Do the Celtics have New Offensive Sets? or is it just me

[heyvik]

Hi,
As I reflect on the Celtics post All Star break, I've noticed that they seem to be running new offensive sets that I've never seen them run before. It could be due to Rondo being slightly injured but it seems to be stagnating the offense.
If you notice Rondo will bring the ball up, and immediately pass it off to either the C or PF (usually who ever passed the ball out of bounds to him) and then immediately pass it back to Rondo. Rondo would more or less hold the ball and then pas it back to the high post. I've NEVER seen this type of ball movement that keeps the Celtics so stagnant.
Also, have you noticed that Ray has also been in a slump as well. I can count the number of times on Saturday that Ray ran off of a curl 'crisply' and popped a jumper. He seems to be content with getting the pass and continue curling into the lane where a majority of turnovers happen. Maybe this could be in direct relation to Rondo being hurt and not finding him at his usual spots.

Is it me or has anyone else noticed this?

[Assassin70]

New offensive set is a "passive" (no pun intended) Rajon Rondo.

Hopefully he get the emt's to remove him off the wall and is back to his old self for the playoffs.

[heyvik]

But is Ray in a slump as well. I'm sure that the starting guard postions have been in a baddddd slump as well. I think when Rondo is off, so is Ray.
During the NOLA game, when Delonte was in, I finally saw ONE good pass to Ray, he was behind the screen took the pass in stride and went up with it and swished a jumper. I couldn't believe that it finally took so long for 'somone' to figure it out.

[kozlodoev]

But is Ray in a slump as well.

Yes, but when your starting PG, who is supposed to initiate the set, passes to the first row 5 times per game, that's slightly different.

[Fafnir]

They're having Rondo handle the ball less, both by playing him less and having him do less when he's on the court.

That greatly changes the C's offense, for the worse, because Rondo is the C's best offensive player when he's right.

[BballTim]

But is Ray in a slump as well.

Yes, but when your starting PG, who is supposed to initiate the set, passes to the first row 5 times per game, that's slightly different.

  I think that Ray has to be at least somewhat responsible for his play. He's not getting much (if any) separation when he runs through the lane, so even when he gets the passes he's not always in a position to put up a shot.

[pengaloo]

Much of the offense lately starts with Rondo passing the ball to Paul/Ray even before he crosses mid-court. I thought the motto was always "get the ball to Rondo's hands" and let him make the decisions. I wonder if his pinky sprain is causing him to handle the ball less.   

[Boris Badenov]

But is Ray in a slump as well.

Ray, pre All-Star: 17.3 PPG, 50/46/86, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG.

Ray, post All-Star: 17.1 PPG, 50/50/97, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG.

It's hard to call that a slump.

[birdwatcher]

But is Ray in a slump as well.

Ray, pre All-Star: 17.3 PPG, 50/46/86, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG.

Ray, post All-Star: 17.1 PPG, 50/50/97, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG.

It's hard to call that a slump.

not to mention that he's shooting 50% fg & 44% 3fg%

[Megatron]

They're having Rondo handle the ball less, both by playing him less and having him do less when he's on the court.

That greatly changes the C's offense, for the worse, because Rondo is the C's best offensive player when he's right.

How is Rondo the C's best offensive player??

[Boris Badenov]

But is Ray in a slump as well.

Ray, pre All-Star: 17.3 PPG, 50/46/86, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG.

Ray, post All-Star: 17.1 PPG, 50/50/97, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.6 SPG.

It's hard to call that a slump.

not to mention that he's shooting 50% fg & 44% 3fg%

That's what 50/46/86 and 50/50/97 above indicate: FG%/3PT%/FT%.

He's shooting 50% on 3s since the break.

[xmuscularghandix]

Ray hasn't been getting off to good starts because Rondo is starting off slow. If Rondo isn't in the lane he's not going to be guarded, his man sags off and allows his teammates to shade Ray Allen on screens.

[j804]

Ray hasn't been getting off to good starts because Rondo is starting off slow. If Rondo isn't in the lane he's not going to be guarded, his man sags off and allows his teammates to shade Ray Allen on screens.

Ding ding

[Megatron]

Ray hasn't been getting off to good starts because Rondo is starting off slow. If Rondo isn't in the lane he's not going to be guarded, his man sags off and allows his teammates to shade Ray Allen on screens.

Exactly, the worse Rondo plays the harder it is for the Big 3 to go off due to the constant double teams.

Rondo right now is a huge liability on both ends of the floor, dont understand why he isnt benched for a few games. Delonte West is the best back-up point guard in the league. Hes more then capable of running this team while Rondo gets his mind and body right.

[help D]

I have believed this to be true over the last few years:

The Celtics have some bread and butter plays (PP back cut under hoop, KG lane alley oop, double high screen for Rondo) that they know are effective and get them good looks.
I think they stash them away for the playoffs. Period.

Don't give the opponents any recent examples of how we run the offense. Make them think we are stagnant and predictable...and then hit them with the good stuff.