How Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have stormed the league
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- čas přidán 7. 03. 2022
- The Celtics are now the 2nd-best defense in the league, and Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have soared up the standings, with an 11-point margin of victory since Dec. 30. This detailed film room study of the Celtics looks at Coach Ime Udoka's defensive scheme, Boston's heavy switching, Marcus Smart's key move to point and how Tatum is key on offense and defense.
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Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
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Music by csus (instrumental)
#ThinkingBasketball - Sport
This switching and the Warriors switching really demonstrate the advanced levels that the TOP defenses are at.
Warriors been getting exposed lately …. Admittedly without Draymond but still being exposed
@@HomoErectus311 Draymond is key player for the warriors. He is the captain of that team
@@HomoErectus311 Draymond is really impressive to me, because if you take him out, this warriors team has way worse individual defenders than the celtics have. Curry is eh okay, wiggins is good, looney is adequate for switching but not really a paint defender, bealijca is not a good defender, klay is okay but not what he used to be. This warriors team isn’t great defensively by talent, with little to no shot blocking and rim protection, but draymond’s communication allows them to be quite good. Speaks to dray’s impact
@@lik7953 Agreed
@@superrookie7553 FACTS
Props to udoka for figuring out what works best. Not many coaches can turn a season around like he did
Especially as a rookie I think he should be getting COTY consideration for this turn around
It takes time
he had a plan right from the start. at the beginning of the season you could see the team ATTEMPTING to move the ball more but nothing was clicking yet so there were a ton of turnovers and lots of times where we needed to have one of the jays go iso because nothing else was working. The defense was solid straight out of the gate, and the team was able to create some big leads but not hold on to them. The potential was there but they just needed time to figure things out. Now everyone is healthy and they are used to their new coach and are having fun again. Ime brought in a culture where everyone is having fun and busting their asses every single possession. He seems to get way more fire out of them than Brad Stevens ever could. They're hungry right now and I think it's because Ime came in and lit a fire under their asses
@@tradeka4206 well said
At the start of the season, Marcus smart was complaining about the facilitating problems in Boston. Now he has taken over that role completely. Mad respect to Marcus for stepping up his leadership, because that’s what wins chips 💯
Switching to weaponize your defenders instead of using it to hide weaknesses is actually a very interesting point that I haven't thought about much. Great video as always!
Literally exactly what I was thibjing
So many interesting teams and so many talented well rounded all stars.
What a time to be an NBA fan.
Can't wait to watch the playoffs, especially the east.
Yeah man. Loving it! The playoffs will be crazy this year!
What's your guess who's talking it home this year? Looking at how insane the SUNS have been playing they will probably be the team to beat.
@@cracknigr6065 I agree, but it will come down to if the suns can be healthy. It’s also interesting because so many stars might be coming back for the playoffs, like PG, Kawhi, Jamal Murray, MPJ, Ben Simmons, draymond. That could really change the complexion of the playoffs and allow for many upsets
@@lik7953 bro from just reading your comments I just wanna say ur a real one
I hope the bulls and the Celtics get matched up in the playoffs the defense will be crazy on both sides
East is going to be a blood bath. So many good teams.
What I've noticed lately about Tatum is just how good his handle has been. He has complete mastery over pace and direction. This has allowed him to read the floor WHILE he's making his move. All the great point guards have this, of course. But you don't always see it in wings, especially those who have developed primarily as scorers. It's a big jump for him.
Contrast that with Jaylen, whose handle has improved a lot, but who is still mostly only able to focus on scoring while he's making his move. He doesn't quite have the ball on a string like Tatum does now.
This is an interesting point, someone talked recently about I think Smart or maybe Tatum looking up while driving rather than straight ahead/at the ball as they dribble. This is an underrated skill that as a fan you can forget about. Seems simple but its insanely difficult to dribble through traffic while you are looking at the corners to find teammates. And yes, Jaylen doesn't quite have that yet. Considering his massive leap in handles, 3pt shooting and free throws, which were at 65% in 2018-19 but up to 76% this year, I actually think he may develop his passing skills. Its the big hole in his game and his career is defined by his commitment to improving every weakness. We are seeing Tatum do this as well, and it seems a pattern on this team. Grant got a 3pt shoot to solidify his worth, Rob learned to be disciplined and smarter on his defensive reads, Smart got more disciplined with his shooting and embraced the pg role. I really think the culture of this team is a big part of their success.
