Run, Run, Run

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Lou Reed and The VU had it right, we have to run, run, run (yes, I know, that song was not about basketball )

The Celts capitalized on their speed this game 4, getting out on the break and earning easy baskets. The fast-break numbers for this game were 23-7 Celts. Not accounted in those numbers is the points we gained in the delayed break/transition game, Rondo pushing before the Cavs defense could fully get set, so well not fast-break points, still easy buckets we got from utilizing our athleticism and speed for transition hoops. 

It is wonderful to watch Tony Allen running the floor with Rondo and, in addition to his D', it is this which really benefits The C's. Not to mention in the halfcourt offense his ability to slash to the paint fits perfectly with Rondo's play. To win we need to continue to focus on getting easy transition points. Big Baby's running is also huge, and it helps to get him to the rim before the defense can collapse on him, leading to yet another blocked shot.

Related to Rondo: Kenny Smith had a good point just now on TNT saying how sagging off Rondo, daring him to shoot hurts the Cav's not only in Rondo starting to hit some shots, but more importantly, it allows Rondo to have a wide-open view of the court and passing lanes. By sagging off him defensively the Cavs routinely give Rondo an advantage in being able send off crisp, clean passes unimpeded. You can't allow a passer as good as Rondo a clean vision of the court.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nt4IBGu8G0

[bobdelt]

I agree. Everytime we blow a lead its because we stopped pushing it. It all starts on defense though.

[FallGuy]

I agree. Everytime we blow a lead its because we stopped pushing it. It all starts on defense though.

TP.

You just summed up everything we need to know for game five.

[MMacOH]

Running plays to the strengths of the Cavs especially now that these games are every other night.  Rondo, Garnett, Pierce and Allen are going to get tired.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Running plays to the strengths of the Cavs especially now that these games are every other night.  Rondo, Garnett, Pierce and Allen are going to get tired.

Not really. As bobdelt says above it all comes from defense. I'm not talking about a D'Antoni seven seconds and under style. Rather, think back to the 80's Celtics. It is selective running. Running that is a natural growth from the defense. Getting stops and looking to a man leaking out, or getting it to Rondo (or Rondo rebounding) and trying to get the ball up before the defense is established (these are the transition points I mentioned that aren't truly fast-break points). In Game 4 Allen himself did a great job, besides the young guys, Rondo, TA, Baby, pushing the ball up, driving into an unset defense, or getting up court quickly without the ball, getting to a shooting spot and allowing Rondo to find him after pushing the ball and drawing the defense as it wasn't set yet. It is this kind of running The Celtics need to do. I don't see how that favors The Cavs, especially as it is dependent upon The Celtics playing sound fundamental defense.

[FallGuy]

Running plays to the strengths of the Cavs especially now that these games are every other night.  Rondo, Garnett, Pierce and Allen are going to get tired.

totally disagree. our only chance to win this series is transition offense, coming out of our D. we get tired trying (and often failing) to score in the halfcourt.

[PosImpos]

Running plays to the strengths of the Cavs especially now that these games are every other night.  Rondo, Garnett, Pierce and Allen are going to get tired.

This makes sense on the surface but you forget that most of the running is done by Rondo, TA, Glen Davis, and to a lesser extent Ray Allen, all of whom have shown they can do a lot of running and not get too tired. 

The Celtics aren't a fast-break team per se, but their offense flows best when they get defensive stops and turn them into running opportunities. 

When they don't get stops, they have to take the ball up the court and they get forced into a half-court game, which is difficult for them unless the outside shots are falling.