After the turnaround against the Lakers, we could blame the loss on a hot shooting night. But we saw the same collapse on Saturday night, when we lost a 28-point lead by a 39-point turnaround. The Celtics lost the second half 38-70, after winning the first half, with Irving, 74-53. How could this happen?
I honestly didn't know, so I re-watched the second half play for play and I noted every (big) mistake that I saw, with the hope to find a conclusion. Unfortunately after all this work I haven't found one particular reason that explains this loss, but I did get a lot of information and perhaps more insight into which players we can blame (what we all really like to do
). I wish I could have linked the plays by a video edit.
2nd half stats, PRA (= points/rebounds/assists)Terry Rozier .......played 18:41, 3-4 (2fga), 0-3 (3fga), 6-2-0 (PRA), 1 TO, 2 PF, -27 (grade:
C)
Brad Wanamaker .played 5:19, 1-1 (2fga), 0-0 (3fga), 2-0-0 (PRA), 1 steal, 1 PF, -5 (grade:
B)
Marcus Smart .....played 14:14, 1-3 (2fga), 0-2 (3fga), 2-2-3 (PRA), 1 block, 1 BA, 2 TO, 1 PF, -23 (grade:
D)
Jaylen Brown .....played 11:28, 1-4 (2fga), 0-3 (3fga), 5-1-1 (PRA), 3-4 (fta), 2 PF, -9 (grade:
C)
Jayson Tatum ....played 13:50, 2-4 (2fga), 1-1 (3fga), 10-1-0 (PRA), 3-4 (fta), 3 TO, 4 PF, -21 (grade:
C)
Gordon Hayward played 13:34, 2-3 (2fga), 1-2 (3fga), 7-3-2 (PRA), 1 steal, 1 TO, 3 PF, -18 (grade:
A)
Marcus Morris.....played 16:33, 2-5 (2fga), 0-1 (3fga), 4-2-0 (PRA), 1 BA, 1 PF, -22 (grade:
F)
Al Horford ..........played 16:07, 0-1 (2fga), 0-2 (3fga), 0-2-3 (PRA), 1 TO, -21 (grade:
D)
Daniel Theis .......played 10:14, 1-1 (2fga), 0-0 (3fga), 2-0-0 (PRA), 1 PF, -14 (grade:
B)
Total team: 13-26 (2fga), 2-14 (3fga), 6-8 (fta), 1 off reb, 9 assists, 8 turnovers, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 BA, 15 PF's
So a good in/outside distribution, but low number of 3fgm. Only 1 offensive rebound, but only gave up 2 as well. Number of assists is low and especially the Ass/To ratio isn't good. And way too many personal fouls, but the refs were blowing a very soft whistle (worked both ways).
Notable mistakes during the 3rd and 4th quarter, in parentheses the player who made the mistakeKey moments 3rd quarter (lost 28-12)Q3: 8:19, Morris closes out on Beverly gets beat way too easily, no help by Horford, open floater for Beverley (Morris)
Q3: 6:52, Morris doesn't pick up Zubac and leave Beverley for Rozier, but points to Tatum (who guards Temple) to pick up Zubac instead, who comes too late to avoid a dunk (Morris)
Q3: 6:32, Tatum gets the ball from Horford, draws an extra defender, which leaves Morris wide open, but Tatum has his mind on shooting the midrange-jumper, well defended by Beverley and a push with his off-arm is called an offensive foul (Tatum)
Q3: 6:20, Morris is ball watching as Beverley outworks Rozier for the rebound, Gallinari as a result gets wide open for an easy basket (Morris)
Q3: 5:50, Clippers have just scored on a turnover by Smart, here Smart tries to make up for it, but he rushes the play and turns it over another time (Smart)
Q3: 5:10, Rozier is in the paint (why? for rebounds?), has a long close out on Temple, who gets the momentum to drive by Rozier, the Clippers pass it well to SGA who buries the corner three (Rozier)
Q3: 4:52, early in the shot clock, Morris doesn't have a mismatch, but does decide to go iso on Gallinari, takes a tough jumper, which is a bad miss (Morris)
Q3: 4:45, Smart doesn't pick up Beverley immediately, then Theis signals to Smart to pick up Zubac, then Smart sees an opportunity to let Theis pick up Zubac, but big miscommunication leads to free throws, Smart at fault I'd say (Smart)
Q3: 2:32, Brown passes to Hayward, who gives it immediately back to Brown to take advantage of Harrell, but Brown forces a contested stepback three, which misses, maybe Harrell too athletic to beat one-on-one (Brown)
Q3: 0:06, Rozier gets the rebound, Theis runs the court and has a mismatch in the post, but Rozier doesn't see it and throws a prayer from deep that misses, even Hayward close by him was a better option (Rozier)
Key moments 4th quarter (lost 42-26)Q4: 11:41, Hayward loses Shamet who uses a Harrell screen to get open and he makes the 3-pointer, this is a recurring play by the Clippers (Hayward)
Q4: 9:55, Wanamaker defends Williams with a Harrell screen coming, too late with the close out and fouls Williams, 3 free throws (Wanamaker)
Q4: 8:52, Morris gets the ball with 5 seconds left on the shot clock, isn't able to lose Green, but takes a terrible shot regardless as Horford was open (Morris)
Q4: 8:45, Morris doesn't keep up with JaMychal Green in transition and just gives away a lay-up, nothing Brown or Horford could have done to prevent this (Morris)
