Wearing a sweatshirt Boston Celtics and has a back cover to add a more informal touch than usual, more in line with swag of the NBA, Pep Guardiola He was on the right side last night beyond a favorable result for his friend’s team Joe Mazzulla in Game 1 of the Finals (107-89). Having support in Dallas Mavericks The Manchester City coach would have put his hands to his head kicking his treatises on the philosophy of the passing game Luka Doncic and company: the Texas team distributed only 9 assists with only 1 from the point guard despite their 30 points.
The scary statistics also have some aggravating factors: the Jason Kidd had more turnovers than basket passes with 12, only the third team in an NBA Finals with the lowest number of assists in 58 years and, in a figure that says everything about the weakness of some and the authority of others, the Celtics recorded as many blocks as Dallas made basket passes with 9.
From its essence, Boston discovered the difficulties of the Mavericks, the strict hierarchy of a kind of cult system for its leaders where Luka Doncic organized everything in cooperation with Kyrie Irving in contrast to offensive democracy of the Celtics where everyone participates equally and can do everything. Pep style.
A system where everyone falls if others do not receive from their leader and his right hand. To supply the rest of the ball, Dallas relies more on teammates that Irving and Doncic find free to get out of the heavy traffic of defenders they encounter along the way.
But, in his defensive rangesThe Celtics didn’t give up and it seems they won’t give the space the two Mavericks stars are hoping for.
As Tatum said after Game 1, Boston has “no hiding defenders” and Joe Mazzulla’s team can afford it. change everything in blockades with your army of elite one-on-one defenders. They won’t give up an inch of ground to coverage abuse like trap or the drop shooting 2×1 open unleashes triples or dunks Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II.
The Celtics are directly telling Doncic to beat them on his own.
All the collective essence that the Mavericks lack is in these Celtics with a game model inspired by the principles of Pep Guardiola, whom Joe Mazzulla visited in Manchester during the break. All Star to know more about his method. The Boston coach showed his players City videos to show them how to transition from defense to attack and vice versa.
Guardiola spoke to Mazzulla the day before Game 1 on the parquet of TD Garden to sit the next day in the front with his wife Cristina Serra. The one from Santpedor reflected on the tactical exhibition of Joe Mazzulla, who should talk about the most promoted of a big team on both sides of the field.
In his 35 yearsthe Boston coach presented a recital with many of the characteristics of the identity made by Pep Guardiola “the best coach of any sport”, according to the American coach himself.
The Celtics coach remains true to his principles, even shooting the triple freely, something that is sometimes criticized. However, and as is the case in Pep’s City, whoever faces Boston needs to know that they also need to take down Mazzulla as if from a sixth man It’s about their ability to surprise and make adjustments on the fly.
The American was surprised before starting the game without being included Kristaps Porzingis in the starting five and then he started sneaking it back and forth to Jason Kidd. Putting Jayson Tatum on Daniel Gafford is the first step to suppress the Doncic effect, as the ‘0’ can stay with the Slovenian on the perimeter after the pick and roll change.
Although Dallas responded by using the player he was paired with as a blocker Al Horford or Porzingis to keep the point guard in the middle, the other players’ screens are not as effective. Aside from the fact that the Dominican is capable of challenging the Slovenian away from the rim and so is Porzingis, albeit with a more conservative defense. Boston also disciplinedly applied the theory of using different defenders with the point guard, smart at familiarizing themselves with a type of defense and tricking it.
Mazzulla also used the double center with good results with Porzingis and Al Horford with one guarding Doncic and the other poised to jump to help near the rim. There is no shortage of attack alternatives, where bases like Derrick White and Jrue vacation appear in the paint to receive curve balls like a pivot. Creativity in the level of resources used by Pep such as using full-backs as midfielders.
The Celtics attack is synchronized and harmonious, the passes and movements of the players without the ball are relentless, diligently applying the sacred requirements of game of position that made Barça great and unique and Guardiola preached to the Barça team, Bayern and now City.
And when Boston found itself in trouble -Dallas cut the deficit to 8 points in the third quarter-, Joe Mazzulla solved his team’s offensive block a la Pep: the ball moves more and more. All that’s missing from some thick Mavericks and an isolated Luka Doncic.
Doncic may have Real Madrid DNA, but the comeback can start with the principles of Pep Guardiola.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
