Yes that’s my point. He wasn’t “banged up” from overuse. He suffered an injury.There's a ginormous difference between aches and pains and an injured shooting shoulder. Especially when you're the amazing rubber band man.
Yes that’s my point. He wasn’t “banged up” from overuse. He suffered an injury.There's a ginormous difference between aches and pains and an injured shooting shoulder. Especially when you're the amazing rubber band man.
Luka was also on kind of a heater from the midrange. He's great, so he'll make a lot of those, but not 70-80% of them.Thought that Hauser had a rough night defensively against Luka, and they were successfully targeting Brogdon with Wood. Effort was good though, but I think that Hauser only won once and maybe twice for Brogdon. Luckily Dallas wasn't about to play any defense for any length of time.
FWIW, thought that it was fascinating that Dallas was leaving Brown and Tatum manned up by one guy for long stretches, until the Cs worked a switch and got Luka matched up. Then it was instant double, and even then Tatum beat the Luka side of the double twice. He's so bad defensively.
It was interesting actually. For the first 3-4 possessions Hauser was on Luka, he held up pretty well. I don't think Luka scored and it didn't look like Luka was having an easy time of it. After that point it was like a switch had been flipped and Luke was scoring on Hauser at will without looking like he needed to break a sweat - the worst I've been Hauser look on D this season. Of course, it was Luka.Thought that Hauser had a rough night defensively against Luka, and they were successfully targeting Brogdon with Wood. Effort was good though, but I think that Hauser only won once and maybe twice for Brogdon. Luckily Dallas wasn't about to play any defense for any length of time.
Luka pretty much scored on anybody covering him yesterday. He was 10-13 from 10'-20' on challenged fadeaway mid-range shots in the halfcourt. Tip of the hat. That's the exact shot you want to yield as a defense. Tatum did a decent job on him forcing a travel and a block at the rim. Otherwise, he bullied White or passed Horford a few times. As Ed noted, Hauser had 3-4 good early outcomes vs. Luka, but then LD decided not to miss for several quarters. Bird-likeThought that Hauser had a rough night defensively against Luka, and they were successfully targeting Brogdon with Wood. Effort was good though, but I think that Hauser only won once and maybe twice for Brogdon. Luckily Dallas wasn't about to play any defense for any length of time.
FWIW, thought that it was fascinating that Dallas was leaving Brown and Tatum manned up by one guy for long stretches, until the Cs worked a switch and got Luka matched up. Then it was instant double, and even then Tatum beat the Luka side of the double twice. He's so bad defensively.
He was taking it to the rim a ton early, so I think Dallas figured they had to try something different?Mavs were the first team this year that’s aggressively trapped Tatum on a high percentage of possessions, and they got shredded. Doris pointed it out multiple times, but Tatum almost immediately passed out of them unless he had the angle, the rest of the team basically got to play 4 on 3.
He’s way too quick of a decision maker for that defense now, don’t know why Kidd thought it was a good idea.
That’s probably it, I just don’t think it’s a viable scheme against Tatum and the Celtics anymore. Too many quick decision makers and way too much shooting.He was taking it to the rim a ton early, so I think Dallas figured they had to try something different?
My old college coach used to implement more aggressive defensive schemes on our road games to keep everyone energized and engaged in a setting where it’s easy to go through the motions without energy. Don’t know what Kidd’s motivations were but wanted to share.He was taking it to the rim a ton early, so I think Dallas figured they had to try something different?
mmm, makes senseMy old college coach used to implement more aggressive defensive schemes on our road games to keep everyone energized and engaged in a setting where it’s easy to go through the motions without energy. Don’t know what Kidd’s motivations were but wanted to share.
The rest of the Celtics ran the floor as Jaylen Brown buried a 3 within six seconds. But Tatum was strutting the sideline in front of the Celtics bench, screaming an, “I told you so” as Dončić trotted away.
“I told him I had to block it because I didn’t want him to dunk on me,” Tatum said. “He looked at me and was like, ‘You thought I was going to dunk it?'”
Dončić entered Wednesday as the betting favorite for MVP, with Tatum just behind. But Tatum thought better of himself. He’s leading the best team in the league in every facet of the game. He wants that MVP title.
