#1 – The Celtics brought Darius Garland back down to Earth

Since the start of the season, Darius Garland has played at the All-NBA level. The shooting, the drives, the passing game – everything was smooth and efficient… until he faced Jrue Holiday. The two-time champion’s length and toughness made things more difficult for the young Cavs guard, who also missed some open opportunities.

Special mention to Mr. Al Horford, who blocked him twice. This happened when the Celtics eventually stopped using drop coverage, but we’ll get to that later.

However, there’s more to it than just the way the Celtics defended Garland. When the Celtics ran their offense, they made him work and attacked him constantly. We’ve mentioned this in previous articles, but the approach of looking for mismatches has a double effect: it makes the attack more efficient and also drains the opponent’s energy.

After terrorizing NBA defenses for fifteen straight games, Darius Garland was brought back down to earth. Other teams could be inspired by the Celtics’ approach to having him work on defense. Still, Garland won’t continue to miss open shots, and other teams don’t have Jrue Holiday, Derrick White or Al Horford to disrupt his offense.

#2 – Horford’s pick-and-roll defensive approach

It may sound like a broken record, but Al Horford’s messaging isn’t working. However, the Celtics’ coaching staff seems determined to make this work. Maybe they’ll give him reps, hoping one day that will happen. Nevertheless, the technical staff knows how to adapt.

After just a few possessions, the Celtics changed their defensive coverage for Mobley’s pick-and-rolls. With Jayson Tatum guarding Jarrett Allen, the Cavs spammed the pick-and-roll with Mobley as the screener. Maybe they should have tried more reverse pick-and-rolls, as they have done many times this season.

Once the Celtics started switching, Horford proved he could still control and track some of the NBA’s best ballhandlers. When he does this, other Celtics don’t have to help, which reduces the impact of Garland’s passing game.

That’s another reason why drop coverage is risky against elite guards: it creates holes in the defense that big passers can exploit. By switching, the Celtics absorb those gaps, stifle the opposing offense and force teams to beat them one-on-one.

#3 – Boston’s drive-and-kick play on full display in the first half

The Celtics’ game plan wasn’t much different from last year’s playoff series against the Cavaliers. As usual, the goal was to find mismatches and exploit them. During the first half, the Celtics drove aggressively, forcing the Cavaliers to help. This opened up shots from beyond the arc. Of their 45 field goal attempts in the first half, 22 were threes.

Was it a good defensive approach by the Cavs? Looking at the numbers, it doesn’t seem that way, because the Celtics led by seventeen at halftime. However, it did limit Boston’s impact in the paint. The Celtics made just seven of their 16 attempts near the rim during the first half — a testament to Cleveland’s rim protection.

So why did it seem ineffective? The Celtics shot 64% (!!!) from three in the first half, making the Cavs’ strategy look bad even though it might have been the right decision. This highlights why the Celtics are so difficult to defend: you can make the right decision and still be wrong.

#4 – Kenny Atkinson wanted the Cavs to stop overhelping

On TNT we heard that Kenny Atkinson told his team to stop helping after half-time. The goal was to limit open threes after the Celtics punished them in the first half. While you might think this would reduce Boston’s three-point volume, they still attempted 19 threes on 40 field goal attempts in the second half. Although the Celtics’ efficiency dropped, they remained above average, shooting 43% from three.

With less help from Cleveland’s defense, Boston found it easier to get to the rim. This shift may have cost the Cavs the game, as we’ll detail in Takeaway #6. However, it also forced the Celtics to take more difficult shots, causing their shot quality and offensive rating to drop from 141 points per 100 possessions in the first half to 114 in the second.

#5 – The Cavs’ run

The Cavs mounted an impressive comeback during the second half of the third quarter. While the Celtics mixed their bench with starters, the Cavs attacked Neemias Queta. The Portuguese big man was assigned to Craig Porter Jr., so Cleveland used Porter as a screener to involve Queta in pick-and-rolls.

This strategy pulled Queta away from the rim, leaving Jayson Tatum – who was guarding Mobley – unable to contain Mobley and protect the paint.

While the Celtics settled for jump shots, Cleveland held down rebounds and pushed in transition. In the meantime, the Cavs continue to exploit Queta’s inexperience by isolating him from Donovan Mitchell and turning the tables on Boston.

#6 – Clutch Minutes

In the clutch, the Celtics kept Horford in switch-all mode, and it paid off. Horford blocked a Garland layup after shadowing him all the way from the three-point line.

Offensively, the Celtics started with pull-ups from Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, but quickly switched to attacking the rim.

As previously mentioned, the Cavs stopped helping out on drives. The Celtics responded by isolating weaker defenders and driving while keeping Mobley away from the rim. For example, an empty-side handoff to Jaylen Brown allowed him to attack Ty Jerome while avoiding Mobley, stationed in the strong corner on Jrue Holiday.

Donovan Mitchell’s late-game heroics weren’t enough to offset Boston’s relentless driving attack. A dagger layup from Jaylen Brown sealed the game for the Celtics, who turned Cleveland’s defensive strategy against them by dominating the rim.

#7 – Post-up play

Despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics maintained one of the highest post-up volumes in the league. Jaylen Brown, who has increased his post-up usage this season, punished the Cavs’ defense.

The Cavs’ injuries left them reliant on players like Sam Merrill, George Niang and Ty Jerome, none of whom could effectively guard Boston’s wings. The Celtics took advantage of this, creating mismatches and creating opportunities for their shooters.

Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how Cleveland adjusts in future games when their key defensemen, such as Isaac Okoro and Max Strus, are available.

#8 – Rim Protection Is Still a Problem

As Bobby Manning recently noted, the Celtics’ rim protection remains a concern, and it was on full display against the Cavs. Despite Cleveland’s lack of space, they dominated inside.

First, Boston’s lazy transition defense caused problems. The Celtics were often slow to come back, leaving them vulnerable to fast breaks generated by Cleveland’s strong defense.

Additionally, off-ball moves exposed Boston’s defensive mistakes. Backdoor cuts, similar to those in games against Toronto and Atlanta, repeatedly punished the Celtics. Even a player like George Niang, who is not known for his speed, managed to get behind the defense with ease.

By the end of the game, the Cavs had made 75% of their attempts at the rim – a glaring problem for a team with championship aspirations.

#9 – Sharing the ball

It might go unnoticed, but the Celtics assisted on 76% of their field goals made. Even more impressive, seven of the eight active players had multiple assists.

While it may seem like the Celtics are overly reliant on threes, they create those opportunities through excellent ball movement. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown initiated much of the offense, but Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, two of the best connectors in the league, played key roles in taking advantage and generating high-quality shots.

Success starts with knowing your role and trusting your teammates.

#10 – Al Horford Forever

Time doesn’t seem to have an effect on Al Horford. The third pick of the 2007 draft continues to anchor the Celtics on both ends.

Defensively, Horford contested 14 shots, made five box-outs and recorded three blocks. Only Evan Mobley – arguably a DPOY frontrunner – could match his defensive activity.

Offensively, Horford again delivered results. The Celtics posted a net rating of +29 with him on the floor, compared to a shocking -53 without him. His adaptability and experienced presence remain the glue that holds this team together.