#1 16-0
Protecting the home court has clearly become a focus this season. Even with a short-handed roster, the Celtics managed to extend their record at home to 16-0. It wasn’t easy, though. A big fourth-quarter run setup a nervy finish for the Celtics. However, as we’ve seen so many times this season, Boston kept their heads, kept plucking away possession after possession and were able to squeak out a tough win.
Turning your home floor into a fortress is the staple of a championship-level team. Making it so everyone who visits Boston knows that they’re facing an uphill battle against one of the most talented rosters in the league, with some of the most passionate fans and an unbeaten record staring down at them, can become incredibly daunting.
#2 Kornet makes a difference
Luke Kornet missed most of the West Coast road trip due to injury. Then, when he was cleared to play, his minutes were being given to Neemias Queta. The same thing happened against the Detroit Pistons, too. However, with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis out with injury, Kornet got his chance to shine.
20 points and 8 rebounds is a solid return. Especially when you factor in Kornet’s performance as a screener, defender, and rim protector, too. The fact is, at this stage of Queta’s development, Kornet is a more functional big man. He doesn’t give you the energy boost you get from Queta, but he does give you reliable minutes on both sides of the floor. He’s also gifted as a roll man and continually finds ways to impact the offensive end with his movement.
I really liked this short-roll action from Kornet at the start of the third. He sets a slip screen for Jaylen Brown, gets the ball around the nail, waits for Scottie Barnes to help off of Jrue Holiday, and then kicks the ball into the corner.
Kornet operates at a more deliberate pace than some of his teammates, and at times, that can help manipulate the opposing defense.
#3 The deep bench
We got to see a decent amount of the Celtics’ deeper bench rotation against the Toronto Raptors. Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, Queta, and Oshae Brissett all got minutes. To begin the season, my biggest concern surrounding the deeper bench rotation was the lack of offense. Sure, Brissett and Lamar Stevens are solid defenders. Yes, Svi can nail his jumpers, but lacks creation, and I wasn’t really sure where Queta would feature.
However, every player that checked into the game for Boston made an impact. Svi had arguably the best play out of the deeper bench with this beauty.
The way Svi sold the hand-off action before turning the corner was impressive and created an exciting finish. He’s still unlikely to be a regular feature in the rotation, yet knowing that scoring depth is on the bench is comforting.
#4 The sharpshooters
Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard: Two key members of the primary bench rotation and two legitimate sharpshooters at the NBA level. Both enjoyed a good game in slightly bigger roles against the Raptors. Hauser finished one point and one rebound away from a double-double while using his scoring gravity as a weapon to get others open.
Pritchard’s speed, penetration, and shooting left the Raptors with an issue on defense due to his ability to attack closeouts and create offense for others. Pritchard didn’t have the best shooting night but found other ways to be effective.
Take this play, for instance. The Celtics run a weakside stagger actions with Hauser curling out of the corner. As the defense locks in on the weakside action, Pritchard drives the lane and forces the Raptors to split their focus. As soon as Toronto’s defense turns their backs on the weakside window-dressing, Kornet cuts to the rim and gets to finish the play.
The entire offensive possession is based around the threat Hauser poses when curling off screens and how Pritchard’s ability to “Nash” his dribble often leads to reliable kick-out passes to shooters on the perimeter.
Sure, Kornet is the one to finish the play. However, it’s the threat of Boston’s two primary shooters that created the confusion and generated the spacing that ended up with an open roll toward the bucket.
#5 Jaylen Brown, All-Star
In the first half, as the Celtics pushed the pace and took control of the game, Jaylen Brown was at the forefront of the team’s offensive game plan. His role as a primary scorer and slasher has helped elevate his game to new levels. This is the best version of Brown we’ve ever seen. Things cooled off in the second half, with Brown scoring seven points over two quarters.
Still, with no Tatum, Porzingis, or Horford, Brown showed why he could be an All-Star selection again this year. He’s a legitimate three-level scorer. He pressures defenses and attacks gaps, drives the seams, and knows how to reach his spots.
His handle has improved. He’s learned how to vary his speed to create unpredictability, and his improved strength allows him to finish through contact consistently.
Here’s a solid example of how Brown’s body control around the rim allowed him to secure the bucket and draw the foul. I’m a big fan of how Brown is playing in his new role and how he can scale his offensive production depending on what’s needed from him. Brown has also improved as a rebounder and his assists are coming within the flow of how he approaches offense. Huge developmental jump from him this season.
Oh, and who can forget this absolute hammer?
#6 Derrick White, also an All-Star
There really can’t be an argument against it at this point, right? Derrick White is the ultimate connector. He does everything and does it at a high level. He ended the game against Toronto with 21 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
With such a versatile impact on the game, I can’t help but include White in these takeaways. Every night, he’s doing something new to impress or give the Celtics an edge. Against the Raptors, he stepped up with a big bucket down the stretch, and once again, he excelled in his role and took on some additional responsibilities.