It’s why he dropped 37 points in a game for which he was questionable entering the day with to a minor ankle injury. But Brown knew there was no way Tatum wasn’t stepping on the floor.
“He knew who he was matched up with. He had that game circled, don’t let him fool y’all,” Brown said. “He was playing the whole time.”
Yea, opponents have to hunt SAM, it's not like he will strip you or block your FGA (like the rest of the C's can)Good stuff, BH. Thanks. It looked to me that the Mavericks insistence to hunt Sam took the entire team out of any kind of rhythm. I can see why teams do it, because when they run their pick based sets against the Celtics sans Sam, the Celtics just switch everything and there’s no advantage usually for the offense. Celtics players do more than just talk about “guarding their yard.”
If anyone wanted to start a blog about the Celtics defense, a good name would be Ridiculous Switchability. I don’t remember seeing any other NBA team that has almost every single rotation piece with the ability to guard at least two positions, and so many who can guard four. Brogdon was a great addition. That guy is strong and determined. The Celtics are a defensive cheat code, and if Robert Williams gets back 100 percent, good luck to any team that is going to try to beat them in the playoffs.
Your other points are well taken, but LeBron is a one-of-a-kind in NBA history when it comes to durability. I don't think he's a reasonable yardstick on which to judge other star players.If complaining about Tatum's minutes vis a vis Giannis, it should be noted that Giannis is very much the exception when it comes to young superstars, such that it's been a point of criticism of Budenholzer. Lebron has led the league in mpg and his career average is higher than Tatum's current season. Durant's career average is half a minute less than what Tatum's playing this year. Kobe and Jordan in their primes were over 40 mpg guys. It's really the Popovich coaching tree guys that ascribe to the "save it for the playoffs" minute-managing. I think any benefit for guys in their mid 20s would likely come from the very slightly reduced chance of real injury that comes with less minutes rather than general "wear and tear".
The key is to not overexpose Hauser in this type of matchup. Once Doncic figured Hauser out he could pretty much do what he wanted……which he does against most anyone. Overall, Hauser did a more than admirable job.Yea, opponents have to hunt SAM, it's not like he will strip you or block your FGA (like the rest of the C's can)
He did try to draw a charge on Luka one time and didn't get the whistle. SAM moves his feet well & is smart enough to get to the spot first/draw (which will slow down bull rushes on him). I think that's the next step in his development. Obviously, playing next to TimeLord would also be very helpful for guys that like to back SAM down.
That was an egregious non-call. Luka ran over Hauser, who was in excellent position.He did try to draw a charge on Luka one time and didn't get the whistle. SAM moves his feet well & is smart enough to get to the spot first/draw (which will slow down bull rushes on him). I think that's the next step in his development.
Agreed, SAM just doesn't have the reputation to get THAT call on Luka yet. Smart and White in REF-ball World get that whistle. SAM has received a few phantom calls over the last few games, it's just the way the NBA operates.That was an egregious non-call. Luka ran over Hauser, who was in excellent position.
Most of the calls on him seem legit. He gets his hand caught down low sometimes, and they call him consistently for those handchecks. When he keeps his hands back, he doesn't get called for those, but he sometimes has trouble contesting the shot then.Agreed, SAM just doesn't have the reputation to get THAT call on Luka yet. Smart and White in REF-ball World get that whistle. SAM has received a few phantom calls over the last few games, it's just the way the NBA operates.
If SAM does it consistently every game he'll start earning those 50/50 charge calls.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
As it applies to the course of his career, sure, but in that he was once a young superstar playing heavy minutes while competing for a championship, he was very much part of the rule, not the exception like Giannis. There's only so many 24 year old superstars competing to win it all, but Iverson was at 42 per in the Sixers' Finals run (though certainly Larry Brown was at the far end of this particular curve) while Wade, Dirk, Harden and KG all played over 38 mpg at that age on contending teams. I'm probably missing other guys, but Curry (under Kerr, but not Mark Jackson), Kawhi, and Giannis are the outliers. Hell, even' Duncan under Pop averaged nearly 41 mpg in their 2002 chip when he was Tatum's age.Your other points are well taken, but LeBron is a one-of-a-kind in NBA history when it comes to durability. I don't think he's a reasonable yardstick on which to judge other star players.
