Celtics (0-3) at Heat (3-0) ECF Game #4 5/23/23

[ozgod]

Julian Benbow at the Globe makes the case that Spoelstra is beating the Cs by daring them to take midrange shots by taking away the paint and the three point line, and the Cs (probably because their stats nerds say so) have tried to keep attacking those areas anyway.

The itinerary five years ago at the Coaching U Live clinic in Las Vegas had Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra scheduled to teach some of the finer points of pick-and-roll coverages to coaches from across the country, but he couldn’t resist the urge to offer his observations on where the game was churning in 2018.

Spoelstra paced around the free throw line as he pointed out what was growing in the game (pick-and-rolls) and what was dying (post-ups and mid-range jumpers).

“It’s almost becoming a negative word, ‘mid-range,’ ” Spoelstra said. “Everybody, all they talk about now is threes, layups, and free throws.”

He asked his audience a reasonable question.

“Well, if everybody’s trying to get those, what is everybody also trying to take away?”

The answer, of course, was threes, layups, and free throws.

“Eventually,” Spoelstra said, “what’s getting open a lot is this area here.”

Realizing where he was on the floor, Spoelstra used his hands to draw circles to spotlight the mid-range area.

“You’re seeing fewer and fewer players that are really able to really maximize this area and make an opponent pay,” he said. “You want to talk about something in player development? Don’t listen to all that hype that it can only be threes and layups and free throws. If you find a difference-maker that can really make a difference in here, that guy or girl is pretty special.”

The Celtics set franchise records this season for 3-pointers made (1,315) and attempted (3,492). Their offense became a drive-and-kick machine that yielded the third-highest offensive rating in NBA history (118.0).

But the Heat’s strategy to play a 2-3 zone — and at times even box-and-one — has made the Celtics’ strengths as glaring as their weaknesses.

The Heat essentially have roped off the paint — making it difficult to get layups and draw fouls — and forced the Celtics to rely on the threes they’ve leaned into all season while making the middle of the floor fair game, knowing the Celtics have no interest in going there.

The Heat’s strategy has forced the Celtics to face a difficult question: What do you do when the only option you have is the one you don’t want to choose?

The Celtics have tried traditional tactics for beating a zone — flashing Rob Williams, Al Horford, or Grant Williams to the free throw line and either getting the defense to collapse and kick out or letting one of them attack the rim.

They’ve tried using Jayson Tatum as a primary ballhandler and working the pick-and roll, but extra defenders high and solid rotations low have made clean pull-up three opportunities and drives challenging for Tatum.

That leaves the middle of the floor — a place the Celtics have avoided all season.

The Celtics took 596 shots from the mid-range during the regular season. Only three teams (Memphis, Utah, and Houston) took fewer. The Celtics took 1,231 shots from floater range. Only five teams took fewer.

The Heat have offered those shots on a platter in this series. The Celtics refuse them.

Through three games, the Celtics have taken just 15 shots from mid-range (six makes). By comparison, the Heat have taken 50 (25 makes). Through three games of the Western Conference finals, the Lakers had gone to the mid-range 39 times (17) and Denver had shot 34 middies (20).

Miami’s defense has challenged primary Celtics scorers Tatum and Jaylen Brown to do something they’re uncomfortable doing.

“They do a good job of mixing up when they go zone and when they go man,” Brown said after Game 2. “They keep you on your toes with the people they got on the floor. And we just haven’t figured it out in terms of how to exploit it every single time down the floor.”

This series may become an indictment of the Celtics’ offensive ethos — even though the drive-and-kick machine they created made them one of the most efficient offenses in NBA history.

But it serves as a better example of how the playoffs become about high-pressure problem-solving. The Celtics haven’t been able to count on what’s made them special all season. Another answer has been in front of them all series, but it requires them to do something they don’t want to do.


https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/22/sports/heat-have-taken-celtics-out-their-offensive-comfort-zone/

[Redz]

I really won’t be surprised by anything that happens at this point.  Wouldn’t be surprised if this team becomes the first to ever comes back from 0-3 or if they get run off the floor again and Luke Kornet is their main source of offense. 

Really really really want them to just play hard and competitively.

[mobilija]

Julian Benbow at the Globe makes the case that Spoelstra is beating the Cs by daring them to take midrange shots by taking away the paint and the three point line, and the Cs (probably because their stats nerds say so) have tried to keep attacking those areas anyway.

The itinerary five years ago at the Coaching U Live clinic in Las Vegas had Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra scheduled to teach some of the finer points of pick-and-roll coverages to coaches from across the country, but he couldn’t resist the urge to offer his observations on where the game was churning in 2018.

Spoelstra paced around the free throw line as he pointed out what was growing in the game (pick-and-rolls) and what was dying (post-ups and mid-range jumpers).

“It’s almost becoming a negative word, ‘mid-range,’ ” Spoelstra said. “Everybody, all they talk about now is threes, layups, and free throws.”

He asked his audience a reasonable question.

“Well, if everybody’s trying to get those, what is everybody also trying to take away?”

The answer, of course, was threes, layups, and free throws.

“Eventually,” Spoelstra said, “what’s getting open a lot is this area here.”

