3 observations about what occurred to the Celtics’ spacing after a stellar first half

Celtics

The Celtics regarded like a very completely different group on offense within the second half.

Earlier than they received blitzed by a 46-25 Miami run within the third quarter, the Celtics regarded like they have been in sync offensively.

1. Marcus Sensible dished out 10 assists within the first half, throughout which the Celtics scored 40 factors within the paint. They have been sufficient of a risk from outdoors to maintain Miami on its toes.

However that every one got here to a reasonably abrupt cease within the second half. The Celtics started the third quarter main by 9 and have been down 12 on the finish of it.

Clearly getting outscored by 21 factors in 1 / 4 has a lot to do with a lack of defensive depth. However the reality is that they weren’t in a position to sustain the tempo offensively, both.

Right here’s a have a look at what modified on offense in the course of the second half.

Marcus Sensible shot extra and handed much less.

Sensible was sensational within the first half. Earlier than Wednesday evening, no Celtic had 10 assists in a half of playoff basketball since Rajon Rondo in 2012.

Regardless that he solely took one shot, Sensible was placing on a clinic by displaying precisely the best way to affect a sport with out having to shoot the basketball.

The sorts of reads he was making, like screening for Jaylen Brown on the high of the important thing, being able to catch the ball as he rolled to the ring, and discovering an open Al Horford for 3, propelled the Celtics to a robust begin.

However because the defensive depth slipped within the second half and Miami made its run, the Celtics grew extra determined for buckets and Sensible elevated his capturing makes an attempt. He went 3-of-6 within the second half, which is definitely strong percentage-wise. Nevertheless it didn’t transfer the needle practically as a lot as when he was setting everybody else up.

“I feel they may watch movie and see that they most likely must make the most of him extra. I might,” Warmth guard Jimmy Butler stated of Sensible. “I’ve received plenty of respect for that man and what he does on the defensive facet of the ball and for certain what he does on the offensive facet of the ball, as a result of he performs his position to the T. We’re going to must lock in on that. Ten [assists] in a half is a few fairly good basketball.”

The Celtics misplaced focus and the offensive tempo slowed down.

When the Celtics are at their finest, they’re swinging the ball crisply across the court docket, pushing the ball in transition for dunks and layups, and ensuring they’re in the appropriate spots to maximise their 3-point capturing prowess.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown went for lots of one-on-one isolation makes an attempt within the second half.

Granted, these are the blokes you need taking many of the pictures. However, the offense didn’t look practically as free-flowing because it did within the first half.

The simple seems for Rob Williams (6-for-6 from the sphere) dried up. The group as a complete didn’t play with sufficient urgency to create open seems.

“We’ve received to play with extra tempo,” Tatum stated. “I feel within the third quarter we sort of performed too sluggish, primarily as a result of we weren’t getting stops. Within the fourth quarter we made a pair runs, received to push the ball, and people go hand in hand with getting stops and getting out in transition. So, it begins on the defensive finish. Simply play with some extra tempo, play just a little bit quicker.”

Defensive frustration changed into guys simply standing round.

The Celtics received pissed off when the Warmth made their run and their physique language confirmed it.

They let their defensive points mess up their offensive move by stopping the motion that received them off to such a sizzling begin.

“We get uninterested in doing the little issues typically. I feel that confirmed precisely what we was speaking about earlier, our spacing,” Sensible stated. “Now we have plenty of nice gamers, however after we’re all on high of one another, no person could be nice. You’ve received a great defensive group like Miami, they’ll make you pay for that. We’ve received to ensure we do these little issues, and we are able to’t get tired of these, and we’ve received to understand what has received us the lead or what was working for us.”