Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“I had drawn up another play and Armond Hill walked over and — he rarely does it — he said, ‘Hey, listen, the play you drew up from the first half worked, let’s run it again,’” explained Rivers. “And so I switched to the play he wanted me to run. And it was great, it worked out perfectly.”
Rivers had debated going with a straight pick-and-roll with Green and Garnett, hoping Green’s size and athleticism could force a mismatch. But, with Hill’s prodding, he elected to run Green off a back pick from Paul Pierce, who perfectly pinned David West, allowing Green to curl free to the rim after giving Garnett the ball at the left elbow.
* Garnett: “I saw Jeff Green open at the basket, and then I saw help come across the baseline. I thought I had a little bit extra on it, but he was open off the initial [move]. I just had to make sure he took the corner and I hit him with the pass. The first time I did it in the first quarter, I noticed, obviously Hibbert is a very long guy. … I noted to myself to wait until Jeff turned the corner and the guy’s hands go down. Second time, I just did that. I pump-faked and his hands went up, I saw his adjustment … and threw it right over the top of his hands to Jeff. Jeff made a tough, difficult layup for the game.”
* Green: “I had to come down with it first. The pass was high and I knew I had to come down, gather myself and go up strong. … I wanted the ball. But I had to be a great decoy and, like always, all the attention went to Paul and Kev. They doubled Kev on the pass and Kev made a great pass over the double-team. I went up, tried to go up strong and win it. … I’m really happy it went in. Great pass by Kev, great execution by us. It was a great draw-up by Doc.”
ESPN Boston – Breaking down Green’s game winner
Props to Doc Rivers for drawing up that great play and for listening to the advice of assistant coach Armond Hill.
I would have bet my children’s college fund (which currently sits at $37) on a Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett pick-and-roll/pop set on the final possession. Because we had to suffer through a Pierce isolation/contested jumper twenty seconds earlier, I had no reason to believe we’d see anything different.
But Doc Rivers wanted the ball in Jeff Green’s hands. Green wasn’t the hot hand (11 points, 5-14 FG), but Doc trusted him one-on-one against David West or Roy Hibbert.
Green deserves the trust. He’s averaging more than 15 points on 50% shooting in February and March.
And while I’m doling out gratitudes, how about Pierce basking in the role of decoy?
The fan reactions in that photo are priceless.
Related: Globe – Green enjoyed having final say | Herald – For C’s, play’s the thing Celts go Green | CSNNE – Green: I wanted the ball | WEEI – The true brilliance of Doc Rivers
The Celtics team defense – execution and strategy – deserves recognition. CSNNE’s Sherrod Blakely sheds light on a new hybrid scheme:
Because for the second time in as many nights, Boston’s ability to mix its man coverage with zone principles — or man principles with zone coverage depending on which side of the coin you’re staring at — has been a big part of the C’s success of late and was certainly a major factor in their 83-81 win over Indiana Wednesday night.
Boston’s defense in the fourth was phenomenal in limiting the Pacers to 4-for-20 shooting from the field, and scoreless for the final 4:36 of play.
“We were laughing,” Rivers recalled. “Someone called it a man-zone. We were half-zone, half-man … it was almost silly, it really was but it was really good.”
Rivers added, “We went into a time-out (on Wednesday), any pick-and-roll, we’re man (defensively). Any ball swing, we’re zone. They (Celtics players) figured it out. We’ve been doing that a lot lately.”
Dare I say the defense (7th in overall def efficiency) is championship-caliber? I think so.
It’s the offense and depth that hold this team back.
The rest of the links:
Globe – Celtics win out in end | ESPN Boston – Pierce battles bone bruise | Hanging around | Herald – Garnett hits Top 10 (rebounds) | CSNNE – Green, Bradley come thru in win | Doc: If you can get home court, you want it | Williams knows to stay ready |
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