Celts Prepare for a Buzzsaw

Here’s an article that appeared in the Boston Herald today.  The main piece of news was that it appears the Celtics’ transition defense will revert to the “get back quickly” mode that will reduce the number of offensive rebounds.  The Suns will present one of the quickest teams in the league, and it’s very likely the Celts will go small frequently because so much offense comes from the Suns’ backcourt (to say nothing of future hall-of-famer Gerald Green).


Questions:


• Will Brad attempt to exploit the Suns’ RELATIVE weakness at the big positions by using his own bigs more than might seem the obvious move and despite the Suns’ withering speed?

 

• What defensive schemes will Brad “Belichik” Stevens employ against the Suns?
 
Sam


[size=47]Celtics Notebook: Suns offense could torch lazy ‘D’[/size]
Monday, November 17, 2014

By:
Mark Murphy
 
Coach Brad Stevens, while watching video of a recent Phoenix Suns game, heard a statistic so remarkable he wasn’t sure of its veracity.
But it was true, and concerned the one-time Celtics rookie, Gerald Green. Last season, the forward, who has experienced rebirth in Phoenix, was the first player since Michael Jordan to score 30 or more points in 30 or fewer minutes four times. The most bombastic example was a 36-point, 29-minute performance in a win over the Denver Nuggets.
And Green isn’t even the most frenetic part of the Suns’ wing-oriented attack, which heading into tonight’s game against the Celtics is eighth in the NBA in scoring at 104.0 points per game.
The Celtics are playing in a new, prolific mode, too. They are third in the league with a 106.6 scoring average. But getting back on defense has been a problem that could be exploited to an embarrassing degree if changes aren’t made by tonight.
“That’s a tough call,” point guard Rajon Rondo said after yesterday’s practice. “I do believe we have to get back on defense because we’re giving up a lot of points in transition. That was a big emphasis in today’s practice. You don’t need to attack off the glass as much. It’s going to take away from some of our aggressiveness on the glass, but scoring the ball isn’t our problem. It’s getting defensive stops in transition.”
The obvious similarity between the teams is their backcourts. The Celtics, when running at full strength with Marcus Smart (out with an ankle injury), are capable of downsizing to a three-guard pressure lineup.
Phoenix may have the best, and certainly the quickest, three-guard combination in the NBA in Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas.
“They try to score in the first six seconds, but other than that we have more of a balanced attack,” said Rondo. “They’re a pretty guard-oriented team. No disrespect to their bigs, but their three-headed snake is Bledsoe, Dragic and Thomas. Gerald Green is playing well, too, but they’re a backcourt team.”
And if the Celtics don’t make adjustments, the scoreboard could short-circuit.
“We just have to play better defensively,” Stevens said. “Whatever your responsibility is as a player, you have to be there every single time. We just have to be better in our technique and multiple effort on every single play. It’s easier said than done.”
Small steps for Smart
Smart could be seen shooting flat-footed set shots after practice. More significantly, perhaps, was the absence of the therapeutic walking boot on his left ankle. But the rookie guard’s increase in activity has been only marginal.
“He’s shooting stationary,” Stevens said. “There is increased activity on the non-weight bearing treadmill. He’s not doing a whole lot, but he is up and walking and the boot’s off.” . . .
The time frame for Vitor Faverani’s return to the floor from knee surgery isn’t as close.
“No increased activity,” said Stevens. “I talked to him today, and they haven’t given him a specific timeline.”
Rondo appreciative
Rondo, who passed Paul Pierce to move into fourth all-time on the Celtics assist list behind Bob Cousy, John Havlicek and Larry Bird, was moved by the distinction.
“It’s an honor to pass a guy like Paul Pierce — a player who was such a big part of this organization for 15 years,” Rondo said. “He’s done so many things, along with scoring the ball, assists and steals. Whatever the case may be, you pass a guy like Paul Pierce and come close to a guy like Larry Bird, it’s an honor being in this organization for so long.
“I’m just very fortunate to be a Celtic. I’ll think about it 10 or 20 years from now, but right now it’s about getting a win.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2014/11/celtics_notebook_suns_offense_could_torch_lazy_d

well at least we shouldn't have any problem with the center position this game.

final score:

Pho- 139
Bos- 130

Should the Celtics try and get in a track meet with Phoenix? I'm not so sure. While Boston can run and does run more than last year, Phoenix is much more established right now in uptempo basketball.

Playing into their hands might not actually be the best course of action.


KJ