Sixers-Celtics Game 3: How the Sixers stopped the Celtics go-to options

When facing the Boston Celtics, the problem is that unless they or you are shooting well for some reason (and that almost never happens), they're going to essentially wipe out the first 42 minutes of play. They're going to grind the game down with their defense and rigorous, robotic execution so that the game essentially comes down to the final six minutes of play. And in that span, they're going to bludgeon you to death with razor sharp execution of the same tried and true weapons they've been using the past five seasons.

The Celtics in late game situations almost always go to one of four options. Ray Allen slicinto the corner off a screen for a catch-and-shoot three, where Allen's perfect mechanics create a shot that is replicable time after time at 95 percent with a ridiculous success rate. Kevin Garnett releasing to the pick and pop off the screen to knock down a 16-foot jumper. Garnett lead the league in percentage for guarded and unguarded jump shots for qualified players this season according to Synergy Sports. Paul Pierce driving in isolation to the pull-up jumper. And on the rare occasion, Rajon Rondo driving to the basket for a layup. Those plays are all muscle-memory. There's little you can do if you allow the opportunity for them to execute.

With the Sixers up 1 in Game 2, the Celtics had the ball with a chance to take the lead with 40.4 seconds remaining. It's these situations where the Celtics have almost always succeeded, where they out-execute the opponent and win the game. But Philadelphia, with maybe the most underrated defense in the playoffs, had other ideas.

 

That's pretty amazing defense. In particular, Andre Iguodala takes one of the league's best at creating space in Paul Pierce and locks him up like a straight jacket. But the Sixers also didn't get beat by Ray Allen, and didn't allow Kevin Garnett's mid-range jumper, which has left the league in ruins throughout this season, to burn them. It may honestly have been one of the best defensive possessions this season. They forced the Boston Celtics, with all that ability, into a contested-mid-range-jumper from an older shooter with an ankle problem. 

This isn't to say that Boston didn't have things they could have done better. For starters, Allen can hit that shot. It's still a decent look for him, it's just so much worse than what they usually get in those situations. Paul Pierce could have posted to receive the ball, and then turned to face-up Iguodala, possibly drawing a foul. Garnett had an opportunity to post, which would have given him the turnaround shot or hook he's been nailing all season. Rond had room to drive. 

It takes two to do the Failure Tango, so to speak. 

But let's break down everything that Philadelphia did on this possession to get the miss and the rebound.



Iguodala's physical play on Pierce is essentially flawless, Lavoy Allen's work covering Garnett while helping on passing lanes is well above what most of the league does, and Jrue Holiday's speed to recover on the Ray Allen catch is what makes the biggest difference here. Those are tough screens those guys are moving through and the did so without allowing nearly any separation. 

The Sixers out-executed the Celtics in Game 2 down the stretch, barely. And while most of the attention has been on a moving screen violation call on Kevin Garnett, it was this possession that put the team up and caused the confusion which lead to a late foul given by the Celtics, setting up the Sixers win. 

Philadelphia's defense needs to be taken very, very seriously.