Doc Rivers Boston Celtics Rub Backdoor SLOB Play

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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October 1, 2014

Doc Rivers Boston Celtics Rub Backdoor SLOB
By Adam Spinella

Sometimes in an end game situation you need to hold the ball and wait for the final shot. Knowing when to go and exactly how long it will take to get a bucket is crucial for a coach when calling a play in this situation. Doc Rivers, one of the best at drawing end game plays, drew up a set for Jeff Green to get an alley oop in a game against the Indiana Pacers. While the Celtics ran this with a delay, it is a play that is set immediately off the inbounds in a box formation.

Here’s the situation:
-Need a go-ahead bucket; have control of the final shot in the half-court.

Jason Terry (2) inbounds the ball for the Celtics. Bradley (1) zippers up from the box formation and recieves the inbounds. Jeff Green (4) then will get a pass from Bradley. Bradley heads to the ball-side wing to clear for Green up top.

When Green is ready (around five seconds left on the clock) he passes to Garnett (5) at the elbow and curls around him. As he curls, Garnett fakes the handoff to Green. Hopefully on this, x3 should step up towards Garnett looking to discourage a turnaround jumper. As that happens, Pierce (3) sets a back screen for Green, who curls all the way around and towards the hoop, looking for the pass from Garnett.

Here is a video of Jeff Green hitting the game winning layup against the Indiana Pacers. As you’ll see, the Celtics winded down the clock so they could get the last shot – the inbounds started with a zipper for Bradley.

As far as backdoor plays go in the end game that are quick hitters, this is as good as it gets. It can be run at any time in the half-court, but is best served for the end of a game. 5 needs to be a good passer – like Kevin Garnett is – and 3 needs to set an excellent screen. Watch how Pierce seeks out David West early in the video and sets a solid screen on him.

Coach Adam Spinella is entering his first season as an Assistant Coach at Culver Academies in Culver, IN. Spinella spent the three years prior as a Student Assistant Coach at Division III Dickinson College. The Dickinson Men’s Team advanced to two NCAA Tournaments and accumulated an overall record of 59-26 (.694) during the three-year span, with the 2013-2014 season ending in the Division III Elite Eight. A native of Bow, New Hampshire, Spinella has a keen interest in X’s and O’s, particularly in professional basketball, and skill development.

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