Denying Durant: How the Celtics stopped the best scorer in the NBA / News - Basketnews.com

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Kevin Durant recently came to a EuroLeague playoffs match between Olympiacos Piraeus and AS Monaco after getting swept in the NBA Playoffs series against the Boston Celtics. He was there to support his former teammate Mike James in his quest to the Final Four.

Kevin Durant

Team:Brooklyn NetsPosition:SFAge:33Height:211 cmWeight:107 kgBirth place:Washington, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

A week before, the Nets, where the two played together last season, lost by a combined 18 points in four games to the Celtics. They had their chances, but their leader was smothered in the opponents' claws.

Durant seemed lost in the series against the ever-changing Celtics defense. Judging by all four games, the overall regular stats do not seem that far off - 26.3 points (29.9 in the regular season), 5.8 rebounds (7.4), and 6.3 assists (6.4) - but the underlying numbers are significantly worse.

Let's take a look at what transpired during the series, how the Celtics defied the early predictions, and what comes next for the league's top defense.

The Effect

The Celtics came into the Playoffs as the top defense in the NBA. Allowing 106.9 points per 100 possessions (1st in the league) and only letting their opponents shoot a measly 50.4% effective field goal percentage (eFG) (1st), the team from Boston was a slight favorite coming into the matchup.

According to Cleaning the Glass, the Celtics were also 2nd in allowing opponents to shoot close to the basket during possessions (27.7%), 1st in opponents' mid-range shooting percentage (39.3%), and 2nd in opponents' 3-pointer shooting percentage (34.3%).

The Celtics were also really solid in halfcourt defense, allowing the fewest points per 100 plays in the league (90.4) and being 2nd in opponents' points per missed shot (17.4). Despite being weaker in transition defense, Ime Udoka's team was still 7th in opponents' transition points per 100 possessions (2.3) and 5th in opponents' transition points per 100 plays (121.4).

Kevin Durant

MIN:37.75PTS:29.55 (61.88%)REB:7.23As:6.45ST:0.9BL:0.93TO:3.55GM:60ProfileNBA2021/2022

In the two games played against this defense during the regular season, Durant was efficient. 59.5% eFG, 66.7% 2PT% (95th percentile), 30.8% 3PT%, 134.9 points per 100 shot attempts while shooting 61% from mid-range and 83% under the rim.

However, Durant did not feel like himself during the Playoffs. His effective field goal percentage dipped to a measle 42.8%, the 2-pointer percentage dropped to 40.3%, and points per 100 shot attempts were at a disappointing 104.0 mark while shooting 42.0% from mid-range.

28.6% of Durant's fouled shots were made during the regular season, while only 10.0% of his shots were and-ones during the playoffs.

There is one statistic that was consistent both during the regular season and the playoffs, though - turnover percentage. The regular-season number was a whopping 17.5%, while the playoffs statistic reached 16.4% - that's the highest percentage ever in his career during any period - playoffs or regular season.

The closest he got to that number was during the 2011-2012 regular season, when the then-emerging superstar averaged a 14.4% turnover percentage.

Let's take a look at the reason behind the dip in Durant's percentages and metrics and how the Celtics managed to achieve it.

The Lengthy Switches

The difference between the teams' starting fives' lengths is substantial. While the Celtics are only 13th in starting five's average height (200.2 cm), the Nets are dead last (196.0 cm). Marcus Smart is often the smallest Celtics player on the court, standing at 193 cm tall.

"It is a perimeter-based game. And for far too long, we have not given those grinders, the mikal bridges and marcus smarts, their due," NBA analyst and commentator Doris Burke said last month while commenting on her decision to vote for Smart for Defensive Player of the Year. "I said I'm going to give my vote to the best defensive player on the best defensive team."

Smart is a big-bodied guard, able to defend anybody on the floor. He finished the year ranked seventh in the league in steals per game (1.68), fifth in defensive rating (105.2), and first in loose balls recovered per game (1.1). With him on the floor, the Celtics can switch effectively in almost any situation.

