#1 This dunk changed the pace of the game
The Boston Celtics came out of the gates slowly. Without Kirstaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, it was clear they would need to play at a higher pace than usual. After a few minutes of feeling the game out, Jaylen Brown turned on the jets and exploded with this dunk.
From that moment forward, Boston had control in terms of pace, forcing the Orlando Magic to match their style of play, which led to some exciting basketball on both sides.
#2 Payton Pritchard thrives in fast-paced games
Hands down, this was Payton Pritchard’s best game of the season. He thrives when the Celtics are looking to run the floor and attack with early offense. Pritchard went 6-for-7 from deep, dished out 5 assists, and grabbed three rebounds.
His presence off the bench was another factor in the Celtics establishing their game plan early. Interestingly, he did all of his work from the corner, with most of his makes coming on the left side of the floor.
What I liked was how patient Pritchard looked. He didn’t waste his movements and ensured he was always available to receive a pass once the defense collapsed.
Here is a drive and dish from Brown. He comes off a stagger screen and attacks the paint, drawing multiple Magic defenders as they look to defend the rim. Pritchard remains patient and stays in his spot, providing a catch-and-shoot release valve for Brown.
We see a similar situation in the following play between Sam Hauser and Prtichard.
Again, Pritchard stays in his spot. There are no angle changes in terms of the ball-handler’s position, so there’s no need to lift out of the corner. As such, Hauser has an easy pass to Pritchard as the defense closes in on him, creating another easy catch-and-shoot look to put another three points on the board.
When Pritchard is converting his three-point looks, the rest of his game seems to open up, and the confidence begins to flow. When he plays like he did on Friday, he is more than capable of being the primary bench guard on a contending team.
#3 Jaylen Brown’s dunkathon
Brown was a game-time decision for the Celtics coaching staff. He was questionable earlier in the day due to a hyperextension of his right knee. However, he didn’t let any lingering issues affect his game. In fact, Brown leaned on his explosivness to continually uplift his team.
He threw down three dunks throughout the game. We’ve already seen the first one. Here are the other two.
Brown has been increasingly aggressive this season, putting an onus on getting to, and finishing around the rim. In a game where the Celtics were missing their entire big-man rotation, Brown provided some above-the-rim offense to help uplift his team.
Outside of his forceful finishing, Brown also provided 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and a block. Yet it was his relentlessness in pressuring the rim, getting into the paint, and creating defensive rotations that made his performance so impressive — especially when you factor in the knee issues he was dealing with.
#4 Getting Nerdy with it: Boston’s small-ball defense
Without any of their recognized big-man rotation, the Celtics started small. Lamar Stevens was the designated center, although Jayson Tatum also spent some time in the middle of the floor. Without a dropping big man to help protect the rim, the Celtics went with a switching system whenever Neemias Queta wasn’t on the court.
The beauty of the Celtics’ roster construction is that there are multiple wings with the size and length to be disruptive switch defenders.
Without a big body protecting the rim, the Celtics had to disrupt offense higher up the floor and clog passing lanes to deter cutting. Of course, when the ball did touch the paint, the focus was on collapsing quickly and forcing mistakes on the kick out.
No one on the Magic’s roster cracked 20 points during the game, so clearly, the switching system had the desired effect and allowed the Celtics to compete at a high level without a legitimate rim protector on the floor for large portions of the game.
#5 Neemia Queta produces in biggest try-out so far
Of course, there were times when the Celtics did have a big body in the middle of the court, and it came in the form of Neemias Queta. Playing his biggest minutes load of the season, Queta handled the task well.
Fouling is still an issue. He’s raw and highly energetic, so the six fouls he racked up were no surprise. Yet, when he’s protecting the rim, you can see the sort of effect it has on opponents’ shot releases, regardless of whether he’s going to get to them.
Still, Queta did secure 3 blocks in his 18 minutes of playing time.
What stood out to me was how much better his screening looked. Whenever we’ve seen Queta check into games this season, his screens have been a step below the action, allowing defenders to navigate them with ease. Against Orlando, they were set at the correct level, and his big body was creating space for ball-handlers with ease.
As a rim-runner, Queta’s role is simple: provide rim protection and shot deterrence on defense, run the floor, set solid and timely screens, provide vertical spacing when rolling to the rim or being situated in the dunker spot, and battle on the glass. He did all of those things against the Magic.
