For the primary time this season, the Celtics allowed their opponents an effectivity above 70% on each layups and floaters. This wasn’t brought on by a excessive transition quantity, however somewhat by a half-court defensive collapse. The Sixers posted a 1.19 points-per-possession effectivity in non-transition conditions, their third-highest mark of the season. Solely Washington and Chicago supplied weaker opposition to Phily this yr.
The place did that collapse come from, and why has the pick-and-roll protection been such a difficulty in these newest video games? Let’s return to the movie and determine it out.
On this primary play, you’ll acknowledge a set that the Celtics run usually, and they need to be able to defend it, as they’ve been practising it for years now underneath Joe Mazzulla.
You may see right here why Jordan Walsh has typically struggled in on-ball protection. His anticipation and display navigation aren’t ok to persistently keep linked to the ball handler. Nevertheless, in drop protection just like the Celtics are taking part in, the on-ball defender wants to remain hooked up to his man to keep away from a defensive breakdown.
Then comes Quentin Grimes’ again display on Nikola Vucevic, which creates one other drawback. The large man can’t execute the drop as a result of he’s additionally caught within the display. It then turns into Payton Pritchard’s job to decelerate the drive, however he commits his steps too early, permitting Tyrese Maxey to go round him.
On this possession, Baylor Scheierman comes excessive sufficient to guard in opposition to a right-hand drive whereas nonetheless staying shut sufficient to Paul George to contest a possible shot. Nevertheless, the weakside assist from Jaylen Brown is nowhere to be discovered.
However Jordan Walsh isn’t the one one who struggled with display navigation. Derrick White additionally had a tough time maintaining with Tyrese Maxey, and navigating (shifting?) screens from Joel Embiid is at all times robust.
Then comes the big-man concern: the Celtics don’t have a middle who can backpedal and execute strong drop protection, particularly on excessive ball screens. Watch Neemias Queta’s ft and hips—it’s a large number, and Maxey can beat him in a second, whereas Jayson Tatum takes too lengthy to commit because the strong-side helper.
There are a number of possessions the place it’s laborious to grasp the defensive decision-making. Right here, Tatum doesn’t affect both the drive or the passing lane, Brown’s physique orientation opens a freeway for Paul George, and Vucevic doesn’t disrupt the two-man motion in any respect.
The display navigation points are the place all of it begins as a result of they offer the ball handler far an excessive amount of freedom. Have a look at the dearth of depth on this possession from JB. He jogs and doesn’t combat over the display, which provides PG area and momentum to assault Vucevic, who is thought for poor rim safety. Once more, there isn’t any dedication or assist from the weakside by both White or Tatum.
Right here once more, the defensive shell breaks after one other ball-screen motion. Jayson Tatum can’t sustain with VJ Edgecombe, which triggers assist from Sam Hauser, who forgets about Kelly Oubre behind him. When the Sixers wing cuts, he has sufficient area to complete and attracts one other taking pictures foul from Queta.
To keep away from Joel Embiid’s screening motion, the Celtics change Jaylen Brown onto the massive man, however the measurement mismatch is simply too important and rapidly forces Queta to assist, resulting in one more taking pictures foul.
Nonetheless, as a result of drop protection in opposition to Embiid screening actions has been so problematic, the Celtics will doubtless want to regulate their protection—or execute it much better than what we noticed in Sport 5.
