The advent of the Boston Celtics also marks the continuity of the evolution of our game. It is perhaps the most successful version of spacing that the NBA has known. This is the final result of the takeover of “hybrids” Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett or Kevin Durant to name a few. This is the result of the revolution brought about by Stephen Curry with ever more distant shots.
In an NBA where certain players who arrived as guards (Jimmy Butler or Paul George for example) are today considered as wingers and sometimes even full-time power forwards, Boston has reached the height of this evolution. Their two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are interchangeable in several positions, offensively and even more defensively. They are a sort of strong wing-back spreading out over the classic positions 2, 3 and 4, other times well marked. They shoot, drive, exploit mismatches and create gaps for their team.
Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are two guards who we cannot clearly say whether to list them as point guard, guard or even wingers. They defend on Kyrie Irving on the perimeter and on Luka Doncic in the low post. They initiate Boston’s attack on pick and roll like traditional point guards or stay in a corner for 24 seconds like a perfect winger role player.
Kristaps Porzingis brings the end of the equation (and evolution). The original “unicorn” spreads the game as far as possible for a position 5. He sometimes spends all possessions behind the 3-point line, to the great dismay of some of his illustrious elders, whom he relegates to the rank of ancestor. But it still brings some elements of the dinosaurs of the racket. Threat at mid distance and in the low post, and circle protection in the back curtain. His injury finally forced Boston to press an even more advanced version of the “5out”. With the (very!!) astonishing Xavier Tillman but especially with the veteran Al Horford.
Starting 5 Jrue Holiday Derrick White Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum and Al Horford is the ultimate version of interchangeability. Holiday, the smallest of the 5, is often the one who does most of his work in the racket. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Daniel Gafford or Kyrie Irving, the entire squad switches excessively without even trying to fight on the screens.
When Tatum and Brown attack the rim, it’s impossible to help without leaving a shooter open, making turnovers a nightmare.
Analytical statistics have flooded the NBA for a few years now. These Boston Celtics demonstrated it the most. 3 rather than 2. Two-point shot up close rather than at mid distance. Lay ups, dunks, throws, 3-pointers. In defense, the switch rather than the drop, we take 2 rather than 3.
Finally Antoine Pimmel told us, if the Celtics win, it’s “just” mathematical.
2024-06-14 10:33:49
#Boston #shoot #stronger
