With The Playoffs On The Horizon, The Celtics Continue To Play Their Best Basketball Of The Season

Brian Babineau. Getty Images.

While it's impressive to win any NBA game by 34 points, especially when you're down two starters (Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis), I think we all can look at a game like last night and understand what it was. The fact that the Celts were 20 point favorites entering this game and actually won the game by 34 tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the matchup. The Wizards are deep in their tank for Cooper Flagg and have the 2nd worst record in the NBA, and the defending Champs are just trying to get through this final stretch of their schedule while staying healthy and playing good basketball. 

The only thing that truly matters from this game is the fact that it helped bump up the Celts eFG% (56.3%), which was a step in the right direction in their quest to finish in the top 3 (need 56.6%). As you should know by now, only 1 team in the last 12 seasons won the title without being top 3 in eFG%. Considering NYK/CHA/CHA are on deck, outside of the Magic, the Celts won't really play a good defense the rest of the season, which should help give them a chance to climb.

This is also a time to rest your players. Last night it was Tatum and KP, with a B2B up next we'll see Al get his rest. I imagine Jrue will split those games, and it wouldn't shock me to see Jaylen get at least 1 more game off as well. There's no reason not to, the opponents are mostly terrible, 60 wins is pretty much locked up, the hard work is done. You made it. Let the Maine kids cook and let's get ready for the journey to 16 wins.

One thing that remains true is that it doesn't matter who is on the floor, watching the Celts kick the absolute shit out of someone will always be an enjoyable experience. I don't care who the opponent is, that's not my problem. This game called for the Hospital Celtics to go belt to ass, so they went belt to ass. One of their most dominant wins of the season if we're going to be technical about it, which is what SHOULD happen against the worst team in the league. It might sound silly to give the Celts credit for doing something they should be doing, but remember who we're talking about here. We did just see them drop that terrible game to the Heat at home as double digit favorites, so you never really know what might happen.

But overall, you know the deal. The Wizards stink, they in no way shape or form want to be winning games right now, and the Celts are a wagon. You mix those two together and what do you get?

Let's talk about it.

The Good

- I'm willing to acknowledge that I may sound like a broken record at this point, but my hands are tied. The level of play the Celtics are getting from Luke Kornet since about mid March is arguably the best big production on the entire roster. Trust me, I know how insane that sounds, but you just have to watch to truly understand what I mean. This isn't a guy who's the 3rd center on a championship roster. This is a guy putting up NBA starter quality minutes on a championship roster. Deny that reality all you want, just see for yourself

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Since mid-March? You tell me if you think this is starter quality production

Over his last 4? You're looking at 13.5/10.0/2.3 on 71% from the floor in just 23 minutes a night. Last night, Kornet finished with 9 OREB by himself, which was nearly more than the entire Wizards team (11). Every single time the Celts miss a shot with Kornet on the floor, there's like a 70% chance he either grabs the rebound himself or taps it out for a second possession. For a jump shooting team, that's pretty fucking important! 

For those of us who have watched all of Kornet's tenure as a Celtic, it's a bit insane this is where we are. This was a 7fter who couldn't rebound to save his life for stretches. Now? He might be the center I trust most to grab rebounds? Life is weird like that sometimes. 

I trust every minute that Kornet is on the floor, which again, is a crazy place to be given where we started. I trust him offensively and that he knows where to go with the ball. I trust his screens, I trust his ability to roll and finish at the rim, I trust his rim protection and his rotations. I know he's not going to win MIP, but this type of development and impact is exactly what that award should be about. And yes, I know this stretch is all coming against dogshit teams with awful frontcourt. But that's the point!

These are matchups that Kornet should be crushing, and that's what he's doing. The fact that this is the 3rd center on the roster doesn't really seem fair, and I think we could all agree that Luke has played his way into a forever extension. I'm not sure what has to happen in order to keep him around after this season, but what I do know is that it is now a non-negotiable. 

- When we get to this part of the year and there's nothing but terrible teams on the schedule, we all know what that means. That means it's time for Pro Am Pritchard to do his thing

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Payton led all scorers with 20 off the bench on 8-18 (4-11 shooting, but in my opinion, the scoring/shooting wasn't even the best part of his night. I know Payton Pritchard can bury the Wizards with 3s, I've seen it countless times before. In this win, I was much more impressed with his 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals, with Pritchard finishing a +27 in his 29 minutes off the bench.