Yeah I think this may be the year Tatum really evolves and catching fire after the ASB. One of things many should notice in the past in terms of the confidence of his playmaking with his shot creation is that much like younger guys, he gets tunnel vision as he tries to get to the hoop and misses out on his open teammates. So he ends up trying to put up a difficult off rhythm shot. Now he seems to have tied his pace to how defenses want to move against him and uses those miscues as timing to give up the ball. Which ultimately will come back to him to help reset the offense if need be.
Tatum had a bad habit of just lowering his head and driving to the basket. He has improved tremendously and his awareness and vision has allowed him to take another leap forward. His decision making and ability to stay calm and intelligent when being doubled has helped the Cs get where they are. Also he isn’t taking off balance one foot fall sways from 20 ft anymore. Well at least it’s more rare for him to take bad shots like that. Thankfully!! I think when you’re a player with that much talent and ability it’s easy to get caught in bad shot selection moments because you’re brain tells you that you’re capable of knocking down shots from anywhere at anytime.
I think if Brown developed his passing and decision making more he might be able to Lob it up more to Rob. The dude is flying like gravity doesn’t exist. I like those kinds of passes the most from Tatum and Smart
@@jfmgunner smart always been a PG that's the thing was never given the opportunity that's why the team clicking the way it is why bring someone new who doesn't know the team versus our longest vet he knows exactly how the jays wanna play and what they lack on defense
I think one more thing for Boston's success is Brad Stevens. He is a literal genius and not afraid to take a swing to give the Jays complementary players and this all started by getting rid of Kemba even at a cost of a 1st rounder for old man Al. That move gave flexibility and erasing defensive deficiencies of a small guard and turning Moses Brown who is also part of Kemba deal for Josh Richardson is low key a great move that sets up to deal for Derrick White who is highly intelligent and a great defender who like Marcus Smart can take bigger bodies to defend. I like how he build this team.
I agree his moves have been fantastic since he got hired
Pretty sure that was Ainge’s final trade
@@bengreen8054 no the Kemba trade was the first thing Brad did when he moved to the front office
Its more like patching up some of Ainge's 'mistakes' after he couldn't try gamble building a more clear cut power roster with the war chest of picks/assets he had. RW3 was probably one of Ainge's last best gambles in the draft but many of them ended up being pretty redundant. It was perimeter wing players who had athleticism, some two way ball skills and could score but not play make and some just never panned out. But it makes sense that since Stephens helped coached this young Tatum/Jaylen/Smart core that he would have a better feel for how to properly build around it.
@@sheehabmahdizaman7548 it was Brad’s first trade, but that trade was reported to be in the works for months when Ainge was around, and they finalized it in the offseason.
That 50 piece on Sunday was his 6th in the last calendar year, Insane.
he’s only had 4 career 50pt games?
@@JetHub he had 50 in the play in and 50 in the playoffs
@@masondupre518 even more tough considering those are high pressure games
Scoring 50 is not a good thing if it's ordinary efficiency. It's decoration. None of the great Celtics teams had an NBA scoring leader. Far better to spread the wealth if it's possible Tatum cannot play 3 seven game series like he did against the Nets.
@@johnsmith1474 what type of hating ass comment was this get outta here you troll
The idea of triple switching, or switching before your defense gets involved in a mismatch is what every team in the NBA should strive for. Clearly defined roles, trusting your teammates to execute the system. You can tell Ime and the celts do their homework.
Nothing new
@@d-rose27 agreed. And I think that speaks to their preparation and coaching that they’re able to execute that idea probably better than any team in the league right now
This aged VERY well
I mean if you think about it with the exception of Prichard there's not one single player in Boston's main rotation that you can take advantage of defensively. Too much versatility and switch ability. Udoka has been doing a terrific job. They'll be a tough out in the playoffs. Also Rob Williams better be a top 3 candidate for DPOY.
Plus most teams have a smaller point guard somewhere on the depth chart that Pritchard can match up with if things line up
Even Pritchard is a pest defensively not as much of a liability as Kemba used to be.
pritchard has a lot more size than IT or kemba and is definitely not a player you have to scheme a defense around to mask weaknesses like those two and kyrie
Sadly Rob might not even make all defensive 2nd team
@@jacksondowdle5217 U saying bam is over him?
Udoka has really killed it this season, I’m glad we had Brad move to front office and him take over. Celtics are looking more disciplined and deadly than I’ve seen them in a long time, and that defensive scheme is absolutely suffocating. I know it’s still very early but I feel like the team will have a bright future with him at the helm
@Kitan Mani no hablò Español
It's funny, Danny kept talking about "position-less basket ball" but then kept filling the rosters with non interchangeable players with at least 1 big defensive liability in the top 5 rotation. When brad made the many for few trades this season he was getting rid of all the non compatible guys and consolidating to a rotation that can seamlessly fit a single philosophy. Example, When Dennis or Enes checked in the whole group on the floor had to adjust to a different defensive AND offense strategy in order to maximize who was on the floor, now they can just keep pushing together with more or less the same systems and plays all game.
