#1 – Jaylen Brown, wolf killer

Jerry West once said: “The word ‘dog’ comes up a lot…well, I was a wolf, okay? I used to eat dogs.” Well, Jaylen Brown hunts wolves. On a cold November afternoon, a few days before Thanksgiving, Jaylen decided to take a long-range rifle and shoot from deep.

In this match, Jaylen Brown may have delivered his best finisher performance so far this season. Compared to his season average, his usage was lower (27% usage rate), but his efficiency was tremendous (77% True Shooting).

What also changed was the percentage of his field goals that were assisted. As mentioned in my previous article about his scoring, Brown’s creation volume has increased this season, creating an efficiency dilemma: more creation but less efficiency. Is this what we want from JB? Last night was the opposite. He was assisted on 70% of his field goals and his efficiency returned just when the Celtics needed it.

His reliance on catch-and-shoot plays electrified the TD Garden early in the game, stifling the Wolves and extinguishing their hopes. It was only one game, but it’s great to see Jaylen Brown in a role that seems to suit him better. Against a strong defensive team like the Timberwolves, the Celtics needed the best version of JB, and he delivered.

#2 – Jayson Tatum’s Screening Abilities

The Wolves made it harder for the Jays last night. Instead of soft shifting, they’ve worked hard to avoid unnecessary switches. Jayson Tatum countered this by using perfect angles and speed to disrupt the defense and force help.

Even when there were no switches on the table, Tatum, an MVP candidate, showed relentless effort to set screens for his teammates and create space. The devil is in the details, and little things like this make you wonder if we sometimes take Jayson Tatum’s team-first mentality for granted.

Night in and night out, Tatum works hard for the team – offensively and defensively – whether or not it shows up in the box score.

#3 – Bringing out Rudy Gobert

The Celtics, while not a rim-heavy team, must create rim pressure to disrupt opposing defenses. As long as Rudy Gobert is near the rim, the Wolves can stick with their matchups without much thought. However, the Celtics found ways to draw him out.

Gobert’s natural matchup was Al Horford. When Horford parked in the corner, Gobert was able to hang near the rim, minimizing the Celtics’ yardage advantage. To counter this, the Celtics shifted Horford to the 5-out position, facing the rim.

Another method was to involve Gobert in the action. The Celtics used Horford as a screener, which added a twist. For example, a Ram Screen from Payton Pritchard created a gap between Gobert and Horford. When Horford screened for Tatum, Gobert was forced into the Wolves’ worst-case scenario: transferring.

Although the hunt was more difficult than usual, Horford was the key to solving the Gobert Dilemma.

#4 – Taking advantage of a rookie

As seasoned hunters, the Celtics know how to find the easiest target – and what’s easier than a rookie? As soon as Rob Dillingham stepped on the floor, the Celtics headed straight for him.

In the play below, Holiday, guarded by young Dillingham, sets a screen for Jaylen Brown. Wanting to avoid a move, the Wolves opted for a hedge-and-recover scheme – a coverage that was difficult to execute.

The rookie, who was behind the play, made a classic rookie mistake. He helped too much, leaving Jrue Holiday wide open. At this level, involving inexperienced players who are still learning team coverage is a surefire way to generate easy buckets.

#5 – 3-point volume reaches a new level

Yesterday afternoon, the Celtics set a new benchmark for 3-point volume. While the raw total may not seem mind-blowing due to the slow pace, 60% of their shots came from beyond the arc.

Last season, the Celtics exceeded a 55% three-point percentage just twice. This season they have already done it eight times in just seventeen games. When it seemed like the three-point revolution had reached its peak, the Celtics found a way to push the boundaries further.

Against a defense as formidable as Minnesota’s, this strategy was not surprising. The Wolves’ length and paint protection made it nearly impossible to score at the rim or rely on the mid-range. The Celtics, as they do best, attacked from deep and pierced the opponent’s heart.

#6 – The Celtics defense in the third

At one point in the third quarter, the Celtics held a slim 55-54 lead. A few minutes later the score rose from 14-0 to 69-54 thanks to a run. What prompted the flight? Defense.

Last season, the Wolves struggled against Jason Kidd’s Mavericks, who clogged the paint and challenged shooters to take contested threes or Ant to make impossible drives. The Celtics implemented a similar strategy.

Anthony Edwards, like Julius Randle in similar situations, struggled to make plays for others. The Celtics crowded into the paint, limiting easy passes and forcing Edwards to drive into a wall of defenders. With McDaniels and Gobert on the floor — players the Celtics treated like non-shooters — the Wolves’ spacing issues were compounded.

This defensive effort stifled the Wolves, led to transition opportunities and turned the game in Boston’s favor.

#7 – Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard’s impact without shooting

Elite shooters sometimes struggle when shots aren’t falling. Last night, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard combined to score just two of their 10 attempts from beyond the arc. Yet their impact was undeniable.

First, their screening caused significant problems for the Wolves defense. As previously mentioned, Minnesota’s reluctance to switch meant that good screens could cause disruptions. Off the ball, both players created chaos, forcing the defense to stay alert and stretched.

Pritchard also demonstrated his ability to attack mismatches, driving confidently towards Gobert and using his speed and touch to his advantage.

Hauser contributed in several ways, grabbing three offensive rebounds. Although seemingly small, these extra assets are invaluable in a tight game.

Hauser’s hustle and awareness to secure second chances emphasize the importance of role players who excel at the “little things.”

#8 – Offensive battle in the last three minutes

Despite their defensive dominance, the Celtics managed just three points in the final three minutes of the game – a worrying trend in clutch moments.

Initially, they generated good looks, like this open three for Jrue Holiday after an initial screen for D-White to draw Randle, followed by another screen to free Jrue:

However, the implementation failed. On another possession, Holiday missed rhythm three after a solid post-up play by Brown:

Late in the game, the Celtics relied heavily on jump shots. Tatum’s step back in the midrange was high quality, but the absence of layups or paint attacks made their offense predictable.

In addition, the poor geometry of the field hindered their distance. For example, three players lined up on one side, allowing the Wolves to pack the paint and protect Gobert from a potential Tatum drive.

#9 – No individual answer for Julius Randle

Last night it became clear what kind of player can give the Celtics problems. While Minnesota’s poor spacing and Randle’s inconsistent decision-making helped Boston, neither Horford nor Tillman could consistently curb his drives.

Randle’s size and speed made him a matchup problem on the perimeter, and his physicality overwhelmed smaller defenders like Tatum or Brown in the post.

However, this is why defending is a team effort. As seen in #6The Celtics’ ability to crowd the paint and force tough decisions neutralized Randle’s impact, demonstrating their elite defensive cohesion.

#10 – First night of a back-to-back against the NBA’s best defenses

Tonight the Celtics face the Clippers, arguably the best defense in the league. Ty Lue’s team excels with a mix of zone and man-to-man schemes, utilizing length and communication to stifle opponents.

After last night’s tough defensive battle we could see another low scoring game. How will the Celtics attack the Clippers? Will the fatigue from Sunday’s match affect their performance?

As always, we will discuss these questions again tomorrow.