Boston Celtics vs 76ers Game Winning Alley Oop Play by John Zall

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Plays | Sideline out of bounds

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July 29, 2014

Boston Celtics vs 76ers Game Winning Alley Oop Play by John Zall

Doc Rivers is widely considered to be one of the top 5 NBA Head Coaches in the game today. One of his strengths is “drawing up” a play during a time out or in a late game situation. While coaching with the Celtics, Doc always seemed to have just the right play to run at key moments in the game.

The Celtics vs 76ers play I featured below is just another example of Doc’s late game tactics. During the “Big 3” era that featured Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen the Celtics were known for starting the season at a torrid pace. In the 2008-09 season, the year after they won their championship, they started the season 27-2. During the start of the 2009-10 season they started 23-5.

This particular Celtics vs 76ers play was from a game at the start of the 2010-11 season. After losing a crushing Game 7 to the Lakers in Los Angeles the previous summer they started they began this season like they did the previous two storming out to a 33-10 start. In early December they played a close game in Philadelphia against the Sixers.

Down 1 with 6.6 seconds left Boston had the ball sideline out of bounds. The Celtics decided to go small with Kevin Garnett at the 5 and inbounding the ball. Ray Allen was positioned in the strong side corner, Rondo was at the top of they key near the inbounder, and Paul Pierce and Nate Robinson were at the weak side wing.

The Celtics vs 76ers play starts with Rondo flashing to the ball and receiving the inbounds pass. On the weak side, Nate Robinson sets sort of a rub screen for Paul Pierce who sprints over to Rondo to set a ball screen. Rondo rejects the screen from Pierce and instead goes into a ball screen with Garnett who just stepped on to the floor. Andre Iguodala who is considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, stays attached to Pierce.

Jrue Holiday, who is guarding Rondo, obviously positions himself to go under the screen on the Celtics point guard. During the 2010-11 season Rondo only attempted 43 three pointers shooting a lowly 23%. However, Garnett sees Holiday goes under and slips the screen. Garnett, rolls into Holiday forcing a switch. Help cannot come because of where the other 2 Celtics are positioned; Ray Allen is in the strong side corner and you can’t help off the all-time 3 point leader in NBA History. Nate Robinson is still on the weak side wing and his defender would have to come extremely out of position to help.

Rondo sees the smaller Holiday on Garnett and throws it up to the rim where Garnett catches it and lays it in for the win. The Celtics vs 76ers play is perfectly designed, Doc knows Iguodala will stay attached with Pierce and that Philadelphia will either show or switch the Garnett screen. When Garnett slips, there will be no weak side help and he’ll have a smaller defender on him.

John Zall BIO

Coach John Zall just completed his first season as an Assistant Coach at Division II Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. This past season Franklin Pierce University won 20 games and advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Zall arrived at Franklin Pierce after spending the past 3 seasons as the Associate Head Coach/Head JV Coach at O’Bryant High school in Roxbury, MA. During his tenure at O’Bryant the program improved from 4 wins to 12 wins and qualified for the MIAA State Tournament twice.

Coach Zall also has experience as an AAU Head Coach for the Boston Warriors. As Head Coach for the Warriors his team won the 2011 16U State Title and twice competed in AAU Nationals down in Orlando, FL. On top of being a student at Northeastern University, Zall was named Head Coach of the Men’s Club Basketball team for the 2012-13 season. During his lone season as Head Coach, Northeastern finished second in the Northeast Regional Tournament featuring colleges from throughout the East Coast. Coach Zall has also spent time as a Head Coach in the Bay State Games where his team won the Bronze Medal in 2012 and at various camps including: Five Star, Boston Celtics, NIKE, Franklin Pierce University, Hoop Group and The Elite 75.