The Boston Celtics were able to bounce back from a tight loss in Minnesota vs the Timberwolves with an even tighter win in Cleveland vs the Cavaliers. In the absence of Derrick White, Payton Pritchard had a monster game putting up 42 points on 68% shooting from the field.
Over the years, the Celtics and Cavs have had some incredible battles, splitting their last 12 meetings with three being decided in overtime. Something that has always been a constant for the green team in this matchup though is being able to take advantage of their size.
With smaller guards like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Craig Porter Jr our “Killer Whale” offense has always been prevalent. This is where the Celtics identify a weak defender and target them. The “Seals” that the Whales were able to attack in this one were Garland and Porter Jr.
Coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game that “Our matchup recognition was intentional” and the film shows that. The Celtics were 7/10 with Garland as the defender and also found success with him and the on-ball defender in screening actions.
This first play perfectly illustrates the matchups the Cavaliers were trying to engineer for Garland. Their goal was to keep him defending wings like Jordan Walsh, Sam Hauser, and Baylor Scheierman. Initially, Jaylyn Tyson picks up Walsh, and Garland signals for a switch so he can take Walsh and leave Tyson on Payton Pritchard. But the switch comes a beat too late, and Pritchard springs free for a three.
One of the major benefits of pushing the pace after a defensive rebound is the opportunity to create crossmatches. Jaylen immediately advances the ball to Pritchard, which gets it over half court in just three seconds, leaving Cleveland with no time to establish its preferred defensive assignments. Brown ends up missing, but you can see what they think of this matchup. He gets the ball and immediately tells everyone to clear out.
Here the Celtics run 77 action (two consecutive ball screens), and the first screen gets Brown the switch on Porter Jr. He gets the ball at the top with Pritchard spaced near the hash and as soon as DeAndre Hunter reaches in help, Brown hits Pritchard for one of his ten assists.
Brown still managed to get to the free-throw line on the play, but it felt like this possession made the Celtics more deliberate in their process. A single screen creates the matchup they want, yet it takes Anfernee Simons a moment to deliver the ball to Brown, giving the Cavs enough time to execute a “scram” switch and pull Garland out of the action. Notably, I didn’t see Boston allow this to happen again.
The Killer Whale offense also creates mismatches for people other than the handler. The Celtics run 77 again and get what they want with the first screen. I would prefer Tillman just space since Garland is already on Brown, but the second screen gets Evan Mobley out on the perimeter. That means the Cavs best rebounder isn’t in the paint. Brown attacks and Xavier Tillman gets the offensive rebound.
77 action again as Garland covers Hauser. The second screen gets Garland on Pritchard, then Brown comes to screen. Celtics get the switch they want; defense helps off a scorching hot Pritchard, and he makes them pay.
Cs continue to milk what’s been working and go to the same exact thing.
Here they switch it up and have someone with Garland on them set the screen for Brown to target Cleveland’s switch avoidance. The Celtics know that Garland isn’t going to switch if the Hauser screen gets Hunter off for even a half a second. The Hauser screen gets Brown the half step he needed, and his paint touch draws three defenders. He gets the assist to Pritchard.
And at some point, it became Pritchard time.
77 gets the matchup again and literally the entire defense shrinks to Brown. He made the right play time and time again in this one.
And lastly, a very fitting end to the night. Pritchard was hot all night and when he gets Garland on him, Brown signals for him to go. He prevails.
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