We’re again! Welcome to the 5 highest-IQ performs of the week!
Certain, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, however it is a place for the under-the-radar performs which 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 can be ranked from 5 to at least one—one being the neatest—and can solely be taken from video games that occurred inside the previous week. For this week, video games from December twenty fourth to December thirty first are thought of. The C’s went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Bulls, Kings and Clippers and a loss to the Nuggets.
5. Utilizing slowness to your benefit
Anthony Edwards as soon as mentioned that he realized his slow-step transfer from Luka Garza, and folks laughed. However Garza has lengthy been utilizing his lack of athleticism as a bonus. Right here, Batum will get fully confused and jumps approach too early to contest Luka’s layup. I don’t blame him, although; Garza throws an extremely heady and convincing up-fake throughout his first step (this is named a pinoy step), and he makes use of a brilliant sluggish second step to reap the benefits of Batum’s poor timing. Particular stuff from Garza.
You’ll typically hear coaches inform gamers to not throw cross-court passes, particularly these with numerous air time. However right here, White is aware of a lollipop move is the one approach for the ball to get via to the nook with out being intercepted, and he throws it early sufficient that the defender doesn’t have sufficient time to react to it—he actually passes Hauser open. Moreover, Garza makes an unbelievable last-second exit display screen to purchase Hauser a while, making for an superior zone buster.
3. Blind pig after which some
I mentioned the Celtics’ utilization of blind pig motion a pair weeks again in my Week 8 excessive IQ performs, however this play goes even one other step. Queta shortly pitches the ball over to White after which instantly dives to the ring and receives the pocket move again from him. It’s merely a extremely good play and a few fairly particular decision-making from Queta and White. That is the kind of fast and decisive passing that made Indiana so efficient final season. Fairly stuff.
The Celtics have the sixth highest offensive rebounding share within the NBA at 33.8%, and it’s an enormous cause why they’ve been so efficient offensively. A part of that is strategic crashing, although—Boston has clearly emphasised crashing from the nook. Nook gamers are sometimes not being guarded carefully as a result of their defender is the low man, so that they due to this fact have a protracted runway to the rim for putbacks with out going through a boxout. For gamers like Gonzalez, Walsh and others, this enables them to discover a function within the offense with out having to the touch the ball, and it additionally permits worse shooters who’ve much less gravity to be more practical function gamers.
1. Flare display screen on the transfer
One other big-time display screen right here from Queta, who’s growing into one of many smartest screeners in your complete NBA. As White begins his drive to the rim, Hauser strikes with him in the direction of the nook—that is an off-ball motion sample on the rise within the NBA, most notably utilized by the Grizzlies final 12 months and the Warmth this 12 months. However Neemy’s flare display screen offers Sam much more room, as a result of he is aware of Brook Lopez isn’t going to dash out to the perimeter—he’s extra involved with Derrick’s rim assault. That is such a sensible play and I’m actually undecided the best way to defend it. Nice stuff.
