Lowe on the Celtics "X-Ing Out"

[Big333223]

From this week's 10 Things, you'lll have to follow the link to watch the video:

6. The Celtics, masters of the X-out

Ho-hum: Boston is again holding opponents to a minuscule mark from deep -- 32.8 percent, fourth lowest -- despite allowing more attempts than Brad Stevens would like. Boston has been defying randomness for a half-decade now. It's not luck.

One thing to watch: the precision with which they "X-out" on the weak side, coach lingo for what Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris pull here.

The margin for error there is zero. You have to set up early, rotate in sync, and track in real time who you should (and shouldn't) run off the arc.

Hayward is the low man, and so Morris waves him into the paint to help on Alex Len. Hayward arrives before Len crosses the foul line, confident Morris will toggle onto his guy in the corner. Hayward in turn zips up to Morris' original assignment. That is some delicious liquid defense.

It has become vogue to say no defense can cover everything -- the rim, 3s, midrangers, offensive boards. That is mostly correct. Boston doesn't try to cover everything all the time. But they can do it in frenzied stretches, and shapeshift between defensive schemes -- handy tools in adjusting from one postseason series to the next.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25583225/10-things-like-including-steph-curry-nba