Let it be known - they switch a lot.

Basic switches, double switches, and even triple switches have their place in Celtics' defensive arsenal. However, defenders don't switch just for the sake of it or just because they have a habit of switching in certain situations. Ime Udoka's defense relies on switching to create advantageous situations for his defenders on the court.

The switching allows placing one of the lengthy defenders on Durant at any time. As a result, 59% of Durant's shots during the series were with the defender in a tight position, according to NBA Advanced Stats (60-120 cm to the shooter).

Smart can defend anybody one-on-one in the league and endure the post switches like a forward. Jaylen Brown is not a particularly good man-to-man defender. Still, he is talented enough to recognize defensive situations and use his elite wingspan to rotate in team defense effectively and force stops under the rim.

Jayson Tatum is a sturdy 6'8'' (203 cm) forward with long arms and legs which can stand on his own in one-on-one situations this year. He's often purposefully switched onto an opponent to minimize his offensive arsenal.

Tatum was used effectively on Durant during this series as well. Being his primary defender, Tatum was not afraid to go into contact with the Nets superstar and force him to go to either of the sides. Being stronger physically, Tatum can withstand Durant's attempts to shoot over him or dribble past him - the gifts that make the Nets superstar incredibly difficult to guard.

Having Grant Williams as a substitution for Tatum or one of the big men sometimes feels unfair for the opponents' offense. 6'6'' and 240 pounds of pure strength are not a good matchup for almost any player. Sturdy, physical, and always giving his 100% on the court.

Going further, you have a veteran Al Horford. He isn't quick, he doesn't jump high, but he understands what is happening on the court and can also comfortably guard smaller players in switch situations. There were numerous times when Horford switched on Durant, and the center stood his ground.

Then we arrive at Robert Williams III. His defensive tandem with Smart is probably the fiercest in the league. His block percentage is elite (3.7%, 96th percentile), with him on the court, the team allows 4.8 fewer points per 100 possessions than with him off the court.

When he's on the floor, the opponents' effective field goal percentage drops by 2.2 percent while their three-pointer shooting percentage decreases by a significant 4.6% (95th percentile).

Although Williams did not play during the first two games of the series, and his minutes were not nearly the usual amount when he returned, the center's presence was felt. The Celtics' switch scheme is centered around placing Williams on the block.

The young center is not skilled enough to guard smaller players on regular switches, and he's not agile enough to defend pick and rolls traditionally. As a result, the double and triple switches usually place Williams somewhere in the lower end of the backcourt.

There, he can focus his attention on being the help defender on drives and kick-outs and utilize his tremendous defensive potential as a rim protector. With him on the court, Celtics opponents usually shoot more threes (+4.1%) than twos (-3.4%), meaning they not only shoot more but also shoot worse, as noted before.

Now, let's take a look at the specific tactics against Kevin Durant.

The Specifics

Deny, Allow, Deny

The head coach of the Celtics, Ime Udoka, worked as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets last season. Having coached the two for a year, he's one of the best people to design a game plan against both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and it showed.

The first step for the Celtics' defense was to deny Durant the ball. Every defender he faced was face-guarding him the entire time. Even the handoffs were not made easy for Durant.

He was made sure to receive the ball far from the basket. Ideally, Tatum would meet Durant at half-court and start to bother him as soon as he arrived at the Celtics' end of the floor.

When Durant eventually got the ball, there was a mix of man-to-man action and stunts. One thing was clear - whichever the defender was on him, he made Durant's life as difficult as possible.

The Nets superstar was allowed to drive, though, but help defense was immediately on its way.

Durant is not a good passer while on the move. His strength lies in his ability to scan the floor while either in transition or being guarded by a small defender in the post, whether in the low block or higher.

The first two games showed the clear game plan to not allow Durant to find himself in those situations often. Although a decent passer compared to his previous years, Durant isn't well-equipped to find his teammates while on the move in the halfcourt offense.

