#1 Increase the pressure – again
Similar to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics ramped up the pressure in the third and fourth quarters. The Celtics started the game well. However, the Dallas Mavericks found a way to move their offense forward, forcing Boston to dig even deeper.
But overall, it was a solid game for the Celtics that felt like a real playoff game. The fact that they held off one of the better teams in the Western Conference, which was 8-2 in their last 10 games, is an encouraging sign heading into this juncture in the season. Still, there were some valuable lessons to be learned from this contest.
#2 Once again, Kristaps Porzingis made the difference.
Every team in the NBA is asking the same question at this point. “How do you defend a shot like that?”
Whether it's drives or pull-ups, you have to respect Jrue Holiday's threat. You have to respect the shooters who are spacing the floor. And screening actions must be navigated. To add insult to injury, the 7-foot-2-inch big man will be standing a step or two behind him on his 3-point line, waiting to fire.
Success in the NBA is determined by situation, fit, and timing. The addition of Porzingis checks all three boxes. He has thrived in Boston's system, which makes Boston a dramatically better team.
Additionally, as you can see in the clip above, when Porzingis is on the perimeter, he drags the drop big toward the 3-point line. In it he has two advantages. First, remove the rim protection from the paint. This can result in secondary cuts or openings in the drive. Second, it opens up the possibility of drive action on the ball or creates space between the shooting threat and the big man. This is because they are too cautious to focus all their efforts on fully countering the shot.Both Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford struggled with this scam
However, Porzingis also found success scoring near the rim and also made a midfield shot to round out the three-level scoring. This play by the veteran big man was definitely my favorite. Because he ran the lane, posted up, and gave defenders work to do.
It's hard to imagine how the team will limit Porzingis' influence while keeping everyone else in check. That's the talent and depth of the Celtics' top-six rotation.
#3 Jrue Holiday 1st Quarter
Sometimes it's easy to forget that Jrue Holiday was the missing piece in the Milwaukee Bucks' championship run. His versatility, elite defense, and high-level scoring ability could all fade into the background on a Celtics roster littered with high-end talent. But Holiday put on a show in the first quarter.
The difficulty of this shot and his body control to keep the ball in line with the basket were excellent. There's a reason Holiday has been one of the league's best corner three shooters this season. He can pass, dribble, and shoot in any situation, making him an ideal release valve when spacing the floor. Of course, his score was just one side of what he showed in the early offense and defense.
In the clip above, Holiday's timing is to see Luka Doncic driving to the rim, wait for Doncic to pick off a pass, then jump the lane for a steal/deflection. It's another example of how Holiday lets you make the game your own. . He had great results throughout the season. But in a game against the Western Conference's leading favorites, it was fun to watch him embrace a bigger role in the first quarter and then transition into a playmaking mindset as the game progressed.
#4 Jayson Tatum's 3rd Q
Jayson Tatum dropped 16 points in the third quarter. He made 5 of 8 field goals, including 4 from the perimeter. He also chipped in on the glass with three rebounds. These are the stretches required of Tatum. He doesn't need to dominate the whole match. There's enough talent around him to take that kind of pressure off his shoulders.
But seeing the Mavericks find success with cuts and rim rolls and Tatum stepping up and taking over when the team needed it most was encouraging considering how close they are to the postseason.
You know what I love about the play above? It's not like Tatum knocked down the shot. Instead, Jaylen Brown manipulated the defense with baseline cuts, pulling multiple defenders off the perimeter and giving his teammates a better view of the basket. Still, Tatum had to beat it if he wanted to reward Brown and Derrick White for their creation within the action.
As for Tatum's inside bucket, it makes sense that it came from a slicing action on an out-of-bounds play from the sideline. It was a cash cow for him and Joe Mazzula all season. It's great to see it working against such high level competition.
Tatum finished the game shooting 52.6% from the field and 55.6% from 3-point range. He's not always that consistent. Still, the adjustments he made in terms of making his game his own allowed him to become a more versatile and consistent threat on both ends of the floor. He looks ready to lead a championship team. He looked like he was ready to go head-to-head with whatever version of Luka Boston he was.
#5 Some legitimate Tillman minutes
I've been wondering when we'll get to take a closer look at Tillman. Luke Cornett plays his role well. It made sense that Tillman would need to remain patient. Dallas' center rotation is tall, strong, explosive, and fast. Unless Boston is playing half-court defense, these types of bigs could cause problems for the Cornettes. So Tillman's inclusion certainly made sense.