A really good post and set of observations. Thanks for all the hard work that went into this.Hunted Hauser watch:
SAM enters at 5:54 Q1 Celtics up 17-13
Luka hunts SAM the first four possessions (obviously part of the game plan)
#1 Luka drives to rim, Sam stops him, Luka passes, Mav misses shot, Sam rebound
#2 Luka attacks, Sam challenges, Luka misses
#3 Sam guards Luka full court, Luka drives, Sam cuts off the lane to the basket and Luka passes out.
#4 Luka drives on Sam, cut off from the hoop. Marcus helps, Luka passes out to the perimeter
3:49 Q1 Celtics up 26-14 Mavericks timeout
after TO Luka doesn't immediately hunt Hauser until
#5 2:33 Luka bullies Hauser down to the block. Hits a 10' step-back fade-away banker
#6 :36 Luka dribbles into the lane against Hauser and hits a 8' fadeaway from the middle.
Celtics end Q1 up 34-23
Q2
#7 Dinwiddie hunts SAM, Hauser stops him from getting into the lane. Passes out
#8 Dinwiddie gets the ball on Hauser at the 3pt line. Tries to shake him, doesn't bother driving. Passes the ball to Wood
#9 Dinwiddie drives hard on Hauser, stopped at the rim, with Al's help. SD passes out for a bricked 3 from Wood
#10 (after a TO, designed play) Dinwiddie gets the inbound drives right into Sam's body, gets the whistle and hits the 8'
#11 Dinwiddie has the ball 1-1 on Hauser at the top. Tries to shake. Nothing. Passes to Wood
Sam leaves the floor at 7:35 of Q2 Celtics up 50-33
Luka hunted Hauser 6X in Q1 when the game was somewhat tight. LD came away with 4pts in a 6-minute span.
Dinwiddie came away with 2pts on Hauser when he had him 5X
Q3
Hauser enters 5:21
#12 Luka immediately hunts Hauser. Drives. Sam fouls him on the floor.
#13 Luka bullies Hauser down to the block. Passes it out for a Corner3
#14 Finney Smith catches the ball out high w.a little momentum and easily goes by Hauser for a lay up
#15 Luka bullies him into the lane. Luka charged and ran over Sam, he falls to the ground. Luka misses shot
#16 Luka works Sam into the lane, tries several pump fakes, hits a 10' fade-away
Luka gets 2pts on hunting Hauser 4X in the 2nd half
Hauser doesn't play again until garbage time
Hauser got hunted by Luka 10X. Luka was 3-5 & scored 6pts on SAM.
Luka is the most dominant offensive player in the NBA. Hauser held his own against a red-hot Luka that scored 42pts yesterday.
Over 20% into the season and see no evidence that Sam Hauser will get played off the floor.
Fantastic work. Good to see it in detail to refute the eye memory. I still think that it was about as tough a defensive game as he has had, and it was still pretty fvcking good.Hunted Hauser watch:
SAM enters at 5:54 Q1 Celtics up 17-13
Luka hunts SAM the first four possessions (obviously part of the game plan)
#1 Luka drives to rim, Sam stops him, Luka passes, Mav misses shot, Sam rebound
#2 Luka attacks, Sam challenges, Luka misses
#3 Sam guards Luka full court, Luka drives, Sam cuts off the lane to the basket and Luka passes out.
#4 Luka drives on Sam, cut off from the hoop. Marcus helps, Luka passes out to the perimeter
3:49 Q1 Celtics up 26-14 Mavericks timeout
after TO Luka doesn't immediately hunt Hauser until
#5 2:33 Luka bullies Hauser down to the block. Hits a 10' step-back fade-away banker
#6 :36 Luka dribbles into the lane against Hauser and hits a 8' fadeaway from the middle.
