Randy Whittman Washington Wizards “Hammer” Set for Paul Pierce Go-Ahead 3

Paul Pierce has taken and made clutch shots since his early days with the Boston Celtics. During his current post season run with the Washington Wizards his legend has only grown as he has consistently come up huge when his team needed him. Last night with the Wizards trailing by 2 with only 12.4 seconds left on the clock he delivered again for his time. Although the Wizards ultimately couldn’t get that final stop they needed, the Pierce shot was just another example of his clutch shot making ability.

After a Washington Wizards timeout Otto Porter was the inbounder in the front court. The Randy Whittman Washington Wizards “Hammer” Set Play is a used a lot and made famous with the San Antonio Spurs. The play starts with Pierce and John Wall setting rub screens for Bradly Beal who receives the inbounds pass off a curl going down towards the baseline. Beal and Wall’s defenders miscommunicate on the initial screen as they both follow the basketball leaving John Wall open momentarily at the top of the key. They quickly recover and end up switching out to Wall at the perimeter. Marcin Gortat’s defender steps over in the paint to protect the rim on Beal’s drive leaving Pierce’s defender, Paul Millsap, all alone on an island to get screened. Gortat set’s a flare screen for Pierce, a screen that most could consider a moving screen, that leaves the veteran wide open in the corner. Bradley Beal does a good job tip toeing the baseline and gives himself just enough of an angle to throw a drift pass to Paul Pierce all alone in the corner.

While the made 3 was enough to add to Paul Pierce’s legacy it just wasn’t quite enough to propel the Wizards to victory in Game 5 of this best-of-7 series.

Follow Coach John Zall on Twitter!!!

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.

Click on the pdf link to download the Randy Whittman Washington Wizards “Hammer” Set for Paul Pierce Go-Ahead 3:

Randy Whittman Washington Wizards “Hammer” Set for Paul Pierce Go-Ahead 3