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Luka Doncic led all scorers with 32 factors in Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, scoring rather more effectively than he did three nights earlier. Jayson Tatum, in the meantime shot simply 6-for-22 and is now 12-for-38 (32%) within the sequence.
However there was a whole lot of Doncic vs. Tatum on each ends of the ground in Recreation 2, and total, the Boston Celtics had the benefit in these conditions, one cause they’ve a 2-0 lead because the sequence heads to Dallas for Recreation 3 on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
One participant’s numbers don’t matter a lot when the group works collectively to supply good pictures. That’s what’s occurring on the Celtics’ finish of the ground, the place there’s been a little bit extra ball motion (300 passes per 24 minutes of possession) than there was by means of the primary three rounds of the playoffs (293 per 100). On the opposite finish, the Mavs have gone from 293 passes per 24 minutes of possession by means of the primary three rounds to only 260 per 24 within the Finals.
Listed below are some extra numbers and a few movie on how the Celtics received the Doncic-Tatum matchups in Recreation 2.
1. Tatum switches, retains Doncic in examine
Quantity to know: Tatum was the screener’s defender on 11 ball screens for Doncic in Recreation 2, up from simply 4 in Recreation 1.
With Tatum primarily guarding the opposing bigs, Dallas used their forwards as screeners in Recreation 1, focusing on Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. They had been the screener’s defender on 26 of the 38 ball-screens set for Doncic.
If the bigs aren’t setting screens, they’re some other place on the ground and the Mavs’ spacing round Doncic’s assaults may be compromised. With Recreation 1 being one of many Mavs’ worst offensive performances of the season, they switched issues up in Recreation 2, setting extra screens with the bigs, which put Tatum within the motion much more.
Ball screens for Luka Doncic, Finals
Screener defender | Recreation 1 | Recreation 2 |
---|---|---|
Horford | 15 | 5 |
Porzingis | 11 | 11 |
Tatum | 4 | 11 |
Others | 8 | 8 |
TOTAL | 38 | 35 |
through Second Spectrum monitoring
Tatum largely switched these screens, and the Mavs scored simply 4 whole factors on 10 probabilities through which a ball display for Doncic was set by the man Tatum was defending. All 4 of these factors — a Doncic floater over Tatum and a troublesome spin-back fadeaway — got here within the first quarter, when Doncic additionally went 0-for-2 on the line after beating Tatum off the dribble and drawing a foul.
The Doncic-Tatum actions bore no fruit after that, regardless that, on a few events, the Mavs adopted it with one other display by the man Porzingis was defending. The Celtics weren’t giving up that swap, and Tatum was capable of get a steal by trailing the display with lively palms:
After one other (sloppy) turnover three possessions later, the Mavs didn’t run any Doncic-Tatum actions within the ultimate 16 minutes of Recreation 2.
2. Doncic’s protection underneath the highlight
Quantity to know: In 88 video games (common season plus playoffs) earlier than the Finals, Tatum’s excessive for drives was 17. He had 18 drives in Recreation 1 and a career-high 29 drives in Recreation 2.
This sequence has largely been concerning the finish of the ground the place the Mavs have scored only a level per possession, their second-worst two-game stretch of offense this season. The one video games through which they scored much less effectively had been the final two video games of the common season, when Doncic and Kyrie Irving didn’t play.
However the Celtics wouldn’t be two video games from a championship in the event that they weren’t additionally having some success offensively. And a whole lot of that success has include attacking Doncic.
Late within the second quarter, there was a four-possession sequence through which the Celtics scored 10 factors, all by attacking Doncic. It turned a tie rating right into a five-point lead and allowed them to enter halftime with a bonus.
First, Vacation (being guarded by Doncic) faked a display for Tatum, flared to the left aspect of the ground and drove by Doncic earlier than he may get better:
On the following possession, Vacation set an actual display for Tatum. Doncic switched it and bought crossed over as Tatum bought to the basket for an and-1.
Then, Vacation set a display for Jaylen Brown. Doncic switched it and dedicated a foul, placing Brown on the road.
On the fourth journey, Doncic needed to choose up Brown in transition. Brown spun previous him and drew assist, and the Celtics ultimately bought a wide-open nook 3 for Vacation:
4 possessions. 4 actions focusing on Doncic. 10 factors.
Doncic stood up defensively on a number of possessions down the stretch, deflecting a Brown move (after getting beat again door), knocking the ball away from him on the following possession, and staying in entrance of Tatum simply sufficient to permit a Derrick Jones Jr. block. However it was too little, too late in Recreation 2, and he’ll should be extra constant sooner or later.
3. Tatum the creator
Quantity to know: Tatum assisted on 27 of his teammates’ factors, tied for his fourth-most factors assisted in 624 profession video games. He’s assisted on at the least 27 of his teammates’ factors six instances in his profession, with 5 of these six video games coming within the playoffs.
Tatum’s assists didn’t simply come through these 29 drives. He additionally bought off the ball shortly when he drew a second defender and had a pair of assists when he was double-teamed within the put up:
Whereas Tatum hasn’t shot nicely within the first two video games, he most likely leads the Finals in creating benefits, both drawing two to the ball or driving by his defender in 1-on-1 conditions. And he’s trusted his teammates, who’ve made pictures or performs.
On protection, the Celtics confirmed extra assistance on Doncic in Recreation 2. However the gamers they left open — Jones, Josh Inexperienced and Maxi Kleber — didn’t make them pay.
If that doesn’t change in Dallas, this can be a brief sequence.
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John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You possibly can e-mail him right here, discover his archive right here and observe him on X.
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