Kevin Durant, Rockets pummel exhausted Celtics to snap three-game profitable streak: 6 takeaways

Boston Celtics

Boston ran out of steam taking part in their third recreation in 4 days on Saturday evening.

The Celtics noticed their three-game profitable streak snapped in emphatic trend on Saturday, because the Rockets claimed a crushing 128-101 victory. 

Listed below are the takeaways.

The Rockets took benefit of all the things.

Saturday’s recreation was at all times going to be a large problem for the Celtics for myriad causes. 

First, the schedule was extremely unfriendly. Saturday’s recreation was the second evening of a road-home back-to-back, and the Celtics put all the things they’d into keeping off the 76ers for a hard-fought highway victory on Friday. It was additionally their third recreation in 4 nights and the fifth recreation in seven nights. These 5 video games included contests in opposition to the Pistons and Cavaliers in addition to the aforementioned Rockets and Sixers, and the journey concerned added as much as just below 4,000 miles. 

That’s to not say, nevertheless, that the Rockets solely received due to the Celtics’ schedule. The Rockets additionally regarded each bit just like the contenders they have been projected to be previous to the season. Kevin Durant was smoldering – he scored 26 factors on 8-for-11 capturing and nonetheless regarded unstoppable at 37. Amen Thompson is a particular expertise. Alperen Sengun completed one help shy of a triple-double. The Celtics challenged Jabari Smith Jr. on the rim again and again, and he swatted them away 4 instances. The Rockets made a staggering 65.5 % of their 3-pointers, capturing 19-for-29 from deep, and so they pressured their approach to the free-throw line, incomes a 35-7 disparity (extra on that in a minute). 

The Rockets totally received Saturday’s recreation, and so they have the personnel to totally win a recreation in opposition to the Celtics on an evening when each groups have been totally rested. 

However the truth stays that the Celtics have been removed from their greatest, and the Rockets pummeled them slightly additional consequently. 

“Perhaps we made fatigued choices on the courtroom and stuff like that,” Payton Pritchard mentioned. “We got here able to play, however we received popped tonight. Transfer on and prepare for the subsequent one.”

Joe Mazzulla felt equally.

“Clearly it wasn’t our evening,” he mentioned. “Rockets performed nicely, good group, well-coached, They have been ready, and this wasn’t our evening tonight. 

“So to me, that occurs over the course of the season, and so it’ll be extra necessary about how we reply on Monday at shootaround and within the recreation on Monday evening.”

Baylor Scheierman has put collectively a few good video games.

Scheierman had a regarding preseason – the second-year ahead is already 25, so questions have been already brewing about his practical upside, and he regarded like he was attempting to do an excessive amount of to show himself as a tricky shot maker. 

In the previous few video games, nevertheless, Scheierman has gotten a chance to show he can play inside a system, and he has availed his future alternatives properly. 

Apparently, Scheierman has proven actual flashes on the defensive finish. Powerfully constructed with good measurement, he defended Tyrese Maxey nicely on a number of possessions Friday evening, and he was strong defensively in opposition to the Rockets as nicely – defending nicely 1-on-1 and drawing two offensive fouls. 

Offensively, Scheierman isn’t attempting to run the present as a lot, and that advantages him. He led the Celtics in scoring with 17 on 6-for-7 capturing and was 4-for-5 from 3-point vary, pulling down a number of spot-up alternatives. He additionally cooked Steven Adams with a nasty hesitation transfer for a layup and completed a formidable tip-in late. 

“Simply play laborious, attempt to influence the sport in a constructive approach,” Scheierman instructed reporters afterward. “Simply attempt to make profitable performs, whether or not that’s making photographs or diving on the bottom or getting unlawful screens. That’s form of my mindset coming into each recreation.”

Mazzulla mentioned Scheierman has been doing what’s requested of him. 

“We’ve simply received to string collectively possessions of what we want and attain these and execute on these,” he mentioned. “That simply builds belief, it builds self-discipline, it builds a behavior. So he’s purchased into that, of ‘These are the issues we want you to do.’ The factors are a bonus, however the different stuff is far more necessary, and he’s continued to work at doing it.”

Chris Boucher performed however didn’t add a lot.

Boucher didn’t play in opposition to the Cavaliers or the 76ers, and whereas he acquired 13 minutes in opposition to the Rockets, he didn’t add a lot – scoring 4 factors and recording a steal with no rebounds. He additionally picked up a weird flopping technical name after taking successful from Sengun which left the Celtics furious. 

The Celtics have managed to get contributions from up and down their lineup, and whereas the rotation would possibly by no means be totally cemented at any level this season, we’re beginning to get a greater concept of who Mazzulla trusts and who he doesn’t. Thus far, Boucher appears to be nearer to the latter group.

“What issues is: Do they string collectively possessions, no matter if it’s at the start of the sport, the tip of the sport, it actually doesn’t matter,” Mazzulla mentioned.

The Celtics’ free-throw disparity is slightly wild.

The Celtics dedicated numerous fouls attempting to decelerate a Rockets group that was killing them offensively, and replays repeatedly confirmed them committing fouls that drew pissed off reactions from followers however have been objectively right. 

Nonetheless, the free-throw disparity was slightly eyebrow-raising – 35-7 – particularly along with Friday’s 29-12 disparity in opposition to the Sixers. During the last two video games, the Celtics have seen a 64-19 disparity. 

Mazzulla instructed reporters afterward that free-throw price is at all times correlated to turnover share.

“All we will coach is the free-throw price to the turnover share, as a result of it’s such a high-value alternative of getting these, and also you drive 20 in a recreation, that’s actually good,” Mazzulla mentioned. “However it’s a must to coach those that it’s a must to do higher at. To me, it comes again to those once you foul in tendencies, you foul on bounce shooters, you foul due to a person defensive breakdown.”

The Derrick White/Payton Pritchard droop continued.

White and Pritchard have been removed from alone – no one within the rotation regarded notably good on Saturday, except for Scheierman – however they have been 1-for-9 mixed. White is now capturing 25 % from deep this season, whereas Pritchard is capturing a putrid 18 %. Neither quantity, in fact, is more likely to maintain, however the Celtics are caught in a little bit of a holding sample as they look forward to the dam to interrupt. 

This recreation is why the Sixers win mattered.

The Celtics’ first seven video games have been at all times going to be a nasty gauntlet, and rising from them close to .500 can be a win. Beating the Sixers meant that the Celtics would wrap up this stretch at worst 3-4.

Now the Celtics get a few lighter opponents once they face the Jazz on Monday and Wizards on Wednesday, which can be an fascinating take a look at of this roster’s consideration span. If they’ll maintain their effort stage excessive and win each dwelling video games, they are going to be above .500 once more, which might really feel like a pleasant accomplishment after shedding their first three.