Brad being the former coach knew exactly what the roster was lacking to get to this point because this group is playing a lot like how Brad would have coached them. It's been so fun to watch this group gel together and so excited to what they can achieve.
I personally LOVE watching rebuilds and this is why. Marcus was here when the C's were winning 25 games and Brad was just learning. Now Brad is in the front office, making everyone better, crafting a real long-term plan. The players also now know what it takes to get where they know they can be. I'll never cry about watching a rebuild, it helps you understand WHY a team is built the way it's built, and the success feels significantly better when it comes from the hard work.
It depends tho, Boston only sucked for a couple of year before IT came, imagine teams like the Kings where they have failed multiple time
Boston-Dallas on 13th will be a treat to watch I think. Two of the best and most cohesive teams out there right now.
Time for revenge
Luka is gonna kill us and drop a game winner over 5 players again smh 😂
Also KG's jersey retirement day
@@bkak2245 dang man Dinwiddie killed us tho smh
@@gazelemcadizal7774everyone including dallas shot terrible, except they hit clutch shots especially Dorrian. Ime still dont have clutch time playbook imo, need to grt some from brad. Its ight tho ig
amazing. That he make a call that Celtics would be in finals and he's right. Never saw that coming
right
The value of a defensive point guard is so underestimated. Having the option to go with 5 great defensive players while maintaining good offensive efficiency is a great way to win a close playoff game against the best teams in the league
Who knew that the last thing he said was bang on?
I won't declare them as the best in the east yet. But I also believe that they can go all the way in the finals. They have the recipe for playoffs success: two shotmaking stars, elite defense, role players playing their roles, chemistry and teamwork. What I don't know the answer yet is can Udoka outcoached the likes of Spo, Bud, Nurse? Their last game against the Nets wherein he outcoached his former boss Nash, his adjustment of blitzing and double teaming Durant in the 4th turns the tide of the game. Big credits to him and the coaching staff for not giving up amid their terrible start. They now have an established culture. And, its amazing for me that this is supposed to be a bridge year (Celtics are not luxury paying team unlike many contenders) yet they are now putting themselves in the buzz of who are the contenders.
@@younglean8959 yeah I know ball, this shit didn't aged well lmao
Tatum has such a clean stroke and is such a talented scorer. If I could take one player's game and make it my own, Tatum would be near the top of the list. However, as a Raptors fan I could always find solace in the fact that Tatum and Brown's iso ball in the fourth quarter and in playoff games, and Smart's poorly-timed threes would always hold back this Celtics from from winning an NBA championship.
No more. Tatum is still a little iso-heavy, but he has become an elite facilitator. Smart has embraced the point guard role and no longer leaves his teammates in the corner, scratching their heads while he takes a dumb three. The Celtics have somehow managed to cut bloated salaries and unhappy players such as Kyrie, Hayward, and Kemba while keeping their core together and adding great young talent and supportive veterans like the two Williams and Horford.
The Celtics are now clearly in the top-tier in the East along with the idealized versions of Milwaukee, Miami, Philly, and Brooklyn, and you hate to see it.
Popovich's coaching trees is just ridiculous. Greatest coach of all time
Greatest basketball mind as well
Steve Kerr, Bud, Monty Williams and now Ime.
As a Sixers fan, I do NOT want to face them in the playoffs. I fear them more than Brooklyn
i fear u guys too, hopefully we meet in the 2nd round and find out ;)
We have seen what the Celtics have done to the Sixers in prior years. Tatum goes god mode against the Sixers for whatever reason.
@@alecbraun6272 true
Nets aren't even going to make the playoffs
The Celtics took awhile to figure out Udoka's system, especially on offense, but now that they have they are looking pretty dang scary at times, especially when the 3 ball is falling for them like it has of late(36.4% on 3's over their last 31 games, which would tie MIL for 6th in the NBA over the course of the season).
The defense is what especially excites me. As a Celtics fan I'd always wondered what would happen if you replaced the smaller, defensively challenged PGs of old(IT, Kyrie, Kemba) with Smart. I thought he was a good enough passer for a starting PG when you factored in Tatum's own growth as a play maker, and by replacing a defensive negative with an elite perimeter guy who can guard 1-5 minus the absolute behemoth Centers, I figure it could lead to a potentially smothering defense with no obvious weak point to attack, and we've seen just that in 2022. It is a lot of fun to watch after the dreadful start to the season.
