stevens team: defense first, fast paced offense

[Tr1boy]

And i love the idea. It sounds like the same way the celts played in the 2nd half of 2012-2013 season without rondo.  This will mean tenacious team defense, buckets scored in transition, in half court offense the ball constantly passed around until the best shot is available.

Also may mean less assist for rondo , more assist for everyone else but also more chances for rondo to score

Thoughts?

[Fafnir]

We didn't really play faster without Rondo. We did it for 10 games, and then it fell apart as other teams adjusted and we stopped having a relatively favorable schedule. (easier opponents and a longish homestand)

I mean it sounds good, who doesn't like defense and quicker (and hopefully efficient) offense. But I'm skeptical they'll be efficient, sometimes running is just trying to mask flawed offense.

[Tr1boy]

We didn't really play faster without Rondo. We did it for 10 games, and then it fell apart as other teams adjusted and we stopped having a relatively favorable schedule. (easier opponents and a longish homestand)

I mean it sounds good, who doesn't like defense and quicker (and hopefully efficient) offense. But I'm skeptical they'll be efficient, sometimes running is just trying to mask flawed offense.

The problem was it couldnt be sustained. So i agree with you. But the reason was that doc was not using/trusting his bench to give the regulars time to rest.

We all saw in that almost impossible comeback vs the knicks last playoffs that we have the guys that can execute this plan.

Im excited to see what happens. Seems like the team is going from spurs like set plays/execution to a more open style of okc thunders

[BudweiserCeltic]

We didn't really play faster without Rondo. We did it for 10 games, and then it fell apart as other teams adjusted and we stopped having a relatively favorable schedule. (easier opponents and a longish homestand)

I mean it sounds good, who doesn't like defense and quicker (and hopefully efficient) offense. But I'm skeptical they'll be efficient, sometimes running is just trying to mask flawed offense.

I'm pretty sure it also coincided when the team decided to use Bradley exclusively as their PG, instead of the "by committee" they were using in those earlier games.

[Tr1boy]

We didn't really play faster without Rondo. We did it for 10 games, and then it fell apart as other teams adjusted and we stopped having a relatively favorable schedule. (easier opponents and a longish homestand)

I mean it sounds good, who doesn't like defense and quicker (and hopefully efficient) offense. But I'm skeptical they'll be efficient, sometimes running is just trying to mask flawed offense.

I'm pretty sure it also coincided when the team decided to use Bradley exclusively as their PG, instead of the "by committee" they were using in those earlier games.

That also. The team was exhausted and injured.

But the team today vs last year is younger and has more depth.

Upfront: oly, bass, faverani, humphries, wallace, green

Backcourt: ab, lee, pressey, rondo , bogans

All of these guys can run and have the capability to play solid team d

Upfront: sullinger

Backourt: brooks, crawford

Definitely not running type players but are young and do bring tools to help out in other ways.

Stevens seems like he had a part in creating this roster for 2013-2014. Looks like a better mix of guys vs the athletic but avg iq players doc liked to have on his team

[Q_FBE]

Sounds like Stevens is focused on the fundamentals. Defense leads to offense a lot of the time.

[thirstyboots18]

Sounds like Stevens is focused on the fundamentals. Defense leads to offense a lot of the time.

Right-O.  Good defense leads to turnovers and missed shots.  Together with rebounding that puts the ball in your hands...you can't make a shot if you don't have the ball. 

Players now come out of school so soon their fundamentals are laughable.  In the camp I watch (of college and pros), sometimes the dribble is so high I think I could steal the ball!  Stevens concentrating on details could be a very good thing, especially with young players.

[kozlodoev]

And i love the idea. It sounds like the same way the celts played in the 2nd half of 2012-2013 season without rondo.  This will mean tenacious team defense, buckets scored in transition, in half court offense the ball constantly passed around until the best shot is available.

Also may mean less assist for rondo , more assist for everyone else but also more chances for rondo to score

Thoughts?

It doesn't sound any different to me from what we've heard about this team for the past 5 years.

[Tr1boy]

And i love the idea. It sounds like the same way the celts played in the 2nd half of 2012-2013 season without rondo.  This will mean tenacious team defense, buckets scored in transition, in half court offense the ball constantly passed around until the best shot is available.

Also may mean less assist for rondo , more assist for everyone else but also more chances for rondo to score

Thoughts?

It doesn't sound any different to me from what we've heard about this team for the past 5 years.

2008-2010 celts yes.

