The Celtics traveled to Toronto to face the Leonard-led Raptors. We learn by studying how teams attack and defend each other.
First, I digress into the "A League..." Dr. Jane Goodall had initial training in secretarial school and waitressed to earn money to go to Kenya. There, she met anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, became his secretary, and ultimately earned an opportunity for a six-month grant studying chimpanzees in the wild...in Tanganyika (Tanzania today). She had no college degree, no formal training, but an insatiable curiosity and desire to understand animal behavior. The rest is history.
Watch, listen, study, and learn from the best...NBA players.
Celtics analyst Brian Scalabrine always reveals his game knowledge and I chip in a few observations.
"Move bodies. You've gotta play fast and move the ball."
"Toronto switching all on-ball and off-ball screens." (noting Raptors' length and athleticism)
"...exceptional drive-and-kick game. Boston has to contain the ball." They didn't as Lowry's shotmaking off screens and playmaking sank the green (see final diagram later).
"The 'sweet spot' early is the Celtics going inside out, feeding the post then throwing cross-court." (Pass penetration then ball reversal...Al Horford had nine assists)
"Good hustle by the Celtics, getting back and running guys off the three." The Celtics did not maintain that commitment to contain the three and Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, and Kawhi Leonard made them pay (9 for 17).
One theme for 2018 is combatting total switching. Here Rozier (2) feeds Morris (4) who gets the cross-screen switch from Irving (1).
Celtics lead by 7 after one. Why? The Good? Celtics have 15 rebounds, 8 assists. The Bad? They are shooting 27% from three and have 6 turnovers. Toronto had 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
"He (Smart) can guard all five...Smart is everywhere right now."
"If you ever make a mistake with Kawhi Leonard, he's gonna score...he can read the defense so well."
"If you're going to switch, you've gotta to switch up, high, and to the body." Switching means more than exchanging assignments. It requires sustaining pressure. The Celtics didn't do that enough.
"Eye fake...just looked at the rim...and Danny Green flew by."
"We've go to get back to being the harder playing team." - Brad Stevens (via sideline reporter Abby Chin)
"...the ball moving side to side, putting Toronto in rotation opens the wide open three."
Celtics high PnR into corner 3 for Tatum off the help from x4 with Horford (5) assist.
"Marcus using his body..." (see yesterday's PnR piece...as Marcus Smart got the defender on his hip)...understanding builds on everything else.
"Lowry dips into the paint (drive above) and excellent cut (by Leonard) for the two." Elite elegance often has roots in simple actions. "Movement kills defense."