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Each week, HOOPSWORLD NBA analyst and coach Anthony Macri will open his notebook and offer an assortment of observations on games, players, and teams from throughout the league. Coach Macri serves as a player development consultant for the Pro Training Center and Coach David Thorpe, working with a variety of NBA players on their skills and game understanding. The Coach’s Notebook appears on HOOPSWORLD every Thursday.

Boston’s Multi-Layered Offensive Attack

The most commonly cited strength of the Boston Celtics is their very good team defense, and for good reason.  The Celtics have been among the league leaders in most defensive categories for the last few years.  They have proven an ability to pressure the ball, choke off driving lanes, and generally make life miserable for opponents.  And while their offense is not overlooked, it is usually well-regarded for its balance and the talents of the big three (or four with Rondo).

However, their play calling and execution seem to rarely get mentioned.  This is striking, because Boston runs some of the best simple sets in the league, and their effectiveness is only amplified by the talented players executing them.

The Celtics use misdirection as well as any team in the league.  Many teams run good multiple options on the ball side of the floor, and get very good results.  However, Boston runs good ball side actions, while at the same time using back screens and fades on the weak side to keep the opposing defense occupied.  When watching the Celtics execute in both the halfcourt and in early offense (at the end of transition), pay careful attention to how little they stand and watch one another.  Very often, they are moving into positions to set up actions on the second side of the floor.

As an example, they run a pindown for Paul Pierce on the right wing.  As Pierce moves to receive the ball from Rajon Rondo at the top, Ray Allen starts pinching in from high opposite.  Kevin Garnett moves closer at the same time, zoning an area of the floor on the weakside.  No more than a second after the catch, Allen is flaring hard, rubbing off of Garnett’s screen and sprinting to the opposite wing.  Garnett presents himself as an option as well, and the defense has to make some very difficult decisions.  Do you stay strong side to prevent any driving action from Pierce?  What about the post where Shaquille O’Neal would be after the pindown?  How do you defend Ray Allen on the weakside for a skip pass three?  And since Garnett is setting the screen, should his defender help on Allen, help on the drive, or stay home on a potential pass to KG for a 17 footer?

This simple play illustrates both the effectiveness and the efficiency of Boston’s attack.  By continually attacking with multiple layers of options, they prevent defenses from keying on any individual offensive component.  Precision timing, great reads, and talent help this offense come together and thrive, and makes the Celtics one of the most difficult teams to defend in the league.

So, what is the best approach defensively?  All good defensive gameplans start with pressure on the ball, and that is no different here.  Jamming the ball with intense pressure limits the kinds of options available to whoever has the ball, and typically influences the ball-handler into certain choices.  This gives the defense a chance to prepare for those scenarios.  In the play above, aggressive on-ball defense could encourage Pierce to put the ball on the floor to drive.  Now, the defense can play with the thought that it is the most likely scenario, and not be as concerned with the long skip pass to Ray Allen.

Offense and defense at a high level of basketball is a chess game, each move calculated.  Allowing one piece to be sacrificed so that another can gain an advantage is all part of how it is played, and the Boston Celtics are able to accomplish this as well as anyone in the league.

Flirting with Steph Curry

Understanding how to effectively navigate ball screen action is one of the most critical functions for a lead guard in the NBA.  In just his second year in the league, Golden State’s Stephen Curry has demonstrated he grasps both the fundamental keys of ball screen play, and he has also shown a comprehension of advanced concepts that will give him an advantage as he continues to mature and develop.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Curry has always used a great change of pace to throw off defenders.  Even as a player at Davidson, Curry was masterful at using screens and exploding off of them, dropping his hips to gain leverage, and propel toward a goal.  He understands when to slow, and when to go – and it is no more apparent than when he is utilizing a screen.  Rarely does he loaf off of screens, instead using them as a chance to penetrate the defense and force it to account for him.  This gives him more scoring opportunities and it open ups chances for his teammates to get involved.  This is a fundamental skill of ball screen play that some pros never quite seem to understand.

At a more advanced level, Curry has developed a flirt mentality over the last year.  Younger players are usually taught to wait for the screen, then explode to the goal after the screen is set.  This works at lower levels, because defenses are not as tricky, and the level of play is not quite as advanced.  In the NBA, however, this would be too predictable and therefore easily defended.  Instead, a better option is to change up the timing of the attack, sometimes going immediately but other times flirting with the screen, faking and hesitating at it before finally exploding off it.  Stephen Curry does an excellent job varying up his flirtations, occasionally moving quickly, and sometimes in a long, sustained dance with the screener.  This serves to disrupt the timing of the defenders, preventing them from getting into proper placement and sometimes even ruining their communication level.

Finally, turning the second corner is one of the best teaching points for young guards that is often overlooked when examining how to attack off the ball screen.  Many players have no problem attempting to turn the corner immediately after the screen.  But if that lane is shut down, they tend to dribble out to create space and give up on penetration.  Curry, however, does not.  As he comes off the ball screen, if he encounters a soft hedge (where the screener’s defender attempts to stay with the ball and allow his man time to recover), Curry continues his attack line.  He may not have the first available lane, but he often creates a second lane after a dribble or two, usually closer to the midline (or even the opposite elbow) if the ball screen came on the wing.  Once he gets to this area, the defense has to make a choice.  They either give up the lane, or they bring a defender over to help, in which case Golden State has shooters prepared.  Curry’s understanding and preparedness makes this play nearly unguardable, and will continue to give him an edge as he develops over the course of his career.

Have questions for Coach Macri? Be sure and drop by HOOPSWORLD on Mondays at 2PM Eastern for the Coach’s weekly basketball chat!  You can also follow Coach Macri on Twitter @CoachMacri.