How To Beat The Celtics
by Jeff Clark on Jan 28, 2008 1:00 AM EST
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33 comments
The league has been trying to figure out how to beat the Celtics for the first 3 months of the season. Through January 5th, the team was 29 – 3 (an amazing 90% winning percentage). Lately, teams are finding a lot more success against the Celtics. In the last ten games, the Celtics have lost half of them.
Granted, it is much easier beating the Celtics without Kevin Garnett, but even when he’s been in there, the losses have mounted lately. Recently, even the wins Celts have been too close for comfort over teams that would have been blown out in the first few months.
So what’s the deal? How are these teams doing it? How do you beat the Celtics? I don’t presume to know as much as the NBA scouts do, but I have a few ideas of how teams have started attacking the Celts. Here is a blueprint for Celtics opponents:
1. Play Physical – "Hack-a-Celt"
It is no secret that the Celtics big stars are all over 3o years old. Early in the season that wasn’t so big a concern. But now that the games are piling up and the bodies are wearing down, it becomes harder to bounce back from a hard foul. It also slows the pace of the game and forces the Celts to play a style of basketball that limits them offensively.
Example: Sacramento Kings on 12/29/07 – They pushed, grabbed, held, scraped, scrapped, and did everything but bite the Celtics. Sure, they lost, but they also went on a 14-1 run in the 3rd quarter which made a game they had no business being in a lot closer.
The Catch: Sometimes this style of play gets Kevin Garnett fired up. You don’t want to do that. It also makes guys like Perkins and Posey even more ornery than they normally are on defense. You don’t want that either.
2. Talk Trash To Paul Pierce
You really don’t want to get KG mad, but you kinda do want to get Pierce upset. Sure, Pierce plays off his emotion and sometimes he’ll use that fire to slice your defense apart. But once he gets going, the best thing you can do is to egg him on. Once he gets past a certain point, he’s going to keep jawing and keep focusing on you instead of the game. He’ll be distracted and maybe do something to hurt the team.
Example: Knicks game on 1/21/08 – Pierce and Richardson got called for matching technicals for yappin’ at each other. Did that stop either one? Nope, a few minutes later they were both tossed. The Celtics still won the game, but the Knicks would sacrifice Q to get Paul out of the game every day of the week. Another example is when Pierce pushed Jamal Tinsley in the playoffs a number of years back.
The Catch: Once again, you really don’t want to fire up KG. I can’t stress this enough.
3. Pressure Ball Handlers Not Named Rondo
Rondo is too quick and too sure-handed to pressure. You’ll just end up chasing him down the court. Not so with anyone else on the roster. House doesn’t make good enough decisions under pressure. Tony Allen is a Tazmanian Devil bringing the ball up. He’s just as likely to dunk on all 5 defenders as he is to dribble it off his foot. If you can get them to make Ray Allen bring the ball up, even better because then he isn’t running off screens developing a rhythm and knocking down 3s.
Example: All season long and in particular when Rondo was out.
The Catch: Sooner or later the C’s will sign a backup point guard and this will be a moot point. Even if they don’t, Doc will work with the team to pass the ball up the court instead of dribbling it. If they work on that enough, they will get more layups than turnovers out of full court pressure.
4. Zone
Similar to playing physical, going to the zone has been known to disrupt the Celtics offense. The pick and roll is less effective and screening for Ray and Paul doesn’t do much against a zone.
Example: The Wizards beat the Celts twice in a row (1/12/08, 1/14/08) in part by using zone defense. Doc mentioned that the team didn’t move the ball well enough to make the defense pay. The 3 ball simply wasn’t falling either.
The Catch: If Ray Alllen, Eddie House, and/or Paul Pierce get hot from outside, abort plan immediately.
5. Hit All Your 3 Pointers
Ok, so this is a plan that every team would like to implement. Still, if a team has good shooters and can knock down open looks, they can beat the Celtics or any team for that matter. Just like in March Madness, except that in the NBA playoffs you have to do it over 4 games.
Example: The Raptors on 1/23/08 – The Raps shot 71% from down town (15-21) and beat the Celtics.
The Catch: Live by the 3, die by the 3. Right Jim O’Brien?
So there you have it. I’m sure I’m missing some more plans that have been tossed around and attempted but you get the idea. For every plan, there’s a catch. The best laid plans are not worth much if the Celtics are focused and executing the way they can.