Completely agree with this video, the team has really bought into the system since the Brown tweet
the energy has in fact shifted
what brown tweet?
@@TheTricktracktruck jaylen brown tweeted the energy would shift
I remember when Ben talked about grant williams as a smart kid from tennesse with good tools. Gotta love when the old podcast scouting comes to fruition.
So irrelevant to the video but the thumbnail is fire, thank you for talking about the Celtics. Your analysis is genuinely unbelievable. It’s great to learn these things as I’ve only been watching basketball for a few years, unfortunately it obv doesn’t get as much exposure than football in the uk.
When your best players buy into playing defense, it's a beautiful thing. They are peaking at the perfect time.
This team is the best constructed one since the IT days, which was the last time I thought they had a shot, and also last time I really enjoyed watching them. I'm positively surprised by Tatum's maturation - I feel like Jaylen's calm presence and Smart's voice on the other hand were good influences for him.
This aged very well
I love the changes in Celtics game. Hope they go far this post season.
Playoffs, particularly in the East are gonna be loaded with interesting matchups , with no clear favorites unless there's injuries. I'm picking Bucks over Sixers in the conference finals but wouldn't be surprised if it was 2 different teams like Heat, Nets , even Celtics or fully healthy Bulls.
Gotta put the Knicks up there
Heat will in the finals this year
@@Fsojack up in the garbage can. They fucking suck😂
Good call
THIS AGED BEAUTIFULLY! WELL DONE!
A day where yall upload is a good day
Excuse me what? I haven't been following this season as deeply as I would have wanted to but this video is surely a nice surprise for anyone watching NBA in the East. So many good teams, such tight records, and most playoff spots decided by literally 1-3 games.
This was in the makings all season just now materializing. Early they didn't fully buy into that switching style and they're offense just didn't know what it wanted to do. They figured put defense and if Jayson can play like this consistently (not 50 points lol) they definitely have a chance at a finals
It's a team effort not Jason scoring
Thanks for the vid
of all the videos talking about the celtics' improvement, this is the only one that got me actually scared. well done sir.
Marcus Smart and Rob Williams pair incredibly well on both ends. it seems like they are quite frequent lob partners, and are both defensive pillars
Love to watch your videos. Keep up the good work brotha:))
Great analysis. Keep it up man
I'm a Celtics fan and you had no idea how much hate Tatum got early on the season lol.
so happy we put erything together
Great content as always
Certified basketball noob here. I really like these team-centric videos and seeing how players fit/contribute
Fantastic video
I was thinking how much Tatum was playing like Doncic, and then you said it 👍
Patience brings success 🥳
Facts☘️☘️🔥🔥
Thanks for the breakdown!!
Robert Williams is my favorite player..He averaged 10 and 10 freshman year at Texas AM and left for the draft..He had maturity problems off the court and dropped in draft..He was late after being drafted by the Celtics for his meeting with the Celtics..Said he forgot his wallet?? I'm so happy that he has matured and could become an All Star ...Alot of teams didn't want to draft him but I'm glad he wears green
This was awesome. Well done explanation. Thanks
Aaand they made it.
You can see this is exactly what the Celtics game plan on defense for the Nets series going on now. Great analysis!
nice video my man. It's about time someone smart started talking the boys up!
I love the team offensive and defensive scheme videos
Great video
Best video EVER 🔥
Nice to see the Celtics putting the pieces together after a rocky start. People kept saying C's needed size at the front court but really, they just needed size that can't be exploited easily on match ups like in the past. Even the 6~8 guys in the depth chart are going to nice to give quality looks for match ups in the postseason. I wasn't as surprised that the C's starting lineup are all 'connective' passers but in the end it seems they found their long term facilitator solution in Smart. I feel this defense can also fight the Bulls/Heat for a long series in the playoffs. Sixers/Bucks are a different story because of their more explosive offense. Overall the C's are going to go as far as Tatum's offensive brilliance can take them. If he shows up with big 30~50 point games vs playoff opponents, the Cs may find themselves yet again in the EC finals. Seems like Tatum likes catching fire after the ASB and that is how I like it.
My favorite basketball channel
Great analysis.. My cousin from Boston goes along well
Great content
Team play; we see how overpowered role playing is when the players are finally able to let go of their ego and ISO ball.
I actually can't believe how much better Tatum has gotten defensively. Even besides the effort issues in college his feet were all over the place, he was always off balance, he reached too much ... he basically just got by on his length. You watch him now and it's night and day.
A ton of credit to him because I feel like guys who have balance issues usually don't improve them. He's really put in the effort to improve in ways that most guys just don't.