Early signs are encouraging. Tillman ran the floor well. He created good separation for his teammates on screens. His passes looked crisp. And he had several chances to score points. What impressed me the most was his passing and decision-making on short rolls. The ball didn't stick. Some of the “Young Al Horford” comparisons circulating online aren't too far off the mark, based on early introductions.
There's nothing better than a small big-to-big pass for a lob finish from a short roll possession, right?
Of course, praise must also be given to Tillman's defense. He blocked a total of eight shots, holding him to 25% shooting for the contest, including two misses from the perimeter.
The defensive effort in the play below was also good. Doncic managed to get some buckets because he's Doncic, but the overall positioning, effort, and movement from the recent additions were all great.
As a first legit impression, Tillman gave a great description of himself.
#6 A Struggle Involving Derek Lively II
There was a moment in the second quarter when it felt like Derek Lively II was getting everything he wanted on offense. His size and pace make him a tough matchup, especially when switching without a big drop to protect the rim.
Lively II only scored six points during the run, but his movement caused problems for Boston, allowing secondary drives and open jumpers elsewhere on the floor. If he continues to develop his game, he will be a problem for opposing defenses. He looks like the ideal type of big player to play next to Doncic or Kyrie Irving.
#7 Powerful night for Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown was great on both sides of the ball. He put pressure on the rim. Hit the three. He defended at a high level and played his role well. What I liked most about his performance against Dallas was that he got some assists on the board. He's shown legitimate improvement in his ball-handling and playmaking this season, so it always stands out when there's any money to his name.
In the past, you would have seen Brown forcing a shot here. The same goes for Tatum. But rather than trying to draw a foul, Brown found Porzingis in the weakside slot, fired an impressive pass out of the block, and found his teammate, something we've all enjoyed so much this season. We have completed the cookie and cream connection.
In a game like this, where the world is watching and the national television spotlight shines brightly, it's easy for players to become obsessed with proving themselves. Brown, like the rest of his teammates, stuck to the game plan. He stayed true to his role, functioning as a featured scorer and producing solid performances as a three-way scoring two-way player. It was also great that he grabbed seven boards, and that was another area of improvement for him this season.
It would be impolite not to leave the prettiest layup before moving on.
#8 Gettin' Nerdy With It: Solid defense
I'll keep this short. The Mavericks extended possession with this great action. It's like a combination of “wheel action” and “floppy action,” but as you all know, I'm not good at combining actions.
Peyton Pritchard deserves a lot of praise for adding pressure to the action as the chaser. Tillman fulfilled his role. But overall, the Celtics executed their defensive scheme with precision, pace, and strength. They overwhelmed Doncic late in the shot clock, forcing a violation. The fact that Boston didn't overreact to their first entry play and held their ground against one of the league's best scorers shows they're fully locked in for the postseason.
#9 Al Horford still looks young
He just doesn't seem to age, right?
At his age, Horford could be forgiven for being one of the last players on the court in transition. However, he often finds himself being one of the first. His energy seems limitless. In the play above, he sprinted down the floor, got into his position with space, and made a rhythm 3.
Throughout the game, Horford played solid defense, controlled his angles, positioned himself well on offense, and flashed his nimble looks. He does everything asked of him while also being a key leader on the roster.
He finished the game with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Still, it was his two-block that really stood out.
Do you know why this stood out? That's because the 36-year-old big man guards on the perimeter, stays in front of his guards and gets blocks. Ageless Al is more than just a nickname. That's the truth.
#10 Derrick White, Playmaker
White has taken a step back in terms of scoring in recent games. But his influence continues to be felt on both sides of the floor. He showed his presence as a key playmaker against the Mavericks. Yes, he flashed those open looks, but mostly his decision-making and ability to read the game stood out.
White earned eight dimes against Dallas. His willingness to drag off the dribble and explore on drives opens up passing lanes and angles for him. The clip below of a simple pick-and-roll with Porzingis gives a good idea of how White is patient, draws the defense in, and makes decisions based on how the opponent is trying to limit him. .
I'm trying to keep the section on White short, mainly because I've already said most of what I can say about his game, and I have a few things left for next time. That's been his consistency all year. He, like his fellow guard Holiday, is an ideal connector for any championship team.
For the future
The Celtics will play the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. It's an early game. The Warriors have been looking good since the All-Star break. It will be interesting to see how Joe Mazzula tries to limit Golden State's second unit now that Chris Paul and Klay Thompson are coming off the bench.
Still, with the Celtics on a 10-game winning streak and firing on all cylinders, I'm excited to see how the game goes and look forward to hopefully a win. See you on Monday!
