from CelticsBlog compiled the errors within the video under:

They used Poeltl as an offensive hub and moved round him. This labored out very well to create an environment friendly offense as a result of Poeltl dragged Porzingis away from the rim and compelled the opposite Celtics to return and assist. This had two damaging impacts for the Boston Celtics protection: the rim safety was much less useful, and this opened up the corners.

On prime of that, Poeltl’s scoring appeared unstoppable for the Celtics’ protection.

#4 – Jakob Poeltl killing the Celtics protection

Over the three video games Jakob Poeltl has performed towards the Celtics this season, he made 87% of his area objectives! His scoring and talent to tug Boston’s rim protectors have been key for the Raptors. This season, Poeltl is scoring 20 factors per recreation vs. the Celtics.

He has been excellent as a roll-man within the pick-and-roll and is ready to punish the drop together with his floater contact. His means to shoot from 10 ft away from the rim was one of many causes the Celtics’ zone protection didn’t work out as anticipated.

#5 – Ineffective zone protection

The Celtics tried the 3-2 zone protection to decelerate the Raptors’ offensive motion. But, the Raptors discovered their method once more by placing the ball across the free-throw line.

The Raptors weren’t bothered by this Celtics defensive trick, they usually had been okay pulling up above the large man from the brief mid-range zone. Total, the Raptors didn’t even want their transition offense to dominate the Celtics’ protection.

#6 – Payton Pritchard nice offensive recreation…

One of many solely vibrant spots from final night time’s recreation was Payton Pritchard’s offensive creation. The younger level guard performed half-hour and stored the offense going whereas increasing his recreation. After all, he had a few three-pointers from his normal off-ball motion, however there’s extra to his recreation.

Certainly, as observed earlier this season, his driving recreation appears to be rising once more after a gradual begin. He doesn’t hesitate to drive and use his nice deal with to beat his defender off the dribble. We additionally see that he’s extra prepared to make use of his broad shoulders to submit up different guards and discover photographs on the rim.

Whereas the Celtics are in the midst of a droop, Payton Pritchard’s offensive recreation enlargement may result in nice issues for the Celtics, who positively want a push. Nevertheless, enjoying Payton Pritchard a number of minutes has a worth — a defensive one.

#7 – … whereas being hunted on protection

The Raptors don’t foul. The Celtics are recognized for looking seals, however the Raptors are additionally nice at discovering the weak spot in a protection and simply going at it. With a number of minutes from Payton Pritchard, the Raptors may run their offense round discovering an important spot and isolating Pritchard defensively.

That is the explanation why final yr, the deeper the Celtics went within the playoffs, the much less Payton Pritchard performed. If the Celtics teaching employees desires to maintain him on the court docket, they should discover a strategy to shield him.

#8 – Out of bounds stagger motion

Just a little good play name from the Celtics. A couple of video games in the past, we centered on the stagger actions following out-of-bounds performs. They did it once more final night time vs. the Raptors. From the sideline, the ball goes to the post-up, whereas White runs by not one, however two screens and dives to the rim.

This can be a smart way of utilizing the spacing to generate nice photographs on the rim. A disgrace that the Celtics’ offense was stagnant final night time once we witnessed such nice motion.

#9 – Jayson Tatum lack of utilization

Jayson Tatum took solely 15 photographs and 5 free throws over 36 minutes in a recreation the place nothing was going offensively. After an important high-usage recreation towards New Orleans, it was painful to look at him probably not concerned within the offense. It’s even more durable to grasp whenever you see how a lot of a menace he’s on his drive.

In opposition to New Orleans, there was additionally a number of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop with Kristaps Porzingis — the place did that go? This might have labored very well towards the Raptors’ defensive protection and compelled Jakob Poeltl away from the rim. The Celtics are an important collective staff, sure, however they should insist extra on Jayson Tatum when the offense is slowing down.

#10 – Is there an issue with Derrick White’s capturing?

Derrick White has made 10% of his three-point makes an attempt during the last 4 video games (3 losses and 1 win by a small margin). With the present spacing and defensive issues, the Celtics want Derrick White to search out his capturing contact again, sooner reasonably than later.

No want to fret but — evidently all of the Celtics besides Payton Pritchard are fighting their photographs.

Nonetheless, within the standings, the Celtics are nearer to the Orlando Magic in fifth place than the Cavaliers in 1st seed. If the Celtics wish to be in the most effective place doable coming into the playoffs, they’re going to wish to regulate rapidly and discover their rhythm again.