Erik Spoelstra lauded Boston’s defense before the Celtics’ Super Bowl Sunday matinee in Miami, describing it as “underrated.”
“They’ve played very good basketball this year. They have been the most consistent team all year long,” the future Hall of Fame coach said via CLNS Media. “Defensively, I think they are very underrated. I don’t think enough people talk about how stable and good their defense has been this season.”
In a physical game brimming with playoff-like intensity, featuring a heated exchange between Jaylen Brown and Duncan Robinson, marked by genuine animosity between the two teams — a rarity in the NBA — the Celtics delivered key plays down the stretch, fueled by their effort on the defensive end.
“With late-game execution, you’ve gotta set the table,” Mazzulla said postgame. “I thought our guys did that.”
That started at the 5:31 mark of the fourth quarter when Bam Adebayo attempted to drive on Al Horford but was rejected at the rim, setting the table for the C’s winning plays down the stretch.
While the execution wasn’t perfect, Boston got the stops they needed behind lockdown defense from the Jays, a big-time rebound from Kristaps Porzingis, and the typical pestering play from Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
Boston held Miami to just two points in the final 1:48 of the game as the C’s advanced to 18-8 in clutch situations this season. Their 18 clutch wins are tied for the most in the NBA this season, and their eight losses are the fewest in the Eastern Conference.
Late-game execution has been a notable strength for the Boston Celtics this season. They lead the league with a +66 point differential in clutch situations, boasting a 69.2% win percentage, top among teams with at least 25 clutch games.
Of teams that have played at least 25 clutch games, the Celtics are one of just three teams with a win percentage north of 60%, ahead of the reigning champion Denver Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The addition of Porzingis and the emergence of clutch Derrick White certainly plays into that. As does the growth of Tatum and Brown in such situations. However, Boston’s defense in those situations should not be overlooked – and Sunday afternoon served as another reminder of that.
The Celtics have held their opponents to 188 points in the clutch this season, the fewest total in the Eastern Conference. Among teams with at least 25 clutch games, they are one of just three to surrender fewer than 200 points, along with the Nuggets and the Clippers.
Opponents are shooting just 37.6% against Boston in the clutch this season. That is the second-lowest mark in the NBA, trailing just the Nuggets (37.4%).
Late-game execution is a focal point for fans, particularly in recent years, and it’s an area where the Celtics have unquestionably shown improvement, deserving credit to Mazzulla and the team.
It’s never always going to be perfect. That’s basketball. But repeatedly, the Celtics have demonstrated their ability to deliver in these crucial moments. Which should instill confidence in fans as we approach the spring.
Jrue Holiday has found himself in the offense
In the old arcade game “Double Dribble,” a glitch allowed you to rain corner threes all day if you timed it right. This glitch was famously referenced in an episode of “Family Guy,” where Peter exploits the glitch during a game against Cleveland.
The highlights of Peter dismantling Cleveland with the corner three are similar to what we have seen from Jrue Holiday against NBA defenses this season.
Holiday is shooting 63.8% from the corner – the highest percentage of any qualifying player in the NBA. In his last nine games, he has buried 11 of his 14 (78.5%) attempts from the corner.
The two-time All-Star knocked down a game-high five threes in Sunday’s win over Miami, four of which came from the corner. His ability to drain shots from the corner makes it so teams can’t help off him, providing another avenue for the Celtics to exploit a defense.
Since Boston’s West Coast trip at the end of December, Holiday has appeared more comfortable in the Celtics’ offense. In 24 games since Boston’s win over Sacramento, he’s 50% shooting from the field and 48.8% from deep.
Aside from Horford, Holiday has sacrificed the most. The 14-year vet’s usage is at a career-low, and his attempts are the lowest since his rookie season, yet he remains a crucial piece with his two-way impact.
Transitioning from an All-Star season where he averaged 19.3 points per game on 15.3 attempts to become the fourth or fifth option on the Celtics is undoubtedly a challenging adjustment. However, Holiday has handled the adjustment admirably, remaining a critical piece on both ends of the floor for Boston.
Jayson Tatum’s growth
A Tatum triple-double is coming soon. The five-time All-Star has come close to achieving one in each of his last four games.
Tatum’s playmaking has steadily improved throughout his NBA career, as evidenced by his recent performances. During this stretch, Tatum has consistently secured at least eight rebounds and dished out seven assists, making him the first Celtic since Rajon Rondo to achieve such numbers in four consecutive games. Only Larry Bird and John Havlicek have had longer streaks in Celtics history.
Tatum has totaled 115 points (28.7 per game) and just eight turnovers over that span.
“Tatum’s ability to just not be defined by scoring some games and be defined by everything gives us a different look,” Mazzulla said following the win over Miami.
Tatum’s greatest strength as a facilitator is his ability to draw a double and make the right pass, something he has thrived in this season.
“Just trying to make the right reads. I know guys aren’t gonna let me play one-on-one,” Tatum said on his recent play. “I, obviously, know that they’re going to double. Make sure we get good shots and get guys open looks. I know in the end it’s going to open the game up for myself if I’m giving them the ball in the right spots to make shots.”
Tatum’s career-best 4.7 assists per game are just the tip of the iceberg of his growth. He has also shown impressive growth as a scorer, utilizing all three levels to put points on the board.
According to Cleaning The Glass, Tatum is shooting a career-high 71.5% at the rim, ranking in the 88th percentile of the league.
The 6-foot-8 Tatum (who looks taller than that) noted on media day that he had put on 12 pounds over the offseason. Tatum looks bigger this season and has put his size to use, attacking mismatches often and utilizing a post-up game he has honed with assistant coach Sam Cassell.
Tatum is posting up on 10.3% of possessions, double his 5.1% a season ago. The three-time All-NBA wing is scoring on 58.9% of his post-ups, a higher percentage than Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The 25-year-old is well on his way to his third consecutive first-team All-NBA selection.
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