5 takeaways like Jaylen Brown, Celtics shorthanded in OT for Grizzlies

The Boston Celtics fell to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday in overtime, beginning their four-game trip with a difficult 132-126 loss.

Here’s what happened.

The big picture

Jayson Tatum was a late scratch and the Celtics missed him. The Grizzlies dominated the painting and extended their double-digit advantage in the fourth quarter, and while the Celtics recovered and sent the game into overtime, Memphis had plenty of firepower in the final five minutes.

Still, as Brad Stevens said after the game: “The last two nights were more like basketball from the Celtics.”

Game star

Jonas Valanciunas – 16 points, 19 rebounds, 7 offensive rebounds

Ja Morant made more striking plays, but Valanciunas dominated against the Celtics greats and made several important plays in overtime. He is not a great modern man, but it is a very difficult fight for the Celtics.

What it means

The Celtics almost overcame one of their worst defensive games of the season, a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, the second consecutive night and the absence of Tatum and Kemba Walker (out due to knee control). Whatever you might think about self-defense – and it was very, very ugly – the Celtics held out for four quarters.

You simply won’t win many games if you give up an 80-54 point disparity in the paint or an 18-3 point loss gap. You also won’t win many games by throwing 62.5 percent on the free-throw line or giving up 17 offensive rebounds. The Celtics had a long list of mitigating circumstances – the second night of a consecutive trip, no Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, etc. – but internal defense was porous and the other issues turned out to be a very difficult equation to solve.

“I thought our guys were competing,” said Stevens. “If we’re going to be what we were in the past and we’ve talked about it a lot, but I think when you’re losing guys like Jayson and Kemba, you have to win with a better defense. And I think that’s what we’ve been able to do in the past and we haven’t touched it this year. Part of that is that they presented us with some real challenges. I thought our boys competed, I thought our boys stayed in the game, I thought they played with a lot of balance at the end of the regulation. “

Apprenticeship

1. Monday’s game was bizarre. The Celtics haven’t been too bad in the ring this season, but for some reason, they had absolutely nothing for Memphis. Morant paraded to the edge. Kyle Anderson took a slow step at the paint spots. Jonas Valanciunas led the way through the slimmer Celtics. Brandon Clarke shot a few paces from the basket. Then, in the fourth period, as a football team that established its racing game, the Grizzlies began to find 3 open points that kept the Celtics at arm’s length.

The Celtics responded to Memphis’ attack in the first half with 3 points and fought back on the straight, but they need to fight better around the edge.

2. Jaylen Brown and Jeff Teague deserve a lot of credit for keeping the Celtics alive. Brown finished with 27 points and made a few big shots when the Celtics were struggling. Brown has spoken many times this season about how his opportunity is the only thing that has changed, and he has often proven to be an option for the Celtics when needed.

Teague, in turn, scored 26 points as a member of the starting lineup. In a season of ups and downs, Teague submitted 10 of 12 on the floor and scored a couple of layups in overtime, when the game was about to escape completely.

“We played good basketball,” said Brown. “Many things to which we have added various cutting actions that we have done and that have been good for us. Many teams will be confused when we get together and things like that. Therefore, we have to continue like this. It makes the game easier for everyone, and as we continue to improve on that, I think it will improve to be honest. I like the additions to the offense that we had. “

3. Robert Williams had a good line of statistics – 17 points from 7-to-9 shots, six rebounds and four blocks – and made some crucial plays to keep the Celtics in the game. Williams helped the Celtics in the hoop as well – more and more, teams are learning about their blocking shots.

“We just entered the break with an emphasis,” said Williams. “Most players were really getting a lot of layups, a lot of floaters. That’s where all your views come from, so just try to come together and stop it. “

4. In a five-minute overtime, a few moves can make a big difference. On Monday, the difference was kicks and rebounds. Dillon Brooks did a tough pull-up and one against Brown, Grayson Allen hit a 3-point corner when time ended with two minutes remaining to put Memphis in five, and the Grizzlies had a crucial offensive rebound in the final stretch to kill more watch.

5. These two plays took place approximately 10 minutes (real time) from each other.

JA MORANT COAST TO CUSTOMIZE EVERYONE pic.twitter.com/5M18bN2Qrp

– Fastbreak breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) March 23, 2021

Ja Morant takes and finishes the oop with the left 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BFS3IfJqGX

– NBA (@NBA) March 23, 2021

Morant was not particularly efficient on Monday, but he is a one-man show.