Williams and Pietrus Sparked Orlando's Fourth Quarter Runs

by Greg Payne on May 19, 2010 8:09 PM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

After Jason scores, it's your turn. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

I'm sure you remember the Celtics building double-digit leads early in the fourth quarters of both Games 1 and 2. I'm sure you also remember the Magic chipping away and practically overcoming those leads in both games. But did you notice exactly how the Magic initially cut into the leads in both games? How the kickoff to the comeback in Game 2 was practically identical to that of Game 1? Let's revisit:

With 8:42 left in the fourth quarter of Game 1, the Celtics led, 79-63. Dwight Howard had the ball in the post, and Rajon Rondo (I'm like 99% sure it was Rondo, but it could have been Ray Allen) went down to double-team him, leaving Jason Williams wide open above the three-point line. Howard made the smart play by kicking the ball out to Williams, who buried a three, cutting the Celtics' lead to 79-66. On Orlando's next possession, Mickael Pietrus spotted up for three on the left wing, and just like that, Boston's lead was sliced from 16 to 10. The Magic would proceed to outscore the Celtics 23-9 for the remainder of the game and ended up losing, 92-88.

Flash forward to the fourth quarter of Game 2. Rasheed Wallace had just buried a three-pointer in the corner in front of Orlando's bench with 11:40 to play, putting Boston up 81-70. The Celtics had a great opportunity to blow the game open, BUT...On Orlando's very next possession, Dwight Howard had the ball, was roaming across the paint, Rondo went to double-team him again, and once again he kicked it out to Williams who buried a three-pointer from the top of the key, bringing the Magic back within eight, 81-73. Then, on Orlando's next possession, guess what happened? Pietrus struck again. This time his toe was just on the three-point line, making his basket worth just two, but it brought the Magic back within six, 81-75 with 10:40 to play. The Magic outscored the Celtics, 17-14, for the remainder of the game and ultimately lost, 95-92.

So, let's recap: In both games, the Celtics lead by double digits early in the fourth, Dwight Howard gets unnecessarily double-teamed, he kicks it out to Jason Williams for a three, Mickael Pietrus follows with a bucket of his own, and the Magic proceed to outscore the Celtics the rest of the way.

This is just an eerie coincidence, right? Because, quite frankly, if you picked up on this happening in Game 2, it felt like deja vu, because it was practically identical to what happened in Game 1. But there's no way the Magic planned that, correct? It's not like Stan Van Gundy told his guys in the timeout: "We're going to run this play, assume Rondo's going to double Dwight, even though he appropriately hasn't all game, and then Dwight's going to hit you for a three, Jason. And then after we get a stop, it's your turn to hit, Michael."

Yeah, there's no way that happened. This has to be a coincidence. But a kind of strange one at that.

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Comments

Yup all they do is wait for doubleteams on Howard, and kick to open man

That is all Orlandos offense is. Garbage if you ask me, theyre going to die by the three, most of the time theyre not even moving without the ball they just wait for the double on Howard and chill at the three point line.

by j804 on May 19, 2010 8:24 PM EDT reply actions

You must not watch Orlando, ever.

Saying their offense is nothing but Dwight in the middle with guys standing on the three point line is the focal point of the offense, but there are plenty of plays that Orlando runs. Lots of pick and rolls (with the 1-2-4-5 players) etc.

by MagicMark on May 19, 2010 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions

their offense centers around howard finding open shooter from 3. most teams have to double off one of those

shooters leaving them wide open. boston doesn’t have to double howard and can stay home

by celticinorlando on May 19, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

and also boston plays the pick and roll better than most teams as well

garnett even if he has become slightly less mobile can still take up a lot of space while disrupting both players involved in the pnr

by MagicMark on May 19, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

key is not letting lewis go off....i will give howard his 30 points if lewis is controlled...plus rondo is playing

nelson well

by celticinorlando on May 19, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Boston’s defense takes away the pick and roll in a way that most other defenses don’t. Which is part of the reason we beat LA in 08 because a big portion of the “Triangle” is apparently pick and roll basketball.

In my eyes, and I fully admit that my peception would be wrong, Barnes seams like he is moving very very poorly without the ball compared to last year. You’ve watched him more this year MM, I don’t know what your opinion there would be.

He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.

by Kungfuguy on May 19, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Well the back spasms were reported before this series began.

He got Howard quite a few assists this year with hard cuts to the basket. He had to do that a lot because he was shooting an anemic 24% or so from three point land for the first 4 months of the season. If his back pain keeps up he might not play more than 15 minutes or so. He played better in game 2 so hopefully the few days between these games will allow him to function properly again.

and in Re: the triangle. I distinctly remember one of the daily dime live bloggers stating that the triangle offense does not use pick and roll that much. Said that even so, the Lakers run lots of pick and rolls to start the game out, using Bryant/Gasol.

by MagicMark on May 19, 2010 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

options can turn into pick and rolls

The triangle offense probes for defensive weaknesses and starts with nice spacing for open passing lanes. Once set up, there are many options that include off-ball movement and ball and off-ball screens. If there are one-on-one mismatches, then it’ll abuse the one-on-one match ups. The Lakers have a great two man combo in Bryant and Gasol so they’ll test teams with that. That’s why there’s a lot of pick and roll offense and it’s mostly because of Bryant and Gasol rather than because of the triangle offense.

by TangRen on May 19, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Point is....

Don’t double Howard, and yes it was Rondo both times.
Rondo was seen arguing with Tibbs pretty vociferously last night more than once.
Here’s hoping a little film session will show Rondo Tibbs knows what he’s talking about.

by Jaycelt on May 19, 2010 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

We double Howard on occasion

People act like we leave him 1v1 the entire game and then Rondo decides to double him for no reason. I’m pretty sure we double him some of the time just to throw different looks at him.

by BballTim on May 19, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Doc begs to differ

"It wasn’t their bigs in some places, it was their guards," Doc Rivers said. "[Matt] Barnes hurt us a couple of times. We double teamed three times and they scored all three times where we were not supposed to double team, and then the dribble penetration. [J.J.] Redick killed us off the dribble."

by Jaycelt on May 19, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

With the Lakers and the Celtics taking identical 2-0 leads in their respective series, it isn’t a far-fetch idea for me to see these teams clash in the NBA Finals. Here’s my take on this possible storyline…http://richavady.com/2010/05/20/celtics-and-lakers-possible-renewal-of-rivalry/

by richava on May 20, 2010 4:01 AM EDT reply actions