Boston Celtics 2022-23 Season Preview
Lots of questions, but the Celtics defense is set up to carry them.
Welcome to the 2022-23 previews for every NBA team! These breakdowns are designed to look at stats, film & anything I found interesting in my preparation for the upcoming NBA season.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you want to show your support, consider becoming a paid subscriber - the 50% off sale for the preseason is back!
🏀Resources:
Basketball Playbooks | Coaching Clinics | Coaching Membership | Newsletter
👉🏻Follow:
🗒️ Previous Breakdowns:
Rockets | Magic | Thunder | Pistons | Pacers | Trailblazers | Spurs | Wizards | Knicks Hawks | Clippers | Timberwolves | Cavs | Bulls | Raptors | 76ers | Nuggets | Bucks | Nets | Heat | Warriors | Suns | Celtics | Grizzlies
Note: if you are reading this in the e-mail-only form some of the gifs and videos do not always show up correctly.
Stats
Net Rating: +7.4 (2nd)
Offensive Rating: 114.3 (10th)
Good
It’s really hard to pinpoint one thing that the Celtics’ offense did at a high level, but what they did do was be above average in every important stat. They didn’t rank higher than 11th in a single category, but not lower than 13th - signaling a balance that allows the Celtics to maintain stability.
Ok
The one big area of improvement for the Celtics offense to become elite and solve some problems that reared their head in the Finals is to get to the rim at a higher frequency. Ranking 22nd in the NBA, attacking the basket more would be a welcome sign.
🎞️Film Study: Boston Celtics After Time Outs
A deep dive into the Celtics After Time Outs from last season, I am very curious about what their sets look like next year and if they can have the same efficiency in After Time Out situations.
Part 1: Boston Celtics ATOs: Creative Guard Design
Part 2: Boston Celtics ATOs: Iverson Series
Part 3: Boston Celtics ATOs: Dive Series
Part 4: Boston Celtics ATOs: Delay Series
Part 5: Boston Celtics ATOs: Horns Series
Part 6: Boston Celtics ATOs: Ram Series
Part 7: Boston Celtics ATOs: Wide Series
Part 8: Boston Celtics ATOs: Hammer Sets
Defensive Rating: 106.9 (1st)
Elite
The Celtics’ ability to switch 1-5 and not have a drop off in defensive ability is what made them one of the best defenses we have seen in the last few seasons. Contesting every shot they possibly can with length allowed the Celtics to have the #1 eFG% in the NBA, holding opponents to 50.4% shooting.
Good
Forcing turnovers while not fouling was a great sign for the Celtics’ defense and I expect that to continue, if not improve this season. Ranking 10th in defensive TOV%, and 9th in defensive FT Rate - it is one of the harder feats to accomplish in NBA defense.
Ok
Some of the lineups the Celtics used allowed some offensive rebounds, where they ranked 17th in the NBA - an area of improvement for the Celtics’ incredible defense.
Notes on carryover:
"It's about carrying on the identity of our players," Mazzulla said. "We had our struggles early last season, but at our best, we knew what our identity was. It was our defense, it was our buy-in from a defensive standpoint, and then it was sharing the ball and moving quickly on the offensive end. So as much as we can stick to the things that we were great at last year, and then find small areas to improve in, is the right way to go."
Source: Basketball News
Film
Slot ISOs
In early offense, the favorite action of the Boston Celtics is to attack through the slots in their 4-Out spacing.
Hunt Ballscreens
The Celtics offense can get stagnant, and part of that is from the amount of times they look to “Hunt” or find mismatches specifically for Tatum/Brown.
1-4 Short
One set they use to get into this is using “Short” action with a ballscreen around the elbow.
If the defense switches, then they will have an ISO at the nail.
Wide
Typical action in early NBA offense, a quick pindown in the middle of the floor usually in flow.
Wide Chase
After the initial quick screen this flows into a spread ballscreen directly after.
Wide 2 Chase
If the initial screen is denied, then the player who comes off it will go and set a ballscreen for the player with the ball - followed by the big.
Wide Spain (ATO)
Another option if the first screen is denied is to curl into the lane, then flow into Spain action with the player curling setting the backscreen.
Stack Guard Guard (ATO)
With the versatility of the Celtics’ lineups, they will run their normal sets with their guards. The Stack action they will use a guard to screen for a wing to put the worst defender in ballscreen defense.
Miami Double Fist (ATO)
A double ballscreen action is hard to guard on it’s own, so when the Celtics go into a hand off before it can really throw off a defense.
This works particularly well against teams that ICE or force the ball away from the middle and will normally get the guard movement to make cleaner reads.
Elbow Weak (ATO)
The Celtics like to get the ball to the Elbow and then swing it to the other side of the floor quickly for the corner to come off a pindown and dribble handoff.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
🏀Resources:
Basketball Playbooks | Coaching Clinics | Coaching Membership | Newsletter
👉🏻Follow:
🔎Explore:
5-Out Breakdowns | Space & Pace Clinic | NCAA “Delay” Series Playbook
Note: if you are reading this in the e-mail-only form some of the gifs and videos do not always show up correctly.
Outwork Yesterday.
Coach Pyper
It’s about JT, and for the indefinite future it will remain about JT. If he can do a better job at driving into the paint without losing the ball, the team wins 3-4 more games than they did last year and their offensive production goes way up.