Celtics end Q1 up 34-23
Q2
#7 Dinwiddie hunts SAM, Hauser stops him from getting into the lane. Passes out
#8 Dinwiddie gets the ball on Hauser at the 3pt line. Tries to shake him, doesn't bother driving. Passes the ball to Wood
#9 Dinwiddie drives hard on Hauser, stopped at the rim, with Al's help. SD passes out for a bricked 3 from Wood
#10 (after a TO, designed play) Dinwiddie gets the inbound drives right into Sam's body, gets the whistle and hits the 8'
#11 Dinwiddie has the ball 1-1 on Hauser at the top. Tries to shake. Nothing. Passes to Wood
Sam leaves the floor at 7:35 of Q2 Celtics up 50-33
Luka hunted Hauser 6X in Q1 when the game was somewhat tight. LD came away with 4pts in a 6-minute span.
Dinwiddie came away with 2pts on Hauser when he had him 5X
Q3
Hauser enters 5:21
#12 Luka immediately hunts Hauser. Drives. Sam fouls him on the floor.
#13 Luka bullies Hauser down to the block. Passes it out for a Corner3
#14 Finney Smith catches the ball out high w.a little momentum and easily goes by Hauser for a lay up
#15 Luka bullies him into the lane. Luka charged and ran over Sam, he falls to the ground. Luka misses shot
#16 Luka works Sam into the lane, tries several pump fakes, hits a 10' fade-away
Luka gets 2pts on hunting Hauser 4X in the 2nd half
Hauser doesn't play again until garbage time
Hauser got hunted by Luka 10X. Luka was 3-5 & scored 6pts on SAM.
Luka is the most dominant offensive player in the NBA. Hauser held his own against a red-hot Luka that scored 42pts yesterday.
Over 20% into the season and see no evidence that Sam Hauser will get played off the floor.
This too. It seemed to kill the offense for a while.Good stuff, BH. Thanks. It looked to me that the Mavericks insistence to hunt Sam took the entire team out of any kind of rhythm.
He did more than enough. Of course Luka figured him out. Guy is a savant. But Sam did just fine.The key is to not overexpose Hauser in this type of matchup. Once Doncic figured Hauser out he could pretty much do what he wanted……which he does against most anyone. Overall, Hauser did a more than admirable job.
I'm not even sure ANYONE could handle that one-legged fadeaway midrange- you want Doncic taking those tough shots, but he sunk a LOT of those.He did more than enough. Of course Luka figured him out. Guy is a savant. But Sam did just fine.
Oh absolutely. Can't really stop those.I'm not even sure ANYONE could handle that one-legged fadeaway midrange- you want Doncic taking those tough shots, but he sunk a LOT of those.
More like a different time zone.Tatum is so far ahead of him on the defensive end that it's not even funny. Different zip code.
Jayson Tatum when defended by Luka Doncic: 15 PTS, 5-8 FG, 1:57 matchup timeMore like a different time zone.
The real MVP of the NBA? Anyone who gets Luka switched on to him.Jayson Tatum when defended by Luka Doncic: 15 PTS, 5-8 FG, 1:57 matchup time
Luka when defended by Tatum: 2 PTS, 1-2 FG, 2 TO, 1 BLK, 1:12
Defensive data is imperfect. But NBA tracking had Celtics scoring 31 points on 12-19 FG vs Luka.
Tatum allowed 6 points on 3-5 FG, 2 BLK
This video is a gross overreaction, the guy sounds like a Mavs fan (but he isn't).The real MVP of the NBA? Anyone who gets Luka switched on to him.
This reminds me of the videos I used to make before I started "actually doing real stuff" instead of sitting on my computer making highlight videos lol.This video is a gross overreaction, the guy sounds like a Mavs fan (but he isn't).
Some of Luka's Greatest Hits
more Celtics/Mavs porn
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpDYP4Xzkjw
I think the Cs were more than happy to let Luka shoot as many 2Ps as he could from more than 10+'. The Cs made 45 baskets and DAL made 44. But as the math goes, DAL is going to have to make a lot more baskets when the Cs are hitting 3Ps and FTs while Luka is making 2Ps.Here was Luka's shot chart:
Luka was 10-13 on 2 point jump shots from more than 10 feet out. That's what you want him taking, sometimes they just keep going in.