With Payton, his challenge will be having this type of production against an actual good defense, one with legit perimeter defenders who play with elite ball pressure. But in the meantime, it's always fun to see him beat up on bottom feeders, because it can only help him catch and maintain his rhythm. We're going to be getting a heavy dose of Pro Am Pritchard over these final 4 games so I'd get used to this if I were you. This stretch is why Pro Am Pritchard exists, so you may as well let him cook.

- Same thing with Sam Hauser, another guy who we know feasts on the Wizards. In a game without Tatum/KP, that means the "others" need to raise their level and up their production. I'd say a solid 18 points on 7-12 (4-7) from Sam Hauser to go along with 8 rebounds certainly fits the bill

A few things about Hauser that are hard to ignore recently. 

Since March 10th (13 games) Hauser is shooting 45.8% from deep on good volume. There was a little mini slump over his last 3 (5-16), so to see him go 4-7 last night was great. We had it all from C&S 3PA to 3PA off movement to 3PA off OREBs. All looked pure. That's important.

Hauser's rebounding continues to be what I consider the most underrated part of his entire season. It feels like Hauser is way more involved on the glass on both ends of the floor, and every game it feels like he continuously wins the battle for contested rebounds. I care about this because if Hauser's shot ever goes cold, for him to stay on the floor he needs to find ways to make an impact. Rebounding is that path. Once the playoffs roll around there may not be a more important category to make sure you win, and getting an additional 5-8 rebounds in Sam Hauser's minutes is welcomed sight.

Finally, are we noticing a little off the bounce game to Hauser's offensive arsenal? I see a player that looks WAY more comfortable attacking closeouts off the dribble and is finishing in the paint with a nice little floater/jumper. The fact that he took 5 FGA that weren't 3PA was a little surprising, but you know what? I don't hate it! In fact, I like how it makes him more of a dynamic player. It's just one more thing for the defense to have to worry about when he's on the floor. Defenders already know they have to closeout SUPER hard on Hauser or it's an easy 3PM, so him being aware of this and now having a counter to it is a solid development. 

- Even if of these team totals are to be taken with a grain of salt given who they came against, that doesn't mean they weren't impressive. I mean the Celts outrebounded the Wizards 62-32 (!!!!!!!!!!!). I didn't even know something like that was possible, regardless of how shitty the opponent is. 30 more rebounds?!?!?!?!?

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26 total OREB is such an outrageous number it almost feels fake. There are teams that don't get 26 OREB in an entire month, and the Celts did it in 4 quarters while missing two of their best rebounders. Take a second and let that sink in.

Then of course, you had the rest of Mazulla Ball

I don't care who they play, if you allow the Celts to make 24 3PA while shooting 46%, then also allow them to have 33 AST while only forcing 13 TOs, you're going to get your dick kicked in. Sorry, that's just math.

While the 3PM number is great, what I love is the AST total. When the ball is moving like it did last night and guys are getting a billion opn 3PA, this is what happens. Sure it helps to be facing one of the worst defenses of all time, but again, that's not my problem. I just care about the execution, and the approach the Celts had in this game was about as good as it gets, all without their offensive engine on the court.

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A total of 4 of the 5 starters had at least 4 AST in this game. Payton had 7 off the bench, shit even the deep bench got in on the action

When the ball is moving like it did in this game, it's no surprise that the Basketball Gods reward them with the made 3s. 

Speaking of made 3s, how do we feel about more NBA history being made?

No big deal, this is what you expect from the NBA's new 3PT Kings. While 20 3PM might be an outlier for most, for this team it is the standard. Thank you Mazzulla Ball.

- Call me delusional all you want, but we continue to see flashes from Baylor Scheierman both as a shooter and a creator

I love the pace that he plays with, his feel for the game is pretty evident even when you factor in how shitty the opponent is. At the end of the day, these are developmental minutes for Baylor. I'm not saying he needs to be in the playoff rotation. I'm not saying he's the next Great White Hope.

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All I'm saying is the more we see him play, the more he looks like a legit NBA player. To me, that's all that needs to happen with him. Be playable. Be a rotation player in the next year or two. Brad Stevens needs to be hitting on at least one of these end of bench picks, and Baylor certainly looks like he's on that path. 

