There’s no denying it. The Boston Celtics‘ win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night was choppier than all the Noticed franchise. And for stretches, we noticed a return to isolation-heavy basketball. Nevertheless, the Celtics didn’t fully abandon their offensive ideas, as we may see by the 3-man recreation they deployed across the perimeter all through the fourth quarter.
In basketball nomenclature, the 3-man recreation Boston executed is commonly generally known as ‘extensive’ however is shortly turning into referenced as ‘fast.’ No matter what naming scheme you like, the very fact is, the Celtics have the scoring gravity and decision-makers to execute their ‘fast’ offense at a excessive degree by throwing in a number of wrinkles to maintain the protection on their toes.
Put merely, a ‘fast’ motion is an off-ball display screen set on the weak aspect of the courtroom because the ball handler enters the group’s half-court offense. The display screen receiver will then come off the display screen seeking to obtain the ball. Performs out of this playbook are designed to permit the offense to move right into a read-and-react system, with the thought being that the early off-ball display screen has compelled the protection into rotation and created gaps to both drive or shoot from.
As with all NBA groups, the Celtics have regarded to place their very own spin on this motion, aiming to maintain the protection guessing after the display screen receiver is in possession of the ball — in the event that they ever obtain the ball!
The above motion might be a very good place to begin for how the Celtics attacked out of fast actions. Initially, we see all of the tell-tale indicators of the extensive/fast motion unfolding — the off-ball display screen for Malcolm Brogdon to get towards the highest of the perimeter and the preliminary cross by Jaylen Brown.
Nevertheless, the Celtics then move into what seems to be a ‘get motion’ (the place the participant who passes the ball then trails the cross to get the ball again through a hand-off), just for Brogdon to pretend the hand-off and drive the lane. As you’ll be able to see, the pretend hand-off freezes Seth Curry for a cut up second, permitting Brogdon to make the most of his explosive first step and lock him on his hip throughout the drive. From right here, we see Brogdon have interaction the weakside low man (who’s the default assist defender) earlier than swinging the rock to Al Horford, who’s ready within the nook.
Above, we see a barely completely different variation out of the Celtics ‘fast’ motion, as this time, somewhat than coming off the display screen to obtain the ball, Jayson Tatum flows into an on-ball display screen of his personal, forcing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to modify, thus giving Tatum a mismatch.
As an alternative of popping onto the perimeter and calling for the ball to assault Irving, Tatum seals Irving on his hips after which explodes in the direction of the rim, primarily working because the roll-man, permitting Derrick White to hit him with a pocket cross to generate an uncontested dunk. Credit score to Nic Claxton right here, he was put in a foul place with little or no upside, both he helps off of Horford to contest Tatum on the rim, or he removes the cross to a sharpshooting huge within the nook. After all, if Claxton had rotated over, Horford most likely drains the jumper.
Right here, we see one of many Celtics’ bread-and-butter actions out of their ‘fast’ collection, the place the preliminary display screen receiver comes off the display screen and turns into the primary screener in a robust aspect stagger motion for the ball-handler.
All through the season, Boston has discovered nice success with this variation, because it offers the group quite a few choices to play with. As an example, after setting the preliminary display screen, Tatum can then develop into a ‘popper,’ a ‘roll man,’ or move into some ‘veer’ offense (which is the place a participant units an on-ball display screen earlier than setting an off-ball display screen — normally a pin-down.) White may then develop into the roll man, a cutter, and so forth. Whereas the ball-handler can use the stagger display screen, weave between the 2 screeners to assault a spot, reject the display screen, or just pull up from behind the screeners for an uncontested soar shot — this motion is kind of versatile.
Nevertheless, on this occasion, somewhat than utilizing both display screen, Brogdon pulls the rock again and waits for the screeners to relocate, with White ‘L-cutting’ to the weakside nook and Al Horford shifting as much as the wing, permitting Brogdon to penetrate and kick the rock to White for the simple trey.
The ultimate variation we’re going to have a look at is having Tatum function as a ‘ghost screener’ after coming off the preliminary ‘fast’ display screen on the weak aspect. The concept right here is that by setting a ‘non-contact’ display screen, the protection will develop into slightly confused and disjointed, probably creating some house to drive, a mismatch, or a passing alternative to the ghost screener, who could possibly be a slot drive or taking pictures choice.
In equity, the Nets talk exceptionally effectively on this possession, and no benefit is generated for the Celtics, however given the character of the aptly named ‘fast’ motion, there may be nonetheless loads of time to get into one other set or to swing the rock across the perimeter whereas searching for gaps to assault.
Total, the Celtics managed to win a recreation the place they have been clearly removed from their finest on offense, but, it was the fourth quarter the place we noticed them implement a extra structured strategy to their half-court offense, and it labored wonders for serving to them construct a sustainable lead.
Hopefully, although, we’ll get again to seeing Boston’s numerous and thrilling model of offensive execution within the coming days, after which as soon as Robert Williams returns, will probably be time to take issues to an excellent increased degree.
