Two points are worth less than three, it's mathematical and it's the principle that the Celtics apply to defend against the Cavaliers. The C's have chosen to prevent the Cavs' shooters from gaining confidence behind the arc and want to trap them once they are closer to the circle. It paid off last night with Boston's third victory in the series (109-102).
“They wanted to shoot and take on the challenge of 3-point shooting”, emphasizes Jrue Holiday. “But you just have to defend out wide and make them play in the paint. Obviously (Max) Strus can shoot, but him, (Darius) Garland, all those guys, we want them to play in the paint and take tough 2-point shots. Then it's up to us to get the rebound. »
Jarrett Allen (ribs) and Donovan Mitchell (calf) absent, the Celtics want to force the Cavaliers to play near the circle. Beyond the mathematics, the fact that the shots are taken in the racket offers short rebounds, and therefore easier to recover. “Right now it's better to take a 2-pointer than a 3-pointer and when you're on defense you just want to make them shoot 2-pointers,” Holiday analyzes. “We know that they can take contested 3-pointers, but these 2-pointers where we are closer to the basket and where we can use delay screens are more interesting for us. »
The second curtain of the Celtics.
Obviously, forcing you to play in the racket does not mean opening the way to the circle. To prevent access to the basket, it is Al Horford who sticks to it. The Celtics pivot acts as a second curtain in the Celtics defense and intervenes as soon as an opponent approaches the basket.
If the replacement for Kristaps Pozingis is struggling in attack with a terrible 0/10 from a distance over the last two games, he remains a strong element in defense. Like this counter on Darius Garland while four points separated the two teams.
“I know when Garland passes me, I count on Al to be there to protect me and he has done that every game,” concludes Holiday, regarding the protection of Horford. “Especially tonight, with this important counter… At that moment, he defended on Garland in 1-on-1, and Al did everything. He must be the defensive anchor. When (Evan) Mobley is on him, he's open for 3-pointers and he has to take those shots, which he does pretty well. We rely on Al a lot, but he has the shoulders for that. »
| Al Horford | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | ATL | 81 | 31 | 49.9 | 0.0 | 73.1 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 10.1 |
| 2008-09 | ATL | 67 | 34 | 52.5 | 0.0 | 72.7 | 2.2 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 11.5 |
| 2009-10 | ATL | 81 | 35 | 55.1 | 100.0 | 78.9 | 2.9 | 7.0 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 14.2 |
| 2010-11 | ATL | 77 | 35 | 55.7 | 50.0 | 79.8 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 9.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 15.3 |
| 2011-12 | ATL | 11 | 32 | 55.3 | 0.0 | 73.3 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 12.4 |
| 2012-13 | ATL | 74 | 37 | 54.3 | 50.0 | 64.4 | 2.6 | 7.6 | 10.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 17.4 |
| 2013-14 | ATL | 29 | 33 | 56.7 | 36.4 | 68.2 | 2.3 | 6.1 | 8.4 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 18.6 |
| 2014-15 | ATL | 76 | 31 | 53.8 | 30.6 | 75.9 | 1.7 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 15.2 |
| 2015-16 | ATL | 82 | 32 | 50.5 | 34.4 | 79.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 15.2 |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 68 | 32 | 47.3 | 35.5 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 14.0 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 72 | 32 | 48.9 | 42.9 | 78.3 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 68 | 29 | 53.5 | 36.0 | 82.1 | 1.8 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 13.6 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 67 | 30 | 45.0 | 35.0 | 76.3 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 11.9 |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 28 | 28 | 45.0 | 36.8 | 81.8 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 14.2 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 69 | 29 | 46.7 | 33.6 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 10.2 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 63 | 31 | 47.6 | 44.6 | 71.4 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 9.8 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 65 | 27 | 51.1 | 41.9 | 86.7 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 8.7 |
| Total | 1078 | 32 | 51.3 | 37.9 | 76.0 | 1.9 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 13.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