The more teams learn how to beat the Celtics, the more the Celtics will build up defenses against those tactics. The playoffs are a given. Home court is a decent goal. But the biggest thing the Celtics are doing right now is learning how to win in any environment against anything the league can throw at them.
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I don’t think the zone will be effective for long… not if the Cs can adjust. A team with KG and 3pt threats really shouldn’t sweat a zone. Work the ball around to get KG the ball in a seam somewhere along the free throw line. Either he gets a J.. or guys collapse and he hits the open man, whether it be a cutter or a wide open 3.
You missed:
1. attempt knocking out Rondo with no repercussions.
2. Convince Doc to play Scalabrine 20 mins ;)
by cmoney on Jan 28, 2008 2:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Here are two more:
1. The only teams we have lost to twice this year have big, offensive minded dominant 3s (Butler and Turkoglu/Lewis – take your pick). I am not buying into this whole PP is a much better defensive player this year. Sure, he’s better than he was but that’s not saying much. The solution is to play against these teams with a different line up (at least for a while) – With PP as 2 and Posey as 3.
2. Our lineup is too rigid. We lost to an Orlando team that plays with two 3.5s (Turkoglu/Lewis) and to Charlotte who plays a similar lineup (Wallace/ Richardson). I am not saying we should change our starting line up every other day but we are not asking our opponents to think even for a second. Why can’t we start a game here and there with KG at 5 next to Big Baby/Posey at 4? We need to make the other side think as well.
by asterix on Jan 28, 2008 5:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Celtics are losing because the players haven’t bothered to bring their brains with them to the games. Their recognition of what’s happening on the court has been awful.
Has nothing to do with the opposition.
by Who on Jan 28, 2008 5:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeff, an excellent analysis. Items left “unsaid” could be…allow the Celtics to beat themselves! (i.e.)
1. One-on-one play against developing double/triple defenses (trying to do it all alone)
2. Sloppy passes encouraging defenders to “overplay” their man placing defenders in convenient passing lanes (for a steal)
3. Too much defensive cushion when defending on the outside. This hardly applies to the inside “bigs” but certainly applies to Rondo
4. Too much reliance on the 3-point shot and not enough emphasis on penetration/inside play
5. Taking defensive “time-off”, especially getting back on defense in a timely manner
6. Too much reliance on a predictable “offensive system” (This is a veteran team yet they frequently play like rookies…when being overplayed, the logical reaction is to “cut” toward the basket but ALAS, our bigs are “parked” there….need to rotate bigs/others through the inside to allow periodic penetration lanes for players on the outside being “over-played”
7. Being more patient and “intelligent” in creating offense by remembering that we shoot a higher percentage when the shots are uncontested…as for inside play, give KG more room to operate by frequently discontinuing the double low post…too much inside congestion
by moskqq on Jan 28, 2008 5:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
As always, better ball and player movement creates more open lanes for both passing and player penetration. The ultimate goal is to create open looks on offense, preferably closer to the basket where the shooting percentage is higher.
We are “undermanned” as a team. We lack good replacements when our “key” players are injured, yet we retain a 13 man instead of a 15 man roster.
by moskqq on Jan 28, 2008 5:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Here’s a quote I came across about the Celtics in the Chicago Tribune.
An NBA scout recently made some interesting observations about Boston in their recent losses to the Wizards. He said without a legitimate point guard in close and end-of-game situations, Pierce dominates the ball to the detriment of Allen and KG. He also said the Celts play a 1-3-1 offense against zone defenses and struggle with it without a true PG. Players like Posey and House either make all thier shots or miss them. Allen is the best outside shooter but can be bothered by big guards.
Make of that what you will
by Who on Jan 28, 2008 5:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
they are also getting into the habit of standing around on offense. opponents have been getting a lot of d boards when kg is the 5 and doc is doing his small ballitis.
by nazzbo on Jan 28, 2008 7:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
how to beat the celtics without Garnett…
keep G Davis on the bench and play scali 22 minutes of 1 reb ball, but even worse 1 pt, i think big baby would have got a double double in 22 minutes like Powe almost did. Also big baby passes well and comes up with steals and would have tired out d howard in the paint , the magic would be at a loss trying to rest DH because big baby would be playing as well as Powe
by perk on Jan 28, 2008 8:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Play Posey at the 4. Oops, Doc has to do that. But if he does rejoice, for lo, because the C’s have surrendered you the boards!
