Brad Stevens' quick timeout

[Erik]

Since the topic of the <insert time period here> seems to always be "what makes Brad Stevens so good," I did some thinking. Then I remembered something that was bizarre to me in each game. He calls quick timeouts each game at the start regardless of the situation. They're not down. They're playing pretty well. They're not tired. Why is this guy wasting a timeout? Just to tell them "Good job keep it up?"

Sixers:
Game 1: 6:44 left in 1st

Milwaukee:
Game 7: 6:36 left in 1st
Game 6: 9:34 left in 1st
Game 5: 6:05 left in 1st
Game 4: 3:55 left in 1st (Bucks called one with 7:21 left)
Game 3: 6:05 left in 1st
Game 2: 2:51 left in 1st (Bucks called one with 5:45 left)
Game 1: 6:11 left in 1st

Have you seen it yet?

He is watching the first 6 minutes of every game and then calling a timeout to inform his team what the opponents have been practicing for 2 days and how to abuse it. Whereas other coaches view timeouts as a way to slow down momentum and fix micro issues (fix rotations, get on their team for not playing aggressive or defending well), Brad Stevens appears to be taking a macro approach to the game. This is what the defense is giving us so this is how we're going to change our entire strategy. That's why his out of the timeout conversion % is so high. He's not just making a single X's and O's play. It appears that he's changing the entire strategy in game.

I found this very interesting if it's true. Comments?

[tstorey_97]

TP to Erik.

I noticed it once or twice during the season as it was an early TO.

On Youtube that guy who does Celtics analysis, focuses a lot on Stevens and how he coaches from the sideline particularly on offense.

My guess is you are correct in that after 6 minutes or whatever, Stevens has a handle on the opposing game plan and starts to deconstruct it.

It is fun to watch the guys on the floor execute his calls...they know exactly what to do and probably why Stevens is making the call also. Stevens will do anything to put the opposing defense off balance. He had Al and Baynes slide to the arc pulling both Milwaukee bigs with them and Larkin throws a dart to Tatum cutting to the hoop.

Now listen, Stevens had Larkin on Simmons the other night for what seemed like about 5 or 6 minutes in the fourth (?)...and it was effective. He started Semi against the Bucks four times. Semi scored 13 points on 12 attempts in 103 minutes of play...the Celtics were 3-1 with Semi starting. The team beat the Bucks with one player getting starting minutes making three shot attempts for the entire game. Opposing coach has an extra defensive player now as Semi isn't going to shoot, but, they still can't win.

In the day, Jo Jo or KC or Cousy called a lot of the plays on the floor....Stevens is the point guard now....seems to be working out aok.

 

[nickagneta]

Almost every game in the league has a television timeout with around 6 minutes remaining in the first and third quarter and the timeout is assessed to a team. Not sure the order of which team gets assessed when but it happens every game in both the 1st and 3rd period.

[Jiri Welsch]

One thing is: they are 1st half timeouts so it’s not exactly wasting them. Oftentimes teams don’t use all their timeouts in the 1st half.

As for reasons, sometimes it is to kill momentum if he thinks a team might go on a run. I think sometimes it is to draw up a play or two if we’re on a scoring drought. Other times it’s for rest. And other times it’s to tell the team what he’s seen.

I think it’s a good strategy.

[Jiri Welsch]

Almost every game in the league has a television timeout with around 6 minutes remaining in the first and third quarter and the timeout is assessed to a team. Not sure the order of which team gets assessed when but it happens every game in both the 1st and 3rd period.

I think (emphasis on think) it’s after 6 minutes and for the home team.

[gift]

I'm not sure I'd call all of those 'quick' timeouts. I mean half of the quarter is over at the 6 minute mark.

However, it would be interesting to look at all coaches' timeout patterns and add some context including point differential at the time as well as scoring ratio over the last 10-12 points (like out of the last 12 points, how many were scored by the team calling the timeout). It would be interesting if Brad reserves a point in the first quarter no matter how the game is going, and how different this is from other coaches.

[ChillyWilly]

I struggle to see in any situation where Brad "wastes" a timeout.

