#1 – The Celtics brought Darius Garland back to earth
Since the start of the season, Darius Garland had been playing at an All-NBA level. The shooting, the drives, the passing game—everything was smooth and efficient… until he faced Jrue Holiday. The length and toughness of the two-time champion made things harder for the young Cavs guard, who also missed some open opportunities.
Special mention to Mr. Al Horford, who blocked him twice. This happened when the Celtics finally stopped using the drop coverage, but we’ll come back to that later.
However, there’s more to it than just how the Celtics defended Garland. When the Celtics were running their offense, they made him work, constantly attacking him. We’ve mentioned this in earlier articles, but the mismatch-hunting approach has a double effect: it makes the offense more efficient and also drains the opponent’s star of energy.
After terrorizing NBA defenses for 15 straight games, Darius Garland was brought back to earth. Other teams might be inspired by the Celtics’ approach to make him work on defense. Nonetheless, Garland won’t keep missing open shots, and other teams don’t have Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, or Al Horford to disrupt his offense.
#2 – Horford’s pick-and-roll defensive approach
It might sound like a broken record, but Al Horford’s drop coverage doesn’t work. However, the Celtics’ coaching staff seems intent on making it work. Maybe they’re giving him reps, hoping that one day it will. Nonetheless, the coaching staff knows how to adapt.
After only a few possessions, the Celtics changed their defensive coverage for Mobley’s pick-and-rolls. With Jayson Tatum guarding Jarrett Allen, the Cavs spammed the pick-and-roll with Mobley as the screener. Perhaps they should have tried more inverted pick-and-rolls, as they’ve often done this season.
Once the Celtics started switching, Horford proved he could still contain and follow some of the NBA’s best ball handlers. When he does this, other Celtics don’t have to help, which reduces the impact of Garland’s passing game.
That’s another reason why drop coverage is risky against elite guards: it creates gaps in the defense that great passers can exploit. By switching, the Celtics absorb those gaps, suffocate the opposing offense, and force teams to beat them one-on-one.
#3 – Boston’s drive-and-kick game on full display in the first half
The Celtics’ game plan wasn’t much different from last year’s playoff series against the Cavaliers. As usual, the goal was to hunt mismatches and exploit them. During the first half, the Celtics drove aggressively, forcing the Cavaliers to help. This opened up shots from beyond the arc. Of their 45 field goal attempts in the first half, 22 were threes.
Was it a good defensive approach by the Cavs? Looking at the numbers, it doesn’t seem so, as the Celtics led by 17 at halftime. However, it did limit Boston’s impact in the paint. The Celtics made just seven of their 16 attempts near the rim during the first half—a testament to Cleveland’s rim protection.
So why did it seem ineffective? The Celtics shot 64% (!!!) from three in the first half, making the Cavs’ strategy look bad, even though it might have been the right call. This highlights why the Celtics are so hard to defend: you can make the right decision and still be wrong.
#4 – Kenny Atkinson wanted the Cavs to stop overhelping
On TNT, we heard that Kenny Atkinson told his team to stop overhelping after halftime. The goal was to limit open threes after the Celtics punished them in the first half. While you might think this would reduce Boston’s three-point volume, they still attempted 19 threes on 40 second-half field goal attempts. Though the Celtics’ efficiency dipped, they remained above average, shooting 43% from three.
With less help from Cleveland’s defense, Boston found it easier to get to the rim. This shift may have cost the Cavs the game, as we will detailed in Takeaway #6. However, it also forced the Celtics to take more difficult shots, lowering their shot quality and offensive rating from 141 points per 100 possessions in the first half to 114 in the second.
#5 – The Cavs’ run
The Cavs mounted an impressive comeback during the second half of the third quarter. While the Celtics mixed their bench with starters, the Cavs attacked Neemias Queta. The Portuguese big man was assigned to Craig Porter Jr., so Cleveland used Porter as a screener to involve Queta in pick-and-rolls.
This strategy pulled Queta away from the rim, leaving Jayson Tatum—who was guarding Mobley—unable to both contain Mobley and protect the paint.
As the Celtics settled for jump shots, Cleveland locked down rebounds and pushed in transition. In the meantime, Cavs keep exploiting Queta’s inexperience by isolating him on Donovan Mitchell, turning the tables on Boston.
#6 – Clutch minutes
In the clutch, the Celtics kept Horford in switch-everything mode, and it paid off. Horford blocked a Garland layup after shadowing him all the way from the three-point line.
Offensively, the Celtics started with pull-ups from Jayson Tatum and Derrick White but quickly shifted to attacking the rim.
As mentioned earlier, the Cavs stopped helping on drives. The Celtics countered by isolating weaker defenders and driving while keeping Mobley away from the rim. For example, an empty-side handoff to Jaylen Brown allowed him to attack Ty Jerome while steering clear of Mobley, stationed in the strong-side corner on Jrue Holiday.
Donovan Mitchell’s late-game heroics weren’t enough to offset Boston’s relentless driving attack. A dagger layup by Jaylen Brown sealed the game for the Celtics, who turned Cleveland’s defensive strategy against them by dominating the rim.
#7 – Post-up game
Despite Kristaps Porzingis’ absence, the Celtics maintained one of the highest post-up volumes in the league. Jaylen Brown, who has increased his post-up usage this season, punished the Cavs’ defense.
The Cavs’ injuries left them relying on players like Sam Merrill, George Niang, and Ty Jerome—none of whom could effectively guard Boston’s wings. The Celtics exploited this, posting up mismatches and creating opportunities for their shooters.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how Cleveland adjusts in future matchups when their primary defenders, such as Isaac Okoro and Max Strus, are available.
#8 – Rim protection Is still an issue
As Bobby Manning noted recently, the Celtics’ rim protection remains a concern, and it was on full display against the Cavs. Despite Cleveland’s lack of spacing, they dominated inside.
First, Boston’s lazy transition defense created problems. The Celtics were often slow to get back, leaving themselves vulnerable to fast breaks generated by Cleveland’s strong defense.
Additionally, off-ball movement exposed Boston’s defensive lapses. Backdoor cuts, similar to those seen in games against Toronto and Atlanta, repeatedly punished the Celtics. Even a player like George Niang, not known for quickness, managed to get behind the defense for easy looks.
By the end of the game, the Cavs made 75% of their attempts at the rim—a glaring issue for a team with championship aspirations.
#9 – Sharing the ball
It might go unnoticed, but the Celtics assisted on 76% of their made field goals. Even more impressively, seven of their eight active players had multiple assists.
While it might seem like the Celtics are overly reliant on threes, they create those opportunities through excellent ball movement. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown initiated much of the offense, but Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, two of the league’s best connectors, played key roles in exploiting advantages and generating high-quality shots.
Success starts with knowing your role and trusting your teammates.
#10 – Al Horford forever
Time seems to have no effect on Al Horford. The third pick from the 2007 draft continues to anchor the Celtics on both ends.
Defensively, Horford contested 14 shots, made five box-outs, and registered three blocks. Only Evan Mobley—arguably a DPOY frontrunner—matched his defensive activity.
Offensively, Horford delivered again. The Celtics posted a +29 net rating with him on the floor, compared to a shocking -53 without him. His adaptability and veteran presence remain the glue holding this team together.