#7 Gettin’ nerdy with it: Finding counters
We’ve looked at the need for implementing counters in other takeaways over the past few weeks. However, with three primary rotation players out, the need to be better organized in how to attack a defense was clear.
I’ve already highlighted Svi’s role in this action, but let’s look at the whole clip and the entire possession. It starts off with the Celtics going to a “21 reset” action, which is a guard-guard handoff in the corner followed by a kickout pass to the big man in the delay. From there, Kornet has options to make a read.
Hauser then sets a slice screen for Svi before cutting to receive the hand-off. Toronto cancels the action by getting between Hauser and Kornet, so Hauser counters by continuing his cut and screening for the curling Pritchard.
From there, the ball pops around a little in some hand-off movements before getting Svi with the rock on the wing and allowing him to head fake a third hand-off to create the space to drive.
The initial action was supposed to get Hauser the ball after his slice screen. He likely would have pulled up while on the move. Yet, the Celtics remained fluid when the Raptors shut that action down and kept working to find the best play possible.
#8 Gettin’ nerdy with it part 2: Flattening out the defense
I really liked Pritchard’s role in this action. You can see him directing his teammates along the baseline as the Celtics looked to flatten Toronto’s defense due to the shooting threat in each corner. With Hauser and Holiday ensuring the corner spacing is good and Queta in the dunker spot offering vertical spacing around the rim, Boston lines up in a 2-3 flat.
From there, Pritchard “ghosts” his back screen, creating a clear driving lane for Brown to attack. As he gets into the pain, Jakob Poeltl rotates over to protect the rim but can’t fully commit due to a potential dump-off pass for Queta. Brown gets an easy-finger role.
Solid offense doesn’t always have to be a jigsaw puzzle with countless pieces to fit into specific movements. Sometimes, it’s easier to generate solid spacing and put the ball in the best player’s hands.
#9 Hustlin’
Coming into this game, you knew the Celtics would need to win the hustle battles. Down three starters against a Raptors team that has good size, length, and physicality, Boston would have to prove they wanted it more. That’s exactly what they did.
The Celtics won the deflections battle 13-11, generated more screen assists 13-6, and contested more shots 54-43.
It’s those gritty battles that can make a difference throughout a game. They’re not going to give you the lead, but they do set a tone. They ensure everyone remains fired up and that no one is taking possession off. They lead by example.
This version of the Celtics is committed to winning these little battles as much as they are to getting up their threes or pressuring the rim. They appear to understand the need for putting in complete performances, and more often than not, they have succeeded. Of course, no one can be perfect every game, but the effort is clearly there — as it was against the Raptors on Friday.
#10 Some great early defense
To wrap up today’s takeaways, I wanted to share two of my favorite defensive possessions. The first one showcases some great switching, ball pressure, cross-matching, and passing lane pressure, leading to a late-clock jumper that clanks out.
The second is a possession that ends in a Hauser block and generates a transition opportunity for Brown.
I enjoyed both of these possessions and had a note written down to share them. Sometimes, I think it’s fun to look at how the Celtics are operating defensively and the impact it can have in allowing them to control their own fate on offense. Not much analysis is needed on either of these. Boston played hard and got rewarded for it.
A parting message
The Celtics are back in action on Sunday. They face the San Antonio Spurs on the road and get their first taste of Victor Wembanyama. I’m excited. For any of you who follow the Green With Envy podcast, Will Weir and Greg Manekis will both be in attendance. If you are at the game, be sure to say hi.
For me, though, well, this game is scheduled for 7 PM Eastern. That’s midnight where I’m from. Which means the Raptors game was my last game of 2023. This is my last 10 takeaways of 2023.
It’s been a fun year. I took my first trip to Boston and covered the Lakers/Celtics game as media. I took over these takeaways from the ever-inspirational Keith Smith. And I got a dog. Yes, he sometimes snores when I’m clipping videos (I think I solved that issue, though – there’s a mute button!), but he’s been an amazing addition to the family and has helped me more than I could ever explain.
I’m not going to write out a list of good and bad that’s gone on. Everyone’s life is full of twists and turns. What I will write, though, is a sincere thank you. I’ve been with CelticsBlog since October 2019 — my first article was about Enes Kanter (now Enes Freedom.) I’ve always felt at home here.
And I’ve always been grateful to Jeff for giving me a platform to write about a team that I love that will be read by people who love the team, too. And to Bill Sy and Keith Smith for their incredible support. Great, great guys. And an amazing team of writers that continues to get better and better.
I hope you all have an amazing end to 2023, and I will be back here on January 1 with some takeaways from the upcoming game against San Antonio.
