Boston Celtics
The Celtics have a much-needed time without work earlier than a much-needed stretch of residence video games, which start on Monday in opposition to the Path Blazers.
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics had a crack at it, however they couldn’t pull off the win on the second night time of a back-to-back and their fourth recreation in six nights, falling 114-111 within the closing seconds.
Listed here are the takeaways.
Hugo González is nice (however made a expensive mistake)
On the one hand, the truth that rookie Hugo González was on the ground within the closing seconds as a part of what NBC Sports activities Boston broadcaster Drew Carter precisely known as a “defensive lineup” speaks extremely of the rookie’s defensive acumen — each bodily and intellectually.
Alternatively, González (whose personal 3-point heroics lifted the Celtics to a win over the Nets lower than 24 hours earlier than) continues to be a rookie, and the open triple that Kevin Huerter discovered and made was principally attributable to González’s split-second mistake.
The Celtics began the set with Jaylen Brown within the nook guarding Coby White, who had gotten scorching sizzling earlier within the half earlier than cooling off down the stretch. Nikola Vucevic screened Brown off White, and Sam Hauser took over the accountability as White ran towards the highest of the important thing, the place Josh Giddey was dribbling. As White approached Giddey, Hauser slid into place to modify, however González seemingly didn’t get the memo, and he stayed connected to Giddey as White sprang free.
Hauser did his finest to get better, however Derrick White noticed it too and went working off Huerter within the nook to assist. All Coby White needed to do was make a easy swing cross to the nook, and Huerter had a clear look. Huerter isn’t almost pretty much as good a 3-point shooter as one may anticipate (simply 31.9 % from deep this season), however he buried the triple with 0.2 seconds remaining.
That successfully ended the sport, for the reason that Celtics couldn’t even get off a catch-and-shoot with that little time left. Billy Donovan waved his gamers off to ensure they didn’t foul, and Payton Pritchard launched a lightning fast 3-pointer that almost banked in, however he launched it after the buzzer.
Margins within the NBA are minuscule, and one of the crucial spectacular features of González’s recreation in his first season has been his capability to assist the Celtics on the margins.
On Saturday, nevertheless, a easy defensive miscommunication — a split-second mistake by a 19-year-old who has not regarded like a 19-year-old this season — value the Celtics an opportunity to steal one other street win.
The Celtics regarded exhausted
The previous few weeks have been a grind for the Celtics, and the final week particularly was a troublesome one — 5 video games in eight nights, which included the double-overtime win almost 800 miles away in Brooklyn the night time earlier than.
In consequence, the Celtics regarded exhausted. The taking pictures suffered (15-for-47 from three, 31.9 %), and within the second half, the Celtics didn’t seem to have their normal zip, particularly on the offensive finish.
No NBA participant ever desires to be accused of constructing excuses, so take into account this extra of an evidence for Saturday’s loss.
Amari Williams received the beginning
After enjoying a wonderful additional time stint in opposition to the Nets that included a game-clinching block in addition to an important help that set the stage for González’s heroics, Williams received the beginning on Saturday.
The 2-way middle performed 10 minutes, six of which got here within the first quarter, earlier than Joe Mazzulla went again to one thing resembling his normal middle rotation. Throughout a second stint within the third quarter, Williams was the recipient of a nifty cross from Derrick White, which led to a dunk — his solely basket of the sport — and he swatted away a shot that was very almost a goaltending violation.
It’s tough to completely place what Mazzulla was doing along with his middle rotation, however one affordable guess could be that he needed to each reward Williams for gamely hopping on a flight and contributing in a win over the Nets whereas additionally getting Queta just a little relaxation. If the latter was the case, his plan was foiled when Luka Garza rolled his ankle.
Over his final two video games, Williams — who’s on a two-way deal — actually has regarded like a participant who warrants an prolonged look within the massive leagues.
Jaylen Brown hit an unbelievable circus shot
Brown bounced again from a foul taking pictures night time in Brooklyn with 33 factors on 14-for-28 taking pictures, which included this absurd end along with his left hand at a monumentally necessary level within the recreation.
Brown was additionally accountable for the game-tying bucket proper earlier than Huerter’s 3-pointer, one other quietly tough end on which he switched to the left in mid-air and tossed it in.
After Friday’s recreation, Brown admitted that his hamstring has been bothering him, and hamstrings are notoriously finicky after they don’t get sufficient relaxation, however he was a bruising presence in opposition to the Bulls — he was simply 2-for-8 from deep, and the majority of his work got here both within the mid-range along with his patented stepbacks, or driving to the basket. Brown is a grasp of each getting his shoulder round his defender to achieve a step to the rim or — if the defender manages to remain in entrance of him — of bumping his defender again simply sufficient to do no matter feels comfy.
The Celtics have positioned a hefty workload on Brown this season, and he continues to show himself up for the problem, even on nights when the Celtics can’t fairly discover the legs to tug out a win.
Anfernee Simons received sizzling too
Brown didn’t get a ton of scoring assist from his star teammates (15 factors on 5-for-18 taking pictures from Derrick White, simply 10 factors from Payton Pritchard), however Anfernee Simons poured in 21, which included 5-for-11 taking pictures from deep and a few large 3-pointers within the third quarter that stored the Celtics connected.
After producing numerous buzz about whether or not the Celtics ought to merely preserve him via the commerce deadline (and doubtlessly signal him to a friendlier contract subsequent season), Simons went chilly for 3 consecutive video games, making only one triple in every contest in opposition to the Pistons, Pacers and Nets earlier than breaking the seal on the rim once more on Saturday.
One argument for holding Simons is that whereas he’s streaky, his streakiness appears to be extra game-to-game dependent, which could possibly be helpful within the postseason — even when Simons is chilly in Recreation 2 of the Jap Convention semifinals, he might ignite and win you Recreation 3.
On Saturday, he almost gave the Celtics sufficient in assist of Brown to assist them steal one.
Derrick White had one other complicated recreation
White has had a number of contests much like Saturday’s loss this 12 months: He was usually glorious on protection — if he doesn’t make the All-Protection First Staff this 12 months, it will likely be one thing of a travesty — and he dished out seven assists, together with 4 real gems within the second half.
His faucet cross to Williams could have been the spotlight, however he tucked a stunning pick-and-roll cross in between two defenders to Queta as nicely, and his high-low dish to Brown — who had his defender sealed within the publish — halfway via the fourth quarter was as cool and picked up as you would hope to see in an help, particularly given the tiny window and the excessive diploma of issue concerned.
Alternatively, White shot 5-for-18 from the sector. He takes numerous good pictures, however a shocking variety of them don’t go in. If he was having a greater offensive 12 months, he could be an All-Star and could be making a fringe case for an All-NBA crew.
What’s subsequent
The Celtics have a much-needed time without work earlier than a much-needed stretch of residence video games, which start on Monday in opposition to the Path Blazers. They may shut out the month of January in opposition to the Hawks and Kings on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
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