Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
Here's What Stood Out as the Celtics Steamrolled the Clippers
The Boston Celtics earned their seventh win in their last eight games and improved to 2-1 on their West Coast trip, making light work of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The visitors, now 8-6 on the road this season, were sharp from the opening tip. Their energy didn't dip when they weren't shooting well or when their lead reached the 30s, growing as high as 39.
The same applies to blitzing the hosts after halftime, starting the third frame, one that's often seen them lose focus, with a 10-0 run.
The Basketball Gods rewarded the Celtics for their energy, effort, and an approach that included consistently contesting shots, driving and kicking to create quality looks offensively, and limiting the turnovers to ten.
Those factors contributed to them assisting on 33/49 field goals and drilling 25 threes on 53 attempts, shooting 47.2 percent from beyond the arc, an absurd conversion rate for such a high volume.
Jayson Tatum paced all participants with 30 points in the victory. He buried 5/10 shots from three-point range. Jaylen Brown put 24 on the board, bringing balance to Boston's attack and showing off his fadeaway jumper throughout the matchup.
After scoring 21 in the C's 144-119 win over the Sacramento Kings, Jrue Holiday registered 20 points for the second-straight game. He hadn't done so once before these last two tilts. What it reflects is the two-time All-Star looking increasingly comfortable attacking within the flow of the offense.
Now for a deep dive into what else stood out as the Celtics steamrolled the Clippers, 145-108.
1. With Kawhi Leonard and Kristaps Porzingis out, the Celtics started the game with Jayson Tatum on Ivica Zubac and Al Horford on Terance Mann. That allowed for Boston to switch all screens by the Clippers' center.
Jrue Holiday drew James Harden as his primary assignment, and Jaylen Brown had Paul George. If Leonard played, this author believes that would've been Brown's main matchup, with Brown defending the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
2. While the visitors didn't shoot the ball well, making only 40.7 percent of their attempts from the field, including 6/18 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc, their energy and approach were excellent.
They held Los Angeles to 21 points in the first frame, consistently contested shots, limiting the hosts to sub-40 percent shooting from the field and five turnovers, including a shot clock violation.
They also produced ten points in the paint and a 7-0 advantage in second-chance scoring.
While George paced all participants with 12 points, Tatum led the C's with 10.
Holiday put seven on the board, including off a feed from Derrick White on a baseline cut.
3. Both teams found their rhythm offensively in the second period. The difference was that even though the Clippers launched six more shots, the Celtics caught fire from beyond the arc.
Boston made 9/15 (60 percent) of its second-quarter threes. That was five more long-range makes than the hosts hit.
4. In a scary moment for Celtics fans, Tatum, already dealing with a sprained left ankle, came down on Kobe Brown's foot as he drilled a three.
The four-time All-Star rolled his already injured ankle. He stayed down for a bit, loosening it up, then expressed that he was ok and hobbled toward the bench.
Upon review, Brown got called for a flagrant-1 for being in the star forward's landing space. Even after making the ensuing free throw to complete the four-point play, Tatum stayed in the game.
5. After outscoring Los Angeles 40-30 in the 12 minutes before halftime, the visitors took a 68-51 advantage into the break.
Tatum led all scorers with 21 points, 11 of which came in the second frame. He made seven of his 11 first-half attempts, including five of eight threes.
Both teams had three players, all starters, score in double figures by intermission. George continued to pace the Leonard-less Clippers, registering 16 after the first 24 minutes.
Jaylen Brown had 12 points, and Jrue Holiday chipped in 10. While Derrick White only had five, he had three blocks, including coming from behind to swat a three-point attempt by George.
The former Colorado Buffalo is the first Celtics guard to have at least three blocks in four consecutive games.
6. Boston came out sharp to start the third quarter, ripping off a 10-0 run to open the period. Brown produced seven of those points, attacking downhill and scoring inside the paint on consecutive possessions, then burying a pull-up three over Paul George. The latter stretched the visitors' lead to 25, 78-53.
7. The C's kept their foot on the gas, staging a 17-2 run in a third frame that it dominated most of. They grew their lead as high as 35 and entered the final 12 minutes in firm control with a 106-81 advantage.
8. Holiday, who matched Russell Westbrook for the most points in the period, generating ten, entered the fourth quarter having already registered his second-straight performance with at least 20 points.
The two-time All-Star hadn't reached that figure once before this West Coast trip. He looks more comfortable playing aggressively offensively. And he's creating good shots within the flow of the offense or in transition rather than hijacking the operation.
9. With Joe Mazzulla keeping at least one starter in until about the midway mark in the final frame, Boston's lead again reached the 30s as the visitors cruised to a second-straight blowout win, improving to 2-1 on a challenging four-game West Coast trip.
10. The Celtics are onto a Christmas showdown against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers, as the NBA utilizes the marquee date on its regular season calendar to showcase one of the most iconic rivalries in sports. That game will tip off at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Further Reading
Jayson Tatum Joins PR Team for Derrick White’s All-Star Campaign
Kristaps Porzingis Praises Celtics' Offensive Approach in Win vs. Kings: 'Keep Evolving'
After Stinging Loss to Warriors, Boston, Back to 'Celtics' Basketball,' Blowout Kings
Shades of 2022 Finals as Celtics Can't Close vs. Warriors
Jaylen Brown Discusses Growing Leadership Role with Celtics: 'I've Embraced That'
Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'
Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'
An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'
Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'
