Profitable gritty: 10 Takeaways from Celtics/Hornets

#1 Pritchard’s scoring

Payton Pritchard has 110 whole 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 instructed the media he’d spent the summer season creating 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 instructed 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 taking pictures 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 masses up, and attacking area 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 whole sport.

Final season, Pritchard showcased a capability to complete across the rim after creating area 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 taking part in with the boldness of a champion. I’m all-in on him constructing a Sixth Man of the Yr marketing campaign, and primarily based 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 throughout the third, White stepped up as a rim protector when the crew 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 celebration.

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 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 need to give White’s general manufacturing a shout-out. I mentioned this advert nauseam final season when scripting this column: he and Jrue Vacation are elite at scaling their manufacturing primarily based on the crew’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 crew 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 sport might translate effectively to different non-shooting bigs, resembling Zach Edey; you’ll be able to learn that right here.

In opposition to the Hornets, we noticed Kornet produce arguably probably the greatest 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 measurement makes him a respectable vertical ground spacer, no matter his restricted explosivness
2. He has change into a high-level secondary creator out of the quick roll
3. If he pops again onto the perimeter, he’s a risk 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 facet of the courtroom, non-ball facet lower 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 position as a perimeter-screening huge. He waits for the hedge on White earlier than slipping into the area 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 greater up the ground. Or, he might play the weakside roamer position, 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.

Total, Kornet offered a powerful show on each ends of the ground. He may not be flashy or takeover a sport with dominant athleticism or an limitless motor, however he performs the suitable manner 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 massive measurement 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 area he’s producing together with his screens. He’s producing 2.8 display screen assists factors per sport in 12.2 minutes of taking part in time. Horford leads the crew with 7.2, whereas Kornet is second with 5.6.

Nonetheless, Queta’s largest affect comes by way of his rim working, 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 risk 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 transferring to the entrance workplace, Stevens has ensured his personal coaches haven’t got the identical concern, 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, together with his drive off the perimeter towards Charlotte as one among 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 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 change 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 great thing about a go?

#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 instructed 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 change it up a little bit bit. I assume it’s cool. I can do no matter our crew must be completed.”

Tatum as the first scorer has appeared 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 best way Tatum has approached offense this season. He finds his spot, works his opponent, and will get the highest quality look doable. I like how he offered 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, Could and June final season. Nonetheless, he drew 17 photographs from the free-throw line, price 14 factors, and he drained six two-point photographs on the night time.

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 will not be too far-off.

Hyperbole? Possibly.

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 may see his animated teaching via possessions on the sideline. They’re slowly shopping for into the little particulars it takes to be an excellent defensive crew. And in the end, they’re going to determine the way to make their expertise work for them.

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

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

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’ll be able to construct an id whereas conserving 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 steadiness within the double huge

Horford’s presence in sport two of the back-to-back had its ordinary impact. The Celtics appeared 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 capable of 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 enables the Celtics to change the motion and put Horford onto a ball-handler the place crucial. It additionally provides measurement on hole or nail assist whereas making three-point photographs off PnR actions harder 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 least, I hope not. He’s a professionals professional. He’s a hooper. And when he is rested and locked in, he’s nonetheless some of the 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 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 worthwhile.

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

It’s a small pattern measurement, 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 measurement, they presently sit thirteenth with 23.4.

Nonetheless, making certain there aren’t many repeats of the third-quarter stagnation transferring ahead might be crucial.

Contemplating how dominant the Celtics offense has appeared over the primary seven video games, there is no purpose to be involved, however it’s positively 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 most effective file within the Jap Convention. They’ve gained huge. They’ve gained gritty. And now, they’ve gained video games the place the opposite crew 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 quick 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 night time in and night time out.

6-1 to start out the season, with each opponent eager 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 might be in for a high-tempo and enjoyable sport…And if he performs, which is way from assured proper now, a giant night time from Jaylen Brown.