Boston Celtics Four Guard Lineup of Death
The Golden State Warriors have thoroughly dominated in most games they have played this season and their lineup of death, which features Draymond Green playing the 5, has been, by far, the best in the league. The Boston Celtics had to play without Jae Crowder but that allowed them to come up with one of the most unique responses to the Warriors’ lineup if death, they played with four guards.
The Celtics lead for the entire fourth quarter but the moment Green and Steph Curry came back in the game around the 7 minute mark in the fourth quarter the Warriors were in a position they have thrived in this season. With Isaiah Thomas, Evan Turner, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart all on the floor together, they managed to close out the game with a three point win.
The Celtics used both Jared Sullinger and Amir Johnson at the five and that allowed the Celtics to matchup well to the Warriors’ small ball lineup. Johnson/Sullinger along with Turner gave the Celtics enough size with Green at the 5 and they were able to get all their best defensive players on the court at once, without having to sit Thomas.
Brad Stevens will never take Thomas out to close out games and that means the only way they can have their three outstanding guards on the floor together is with a four guard lineup. Stevens was surprising people simply with a three guard lineup, which has become regular this season, but this four guard lineup was the perfect response to the Warriors.
Perhaps the best part the Celtics’ victory is that they took some of the best the Warriors have to offer and were able to be better. Curry had a quarter where he hit all 8 shots including 6-6 from three. Green had one of his best stat lines of the season with 16 points 6 steals 7 assists and 9 rebounds. The Celtics needed their absolute best to beat the Warriors and that is what they got.
The four guard lineup is how the Celtics closed the game and was the best response to the Warriors’ lineup of death. Stevens knew that the Celtics were able to keep up with he Warriors largely because of their guards and all he needed was the opportunity to get all four on the floor together.
Avery Bradley was the Celtics’ best defender of the game. Curry still hit incredible shots but Bradley’s activity was able to disrupt him for a great deal of the game. Bradley also did his share on the offensive end with 15 points and 4 assists.
Isaiah Thomas had an incredible slow start shooting the ball but he was generating offense all game. Despite the 0 points, Thomas had 5 assists in the first quarter. Then, he caught fire and was the reason the Celtics were able to withstand the Curry barrage. It took some catching up but Thomas was able to continue his streak of games with 20+ points and being the Celtics’ leading scorer.
Turner also had one of his best games of the season. He was a tone setter on the defensive end and lead the Celtics with three steals. He also did everything he could on the offensive end. He finished with 21 points, one behind Thomas for the team lead. He also had 5 assists, which was also one behind the team lead. Turner had a complete game on both ends of the court.
Marcus Smart also had an phenomenally well rounded game. He only scored 7 points but was deferring his shot for the majority of the game. He tied Thomas for the team lead with 6 assists. Smart was looking to be more of a play maker and did a great job of sustaining the Celtics’ ball movement. Smart was avoiding being a liability on the offensive end and, as he always does, was a terror on the defensive end. He was as important as anyone else in keeping the Warriors out of rhythm
Jared Sullinger was then the anchor the needed all game long. He was one of three players to score 20 or more points on the team and brought in 12 rebounds, including four offensive. Sullinger needed to be solid for the four guard lineup to work and he held strong while he was in. Sullinger was also phenomenal prior to that lineup. Sullinger was one of the most reliable options all game long and is the reason the Celtics out rebounded the Warriors. Johnson deserves credit to, as he replaced Sullinger down the stretch late in the game and held it together on defense.
Next: Boston Celtics Strengths and Weaknesses
The Celtics are one of the deepest teams in the league and they have minimal drop off between many of their starters and their bench players. The Celtics often have many different combinations of players that play well in a game and this time Stevens was able to get the 5 best and hottest players on the court to close the game. It may be difficult to sustain that lineup against traditional opponents but they now know they have a response to the Warriors’ lineup of death.