The question I posed to the staff: We all know that Luka is going to get his points and assists no matter what the Celtics throw at him. But what are some ways that you think the Celtics can slow him down or minimize his overall impact as much as possible?
Rich Jensen
To me, good defense in basketball is all about discomfort. It’s about making the offense take the shots you want them to take, when you want them to be taken. When Luka passes, can the C’s defense ensure it’s caught in an awkward spot?
Luka is extremely effective going downhill, and especially to his right. Can the C’s help defense and rotations keep Doncic from finding momentum (and fouls), while leaving his passing targets well-defended? If Luka gets by Derrick or Jrue, a lot will hinge on how he gets by. If Jrue/Derrick send him into help, especially on his off-hand, that’s a lot better than getting by on the right side and having nothing but a defender trying to close out in his way.
Will help rotations be crisp enough that they’ll give Luka only a few tenths of a second to identify a target?
Jack Simone
Slowing down Luka Doncic may not be possible. He’s in the tier of NBA player capable of getting to his spots and controlling the court in his way for 90% of a game. Where the Celtics can cut him down is reacting. Showing pressure in one spot just to change the coverage the next possession. Dropping back in pick-and-roll coverage a few times and then blitzing him while the defense rotates on the back-end. Doncic will figure out the Celtics’ coverages. That much is inevitable. The question is, can the Celtics change their coverages enough to keep him jumpy and minimize the damage of others enough to make Doncic beat them alone?
Jeff Clark
I just think the Celtics have to send wave after wave of defenders at Luka. Not just from game to game, but from play to play. Put someone different on him every play. Switch up the guys defending the screeners too. Flow from drop coverage to zone to modified switching and anything else you can think of. Pick up full court sometimes. Go double big sometimes. Whatever you can think of, just don’t do the same thing 2 or 3 times in a row.
Sam LaFrance
I think the Celtics are pretty well equipped to defend Luka (as much as you can). Minnesota got killed because they didn’t have any defenders who had both the size and mobility to stick with him. Gobert and Towns can’t move well enough and McDaniels just didn’t have the strength to keep him uncomfortable. This feels like the perfect opportunity for Jaylen Brown to make a point to All-Defense voters. He told the media that he was really disappointed to have missed out on that honor. Brown was at his best this season when he was guarding star ballhandlers. He did a good job on Luka throughout the regular season and has a grand stage to replicate that performance in the Finals. When he’s sitting, or just doesn’t have it, Jayson Tatum has the same set of tools to try and slow Doncic down. Size, athleticism, and length. Tatum has showed out when he’s been asked to defend some of the league’s best. The instance that comes to mind most is the loss in OKC back in January. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander killed Boston all game then JT picked him up in the fourth and held him scoreless.
Mike Dynon
The Celtics have the depth to use a variety of defenders on Luka, which might slow him down a bit – but probably not enough. The Dallas star averaged 35 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in two games vs. Boston this season. However, he’s not as good on defense, so the classic strategy is to make him expend energy when the Celtics have the ball. Wear him down and produce good shots by aggressively running on every transition opportunity and attacking him with pick-and-rolls in halfcourt sets. The good news is that even if he gets his numbers, that doesn’t guarantee a Mavs win. In the aforementioned games, Luka’s plus/minus stats were -13 and -20, and the Celtics won both.
Trevor Hass
As noted above, stopping Luka entirely is essentially impossible. He’s probably going to average around 30, 10 and 8, and Celtics fans are going to despise him in a few weeks if they don’t already. But in my opinion, there is a way to make him human – be disciplined. Don’t foul him while he’s shooting a 3. Time your traps well. Pressure the ball with conviction and tire him out. Force him into contested 3’s, not easy ones. Prevent him from controlling the middle of the floor. Make sure he knows you’re there. Don’t fall for his antics. Doing the little things at a high level, over and over again, adds up to big results.
Drew Doxy
I think the best thing to do is just stick Jaylen Brown on him and try to avoid needlessly switching on picks. There aren’t as many glaring mismatches available for him to exploit, but Doncic does so much damage poking holes in transitory moments defensively. The second two defenders take to physically switch is a second Doncic has to expose you. Jaylen on ball defensively is where he’s at his most focused, and that lets you utilize the other plus defenders in Boston’s lineup more creatively. It lets you stick Jrue Holiday on Kyrie Irving, and then you still have Tatum and White available to create defensive chaos with well-timed help. If Doncic burns Jaylen one-on-one and we lose that way, so be it. I’d rather take my chances there than los because Derrick Jones Jr. got comfy with easy shots and went 9-for-10. (edited)
Adam Taylor
I would agree with everyone’s sentiment of throwing multiple defenders at Doncic. Giving him multiple different looks makes sense. As does keeping a physical and explosive athlete like Jaylen Brown on him for stretches.
I would also expect to see some crossmatching. Doncic is used as the PnR ball-handler in 35.5% of his total offensive possessions. Cross matching Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown or Derrick White onto the screener, allowing them to jump on Doncic as he comes over/off the screen could be a good way of disrupting his rhythm and putting him into uncomfortable scenario’s.
The key to this Celtics defense is its versatility. Leaning into all the different coverages, scenario’s and combinations will be key in containing what Doncic does on the floor.
I’m also a big believer in focusing on taking away his outlets. Bunker down on shooters or cutters. Force him to beat his initial and secondary coverages, without having the release valves available in the corners or spaced into the slot.
Mark Aboyoun
Between the rotation of guys I think we’ll throw at him (Jrue, White, Brown, and Tatum) I think Boston is well equipped in making him see different matchups. I think going to zone on occasion will help slow him down and get the ball out of his hands. We all know how special Luka is, so it’s all about making it as difficult as possible.
