New Celtics tactic pays dividends in win over Heat

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/10/new-celtics-tactic-pays-dividends-in-win-over-heat.html



New Celtics tactic pays dividends in win over Heat



Updated: Oct. 28, 2023, 9:26 a.m.|Published: Oct. 28, 2023, 6:00 a.m.



By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



BOSTON — The Celtics have started their season with two impressive wins thanks to a strong finishing kick in crunch time of both games. On opening night, it was Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis leading the way while Jaylen Brown and Derrick White took the baton on Friday night against Miami.

However, a new approach this year has helped the Celtics secure a victory on Friday night, something Boston’s players are taking to heart.


“I’ve liked our offensive rebounding,” Joe Mazzulla said earlier in October. “I think we’ve made a conscious effort to become better at that and our guys have bought into that.”


While the Celtics didn’t make much of a dent on the glass in the opener against a Knicks squad with plenty of size, the equation changed against a smaller Heat squad. A window of opportunity was open for second chances on the glass all night and the Celtics took advantage to the tune of 16 offensive rebounds. Those extra chances produced 23 second chance points which helped Boston pull off a win despite facing a Heat squad that shot 48.5 percent from 3-point range. When all was said and done, Boston grabbed over 36 percent of all available offensive rebounds, one of the best marks so far during this NBA season.


“I still think that’s the area we can get better,” Mazzulla said of the rebounding. “We still gave up some timely ones, right? But, we got timely ones. and so we’re never gonna play perfect, but I thought Oshae’s timely offensive rebounds in the first half, were tremendous. I thought, Jaylen, Jrue came back and got one. Jayson got one, like we got some timely physical rebounds. So it’s important that we fight to do that. as many possessions as we can.”

With Boston playing with good size at nearly every position now, they will have ample opportunities to make their presence felt on the glass. An improved mentality on that front should give the team other ways to win when the 3-point shot isn’t falling.


Ultimately, the Celtics got hot enough in the fourth quarter offensively to secure a win over the Heat. Still, that chance would not have presented itself without a big effort on the glass in the opening three frames. As Boston tries to establish themselves as a top contender, a willingness to do the dirty work on the glass will go a long way.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Well, you're not going to hear me talk smack about focusing on offensive rebounding, that's for sure!  We may find it's easier doing it against a smaller team like the Heat, let's see how we do against Milwaukee.  We didn't do so well just a few days earlier against NY.  We had 7 offensive rebounds and they had 17.  Just writing that made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.



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New tactic, huh?

More like basketball fundamentals 101.

Just one game and guards accounted for 5 or more of the 16 total offensive boards. Miami still had something like 11 O boards so we bested them by 5.

Total boards by frontcourt players looked pretty even.

Nothing to celebrate here yet, but fingers crossed.

At least we have a backcourt that can defend and board. That one is a big plus.