Every game at every level shares 'teachable moments'. Here are a few from last night's Celtics - Clippers contest. Many of these plays inform 'classic' teaching, not just individual excellence, although there's some of that, too. Young players don't know what they don't know.
The clips open in a separate window on a loop.
One of the most common principles, "Draw 2" and pass. Tatum gets paint penetration and dishes for a three to Brown.
Option on an action. The Celtics run "snap" which is their term for Spain pick-and-roll (backscreen the roller). Here there's a high ball screen and instead of Kornet rolling into a Hauser screen, Hauser pops for three.
Defensive breakdowns occur at every level. Tatum pops after setting the screen and the Clips are out of position. Many teams switch these actions.
Choose your poison. The Clips elect to try to contain Brown on the high ball screen and Queta gets an easy lay-in on the roll.
Queta gets caught, stunting and retreating but helping up frees the dunker.
Help allows "2 into 3." Brown helps on the drive and the Clippers defeat the Celtics rotation with a three. Like it or not, this is the NBA in 2025.
In a game of mismatches, the Celtics find Brown with size and strength mismatch.
"An easy game to learn and a difficult one to master." Classic downhill drive off the high ball screen.
A core teaching for young players is "attack the front foot." Brown's closeout gets exposed.
Technique beats tactics. Porter Jr. attacks the shot blocker by "getting into the body" to create space to finish.
At every level, playing in traffic creates risk. White gets caught in the trees.
Short roll passing is a critical skill for players to develop. Kornet hits White off the short roll for a three.