Top tier content🔥🔥🔥🔥
The progression from early season Celtics to the Celtics that have been dominating recently has been something 😂
🔥🔥breakdown
About fucking time a behemoth like Celtics comes back roaring. Biggest nba club for me
@thinking basketball how come we've gotten this far into the season, and we haven't gotten a deep dive on the best team in the league, the Phoenix Suns??! Please make one
Finally a non podcast clip lets go!!!!
Goat channel goat video!!
Grew up a Celtics fan because I was the youngest of 5 boys from a family that came from a little town on the Kentucky/Indiana border, had brothers that played against Larry Bird in High School.
Family was in Norfolk, Va. with the Navy when Bird was winning championships, I was watching and 'borrowing' his moves the next day on area playgrounds.
Lost track a little since through deployments, baby showers and paying bills. The channel is great for basketball knowledge, I was thinking that posting rosters and player bios would help a lot for those playing catch-up.
After really struggling at the start, (it wasn’t that long ago that ppl were laughing at them being a 2 year .500 team) Udoka has done really well at finding out how to get the best out of what he’s got. I explained that really well in this vid, on both ends of the floor.
Rob on D, getting JB more off ball, Smart more as a facilitator rather than scorer.
On D the starting 5 r pretty much completely switchable, or at least comfortable at times
Just lots of simple changes like the triple switches to keep Rob down low and JT has been supercharged and more aggressive. It’s indicative to other teams that u don’t have to acquire another star or need complicated tactical changes. Just get ur players doing what they’re best at.
Marcus smart is top 10 defenders in league . Great video
Morning bangers I see 👀
How does one game away from the finals sound? After this lol
bruh, they are coming to the finals now. Great commentary!
"Weaponizing the defense" - I like that 🍀💪
Thanks
Jayson Tatum might have the best handle I ever seen for someone over 6’8 to play in the NBA
The communication and defensive IQ to trust your team mate is Love hard work team work
As a Manchester fan, I believe celtics can make a deep run
Credit to Brad Stevens as well for putting all the pieces together
I like this guy A LOT
Damn that Gregg Popovich Coaching Tree is stacked!!!!
And they also got one of the best defensive guard in the league with Derrick White who is on the bench
I've come to the point where I look forward to these basketball content daily. Can you guys suggest other content creators with good content / commentary aside from Thinking Basketball, BBallBreakdown, Daniel Li, FlightMike
Celtics switches are super well executed.
This is the first year in a while I have absolutely no idea who going to the finals, both conferences legit have like 5 or 6 teams that could do it. Especially the east it’s stacked
Craziest playoff race ever
JT is going to need a lot of big performances for this team to go on a deep playoff run. It doesn't look like JB has made any giant leaps this year, and no one else on the roster is capable of taking over a game offensively. It'll also depend on the match ups but this team definitely has a chance in an East with no clear cut favorite.
Agreed.
The scariest thing about the celtics is that they have legit 8 guys who play insane defense(JT,JB, Timelord, Marcus, Al, Grant, DWhite, Theis. And pritchard plays hard on that end too, eventhough hes a smaller player. Defense first. Then Tatum eats your lunch
I actually can't remember if you touched on Rob's passing ability, but he's strong at all points on the floor even if he can't shoot 3's
definitely earned a sub good stuff
Not a usual request but I’m gonna need a legit name for this background music. It’s been playing in my head for days and I need to know where to find it to put my mind at ease.
Let’s gooooo Celtics!!!☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️🔥🔥🔥
Coming from the future to say, wow you sure can spot them. The Celtics are one game away from the NBA finals!
Great analysis! They are in the finals now.
This team is really interesting!!!! I love balanced team that are elite in defense (my favorite part) but also devastating in offense. I think if Tatum played a style more similar to Luka, Bird and Jokic - a ton of playmaking to pressure the defense - they would be a true powerhouse right now and certain for championship contention.
Crazy how you are so on point … today they are # 1 in the east
The celtics video we needed.
Glad to finally see someone give Grant Williams some recognition. He’s the unsung hero of that team.
Great analysis as usual. Celtics are definitely the underdogs to bet on this post season. All the ingredients are there to make a very deep run. While Udoka's still a "rookie head coach" and they're up against a stacked East, the squad's core engine Tatum, Brown, Smart knows how to mentally approach a best of 7 to win it already. So watch out
time lord is lethal 😤🔥💯
5:05 the for shadowing
Finally some real analytics!!
stay away from TV and come to YT for good BBall analysis. There are a few really good channels here.
Yeah I avoided watching any instant reaction since they don’t offer much if anything to the table. Just people’s feeling and stuff like that