I talked to Los Angeles back up big man Josh McRoberts prior to the Celtics-Lakers game Thursday night at the Garden. Here is what the former Duke Blue Devil, who is averaging 2.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in his first year in LA, had to say. 1. How have you guys been able to deal [...]
I was a panelist on the 5-on-5 today at ESPN, choosing reserves for the Eastern and Western Conference all-star teams. I took two Celtics, as noted below. Hit the link to read the rest. 1. Which East and West point guards should be chosen as All-Star reserves? Ryan DeGama, CelticsHub: East: Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo [...]
The C’s gave their 26-year-old rookie a vote of confidence before Tuesday’s game. By not waiving the seven-footer, Stiemsma’s contract will become fully guaranteed on Friday, allowing the shot blocker to breath a little bit and perhaps unpack some boxes for good in Beantown. Here’s Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston with some reaction from Stiemsma and [...]
I had a chance to talk with Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker prior to the Celtics game against Charlotte on Tuesday night. Here is what the UConn star, who is averaging 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game had to say. 1. How much communication have you had with Michael Jordan this year? Walker: [...]
Yes. This is a “pat myself on the back” post because a) I’m a jackass and b) I predicted something correctly. Back on January 8th, I predicted that the next ten games will tell us everything we need to know about this Celtics’ team. If they struggled, it was time to blow it up. If [...]
One day before he’s scheduled to pass Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list, Paul Pierce won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Pierce averaged 22 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in four Boston wins, playing point forward in Rajon Rondo’s absence. Pierce is only 9 points behind Bird [...]
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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