2011-2012 celts = rondo pounding the ball for a good 10 sec, yelling at guys to run around and do most of the work to get open. After every defensive rebound, rondo barking for the ball and walking up to mid court.

So no they havent played the same way the last few years

[Fafnir]

You think Rondo will have the ball less now that our second best play maker is green instead of paul?

[Vox_Populi]

And i love the idea. It sounds like the same way the celts played in the 2nd half of 2012-2013 season without rondo.  This will mean tenacious team defense, buckets scored in transition, in half court offense the ball constantly passed around until the best shot is available.

Also may mean less assist for rondo , more assist for everyone else but also more chances for rondo to score

Thoughts?

It doesn't sound any different to me from what we've heard about this team for the past 5 years.

2008-2010 celts yes.

2011-2012 celts = rondo pounding the ball for a good 10 sec, yelling at guys to run around and do most of the work to get open. After every defensive rebound, rondo barking for the ball and walking up to mid court.

So no they havent played the same way the last few years

I think what he's saying is that what we *hear* about the team's proposed style of play and what we actually *see* are two different things.

[kozlodoev]

And i love the idea. It sounds like the same way the celts played in the 2nd half of 2012-2013 season without rondo.  This will mean tenacious team defense, buckets scored in transition, in half court offense the ball constantly passed around until the best shot is available.

Also may mean less assist for rondo , more assist for everyone else but also more chances for rondo to score

Thoughts?

It doesn't sound any different to me from what we've heard about this team for the past 5 years.

2008-2010 celts yes.

2011-2012 celts = rondo pounding the ball for a good 10 sec, yelling at guys to run around and do most of the work to get open. After every defensive rebound, rondo barking for the ball and walking up to mid court.

So no they havent played the same way the last few years

I didn't say that's how the team played, I meant it sounds like what they have been telling us for seasons and seasons now: oh, we'll play tough D and run the ball.

Except, as you have observed correctly, things seem to take a life of their own as the season progresses.

[D.o.s.]

And i love the idea. It sounds like the same way the celts played in the 2nd half of 2012-2013 season without rondo.  This will mean tenacious team defense, buckets scored in transition, in half court offense the ball constantly passed around until the best shot is available.

Also may mean less assist for rondo , more assist for everyone else but also more chances for rondo to score

Thoughts?

It doesn't sound any different to me from what we've heard about this team for the past 5 years.

2008-2010 celts yes.

2011-2012 celts = rondo pounding the ball for a good 10 sec, yelling at guys to run around and do most of the work to get open. After every defensive rebound, rondo barking for the ball and walking up to mid court.

So no they havent played the same way the last few years

I didn't say that's how the team played, I meant it sounds like what they have been telling us for seasons and seasons now: oh, we'll play tough D and run the ball.

Except, as you have observed correctly, things seem to take a life of their own as the season progresses.

It does seem like every offseason all the teams that missed the playoffs or got bounced early talk about their improved defense and how they're going to emphasize the transition game.

Frankly, I enjoy up-tempo small ball basketball (yeah, yeah, I know...), so if we're actually going to play fast, I'm all in.

[kozlodoev]

Frankly, I enjoy up-tempo small ball basketball (yeah, yeah, I know...), so if we're actually going to play fast, I'm all in.

I'd love to see that, but those to seem to rarely go together. Teams that run transition are somehow often allergic to buckling down on defense.

[Tr1boy]

Frankly, I enjoy up-tempo small ball basketball (yeah, yeah, I know...), so if we're actually going to play fast, I'm all in.

I'd love to see that, but those to seem to rarely go together. Teams that run transition are somehow often allergic to buckling down on defense.

In general its true. Like how the fast running but little care/no energy for good defense the suns used to play with nash, amare and hill.

You need a team that is in top shape, and preferably young to do both well. I can picture stevens using a rotation like a hockey team instead of a traditional starters then bench then starters etc. Basically go all out then bring in the next set of dogs etc.

I can also really see why stevens is putting emphasis in our big guys needing to be good shooters. For example after a defensive rebound , everyone else runs. But its not like u will always beat the defenders upcourt. So you rush , survey things on the floor and then hit example a trailing olynyk or fav who stop and shoot for a jump shot.

Stevens to me wants to outwork the opposition, tire them out on both ends. If u go against a half court team, run on them. If u go against another running team, make sure your defense is perfect and make them into a half court team. If a team ruins ur running game, increase the movement of the ball and turn up the speed of the game again.