(I would ahve liked to see how “Elbows” Howard would have liked bumping with Big Baby D—he might not have been able to side around him quite so easily).
by Tenacious D on Jan 28, 2008 8:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Great article! Pierce, he’s always been like that. I’m less incensed by it now that he’s playing D and looking to pass. In past seasons, he’d bull his way to the rim 45 times & get called for Offensive fouls or take fifteen 35 ft shots early in the clock. At least he’s learned (or been told to) not to do that.
PG pressure? Yeah House can’t handle it and TA is a turnover waiting to happen 50% of the time.
Zone? The C’s can easily beat that with their passing. They just have to recognize that defense when it’s being used.
3pters? Just play man to man and don’t double teams like the Raptors.
by LuckyNumber07 on Jan 28, 2008 8:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Give Doc a break, it isn’t his fault they’ve lost 5 or their last 10 games.
Teams can either win or lose.
They still have the best record in the league and plenty of time to learn to play better.
But I really believe now that that truly need a veteran PG.
Cassell would be huge, Stoudamire would help.
Get one and a healthy KG back, things will be just fine.
Again, leave Doc alone…IMO, it’s not his fault.
by mcpu40 on Jan 28, 2008 10:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
It is partially Doc’s fault for the losses. He makes dumb mistakes in the wins too, but the talent has masked a lot of Doc’s mistakes. I hope he proves me wrong, but I think Doc will cost this team dearly come playoff time.
by Bankshot on Jan 28, 2008 11:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
mcpu40, it’s never Rivers’ fault, is it?
Rule of thumb.
Hang around and stay close in the 4th quarter. Rivers will universally get outcoached in crunch time.
cmoney, Rivers has had several seasons to get the C’s to adjust to a zone….Since the offense appears to be in his hands. None of his teams have. No reason to believe that will change.
by iowa plowboy on Jan 28, 2008 11:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
What will cost this team dearly come playoff time is the lack of a veteran point guard.
IF they have the fortune of signing Cassell (especially), and a healthy roster, I think they could truly do some damage in the playoffs.
IF, come playoff time, they have Rondo being backed up by Eddie House, they’ll struggle like they did with Minnesota the other night, and with Orlando when Rondo went out yesterday.
Period.
Doc will be fine, I believe in him (though I know many posters on this board don’t).
by mcpu40 on Jan 28, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Have the refs give you every single call. Every loss we’ve had this year can be pinned on horrible officiating.
by sexyscottish on Jan 28, 2008 11:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I offer a counter point.
First, imagine that your Boston Celtics, who are playing with their heart and soul, are reading your blog entry. Maybe KG, who was so committed to winning that he was too upset to come out in his street clothes because he was taken out of the game to protect his injury, is reading your blog. They came back from one of the most dismal seasons in their history last year to record one that is record breaking in performance. They have scrapped most of the team to start anew, and they have the best record in the league. Maybe the bench, who people say was shallow and weak, who have competed at their highest potential to make the All Stars proud, are reading it. Where is your Celtic Pride? I am proud as can be of our boys.
Here’s my take. Every team that plays the Celtics kicks up their performance to playoff level. If teh Celtics lose a few games by a handful of points this year, it is to be expected. However, this is great because when the Celts go into the post season, they will be used to playoff intensity and they will be in a groove. Secondly, the Celtics have been playing the bench beautifully to keep everyone motivated, getting used to working together where everyone makes a conribution, and constantly improving. The team has gelled into roles. Powe for rebounds and putbacks, House for 3’s, Perkins had an All Star week finishing inside, Paul can drive and get fouled at will as well as shoot from anywhere, Ray can do it all â€" shoot the 3, drive, dish, etc., Toni Allen can come in and fill a multiple of rolls from shooting, to sticking with a big guard, to cutting to the hoop, KG does what Bird did â€" play great and make everyone better, leading by example. Rondo has talent and skills that are amazing. He can drive and make Jordanesque layups (yeah, I said it), steal like Clyde, rebound, and run the team. Posey can come in and shake things up when things go into a lull. Big Baby is promising as a Barkleyesque rebounder and small center. I can go on and on. What more can you ask of human beings?!
