Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards 2/9/2024

Game Breakdown

Celtics - 133-129 W

• White, Brown, Tatum, Holiday, Porzingis

  • Continue to love the way the Celtics choose to do their defensive matchups

    • KP on Coulibaly essentially daring him to be a knock down C&S guy and letting KP roam off the ball

  • CELTICS just having a parade to the rim in the 1st quarter in transition and attacking in Isolation in the HC

  • I just really like them offensively a lot more when the ball is moving and flowing from one guy to the next as opposed to when they just simply attack isolations and mismatches

    • TO BE FAIR, they are crazy talented and can exploit mismatches with that talent so I understand the idea

    • I just think they can play a little more into a flowing offensive system with that talent as well (at least at times)

  • HOW MANY RIM ATTEMPTS DID BROWN/TATUM MISS IN THE 1ST HALF?

• PORZINGIS really good drawing a foul with the post version of the “KD swipe through”

  • Wizards broadcast even called it out before it happened early in the game

    • Drew like 5 or 6 fouls away from the rim 

  • The defense and rim protection is something that people really need to continue to factor in

  • ICES the game with a stepback after Wizards had made it interesting late

• TATUM is nice with that “mid post” isolation where he just faces up the defender and can shoot over them 

  • Back to back drive and kicks end with wide open C&S 3PM (one is a hockey assist)

  • I just think this is when they are at their VERY best

    • Next possession they settle for a 1 pass Tatum step back 3PA that is missed

    • Yes, he can make these but they should only be “have to” situations, not “settle for” situations

• HOLIDAY getting a ton of “post” isolations when they feel like they get the right matchup on him

• KORNET proving some good rim protection

  • Verticality and a block

• HORFORD production and impact come playoff time is going to be very interesting to monitor

  • Just hit that point in his career where you understand why some of the total production is down but can he still find some “fountain of youth” for 15-20 minutes a night in the playoffs?

Wizards

• Jones, Poole, Coulibaly, Deni, Kuzma

  • Go 4-4 from 3P LATE in the 4th AND get a steal and transition to make the score look a little closer and this did put some game pressure on the Celtics

  • #1 in the NBA in PACE (would not have guessed this, would have assumed Pacers)

    • MULTIPLE “baseball” type outlet passes just in the 1st quarter

    • They HAVE to lead the NBA in one-pass 3PAs

    • These guys are free flowing and given ultimate green lights

  • First play of the 2nd half is an action for Coulibaly curling into the lane

    • I know this was a big complaint for Wizards fans before the coaching change, Coulibaly just not getting the usage

• COULIBALY playing in quite a few ball screens early as the roll or pop guy

  • Celtics not respecting him as a shooter and floor spacer

    • Hits back-to-back in the 2nd quarter after missing first 3 3PAs, GREAT RESPONSE

  • Has some tough drives but just hasn’t quite been able to figure out the finishing

  • He has been extremely impactful on the boards

  • He is an IMPACTFUL and DISRUPTIVE defender right now but this game showcases that he still has growth in terms of just staying in front of the best guards/wings in the NBA (expected for his age and being a rooke)

• POOLE making some shots early but Celtics just attacking him in isolation defensively and he can not hold up….at all

  • Feel like he ONLY takes tough shots

• KUZMA actually has some nice on ball isolation defensive possessions vs KP in the 1st quarter

• KISPERT is a really interesting SCORER…not just a 3P shooter

  • Yes, first bucket is a transition C&S 3PM but then comes down next possessions and operates a ball screen where he “jails” defender and hits a 12 foot floater

    • Iso possession (on Hauser) where he goes by AND able to navigate KP for the finish at the rim

  • Actually has the highest 2P% in the NBA in 2024 (on 21 attempts)

    • Has gotten significantly better from 2 every year of his career so far

• DENI size and strength always stands out when watching the Wizards

  • Both ends of the court

  • Has really improved his 3P% this season, almost 40% (not on high volume)

• OMORUYI bringing some real energy and you can see the impact on the game

• JONES showing off that nice floater game

  • Not so good after the first 2, really struggled going to his left and continuing to momentum forward to find the touch on multiple attempts