It’s clear Queta is still improving and isn’t ready to step into a significantly larger role at the moment. But what we did learn is that he can be relied on in a pinch, and that’s exactly what you want out of a player on a two-way contract.
Oh, and who can forget his awesome three-possession stint in the fourth quarter? Lob finish, block, layup in traffic. Those quick stretches will work wonders for Queta’s confidence.
#6 Hauser’ bout that performance
Hauser, like Pritchard, had one of his best performances of the season. We all know he’s a major shooting threat on the perimeter. He can hit off the catch when curling over screens or when stepping into a three in transition. The latter was his most impressive shot of the night.
Against the Magic, Hauser did more than score. He rebounded, defended at a high level, and even created some scoring opportunities for his teammates. What’s been most encouraging about Hauser this season is the improvement in his off-ball movement and the willingness of the coaching staff to consistently put him in actions to generate open looks.
In a game where the pace was above usual levels, Hauser found himself having extra opportunities to attack close-outs and to get his shots off with an extra foot of space as defenders scrambled to contest. Solid performance from the ever-improving sharpshooter, who has definitely earned his spot as the team’s 7th man.
#7 Ball movement
The Celtics ended the game with 31 assists. Stevens was the only Celtics player on the floor who didn’t directly set up a scoring opportunity for his teammates. When you’re pushing the pace the way the Celtics were, it’s easy to find the open man — they’re usually cutting to the rim or spotting up in the corners.
Even when things slowed down, and the Celtics went into their half-court sets, they focused on finding the open man and making the right read. Yes, that’s been the focus all season. However, it hits differently when you have your role players step into the game and play a team brand of basketball rather than looking to stake their claim by forcing the issue and trying to shine as an individual.
#8 Lamart Stevens, big man
Stevens started the game as Boston’s chosen big man. At 6’6’’, the Celtics had a bigger player in Tatum playing the four. The beauty was the Celtics went back to the positionless basketball that Brad Stevens made so attractive throughout his tenure as head coach.
Stevens hustled on defense and knocked down his shots when the opportunity came. What I liked the most was how he played the passing lanes and managed to end the game with four deflections and two steals. He also held his matchups to 33% shooting from the perimeter, although he struggled when protecting the rim for obvious reasons.
These two possessions came within a minute of each other. Both times, Stevens played the passing lanes, stuck with his man, and managed to muck up the play. After being put into an unfamiliar situation — he has only played center for 3% of his minutes since entering the NBA — Stevens managed to make an impact and slotted in well to the Celtics’ overall switching system.
Boston acquired Stevens to bring some physicality and wing versatility to the second unit; he certainly showed what he has to offer and impressed during his time on the court.
#9 Gettin’ nerdy with it: Delayed cutting
I’m a big fan of players delaying their cuts. It provides the offense with a chance to read how the defense reacts to the initial play and to sneak into the paint unchecked. That’s exactly what Oshae Brissett did in the below play.
I’ve done a deep dive on why these cuts are so tough to guard before; you can read that here.
Just to add something extra here, when your team is playing with a size disadvantage, finding ways to get into the paint or to the rim without having a big body in front of you is essential. These types of actions won’t always produce the easy look Brissett got in the clip above, but a secondary offense when the defense is already committed will always be a good option to generate some easy scoring.
#10 Another Derrick White masterclass
White did everything. I mean, everything. He was the team’s best playmaker, hit his shots at a high clip, guarded up on switches, rotated when playing as a helper, and had no problem pushing the pace when the team needed him to.
He ended the game as the Celtics leader in assists and steals, and as usual, he managed to chip in with a block, too. Nevertheless, my favorite play from White was his quickly becoming patented sneak-from-behind steal following a defensive rebound. The fact that he flowed straight into a three to give the Celtics a momentum swing was just the icing on the cake.
White is rapidly becoming a fan-favorite. His performances are consistent, and his impact always seems to come in the areas the Celtics need it most. He’s been a fantastic addition over the past few seasons and appears to be still improving. With the Celtics missing three players, we should have expected another masterclass from White — it’s what he does.
Looking ahead
The Celtics will have an immediate rematch against the Magic on Sunday. The game is scheduled for 3 PM Eastern. Hopefully, that’s late enough in the day that the team’s recent struggles with matinees aren’t a factor. Horford should be back in the rotation, and hopefully, Porzingis will be available, too.
Boston snapped their losing streak against Orlando and broke whatever mental advantage the Magic had. Now, they need to follow up their impressive win with a similar performance so they can firmly push the Magic out of their minds.