Realizing where he was on the floor, Spoelstra used his hands to draw circles to spotlight the mid-range area.

“You’re seeing fewer and fewer players that are really able to really maximize this area and make an opponent pay,” he said. “You want to talk about something in player development? Don’t listen to all that hype that it can only be threes and layups and free throws. If you find a difference-maker that can really make a difference in here, that guy or girl is pretty special.”

The Celtics set franchise records this season for 3-pointers made (1,315) and attempted (3,492). Their offense became a drive-and-kick machine that yielded the third-highest offensive rating in NBA history (118.0).

But the Heat’s strategy to play a 2-3 zone — and at times even box-and-one — has made the Celtics’ strengths as glaring as their weaknesses.

The Heat essentially have roped off the paint — making it difficult to get layups and draw fouls — and forced the Celtics to rely on the threes they’ve leaned into all season while making the middle of the floor fair game, knowing the Celtics have no interest in going there.

The Heat’s strategy has forced the Celtics to face a difficult question: What do you do when the only option you have is the one you don’t want to choose?

The Celtics have tried traditional tactics for beating a zone — flashing Rob Williams, Al Horford, or Grant Williams to the free throw line and either getting the defense to collapse and kick out or letting one of them attack the rim.

They’ve tried using Jayson Tatum as a primary ballhandler and working the pick-and roll, but extra defenders high and solid rotations low have made clean pull-up three opportunities and drives challenging for Tatum.

That leaves the middle of the floor — a place the Celtics have avoided all season.

The Celtics took 596 shots from the mid-range during the regular season. Only three teams (Memphis, Utah, and Houston) took fewer. The Celtics took 1,231 shots from floater range. Only five teams took fewer.

The Heat have offered those shots on a platter in this series. The Celtics refuse them.

Through three games, the Celtics have taken just 15 shots from mid-range (six makes). By comparison, the Heat have taken 50 (25 makes). Through three games of the Western Conference finals, the Lakers had gone to the mid-range 39 times (17) and Denver had shot 34 middies (20).

Miami’s defense has challenged primary Celtics scorers Tatum and Jaylen Brown to do something they’re uncomfortable doing.

“They do a good job of mixing up when they go zone and when they go man,” Brown said after Game 2. “They keep you on your toes with the people they got on the floor. And we just haven’t figured it out in terms of how to exploit it every single time down the floor.”

This series may become an indictment of the Celtics’ offensive ethos — even though the drive-and-kick machine they created made them one of the most efficient offenses in NBA history.

But it serves as a better example of how the playoffs become about high-pressure problem-solving. The Celtics haven’t been able to count on what’s made them special all season. Another answer has been in front of them all series, but it requires them to do something they don’t want to do.


https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/22/sports/heat-have-taken-celtics-out-their-offensive-comfort-zone/

Wow, good stuff. The most non-reactionary and actual thinking about this series I've read.

TP sir

[ozgod]

I want them to stop complaining about calls and just get on with it. I hate seeing them complain about calls and not running back on defense and getting scored on. It just makes the referees more determined not to give them calls. Let US the fans complain about calls since we're not playing the game. They should be focusing on playing the game and playing to the whistle.

Though if there's ever a night that we might get a good whistle it's tonight, otherwise the NBA will have a week and a half of no basketball 

[radiohead]

Just play hard and play together. One game at a time. Who knows where hardwork can take this team to. Let’s go!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

laying $$$$$ on heat now.

season ends in miami tonight

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

heat favored -120 moneyline

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

We win 4 straight and Denver gets rusty sitting around for 2 weeks.

 

[radiohead]

I don’t know but Smart and JB saying “don’t let us win one” makes them look more arrogant than defiant and reeks of entitlement. Just put your words into action guys.

[Who]

If the Cs can push this to 6 or 7, there will be much more reason for the Cs front office to keep Mazzula around next year. We might be back to the 80-90% likelihood of Joe staying.

Better to get swept. Higher likelihood of Joe getting sacked.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

If the Cs can push this to 6 or 7, there will be much more reason for the Cs front office to keep Mazzula around next year. We might be back to the 80-90% likelihood of Joe staying.

Better to get swept. Higher likelihood of Joe getting sacked.

yup. joe has to go. i have seen crap like this before elsewhere where coaches get lucky and they end up keeping that coach years past when they should have. its for the best. end this now. watch him get canned. move on fixing this roster and getting nick nurse

[coco]

Planing to watch the first half….just to see if our team goes down fighting.

Even Magic Johnson was embarrassed for us.  And it came out of respect for the franchise.

PS.
No matter how Hofford plays today, he is showing his age way too often.  We need to seriously consider, he is not a starter anymore.

[Phantom255x]

I don’t know but Smart and JB saying “don’t let us win one” makes them look more arrogant than defiant and reeks of entitlement. Just put your words into action guys.

So Smart + Jaylen say this today, but when GWill butts heads with Butler and tries to instill some fire, these guys just stay silent and don't back him up? Jaylen was directly asked about it after Game 2 and said "next question". Horrible look 

[Silas]

Mixed emotions...want to see Joe canned but keep thinking 2004 and the Yankees.

[Phantom255x]

Wouldn't surprise me if today's the game where our 3s are falling and everything looks rosey for a night lol