The Celtics acquired again to .500 with a slender 121-118 win vs. James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers. The return of marksman stage capturing from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White actually aided the Celtics beating their season common of 113.8 factors per sport, however I additionally thought they ran some good units to get their guys in place.
A number of sequences stood out to me, showcasing how successfully Boston created high quality appears to be like. These subsequent few units illustrate how Boston’s spacing, timing, and decision-making opened the ground
Right here the Celtics use “Horns Chest” to get into “Flip Zoom” motion on their first possession.
This play begins off in “Horns” alignment. The quickest option to determine that’s two gamers on the elbow of the free throw line like White and Neemias Queta are. The handler may also be on the prime of the important thing with each corners stuffed. This is sort of a 1-2-2 formation and resembles the form of a bull’s horns.
Based mostly on the velocity of the offense and/or how they prefer to run the play, the gamers gained’t be positioned precisely on the elbows as you may see White is barely above, however you’ll be capable of inform that it’s nonetheless Horns.
The “Chest” half is an motion the Celtics have run a ton this season, and it’s when a participant units an on-ball display screen then receives a Flare display screen. The on-ball display screen could be a common display screen or a ghost display screen. Under is an instance of the Celtics operating Horns Chest to get Jaylen Brown a 3.
Chest actions can also occur at any time, not simply out of Horns alignment. Right here Joe Mazzulla calls it on a SLOB (sideline out of bounds) play.
Because the Celtics have run this principally to attain this season, I assumed it was good that they used it to get into one other motion. After the Chest motion, each White and Queta run in the direction of Jordan Walsh within the nook. Queta then receives the ball initiating the Flip Zoom. Zoom motion (additionally known as Chicago) is a pin down or off ball display screen right into a dribble handoff.
This specific play is named Flip Zoom as a result of as you see Walsh actually turns into the off-ball display screen. He will get simply sufficient of White’s defender which permits White to maintain the defender behind him on his option to a floater. Consider on this play that Ivica Zubac is in drop protection.
Subsequent, the Celtics run the identical play simply in a roundabout way out of Horns alignment.
White units the Ghost display screen, Queta units the Flare, then receives the rock as White goes over to Walsh. Walsh turns once more into the display screen, and the Celtics get into the play, however this time the Clippers play it in another way.
Final time, the Clippers had Zubac in drop protection which allowed White to drive and get a floater. This time Zubac hedges, not permitting White to simply flip the nook. Hedge = when the screener’s defender steps out on the handler to ideally cease the handler’s progress and permit his teammate to get again to the ball.
This places two defenders on the ball for only a break up second, which implies a two-on-one is created.
John Collins, who was guarding Walsh, now has to “tag” and cease Queta from rolling vast open to the basket. As he does that, it leaves Walsh open from three. Walsh doesn’t make them pay this time, however he’s been capturing 41% from behind the arc over his final 7 video games.
Right here we’ve the Celtics giving Pritchard the choice of two ball screens, and it creates a two-on-one.
This play begins with a Zipper reduce. Zipper reduce is when a participant receives a pin down display screen on the block and cuts by way of to the highest as Pritchard does on the play.
The timing on this play by the screeners was actually spectacular. Earlier than Pritchard totally turns round with the ball, Luka Garza is operating as much as set the display screen. Much more spectacular is Josh Minott. He’s going to purposefully run into Brook Lopez, permitting Garza to display screen freely. Pritchard rejects the Garza display screen with a spin transfer that negates the Lopez hedge on that facet. Him doing this now forces Harden to him, creating the two-on-one.
Garza rolling takes Lopez with him within the paint as Lopez holds his hand to remain hooked up (aww) which leaves Minott utterly open to catch and drive. Minott makes a pleasant play and hits Garza for the layup
The Celtics went again to Flip Zoom right here, and it will get White an open three.
On this one, you may actually see the advantages of turning into the display screen. Jordan Miller (#22) tries to really feel the place Minott is, and it appears to be like like as soon as he feels him go previous, he isn’t anticipating something. Nic Batum additionally sniffs out this play late, which supplies White all of the area he wants.
This play sees the Celtics operating extra Chest motion, resulting in an open lane for White.
Walsh and Queta set screens for White to get to the highest then every part begins. Pritchard units the ghost display screen and runs into the Flare by Queta. This may be simplified as Ghost Flare. The play creates two key benefits for White. First, Queta being all the best way on the three-point line brings Zubac with him and out of the paint. Second, Pritchard’s ghost display screen momentarily freezes White’s defender, simply lengthy sufficient for White to blow by and get downhill.
Subsequent, the Celtics go to “Flex” Motion which results in a Graza three.
Flex motion is a kind of screen-the-screener motion that entails a participant setting a Flex display screen then receiving a pin down. A flex display screen is when somebody units an off-ball display screen for somebody within the nook or quick nook for them to chop into the paint. The participant receiving the display screen can both reduce throughout the paint or baseline reduce.
Relying on who the principle choice is, the flex screener will elect to chop the display screen quick and simply race to the pin down. The play under is an instance of the Celtics utilizing it to get JB put up up place.
Steph Curry would in fact be the highest choice for the Warriors, so he simply runs to the pin down.
Right here the Celtics get it to Baylor Scheierman and an excellent pin down by Garza will get him free to drive. He drives at Zubac with Harden trailing which leaves the Garza pop open.
Brown and Queta run a easy unfold decide and roll, however Queta makes a pleasant play making certain the end for his teammate.
After setting the on-ball display screen, Queta units a “Gortat” display screen that retains Lopez from difficult Brown. A Gortat display screen is when the screener seals or obstructs the opposing large whereas a handler is driving. It’s often used to fight drop protection.
Former Celtic Daniel Theis used to do that lots and generally acquired foul requires it. Right here Queta does a pleasant job stopping Lopez from attending to Brown.
Lastly, the Celtics go to Spain Choose and roll.
Spain PnR in fact is a decide and roll in which there’s a again display screen on the ball screeners man. As a result of Lopez is taking part in above the three-point line, Brown doesn’t must display screen. White continues to dribble in the direction of Lopez and waits for his defender to get again to him, which will get Queta free. He finishes nicely.
