For those that missed it, Kevin Garnett’s game winning ally-oop.
I should probably start out by saying Doc Rivers is a genius. He draws up some great situational and last second plays. But this one might have been the best we’ve seen from Rivers.
KG is the in-bounder on the play (keep in mind, KG is NEVER the in-bounder on these type of plays). He throws the ball into Rondo at the top of the arch.
KG then heads down towards the elbow extended like he’s going to post then cuts back towards Rondo to set a pick. At the same time on the opposite wing, Nate Robinson sets a pick for Paul Pierce to roll up to Rondo and set a screen.
This is the part that’s the major misdirection. Usually in these plays Pierce will set the pick, Rondo will drive and drop it back off to Pierce for a patented elbow jumper.
Not tonight, as both Pierce and Garnett were converging towards Rondo, Garnett slips the screen and cuts towards the basket. At this point, the defense is fully exposed. Rondo tosses in the surgical lob pass and Kevin banks home the game winning lay-up.
During the play, Nate and Ray were standing in opposite corners to stretch the defense out as far as possible. With those two shooters, the defense had to stay home. But the play call and execution were so precise that the only defender near Garnett was the 6’4” second-year point guard, Jrue Holiday. Easy money.
Doug Collins is still trying to decipher what went down.