That deserves at least an Oscar nomination for best short subject documentary.This video is a gross overreaction, the guy sounds like a Mavs fan (but he isn't).
Some of Luka's Greatest Hits
more Celtics/Mavs porn
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpDYP4Xzkjw
I had to laugh at the tone of his voice, at first I thought it had to be a PO'd Mavs fan. BUT he's done it for a bunch of NBA teams. Some of his criticism was really picky, he'd fit in well in the CellarThat deserves at least an Oscar nomination for best short subject documentary.
The tone of voice is great. Sounds like he's being made to suffer innumerable idiocies. It was interesting that, in the Celtics clip, he only picked on Hauser twice I think (though Sam doesn't play as much, true). Once he was criticizing Hauser because DeRozan backed him up a little, then took a three-pointer, but that felt a bit off base to me. For one, DeRozan isn't generally a great three-point shooter, and also if you're Sam Hauser, your bigger concern there is DeRozan blowing by you.I had to laugh at the tone of his voice, at first I thought it had to be a PO'd Mavs fan.
I enjoyed your videos immensely fwiw.This reminds me of the videos I used to make before I started "actually doing real stuff" instead of sitting on my computer making highlight videos lol.
If he shat on the Cs defense after the Bulls game, that's more credibility. That performance was embarrassing.I had to laugh at the tone of his voice, at first I thought it had to be a PO'd Mavs fan. BUT he's done it for a bunch of NBA teams. Some of his criticism was really picky, he'd fit in well in the Cellar
Hoping for a similar Celtics performance against another top Western Conf team today
Oh no I had to look... he ripped into the Celtics after the Bulls game
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDOUnq0O9BY
Tatum/Grant were particularly awful in the Chicago game.I enjoyed your videos immensely fwiw.
If he shat on the Cs defense after the Bulls game, that's more credibility. That performance was embarrassing.
I posted it after the game, the Bulls went 10-14 against Tatum and 10-13 against Jaylen.Tatum/Grant were particularly awful in the Chicago game.
@lovegtm needs to fire up the VHS and do some "Mazzulla's new offense" videos
He reminds me of an exasperated coach in a video session. This is great stuff though. If you’re more than a casual fan and you want to understand the specifics on how to defend NBA sets, this guy would be a good person to check out.The tone of voice is great. Sounds like he's being made to suffer innumerable idiocies. It was interesting that, in the Celtics clip, he only picked on Hauser twice I think (though Sam doesn't play as much, true). Once he was criticizing Hauser because DeRozan backed him up a little, then took a three-pointer, but that felt a bit off base to me. For one, DeRozan isn't generally a great three-point shooter, and also if you're Sam Hauser, your bigger concern there is DeRozan blowing by you.
I'm old enough and did play at a high enough level to endure a video walkthrough. But I'm quite certain that all of the coaches that I ever had would have sounded exasperated in film sessions. They were exasperated most of the time.He reminds me of an exasperated coach in a video session. This is great stuff though. If you’re more than a casual fan and you want to understand the specifics on how to defend NBA sets, this guy would be a good person to check out.
Ha, you hit exactly the points I wanted to.It feels like PP has played himself into a regular role. I would like to see him getting 10-12 minutes a night, as he seems to have figured out how to positively impact the game even when his shot isn’t falling by getting offensive rebounds, deflections, and pushing the ball at every opportunity. Where those minutes come from is the issue.
Was also surprised Kornet didn’t get a chance earlier in the game. The Kings had 26 points on the paint in the second quarter and I believe most of those came when the Celtics played Grant and JT as the big guys. CJM may have worried about the Kings speed against Kornet, so perhaps defensible as an initial strategy, but once it became a layup line I thought Kornet could’ve come in to help sort that out.
Agree on PP being less of an issue defensively because of his ball pressure and hustle.Ha, you hit exactly the points I wanted to.
Wrt PP: regular season defense is all about energy and attention to detail. He does both. He also has quick feet and pressures the ball, which negate "just shoot over him" for all but the best players. His perimeter defense is legitimately solid.
Where do his minutes come from? Joe may have found something with Brogdon+Smart+PP, where Smart can easily play up as a wing, and you play Horford or Kornet for interior size.