Pregame Brad Stevens, "Robert Williams and other elite rollers drag defenders from the perimeter and set up kickouts for threes."
Scalabrine:
"Make Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond come out to the perimeter." The Celtics didn't. Griffin backed guys down en route to 27 points and Drummond hung a 19 and 20 double double on the Celtics.
NBA teams take advantage of switching defenses. An early Pistons set got big on small.
"Blake Griffin has really adapted to today's game as a Point 5...ability to shoot the three off the dribble."
During the Celtics' eight-game win streak, the opponents' winning percentage was .352.
Rule of verticality, "To be considered vertical, a defender must: Be in the air to defend the shot when contact occurs. If the player is on the ground inside the restricted area, with his arms “vertical” when contact occurs, he will be assessed a blocking foul."
Gordon Hayward gets a "relocation" assist by emptying a driving lane for Marcus Morris, Sr. Most young players do not understand the value of emptying space.
"Protect penetrating passes by ball pressure." This especially matters with a potent post-up game (Drummond) and on lobs with sealed defenders.
"Tatum, so much bigger and stronger...can't push him off his spot."
(Marcus Smart with consecutive airballs on threes. Home announcers don't comment.)
Brad Stevens, "the goal is to get better every day."
"You can't tell who has control of this game." (This is followed by a Piston run...)
Late inbounds play by Pistons
Lagniappe: via Chris Oliver
Screen-the-screener gets entry, and the initial screener scores off the DHO.Pick the picker action to get entry, followed by a fake handoff for the inbound passer into a 2 player dribble handoff from the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/DZO8sS3cwe— Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) December 16, 2018