To go around Daniel Gafford’s rim protection, the Celtics took side roads to find their way. In the action below, they first initiated a Zoom action where Kristaps Porzingis kept the ball and then transitioned into another Zoom action with a twirl from Jaylen Brown:

The combination of screens and off-ball movement from one side to the other forced the defense to switch and move, creating space for the Celtics. They frequently used Zoom actions for Derrick White as well. His ability to sprint, use the screen without the ball, and then accelerate to get to the rim or pull up after the handoff makes him very dangerous in these situations for opponents.

Later in the game, the Celtics also ran a few empty-side pick-and-rolls, which were interesting to analyze due to the defensive adjustments. On the first try, Gafford was drawn toward Luke Kornet after the empty-side pick-and-roll. Once Kornet sent the ball to Porzingis, Gafford could help at the rim. This is called a Gator action, a pick-and-roll where a third player is used to deliver the ball to the roller.

A few moments later, the Celtics ran the same action, but this time, Gafford stayed close to the rim. Instead of going to Kornet himself, Klay Thompson did—leaving Payton Pritchard open in the corner.

As the Celtics currently face spacing issues, utilizing the side road helps stretch the floor and forces the opposing team to make decisions.

#2 – Unable to keep up with Klay

Some nights, Klay Thompson seems unstoppable—Thursday, February 6, was one of those nights. On and off the ball, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown tried their best, but Dallas put their shooters in optimal positions by staggering screens and using off-ball movement.

At some point, the Celtics even sent two defenders when Klay Thompson had the ball to force him to give it up. But the former Warrior just never stops moving. As much as he is dangerous with the ball in his hands, he remains just as threatening—if not more—off the ball. His gravity opened up opportunities for his teammates, making the offense look unstoppable when he was on the floor.

Since the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, they will need role players to step up offensively, and Klay Thompson led the way last night.

#3 – Small ball vs. tall ball

With Anthony Davis and Derrick Lively out, the Mavericks played some small-ball lineups when Daniel Gafford sat. In response, when the Mavericks went small, the Celtics opted to go big, using combinations of Kornet and Horford, Porzingis and Kornet, or Porzingis and Horford.

These lineups improved rim protection but also slowed the team down. On the other hand, Dallas playing small meant they were quicker and had more spacing than usual. Their speed and ability to move against the slower Celtics lineups made it difficult for Boston to keep up.

Additionally, Kornet, Horford, or Porzingis had to defend smaller, quicker players, making one-on-one matchups challenging. The Mavericks exploited the Celtics’ lack of mobility when they played big, and it worked well.

Why did the Celtics go big, then? Because size is also crucial in basketball. With these alignments, the Celtics dominated the glass and generated more shot attempts thanks to offensive rebounds.

They also hoped to crowd the paint and force the Mavericks into tough jump shots, but that strategy didn’t work as planned.

#4 – Dallas jump-shooting was out of this world

Dallas’ jump-shot efficiency last night was simply unstoppable. They made 35 jumpers out of 67 attempts—a crazy efficiency from both mid-range and three-point areas.

The Celtics’ defensive approach was to limit rim pressure, and they succeeded. The Mavericks attempted only 15% of their shots at the rim (5th percentile this season). Yet, they still posted a 135 offensive rating (95th percentile this season).

#5 – Transition defense off rebounds

The Mavericks also outran the Celtics in transition off live rebounds. On attempts following a defensive rebound, they scored 2.75 points per possession. This was a consequence of Boston’s big lineups, which sent multiple players to crash the offensive glass.

With fewer players getting back on defense, the Mavericks overpowered the Celtics in transition—getting easy points to widen the gap created by their jump-shooting efficiency.

#6 – JT off-dribble passing

Against the Mavericks, the Celtics needed a player capable of passing over the defense and shifting the ball from one side to the other. The Mavericks packed the paint to make rim attempts difficult, but this opened up the weakside corners.

Jayson Tatum’s recent improvements as a passer and playmaker have unlocked new opportunities for the Celtics. They no longer need an intermediary to get the ball to Horford in the opposite corner.

As teams crowd the paint even more, having a star capable of making cross-court skip passes will keep the Boston offense flowing.

#7 – Boston Celtics rim pressure

With Kristaps Porzingis leading the way, the Celtics attacked the rim more than usual. They attempted 33% of their shots at the rim, fueled by aggressive post-up moves from the Latvian big man.

Off-ball movement from the wings was also key. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum looked to get involved without the ball, cutting into open space. The Mavericks pressured them to force the ball out of their hands, and more cuts—like the one from Tatum below—can be valuable against such defenses:

#8 – Struggles against the Mavs’ zone

The Mavericks used a zone defense when Daniel Gafford was off the floor. However, unlike the 2-3 zone deployed by the Cavaliers, Dallas played a 2-1-2 zone.

This defensive scheme differs by placing a defender at the free-throw line, making it harder for the Celtics to break. Against the Cavaliers, the Celtics used Jrue Holiday in the middle or attacked from the wings to break the zone. But against the Mavericks, they couldn’t apply the same strategy.

This alignment forced the Celtics to rely on jump shots to cut into the Mavericks’ already significant lead. Since they struggled to hit them, the game was settled early.

#9 – Minutes from the stay-ready group

Thanks to the big lead, the bench group got extended minutes. Drew Peterson, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta played the last 10 minutes of the game. There were a couple of nice plays, and this group managed to cut the deficit by 17 points.

However, it’s hard to analyze this stretch since Dallas’ defensive intensity was clearly lower compared to earlier in the game.

#10 – Three more games before the break

This game highlighted how much the Celtics need a break. Getting beaten in transition like this and struggling to keep up with all the shooters is a clear indicator of their current physical and mental fatigue.

They have three important games left before the All-Star break, including a key matchup against the Knicks, before a well-deserved rest.