Are they perfect yet? No. Rondo could work on his jumper, and they need to get more rebounds, especially offensive ones. Their defense is number one in the league, but still you pick it apart. Building a team is a process. They are moving ahead at light speed.
Boy did you get spoiled by their unbelievable record. You expect a win every game. Sure they play for it, but it is an unreasonable expectation. In Orlando. they came back from down 16 to take a lead and stave off a late 4th quarter run to tie it at 93 with 14 seconds left. Turkoglu made an unbelievable shot at the buzzer. Did you want Pierce to foul him and send him to the line? All he could do is play him tight. Paul mad him take a 3 when all that was needed was a duece or even a single freethrow. Paul made him take a tough shot at the buzzer. Sometimes, a great NBA player will make a great play, and there isn’t anything that anyone can do about it. The Celts did fantastic with out KG in Orlando. And the raptors must have made a pact with the devil to shoot 71% from 3’s and yet the Celtics were in it to the end. I am proud of them. They will be in the playoffs, the championship game and they are developing so that they will get their rings.
Remember, what would the guys say if they read your blog picking them apart? I say, thanks to the team with the biggest heart in the NBA. Don’t break it.
by Mr. Mark on Jan 28, 2008 12:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
:D about all of the calls going against us.
Except when he shoots without doing anything else, Paul could be called for traveling or a charge just about any time he touches the ball. He gets less calls than the primadonna, but Paul gets as many calls as Kobe, Wade, Nash, O’Grady, Tank Carter, Anthony, or the thugster.
Like any of the above, the games would be a lot more fun to watch if the rulebook applied to them as it does everybody else….and the games that these players participate in wouldn’t have a Donaghyesque doubt about their outcome.
by iowa plowboy on Jan 28, 2008 12:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Make Doc Rivers Coach. That is the key to the game. You can beat the C’s if it is a close game and Doc has to make important rotation decisions.
by RonJohn on Jan 28, 2008 1:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It blows my mind how many people are anti-Doc; it really does.
I know we are all entitled to our opinions, etc.
But how people can just blame him for losses is beyond me.
by mcpu40 on Jan 28, 2008 1:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
LOL, if the guys on the team read this blog, they’d laugh at how little we understand all the hundreds of ways teams try to beat them every night – they would say we don’t know the half of it
it boils down to execution – none of this is new to them or us
they’ll get back to winning a lot of games but yes, we did get spoiled too ;)
by Jeff Clark on Jan 28, 2008 1:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Do you know if the guys on the team actually do read this rag?
by mcpu40 on Jan 28, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I was amazed the Celtics did so well yesterday without KG. Perk, Rondo, Powe and Baby are improving every game. Posey is so consistent what a pick up for the Celtics he reminds of Tom Sanders. We are one Vet point guard away to help balance the team. I still think the same way since the beginning of the year Powe and Baby can dominate the boards and can score underneath and they both should be playing 15 minutes every night. They will help keep KG and Perk fresh for the Playoffs.
by CelticsWin on Jan 28, 2008 1:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
STOPING their HOT player !
My idea is simple, 8 losses 8 guys that have been hot against us in the critical time!
8 “one on one” that our defender (covering their hot guy) lost in the critical time of the game!
Had we stop those players getting HOT or reducing their “hot” time, we could have still been on our way to the Bulls record. (even if I do really care about it as long as we get banner 17)
Here are the 8 losses and the opposition hot guy and our man covering him during the critical time in details:
Orlando (1) : Lewis (Garnett)*
Detroit : Billups (Rondo)
Cleveland : Gooden (Garnett)
Charlotte : Richardson (Pierce)
Washington (1) : Jamison (Garnett)*
Washington (2) : Buttler (Pierce)
Toronto : Calderon (Rondo)
Orlando (2) : Turkoglu (Pierce)
- = Games I missed on TV so not sure about who was the hot guy against us…
Of course here his just what I noticed and I understand that most of you would ask : “great, now what are you suggesting us to do…?”
