End of game strategy: Pierce bringing the ball up

[Kiorrik]

So, the play did work 3 times in a row. 

I think we're really stretching things if we say the play "worked" on Ray's three pointer.  I guess ultimately things turned out okay, but that was very close to a turnover.  The Celts were pretty fortunate that Ray nailed that jumper off of a broken play.

I think the offense runs more efficiently with Rondo handling the ball (especially since otherwise, the team is playing 4-on-5 offense).  Pierce is more turnover prone than Rondo, and he isn't as good of a distributor.  However, I understand the desire to combat the "hack a Rondo" strategy.

Bring on Hack the Rondo.

Seriously, bring it on. Now. Right now. Let him practice in meaningless ('cuz that's what they are) regular season games. I want him to take freethrows. As many as he can. I want him to miss, miss and miss again. And then start hitting them. *That* will get him confidence.

[BballTim]

Well, let's look at the results.
The two plays in the last few minutes that Rondo brought up the ball resulted in a Rondo turnover and a Rondo miss in which the Grizzlies forced Rondo to shoot with the shot clock running down.
Pierce brings it up and Garnett scores on the pick and pop.
Pierce brings it up and drives in for a layup on the same play.
Pierce brings it up and (surprise!) the Grizzlies know what's going to happen and defend it well enough to deflect the pass but Ray still gets the ball and the three.

I don't know why anyone would be complaining.  The play worked three times in a row, although a little bit of luck was involved in the 3rd.
Ego has nothing to do with it.  The Pierce/Garnett pick and roll has been money during this entire win streak and Doc knows it as well as anyone.

  I don't think that's right. I think the play before Pierce hit the layup was the Rondo shot with the clock running down because Pierce had the ball until there was 8-9 seconds left and then threw it to Rondo in the corner. If you look at it like that it worked once in the last three possessions and we lucked into a three on another of the three. I think that we score less often when Paul or Ray bring the ball up than when Rondo brings it up and passes it to them. I don't like to see Paul or Ray bringing it up during most of the game but I don't have a huge problem with it when the other team's looking to foul us.

You are not remembering correctly.  The play by play backs me up.

2:14 Rajon Rondo bad pass (Mike Conley steals) 103-97   
2:11 Kevin Garnett personal foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) 103-97   
1:58   103-99 Rudy Gay makes driving layup
1:35 Rajon Rondo misses 22-foot jumper 103-99   
1:34   103-99 O.J. Mayo defensive rebound
1:29   103-101 O.J. Mayo makes 16-foot two point shot
1:29 Boston full timeout
1:20 Kevin Garnett makes 22-foot jumper (Paul Pierce assists) 105-101   
1:04 Kendrick Perkins personal foul (Marc Gasol draws the foul) 105-101   
1:04 Rasheed Wallace enters the game for Kendrick Perkins 105-101   
1:04   105-102 Marc Gasol makes free throw 1 of 2
1:04   105-103 Marc Gasol makes free throw 2 of 2
0:48 Paul Pierce makes layup 107-103   
0:48 Memphis 20 Sec. timeout
0:42   107-105 O.J. Mayo makes 20-foot jumper (Mike Conley assists)
0:17 Ray Allen makes three point jumper 110-105   
0:17 Memphis full timeout
0:13   110-105 Zach Randolph bad pass (Rasheed Wallace steals)
0:07   110-105 Rudy Gay personal foul (Paul Pierce draws the foul)
0:00 End of the 4th Quarter
0:00 End Game

So, the play did work 3 times in a row.  In fact, I don't even remember Pierce touching the ball on Rondo's miss, although I wouldn't swear to it.

  I'll check if I get the chance but I don't think I'm wrong. The thread was about Paul bringing the ball up instead of Rondo. Neither of them bring it up on a full timeout, right? It's our regular halfcourt inbounds play and KG shot early in the clock. I'm almost positive Paul brought the ball up and held onto it for about 16 seconds on Rondo's miss. So the three times at the end of the game when Paul brought the ball up we had one decent play and that was Paul beating his man without trying to pass the ball. And this wasn't going against a juggernaut of a defense.

[jdpapa3]

BBallTim: you were right. Pierce did bring the ball up on that Rondo miss.



Pierce held onto the ball until 10 on the shot clock.

[Greenbean]

Rondo should always be the one crossing the timeline with the ball regardless of the other team's fouling strategy. I dont have a problem with Pierce initiating offense in a pick n roll with KG. I dont like just a Pierce iso unless he is hot (think game 7 08 ECSF against Cavs).

The other night, the pick and roll was working and on that play, KG was WIDE open but give credit to Gay for getting a hand on the ball to tip it. I am comfortable with PP making decisions in the end of close games though.

[Bankshot]

As we all probably noticed last night, at the end of the game Doc decided to have Pierce bring the ball up, rather than Rondo.  The Celts weren't hurt by this, although Paul almost threw the ball away before it made it's way to Ray for his decisive three pointer.

Do you agree with this strategy?  It goes without saying that Rondo is our best distributor, and he's probably our best penetrator, too.  However, presumably the reason that Pierce was handling the ball is because he's a much better free throw shooter. 
What do you think?  Who would be your primary ball-handler at the end of games?

So much for Rondo handling the ball at the end of games.  When Paul comes back, give the ball to PP!