An Emphasis On The Post

by Jeff Clark on Oct 20, 2010 6:21 AM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

The Celtics became a very perimeter oriented team last year, relying too much on three pointers and not enough on "ramming it down low" as Tommy would say. Not that he was the whole of the problem, but nobody exemplified that problem more than Rasheed Wallace (especially during the regular season).

Enter Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal and you can't help but notice the difference already. But the coach doesn't want to stop there. He wants it to be a team effort.

Celtics’ inside looking out - BostonHerald.com

"I think Kevin this year can go back and be a post player," said coach Doc Rivers. "I thought he lacked that confidence with his health and all that. Shaq and J.O. can play there, and I think Paul has to get to the post more. We’re going to post Rondo up against smaller guards. We’re going to post Delonte (West) up. I told them all that. We have to get back to the post. We got away from it the whole second half of the year. We’ve got to get to it if we want to win games. "We cannot rely on being an outside shooting team. It’s just not going to win for us, not in big games."

Couldn't agree with him more. A good post game is a lot like a good running game in football. You pound away at the defense, wearing them down and shifting their focus. The result is opening up the long distance stuff (passing in football, jump shots in basketball).

I think it also helps to have some more people around the basket to establish position for rebounds. And not just the big guys either. Pierce and Rondo saw their boards slip last year, which didn't help out our overall numbers.

Seems like a good strategy to me. Hopefully the team will listen to the coach instead of following the example of the now retired Mr. Wallace.

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I hope they follow through on this strategy

Relying on a perimeter based offense is always a difficult proposition. Even the best offense, which we were not anyways, will inevitably hit a lull for a variety of reasons. It could be due to poor ball movement, lack of good shooters on the court at any time, or just plain missing shots. The best way to get through those lulls, is to dump the ball into the post and let your bigs get to work. It’s really basketball strategy 101 when you think about it.

by KG's Knee on Oct 20, 2010 8:00 AM EDT reply actions

Agree

Its also helpful that low post scoring attempts yield a much higher scoring % then perimeter scoring attempts.

by fordescort on Oct 20, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I loved hearing that...

from Doc as well.

That means Garnett is feeling better, if Doc is asking him to battle down low again. He will be a force down there. Sending Shaq, Jermaine, Rondo, West and anyone who has a mismatch puts great pressure on the defense and besides easier baskets, the hope is to get them in foul trouble earlier.

Bonus foul shooting situations (‘into the penalty’) is an under rated strategic advantage. The earlier, the better in each quarter.

But mostly, I’ll just love seeing the Celtics try and reek some damage down there.

by Tom Halzack on Oct 20, 2010 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

Agree, Agree, Agree

That is why I hated the Jim O’Brien style of ball…over reliance on the three…boring!

by thirstyboots18 on Oct 20, 2010 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

+1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

by aboubata on Oct 20, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

+222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222

by Mooose on Oct 20, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Rebounding is key

And although it’s just preseason, so far the Celtics are 29th in the league in rpg.

Can they get to at least top 15 this year?

by nba is the worst on Oct 20, 2010 9:03 AM EDT reply actions

Really? Ouch!

by clover on Oct 20, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Where did you read the C's are currently 29th in rebounds per game?

by Greg Payne on Oct 20, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

The Celtics are actually 10th in rebounds per game in the pre-season

http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable2.html?cnf=1&prd=1

Even better, their rebounding differential is second.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Oct 20, 2010 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

yea they outrebounded their oponents by an average of almost 10rebs

by aboubata on Oct 20, 2010 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's exactly what I was just looking at

by Greg Payne on Oct 20, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess that's what I get for using ESPN as my source..

My bad – they posted last year’s reg season numbers on their page of current events.

My apologies to all

by nba is the worst on Oct 20, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

No worries

I haven’t checked every stat outlet extensively, but NBA.com seems to be pretty up to date with basic preseason stats for players and teams.

by Greg Payne on Oct 20, 2010 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Dang it, went to the bathroom and beaten to the punch! They seem to be rocking it this year, though with people in and out for teams during the preseason, not sure how it translates over to the regular season.

by Taklamar on Oct 20, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Great--thanks for checking!

by clover on Oct 20, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes its great to have to solid low post players in Shaq and Jermaine on board...

the C’s depended on alot on a perimeter orientated offense last year at times with KG and Rasheed settling on alot of perimeter shots…hopefully with Shaq and Jermaine now on board KG will also take it to the hoop more often this year.

I love how Doc hopes and urges KG to get in the low post more often this year because though KG’s perimeter scoring when he uses his jumper is a weapon, he is at his best when he mixes in his jumper with his arsenal of low post scoring moves.

Also with the big men setting themselves up in the low post more often for offensive scoring attempts that should only help the offensive rebounding numbers since they will be better positioned to rebound since they will be close to the basket compared to out of position when they are trying to score from the perimeter…which as was the case with KG and Rasheed alot of times last year.

by fordescort on Oct 20, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

Remeber those stretches when the Cs could not score?

We all saw it last year when the Cs would clang jump shot after jump shot instead of trying to get something closer to the basket. Doesn’t it make sense to get closer to the target if you are missing the target? Higher shooting %s, more fouls drawn with the subsequent highly underrated more foul trouble for the other team, free throws, & a better chance to offensive rebound since you are so much closer to the basket. It’s an aggressive style, and most refs tend to reward aggressive play as opposed to the more passive, long jumper which very rarely gets you to the free throw line, and, at worst, will ignite a fast break the other way because of the long rebound. Outside shots are best when you start inside drawing the defense down & then kick it back out for a wide open shot. Let’s just hope they are very serious about an inside game & less jumper happy this year.

by Ibemebe on Oct 20, 2010 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Sweet deal

We have wave after wave of big men with skill to throw at teams down the post, other teams just can’t match up except for the Lakers with Bynum, Gasol and Odom. Our bigs can pretty much have their way with every other teams’ first and second units.

We should win the rebounding war and get to the charity stripe more often. Best way to score a three and wear down the other teams’ bigs. Great idea to post the guards up too. Teams will have to find multiple ways to defend us.

by Banner 18 on Oct 20, 2010 4:58 PM EDT reply actions