During the first two games of the Finals, the Celtics' spacing took the Mavericks' pivots away from the racket, preventing Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II from playing their libero role. By targeting Luka Doncic in the first curtain, and without the interiors in coverage, Boston opened huge gaps in the Dallas defense.
Obviously, we could expect a reaction from Jason Kidd and his staff for Game 3, and it took place with “roaming”, the pivots floating on the baseline to return to a role of last defense.
A real game of chess
A strategy, undoubtedly helped by the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, which disrupted the Celtics in the first half. Faced with more size during their attacks from the circle, Jaylen Brown and company were even trailing (50-51) at halftime, before they adapted to the situation after returning from the locker room.
Because as Ben Taylor explains very well once again, on his “Thinking Basketball” channel, Boston’s “run” in the third quarter is precisely based on the response… Dallas’ response.
The Mavericks now refuse to let their pivots get sucked in to keep them near the basket? The Celtics will continue to press their spacing, but this time by changing the vacuum cleaner for the windshield wiper. The goal is to fix the first defensive curtain, and to reverse the pivot behind, when transferring the ball.
Send in the zig to put in the zag
Daniel Gafford thus follows the course of the ball in order to be on Jrue Holiday if the leather reaches him, except that this windshield wiper movement leaves an opening for Jayson Tatum on the other side…
For a good part of the second half, the Celtics will play with the movements of the Texan liberos in order to generate gaps behind the defense. Enough to give themselves up to 21 points in advance, before getting a big scare in the fourth quarter. But to resist it to find yourself a title success.
Celtics were crushing the Mavs in G3 with the same set. Here's five different ways that they scored out of it, on: pic.twitter.com/gtf4GtrYpg
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) June 13, 2024
