Final night time’s headlines targeted on the Boston Celtics’ 18th banner and their three-point capturing pageant. General, it was a incredible night time to be a Celtics fan. Nonetheless, I couldn’t assist however discover how a lot the Knicks had no solutions for the Celtics’ pick-and-roll assault. They tried varied coverages, however none of them labored.
In the course of the preseason, we analyzed how the Celtics adjusted to the Denver Nuggets’ blitz defensive protection. Right here once more, we check out the Knicks’ protection and the way the Celtics had counters for all of their methods. Even higher, the Celtics compelled the Knicks to play coverages they’d have quite averted.
Knicks’ switch-everything protection: lifeless on arrival
With the Knicks including Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, analysts had been anticipating to see a switch-all method. This technique might have successfully neutralized any benefits created by screens. Nonetheless, the Celtics had a distinct plan.
To beat the switch-everything protection, groups want the display to be set by gamers defended by Hart, Anunoby, or Bridges. The Celtics knew this and did the other.
The Celtics ensured that if the ball handler was defended by one of many three wings, they’d set a display with the participant guarded by Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Cities. This negated the Knicks’ wing switchability and compelled Brunson and Cities into tough conditions. In the event that they switched, they grew to become fast mismatches, which the Celtics’ offense exploited. Because of this, the Knicks needed to alter and use completely different protection for the Celtics’ ball screens.
Firstly of the sport, the Celtics needed to see the Knicks’ defensive method to their ball screens. So, they ran a PnR with Cities because the defender and noticed him drop. Jayson Tatum instantly acknowledged this and pulled up for a 3. On the following possession, the Celtics ran Zoom Motion for Derrick White with each screeners guarded by Cities and Brunson. Brunson stayed on his man, Cities dropped, and White drove into the paint, hitting an ideal floater.
Knicks’ drop protection: Jayson Tatum’s pull-up was unstoppable
As soon as it grew to become clear the Knicks had been utilizing drop protection, the Celtics had two methods to counter it. First, Jayson Tatum’s pull-up jumper, which was on fireplace final night time. It might not be as constant all season, however when he’s capturing like that, drop protection presents Tatum wide-open observe photographs all recreation lengthy.
Second, the Celtics used the pick-and-pop. With Al Horford because the screener, if Cities dropped, Horford would get open appears to be like for his catch-and-shoot threes. Because of this the Celtics’ five-shooter lineup is so harmful. Fashionable defenses typically go away open shooters above the three-point line to guard the paint, however the Celtics will gladly take these threes.
When Tatum’s pull-up is falling and Horford is hitting from deep, drop protection turns into an even bigger drawback for the Knicks than for the Celtics. To sum up, the Knicks couldn’t swap all as a result of their wings weren’t focused, and their drop protection didn’t work because of Tatum’s jumper. So, what might they do? Carry the blitz, like Denver.
Celtics’ passing dismantles the blitz
Blitz defensive protection may be a superb strategy to strain common passers or ball handlers, inflicting turnovers and quick breaks. Nonetheless, Jayson Tatum appears to have taken a leap in his playmaking. His passing underneath strain final night time was extraordinary. Take a look at this quick, exact skip cross along with his left hand, threading the Knicks’ protection and discovering the open man simply in time. Beautiful.
Joe Mazzulla and his teaching workers additionally designed performs to neutralize the blitz. To beat it, the Celtics created straightforward passing lanes for Tatum. As an illustration, they positioned good shooters one cross away, or they used brief actions.
In brief actions, they concerned a 3rd participant within the Decide & Roll to attach the ball handler (Tatum) and the roll man (Kornet). So, if the protection pressured Tatum and denied the cross to the roll man, he might switch the ball to a 3rd choice (Jrue Vacation).
Lastly, the Celtics’ large males showcased their excessive basketball IQ and glorious passing abilities in short-roll conditions. All of them had been capable of learn the 4-on-3 situations and make the fitting play.
As soon as once more, this highlights why the Celtics are so efficient. It’s not simply their nice shooters; it’s their sensible gamers who learn the sport and make the fitting choices on the proper moments.