- This was also easily the best Torrey Craig showing we've had in months. He was incredibly active on the glass, I think he had like 8 rebounds in his first 6 minutes of something nuts like that. He defended well with a couple of blocks, made one of his open 3s, and he's another guy who can help carry this team over the finish line of the season. Give Jaylen/Tatum all the rest they want and let Craig/Walsh/Baylor do the rest. 

Another guy who probably won't be in the playoff rotation, these end of season games against the bottom feeders of the league are how you can keep him engaged and ready should disaster strike and he needs to see the floor during the postseason. 

- Only 21 minutes for Jaylen which was good, and the 3rd straight game he looks playoff ready to me. Another efficient showing (5-9, 2-4), he finished with 5 AST and only 1 TO, which marked the 28th game of his season with at least 5 AST which is a significant jump from what we saw last season (21), and for the most part I thought he was moving well.

For a guy experiencing knee pain, it does feel like we're seeing Jaylen manage it in a way that still allows him to be productive. The midrange jumper looks great, he's getting good lift on it, so it does feel as though he's not truly going with playoff intensity because why should he? These games mean nothing. I'll always be concerned about his health, but nothing we've seen over the last 3-4 games suggests this is going to be an issue moving forward.

I do think he'll want to play in one of the NYK/ORL games just to see how his knee holds up against a team with a pulse, but overall? He looks playoff ready to me.

- Don't look now, but The Stock Exchange is starting to round into playoff form as well. Derrick has caught his C&S rhythm which could not be more important

and then there was Jrue Holiday who also continues to look better and better as we get closer to the Spring. It feels like his season long load management is working, and with Jrue I really only care about one thing.

His corner 3s.

This is the shot that was a massive boost to last season's offense. The man shot 60% from the corner, and that is not a made up number. He really did that. Given how insane that number is, regression was to be expected. Unfortunately, Jrue regressed HARD and lived sub 30% for most of the season. Well, how do things look with the playoffs on the horizon?

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Since March 1st, Jrue is shooting 42.1% from the corners. Since mid-March? 62.5% from the corners. Over his last 4 games? How about 100% from the corners.

Just keep a pin in this as we move into the playoffs. I'm not saying he needs to beat 60% again like last year, that was ridiculous. I just need it to not be sub-30% and get back to being a legit weapon. So far, that was appears to be happening.

The Bad

- Derrick White feels a little turnover prone lately doesn't he? Very weird trend for guy who I feel like never makes mistakes. A total of 9 TOs over his last 3 games is high for a guy that tends to only have 1-2 TOs a night. It's obviously not a big deal and I am definitely nitpicking, but what else could we possibly talk about in a game in which the Celts won by 34? I didn't really like any of Derrick's 3 TOs, so I'd like if that could be cleaned up down the stretch here.

- Same could be said about Baylor and his 4 TOs. Never great when you have 2x the TOs as FGM, but hey, that's why these developmental minutes are important.

- Only 21-41 in the paint for the Celts which was a bit surprising given that Sarr is really the only rim protector the Wizards had. No wonder they shot 52 3PA, they were mostly brutal in the paint. Only 6 FTA too which was off, but neither side really took all that many. 

This was one of those weird games where the Celts couldn't make a layup, would then get the OREB only to then make a 3PA. You'd think it'd be the other way around, but then again you probably haven't watched much Celtics basketball in your life. They are the inverse of what you think should happen.

- Look, the team was up by as many as 36. There were 0 lead changes and 0 ties in this game. We can move on.

The Ugly

- It remains incredible that every single time Xavier Tillman touches the basketball, the only thing that happens is a negative result. I've never really seen anything like it. I'm not saying every once in a while, I'm talking about every single possession. You're either going to get a turnover or a missed shot every single time. How could it be possible that a player regresses like this? There is NO WAY he was this terrible last season, yet every time he's on the floor it's a disaster. I'd even take him being neutral, having some good moments and some bad. But no, it's all bad. Every single possession.

Does it matter? No. This is obviously his last year on the team. Things are too tight to be wasting a roster spot like this, but I just find it so fascinating. He went from a passable NBA depth big to legitimately unplayable against the Wizards. I didn't even know a drop off like that was possible, yet here we are.

Winning by blowout to keep minutes low, nobody getting hurt, that's all I needed from last night. Now just do it 4 more times and let's get ready for the postseason run.