Q4: 8:06, Smart defends Williams, makes a pirouette (expecting a pick), but there's no pick and he's too late to front Williams, foul and a 3-point-play (Smart)
Q4: 6:47, For some reason everyone forgets about Shamet, seems like Smart should have guarded him, open corner 3-pointer made (Smart)
Q4: 6:33, Tatum gets the ball and sees Theis wide open at the rim, but twice he throws a terrible pass and the second time it's a turnover (Tatum)
Q4: 5:07, Rozier drives and kicks to Tatum, who has momentum to go by Gallinari, has space to shoot but makes a wrong decision to try to get to the hoop, charge taken by Beverley (Tatum)
Q4: 4:20, Williams shoots from midrange, but misses, then Brown stands ball watching, which gives Beverley the chance to grab an offensive rebound (Brown)
Q4: 3:30, Brown just missed a shot and reacts by pressuring the ball handler, but should have stayed with Shamet, foul on the recovery and a 4-point-play (Brown)
Q4: 2:52, there's a switch, Tatum follows Gallinari but gets stuck on a screen, open 3-point-shot goes down (Tatum)
Q4: 2:09, Smart brings up the ball, sees Gallinari giving him some space and he jacks up a three-pointer early in the shot clock, bad decision and a miss (Smart)
Q4: 2:00, Tatum and Horford defend Williams and Harrell poorly on the pick-and-roll, Horford doesn't coach for a switch, Smart steps in for the charge (doesn't get the call), leads to open 3-pointer by Beverley (Horford)
Q4: 1:42, Hayward gets stripped by Harrell who beats everyone in transition for a dunk (Hayward)
Number of crucial mistakes per player Morris 6, Smart 5, Tatum 4, Brown 3, Rozier 2, Hayward 2, Wanamaker 1, Horford 1, Theis 0
Team observations (defense)- Bad transition defense, where people don't pick up their man or the wrong man
- The Celtics have a lot of trouble trying to defend the pick-and-roll, no clear strategy or communication
- Teams switches a lot on defense, but in general they do a good job when the defense is set
- Team in general does a good job at boxing out and not giving up second chance points
- Coach Stevens does hold (some) players accountable, substituted Brown and Smart immediately after a big mistake
Individual observations (defense)- Rozier and Tatum are a bit lackadaisical guarding their man, having to agressively close out can dismantle the defense
- Rozier is wild, but shows effort until the very end
- Tatum and Hayward had trouble chasing Shamet or Gallinari on the court
- Brown does a better job at guarding players offball and is quick in transition defense
- Morris gets beat off the dribble way too easy (multiple times in a row)
- Morris looks disengaged on defense, sometimes he's so late to react that it's hard to notice that it was his man who scored
- Horford lacks in protecting the rim, doesn't really cover guys who get beat off the dribble and doesn't communicate enough
- Theis does a great job protecting the rim and in switches
- Smart had a lot of miscommunications, weird decisions
- Wanamaker had a steal and wasn't a liability on defense
Team observations (offense)- The Celtics in general actually moved the ball well on offense
- Some good post-ups (like Smart and Brown) and a variety on offense
- A couple of bad 3-point-shots, but not excessive (just 4, that I'd describe as forced)
- Only 1 offensive rebound, bigs stay on the perimeter
- After committing turnovers the team loses patience and starts rushing plays
Individual observations (offense)- Only Smart, Hayward and Horford are able to really create for others
- Hayward could have had a lot of assists and looks for Brown
- Rozier lacks fundamental court vision, it's not even selfishness, he's afraid to pass inside
- Morris, Tatum and Brown try to go iso against perceived mismatches (Gallinari, Beverley, Harrell), but fail to execute
- Brown and Tatum are agressive on offense, and score points one way or another
- Morris goes in tunnel vision, takes too many contested long two's, tries to outscore opponent (Gallinari)
- Smart rushes plays after a couple of mistakes or when the team loses momentum to try to make up for it
Main conclusions- Not enough communication on defense, especially in transition.
- No clear strategy on defending the pick-and-roll, Theis does this best.
- Players close out too agressively, no help when beaten by Horford.
- Good varied offense, with post-ups and trying to find mismatches.
- Team (in particular Smart) loses patience when mistakes are made. Forced plays lead to turnovers.
- Morris was terrible on both ends, no effort and selfish.
- Some good shots weren't falling for Brown.
- Rozier and Tatum are good in creating their own shots, but not for others.
- Wanamaker and Theis played well, deserved more minutes.
- Hayward played a very good game, by far the best on the Celtics.
Topic: Los Angeles Clippers - Boston Celtics, analysis second half (70-38) (Read 4196 times)