We’re again! Welcome to the Celtics’ High-5 Highest IQ Performs of the Week!
Positive, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, however this can be a place for the under-the-radar performs that may not get the credit score they deserve. The performs that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The performs that even YOU might make in your weekly rec league recreation.
Every week, the performs will probably be ranked from 5 to at least one—one being the neatest—and can solely be taken from video games that occurred throughout the previous week. For this week, video games from February nineteenth to February twenty sixth are thought of. The Celtics went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Warriors, Lakers and Suns, however a loss to the Nuggets.
5. Easy however efficient persistence
This play appears easy, however I like Queta’s persistence and greed relating to discovering one of the best out there move. After bigs get offensive rebounds, so lots of them generally tend to kick it out to the primary open shooter earlier than completely surveying their choices. Right here, although, Neemy forgoes pitches to each White and Pritchard earlier than finally discovering Brown for the even-more-open three. It’s about going from an okay shot, to a great shot, to an important shot. The sport is slowing down for him earlier than our eyes.
I’m unsure whether or not Hauser is improvising right here or this can be a deliberate minimize, nevertheless it’s a heady play nonetheless. When Pritchard’s ghost display screen ends in a short second of house, it’s Sam’s defender who’s chargeable for a stunt at PP. However when Hauser 45 cuts (a minimize from the wing), he forces even Porzingis to spend an additional break up second worrying about his rim presence, which makes the Latvian’s closeout to Vucevic worse than it ought to be. Think about what this play seems to be like if Hauser stays—or don’t, and I’ll spell it out for you. Sam in all probability will get swung the ball, however Porzingis is shut sufficient to protect each him and Vucevic with their poor spacing, forcing him into both a contested shot or a poor further move with unhealthy spacing. Stunning chopping instincts from Hauser right here.
The Celtics performed plenty of drop protection this week—which, greater than every other pick-and-roll protection, necessitates lively and intense guard protection. It forces the participant defending the ball-handler to normally path the offensive participant whereas nonetheless in some way affecting his pull-up bounce shot. On this play, White successfully trails Cam Johnson and in some way will get a rear view block—one thing he’s higher at than in all probability every other NBA participant— though he will get caught on the display screen. Particular restoration from White.
2. Retaining everybody on their toes
As precisely introduced by Invoice Simmons on a current podcast, Boston’s pathway to dominance this season has adopted a transparent method: Brown+White+Pritchard+guys who work laborious. However how do you discover guys who will persistently play with above-average depth and energy? You make no person really feel totally protected and comfy of their function, and also you randomly begin Ron Harper Jr. over gamers who’ve usually been within the rotation. Mazzulla’s willingness to shake issues up and hold guys on their toes has been refreshing and enjoyable, and I believe it has pressured gamers like Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez, and Hauser to do the little issues in the event that they wish to keep on the ground, which has, in flip, made them higher gamers. Baylor is unexpectedly an elite defender and rebounder?
1. Hugo’s rising confidence
I like a few issues that Gonzalez does on this spotlight play. First, I recognize the truth that he instantly extra-passes the ball to Harper Jr. with out spending even a break up second contemplating a shot or drive—this offers Ron extra time to function and decide. Then, Hugo backpedals alongside the arc, giving Harper Jr. more room and forcing tougher closeouts for each Podziemski and Porzingis, which then permits Gonzalez to assault house and present us a few of what he has been engaged on with the developmental coaches.