[kozlodoev]

Since the topic of the <insert time period here> seems to always be "what makes Brad Stevens so good," I did some thinking. Then I remembered something that was bizarre to me in each game. He calls quick timeouts each game at the start regardless of the situation. They're not down. They're playing pretty well. They're not tired. Why is this guy wasting a timeout? Just to tell them "Good job keep it up?"

Sixers:
Game 1: 6:44 left in 1st

Milwaukee:
Game 7: 6:36 left in 1st
Game 6: 9:34 left in 1st
Game 5: 6:05 left in 1st
Game 4: 3:55 left in 1st (Bucks called one with 7:21 left)
Game 3: 6:05 left in 1st
Game 2: 2:51 left in 1st (Bucks called one with 5:45 left)
Game 1: 6:11 left in 1st

Have you seen it yet?

He is watching the first 6 minutes of every game and then calling a timeout to inform his team what the opponents have been practicing for 2 days and how to abuse it. Whereas other coaches view timeouts as a way to slow down momentum and fix micro issues (fix rotations, get on their team for not playing aggressive or defending well), Brad Stevens appears to be taking a macro approach to the game. This is what the defense is giving us so this is how we're going to change our entire strategy. That's why his out of the timeout conversion % is so high. He's not just making a single X's and O's play. It appears that he's changing the entire strategy in game.

I found this very interesting if it's true. Comments?

You're aware of how mandatory TV timeouts work, right?

NBA: There must be two timeouts in the first and third quarters and three in the second and fourth quarters. In the first and third quarters, if no team has called a timeout before the 5:59 mark, a timeout is charged to the home team, and if no subsequent timeout is taken prior to the 2:59 mark, a timeout is charged to the team not previously charged with a timeout. In the second and fourth quarters, the 5:59/2:59 mark required timeout rules are the same as the first/third quarter rules; in addition, if no timeout is taken before the 8:59 mark, a mandatory timeout is called by the official scorer but not charged to either team. The required timeouts are 100 seconds long; the other full timeouts are 60 seconds in length

[nickagneta]

Since the topic of the <insert time period here> seems to always be "what makes Brad Stevens so good," I did some thinking. Then I remembered something that was bizarre to me in each game. He calls quick timeouts each game at the start regardless of the situation. They're not down. They're playing pretty well. They're not tired. Why is this guy wasting a timeout? Just to tell them "Good job keep it up?"

Sixers:
Game 1: 6:44 left in 1st

Milwaukee:
Game 7: 6:36 left in 1st
Game 6: 9:34 left in 1st
Game 5: 6:05 left in 1st
Game 4: 3:55 left in 1st (Bucks called one with 7:21 left)
Game 3: 6:05 left in 1st
Game 2: 2:51 left in 1st (Bucks called one with 5:45 left)
Game 1: 6:11 left in 1st

Have you seen it yet?

He is watching the first 6 minutes of every game and then calling a timeout to inform his team what the opponents have been practicing for 2 days and how to abuse it. Whereas other coaches view timeouts as a way to slow down momentum and fix micro issues (fix rotations, get on their team for not playing aggressive or defending well), Brad Stevens appears to be taking a macro approach to the game. This is what the defense is giving us so this is how we're going to change our entire strategy. That's why his out of the timeout conversion % is so high. He's not just making a single X's and O's play. It appears that he's changing the entire strategy in game.

I found this very interesting if it's true. Comments?

You're aware of how mandatory TV timeouts work, right?

NBA: There must be two timeouts in the first and third quarters and three in the second and fourth quarters. In the first and third quarters, if no team has called a timeout before the 5:59 mark, a timeout is charged to the home team, and if no subsequent timeout is taken prior to the 2:59 mark, a timeout is charged to the team not previously charged with a timeout. In the second and fourth quarters, the 5:59/2:59 mark required timeout rules are the same as the first/third quarter rules; in addition, if no timeout is taken before the 8:59 mark, a mandatory timeout is called by the official scorer but not charged to either team. The required timeouts are 100 seconds long; the other full timeouts are 60 seconds in length

TP for digging this up Koz. I knew there were scheduled TOs but didn't want to look up the details.