If there is one key to defend Atlanta Hawks, it limits them as much as possible in the selection list. Atlanta made the most picks and rosters of any team during the regular season, and that number has only increased since the playoffs began. It’s their offensive business. Until now.
The Celtics have played a relatively consistent scheme against high pick-and-runs over the first three games of the series—their infamous fall coverage. There were very different levels of participation, physicality, and intensity, resulting in vastly different levels of success between the games in Boston and Atlanta.
In the first two games of the series, the Celtics had no problem slowing down the Hawks’ initial offensive motion. The defender’s point of attack was physical with Trae/Dejounte, the player defending the rolling man was involved and stopped at the ball handler, then the keeper defender batted on screen and tracked play while looking for backhand taps or blocks.
Here, Derrick White stays connected to Trae Young as he uses the screen to move to the baseline. Horford also allows White to return to the play by remaining square and stunting Trae until White returns. They’re on the same page, and that results in a block at the edge for the best shot-blocking guard in the league.
This may not be your primary pick-and-roll defense, but it’s classic smart. He spins off screen and faces three well into Trae. This play illustrates the intensity with which the Defenders played in the Boston home game.
The Celtics also froze some shots and rolls early in the first game, and it looked like a pretty solid defensive scheme. Here, Murray is unable to use the screen and is forced to the baseline, which he only leaves with a pocket pass to Clint, who is in the no-man’s-land. Capella makes a lucky bank hit. oh well.
In Game Three, the Celtics moved away from screen icing and guarded the pick and roll with almost exclusively traditional drop coverage. Things didn’t go well, to say the least.
I don’t have much of an issue here with Jaylen, though I think he could fight a little bit harder to get back on the play. Regardless, this would be an opportune point for offensive defense if Rob Williams had made a distance stop on Murray, which would have allowed Brown to run from behind. Just lazy from Rob.
Again, this is bad from Rob. Brogdon will have to fight harder to get back in front of Murray, but it will be easier to do so if Williams offers any resistance. Instead, Dejounte just zigzags around the fairway until he finds a corner in the cordon. Very easy way.
Where does Al fall? Okongwu lags on the play, so Horford doesn’t need the protection of the charging circuit—he should put more pressure on Young, which will allow White to return to the play more effectively. Lack of focus seems to be the crux of what’s wrong here.
Atlanta will not make any major adjustments in Game Four. They still rely heavily on the catch and roll spread and their guards’ abilities to attack paint and hit/jump buoys.
And to be honest, I don’t think the Celtics should change their blueprint much, if at all. They have the defenders and connection required to fully pack the Falcons — they literally did so for two straight games to start the series. All it takes is a strong emphasis on physical fitness, intensity, and participation, and I think Mazzulla will push exactly those buttons.