Ah, the first half against Orlando, when everything was going well and I imagined what I was going was to say 90 minutes later to all the critics who had written the C’s off following the LA loss.
Boston’s offense was humming over the first 24. One reason why: The team (as Doc has implored them to so many times) stuck with their sets and remained active off-the-ball.
Example: They used Rajon Rondo as a screener on several early plays. This is an effective tactic against teams that play off of Rondo when he has the ball, daring him to shoot jumpers and ducking far under screens when the C’s try screen/rolls. A general counter to this strategy: Make Rondo a weapon off the ball. Sometimes that means having him rove along the baseline, waiting to receive quick passes from KG or Pierce on the interior.
Other times, it means getting a bit more creative and using Rajon as a screener. Like this:
I’ve slowed the action down here so you can see the play develop more easily. This is a pretty simple one: Rondo cuts down to the post as KG holds the ball at the top, and you think initially that Rajon is actually going to try and post up Jameer Nelson. But then Rondo veers to his left and sets a screen on Pierce’s man (Vince Carter). The screen doesn’t catch Vince cleanly, but Rajon knocks him off course enough to get Pierce some space to cut around him (and Jameer Nelson, who does pretty much nothing here) and into the lane, where he receives a pass from KG and draws a foul on Howard.
This wasn’t a one-time-only thing in the first half. Red’s Army tweeted about another early Rondo screen that led to an open Pierce look, and a third (a back screen on Rashard Lewis meant to spring KG) confused Orlando and resulted in Rondo getting a wide-open jumper from the foul line. (He nailed it).
Good stuff.
Also good: For the third consecutive game, we saw what I’ve referred to as “the rugby scrum” play for Rajon. I noticed it for the first time in the Miami game last week, and Rivers called it three times in the 1st quarter yesterday. Here’s the best example:
This play has been very effective since Doc introduced it. As you can see, it’s pretty simple: The C’s take two big guys and basically have them come together at the foul line, creating a sort of super-screen for Rondo. The set creates a huge mess and has so far confused opposing defenses, partly because it gives Rajon a lot of options. Here, he takes advantage of the fact that everyone’s momentum is coming towards him, jumps the play and dribbles easily around the rugby scrum and to the basket.
But he also has the option of waiting for the two bigs (Sheed and Davis in this case) to set picks on either side of his man (Nelson). If he takes this route, Rajon can decide which screen to dribble around and initiate a three-man screen/roll with guys veering in all sorts of directions.
It’s a good play. Look for more of it.
And then the second half happened. I don’t really have the stomach to digest it all right now. But there was a moment when I thought, “Oh crap. Howard is already in their heads, and the C’s are in trouble.” This was it:
It may not look bad as a YouTube clip. But watching this play live, I just couldn’t believe that KG didn’t even look up at the hoop after corralling this rebound. Look at this still shot:
This is right before KG decides to kick the ball out to Pierce for an open three. (Pierce missed). Look at this! KG has great (if not ideal) position for a put-back! Rashard Lewis is on his back and not a threat to do anything if KG goes up strong. Yes, Howard is there, lurking just outside the block/charge circle, in prime position to leap in for a shot block.
But you know what? KG five years ago—hell, three years ago—makes Howard come in and earn that shot block. You think you can get this one without committing a foul, big fella? Go for it.
Now? KG kicks the ball out. Hey, if Pierce makes that three-pointer, the C’s are up by nine and we’re all hailing KG’s unselfishness.
But sometimes you want to see your big man rise up and power the ball in.
Credit Howard: He unleashed himself on this game in the 3rd quarter after playing just eight minutes in the first half. He dominated the interior defensively. His intimidation factor is unparalleled, and you can see it right here in this video and this screen shot.
Anyone who tells you that another player (Andy Varejao, LeBron, Josh Smith, Thabo Sefolosha, whoever else becomes the candidate de jour) deserves Defensive Player of the Year is crazy.
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This Rondo pick play was other-worldly effective. So many great looks on baby curls to the basket
Howard is defensive player of the year, no doubt about it. But you made the point perfectly there, the Celtics ALLOWED him to do what he did in the second, because they got lazy, complacent, and stop going AT HIM.
All first quarter, they were in the lane, getting layups, using their screen and rolls, what the hell you think caused Howard to get 4 fouls, when people are going for lay-ups, he tries to block shots, fouls happen.
Orlando’s best player, and the absolute nucleus of their entire defense has 4 fouls in the first half, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GO AT HIM.
… Ya know watching them stink up the NBA and win 16 games back in 07 was less frustrating than what’s happening right now.
There’s nothing more pathetic upsetting than wasted ability.
See this is why I spent all night asking myself, Why the hell we don’t run more sets like that for Rondo? An why if we do we run them we go a way from them in the second half?
Not to mention that i was screaming in the second half ATTACK because Howard had like four fouls. We could’ve had him foul out by the end of the third if we’d kept doing that.
So frustrated and dissapointed after what I thought was near brilliant first half.
What I would like to see for the rest of the season are more Rondo picks and mroe Rondo sets in general. We have got to understand who is our strongest player right now and milk it for all its’ worth. Or as little Rondo likes to say feed the pig.
That’s all for now. As you can see even the Saints winning yesterday hasn’t cooled my frustrations.
I think you mean a Rondo “pick”, since he doesn’t come close to setting himself and just throws his hip way out at Pierce’s man. Smart play if the refs won’t call it – and they won’t.
Once again, brilliant work, guys. These are things that fly right over my head while I’m watching the game, and these analyses help me learn. Thanks!
I’m with Joe on this one. That pick by Rondo was atrocious. It looks like he’s trying to do ‘The Bump’ with Vince. I think that one gets called if they’re playing at Amway.