Joe Mazzulla acknowledged after final season that they couldn’t depend on their 3-point shot-making within the playoffs. It’s a giant purpose why they added Kristaps Porzingis. And whereas they’ve nonetheless taken probably the most 3-pointers within the league this 12 months, they’ve confirmed they’ll win in different methods.
Tuesday evening represented the newest instance, a uncommon evening during which these Celtics virtually refused to take any 3-pointers. On this evening, their benefit inside over a 76ers workforce with out reigning MVP Joel Embiid was too apparent. And when it received furry within the fourth, the Celtics turned to their protection to complete the job of a convincing 117-99 win over the 76ers, their ninth consecutive victory.
Jaylen Brown scored 31 factors, Jayson Tatum had a close to triple-double of 29 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Porzingis added 23 factors and so they nonetheless cruised to this victory after making 5 3-pointers and taking 22 pictures from deep, each season lows. Instead, they bludgeoned the Sixers inside with a 64-42 benefit within the paint as they went a season-best 34-for-37 from the free throw line.
Tyrese Maxey scored 32 factors for the 76ers, who dominated the shot margin however are nonetheless reeling within the absence of Embiid.
The Celtics, regardless of their different-than-usual shot choice, led at halftime earlier than they went on a 10-0 run out of halftime. They led by as many as 14 within the third quarter as they continued to kill the Sixers inside. But the guests fought again behind Maxey, who had 30 factors by way of three quarters, and the Sixers trimmed their deficit to 2 early within the fourth after Cameron Payne and Tobias Harris mixed to make three consecutive triples.
But the C’s responded in a giant method after Mazzulla referred to as timeout as they went on a 17-0 run to place the sport away, a surge sparked by protection as they held the 76ers scoreless over a five-minute stretch.
Some different takeaways from the win:
– There figures to be some experimentation finished by Mazzulla over the ultimate stretch of the common season, and there was an fascinating one on Tuesday. Typically, Tatum sits halfway by way of the primary quarter and returns with the bench unit for the beginning of the second quarter, whereas Brown performs all the first and sits to start out the second quarter. On Tuesday, Mazzulla flipped that.
Tatum performed nicely with the change as he completed the primary with 9 factors and 5 assists. There have been some blended outcomes from Brown, who had a shot blocked and dedicated an offensive foul as he led the second unit, however did nicely in different situations as he discovered benefits and had success attending to the free-throw line on seems to be across the basket.
– The Celtics lead the league in 3-point makes an attempt per recreation – they entered Tuesday with 46.2 seems to be from deep per recreation – however had a considerably totally different shot profile within the first half. They took simply two pictures from lengthy vary within the second quarter, as they went 2-for-11 from deep within the first half. Mazzulla at all times seems to be on the shot margin as a technique of success, however the Sixers outshot the Celtics 52-35 within the first half, together with 10 extra 3-pointers. The C’s gave up six offensive rebounds and dedicated eight turnovers within the first half, resulting in that shot disparity, however nonetheless led by two at halftime.
– Derrick White led a Celtics block get together on Tuesday with three swats within the opening 5 minutes of the sport. White, who additionally had three blocks within the first quarter in final Thursday’s win over the Bulls, has 65 blocks in 54 video games this season. He’s 11 blocks away from matching his career-best 76 blocks he recorded final season.
Source: www.bostonherald.com