Deny him the ball, allow him to drive, deny the passing opportunity - simple yet effective.

Going European Style

The Celtics shrank the court for Durant during the entire series. Help defense was on its way the entire time, making it difficult for Durant to drive to the basket or pull up. There were often a few defenders on the way whenever the Nets superstar received the ball.

Just how European coaches often pick specific players to risk against, the Celtics packed the paint and dared all other players than KD and Kyrie to shoot. Udoka chose to be defeated by a thousand cuts rather than a big blow, and it worked.

The Celtics would double team Durant both in the high post and during isolation situations with other three or even only two defenders comfortably rotating to secure the paint while leaving select options open on the court.

Limiting Durant's outbursts meant Kyrie Irving had more freedom to shoot and create. He did exactly that in Game 1, but that was still not enough due to Durant being phased out of the game.

In Game 2, KD had more turnovers than he made field goals, while in Game 3, his turnover percentage reached a whopping 25.6%.

Durant and the Nets head coach Steve Nash adjusted to the Celtics defense in Game 3 and Game 4, having KD post up more on the elbow while having better rotations offensively. The cuts were more decisive, and Nic Claxton offered much more mobility and flexibility on the offensive end than Andre Drummond, who only played 4 minutes in the final match of the series.

KD recorded 8 and 9 assists, respectively, in these two games, but that meant he held the ball less and the 'death by a thousand cuts' strategy worked.

"My approach to this game was to play off everybody, to get the flow of the offense, the let the ball move and find me. I felt we had a good flow," Durant expressed his confusion. "Probably should've taken more shots, but I was just trying to play the game the right way without being too aggressive."

The biggest star of the team was left confused by the Celtics' defense, trying to do things he isn't used to. The strategy worked, and the Celtics are now in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, having swept the Nets in 4 games.

What's Next?

The Greek Freak is next. The Celtics now face the reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks and their leader Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is a perennial MVP candidate who puts up tremendous numbers both offensively and defensively.

Game 1 of the series showed more or less what we could've expected. The Celtics tried similar tactics against Giannis that they successfully applied against KD in the last series. Tactical switches, double or even triple teams, selective risks against certain players.

The tactics did not work in Game 1, though. Giannis is much more physical than Durant, meaning he can withstand the physicality of the tall Celtics lineup. He's gotten accustomed to being forced to play against the so-called 'Giannis wall', so his passing skills have vastly improved since the early seasons of his career, especially while dribbling the ball.

The Celtics' defense was still elite in the halfcourt, though. They allowed 103.1 points per 100 possessions (85th percentile), and only 75.6 points per 100 halfcourt plays (96th percentile). The Celtics were defeated in transition.

They allowed 7.2 transition points per 100 possessions (only 10th percentile) while a whopping 17.3% of all possessions started via transition, per Cleaning the Glass. The Bucks outran the Celtics. Giannis attracted the defenders during fast breaks just to kick the ball out to his teammates waiting to shoot.

Even the half-court rotations were lackluster by the Celtics. There were a number of episodes where the weak side held came to guard Giannis, but the remaining players did not rotate correctly or did not take the optimal positions to guard the passing lanes.

Antetokounmpo was still limited to only 9/25 shooting from the floor with a measle 80 points per 100 shot attempts (22nd percentile). Nevertheless, 54.5% of his teammates' shots were assisted by Giannis himself. That's a 100th percentile number.

"Maybe I’m weird, but I thrive through physicality," Giannis said after Game 1. "I love feeling beat up after games. I don’t know why."

Antetokounmpo sometimes simply outmuscled the Celtics.

The Greek Freak is much more than a physical threat. When needed, he can shift his mentality and involve his teammates when the shots don't fall as usual. When KD has to force it, it comes naturally for Giannis. That's the difference between the players and the situation to which Ime Udoka will have to adjust during the series.

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