Is the nba going to find a way to outlaw the theis double screen?

[droopdog7]

Man, it’s like taking candy from a baby.  The ABC commentators were talking about it as a novel thing and listening to the Portland announcers, they’re also discussing quite a bit. 

I anticipate every team copying it soon.

[jpotter33]

Yeah, I think it’ll be something that is looked at this summer given how often we do it.

While I don’t think it’s a foul, I am surprised it’s not called more often.

On the other hand, it benefits the offensive team, so it may be something that the NBA doesn’t emphasize calling unless it’s egregiously holding the defensive player.

[Tr1boy]

Man, it’s like taking candy from a baby.  The ABC commentators were talking about it as a novel thing and listening to the Portland announcers, they’re also discussing quite a bit. 

I anticipate every team copying it soon.

Theis never did this before

Celts are likely sharing best practices

Grant Williams is good at this

[ozgod]

Man, it’s like taking candy from a baby.  The ABC commentators were talking about it as a novel thing and listening to the Portland announcers, they’re also discussing quite a bit. 

I anticipate every team copying it soon.

Theis never did this before

Celts are likely sharing best practices

Grant Williams is good at this

I saw us doing this a lot with Theis and Hayward last year. I don't think it's that new 

[RockinRyA]

Man, it’s like taking candy from a baby.  The ABC commentators were talking about it as a novel thing and listening to the Portland announcers, they’re also discussing quite a bit. 

I anticipate every team copying it soon.

Theis never did this before

Celts are likely sharing best practices

Grant Williams is good at this

I saw us doing this a lot with Theis and Hayward last year. I don't think it's that new 

Horford used to do it as well. Theis didnt really play much last year and we didnt play much PNR last year (Rozier, Morris and Irving prefer isos) so there is less volume for it as well.

[trickybilly]

It's not a double screen. It's a seal. Or a seal-off...

[Surferdad]

It's not a double screen. It's a seal. Or a seal-off...

I agree, see the 1st clip in this CelticsBlog article from last night:
https://www.celticsblog.com/2020/2/25/21153917/must-cs-jaylen-brown-and-jayson-tatum-one-two-punch-in-portland

[Fafnir]

I mean they let Gortat do it for 6 years for John Wall, I think the NBA will allow it. Especially given that Theis doesn't grab much when he does it. Even when they call a "foul" a lot of time its the defender grabbing Theis and then flailing and pulling on Theis trying to get the refs to blow the whistle.

They get the call but in their evaluations hopefully Theis gets a little respect. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Steven Adams in OKC with Westbrook did this a ton too.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I think the Theis seal off needs to be occasionally so he can get the ball. Then there will no question about it. 

[SDceltGuy]

Love Theis and what he brings to the team. 

https://hardwoodhoudini.com/2020/01/13/boston-celtics-daniel-theis-2/

[LilRip]

This is nothing new. It’s called a “seal”. IIRC, you do this when establishing post position too. You seal a guy off. I’d be very surprised if they make a rule change to get rid of this. But then again, the rules have become pretty much biased against post play. Soon, it’ll be illegal to shoot shots that aren’t 3’s or in the paint 

[droopdog7]

I understand that it’s not new.  But announcers seem to be picking up on it a lot more.  Mark Jackson asked last game whether he was coached to do that, as if he hadn’t noticed it before.

[Fafnir]

I understand that it’s not new.  But announcers seem to be picking up on it a lot more.  Mark Jackson asked last game whether he was coached to do that, as if he hadn’t noticed it before.

I think they're looking for nice things to say about Theis given how well he's playing for C's.

I bet when the Wizards were rolling with Wall/Gortat Gortat probably got some props from announcers (likely Van Gundy) for enabling Wall in a similar manner.

[mmmmm]

I understand that it’s not new.  But announcers seem to be picking up on it a lot more.  Mark Jackson asked last game whether he was coached to do that, as if he hadn’t noticed it before.

I think folks are commenting on it because it has been incredibly effective. 

As others have noted, this isn't really some 'new' technique, it is a drag-screen to set a seal.   The Cs have been using it heavily all year and Theis is really, really good at it.  They also run it with their other bigs, but Theis is the best at it, probably because he's the most versatile offensively of our various bigs, is very quick to cover space and can do the most variations (because he's a threat to 'pop' as well as roll).

Coach Daniel put out a nice YouTube analyzing the 'double drag' variation back in December:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3INe9hPAEk

The seal he puts on Jokic at about the 5:45 mark is beautiful, but the video really shows all the different types of action that is possible off that basic play.

I believe the Cs have gotten even better at this play since that video was put together.