My point is at least we understand that our team as a whole hasn’t been that much OUTPLAYED so far and it was just because we didn’t use the right COVER/DEFENDER against their hot guys down the stretch…
I think it’s good to know…
So if such a pattern appears again in another we can start trying things (double teaming, using Posey to cover theiur hot guy, etc.) to try and stop their go-to guy…
PS : Have one of you guys noticed in one of the games we lost Posey defending the opposition hot guy unsuccessfully down the stretch ??? I don’t !!! If you do please share…
Thanks
DrogbaGarnett
by drogbagarnett on Jan 28, 2008 2:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
They have trouble with zones because they dribble too much. You
beat a rinky dink High School zone by passing. If they walk it
up it works against Rondo’s style of play. The better defense they play the more they can run off defensive rebounds and
steals. But if the Cs lose by a last second heave with Garnett not playing and Ray Ray shooting poorly, I would say that the Cs are in pretty good shape. They probably need a back up PG who can spell Rondo and is not at risk of turning the ball over. But I would like to see Pruitt get some minutes. Maybe he is the Gomes of 2008. I thought that Davis would be the Gomes of 2008. But he has played so well that even myopic Doc has to use him.
by Greg37 on Jan 28, 2008 3:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If Pruitt is the Gomes of 2008 it’ll take injuries to every one and two on the roster for him to see any minutes.
The key to beating this team is to be within striking distance at crunch time. We’ll almost never guard the inbounds pass so it’s pretty easy to prepare and practice game ending play. Rivers will always go against percentages in an effort to outsmart himself. Rivers will always get outcoached in crunch time…period. Hell, he was outcoached by Randy Wittman.
by iowa plowboy on Jan 28, 2008 3:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
SI has all these players needing to be traded.
Veteran Point Guards abound:
Mike Bibby
Delonte West
Jason Kidd
J.R. Smith
Luke Ridnour
Earl Watson
by mcpu40 on Jan 28, 2008 3:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Foul Perk or Rondo neither is a FT shooter
Make Tony Allen think he is a ball handler ;D
by billysan on Jan 28, 2008 4:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Rondo is hurt and slowed and teams know it. They’ve been abusing him in the pick and roll ever since his injury and that has really hurt the Celtics overall defense. Once he and KG get healthy again, I think we’ll be fine in that regard.
by dobbs on Jan 28, 2008 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Truth has been spoken. Doc’s ineptitude has been masked this year cause we have a much better team that has won in spite of Doc. Come playoff time, opposing teams will have re-figured Doc’s coaching weaknesses and it will be over in pretty quick; we will be back to square one with three stars one year older, more injury prone, and one step slower in their game.
by Reyquila on Jan 28, 2008 4:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
1. Get Perk or Rondo in foul trouble.
1a. If Perk, crash the offensive boards regardless of who comes in for Perk.
1b. If Rondo, press full court regardless of who comes in for Rondo.
2. Get KG in foul trouble.
2a. Penetrate into the lane to either get a foul, a bucket or a dish for an open shot.
2b. Crash the boards regardless of who comes in for KG.
3. At this point, cover PP and let Ray shoot until he shows he’s not having an off night. He’s off far more often than he’s on since November.
4. Use Veal’s man to double the C’s other big man. Sadly, this is still an option because Veal is still getting minutes.
by slamtheking on Jan 28, 2008 5:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You don’t have to do anything special to beat the Celtics except (1) play zone, and (2) trap, epecially when Rondo isn’t on the floor (although Rondo can also be trapped).
Over the last 10 games the Celtics are 5-5 and their schedule hasn’t been very difficult. Three of those losses came at home, and over that stretch their record against teams with a .500 or better record is 1-4, even though they have not played a singe “elite” team (e.g. Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Detroit). Pierce looks like he’s playing at half speed on offense, settling for jumpers instead of going to the rack. Ray Allen’s shooting percentage of the last ten games must be under 30 percent. The little nagging injuries are starting to take their toll, as they do with every NBA team at this stage of the season. Garnett, Rondo, Posey, Scalabrine and Ray Allen have missed games due to injury. Pollard has been injured most of the time. And don’t get me started on Rivers.
Right now this is a very ordinary team, and they have been beaten in a number of very ordinary ways. The only think keeping them from a long losing streak has been their defense, and the stellar 4th quarter play of Garnett on several occasions.
by Brickowski on Jan 28, 2008 6:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The celtics look tired compared to the 1st 30 games. Doc is starting to use Powe, Pruitt, Davis more. I think they have to find out now how their bench plays. If you get the 3 stars playing 32 minutes a game I believe they can still win the game and strengthen their team.
by CelticsWin on Jan 29, 2008 7:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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