After going off for 27 points in the first half, Ray Allen was only able to muster up five points in the second half.  Many would consider that a failure, but Ray Allen made made a huge impact in the second half just by being on the court.

Accumulates Fouls

Here, Ray Allen is trying to get to the baseline so he can start running off of screens.  Derek Fisher wants to get in his way to try to prevent him from getting to his spot, resulting in a foul called on Fisher.  Some think the only way to stop Ray Allen is to prevent him from getting to the baseline (a spot where he loves to run off screens).  To do that, you need to be physical, and when you are physical you tend to pick up more fouls.

No Rotations

When Ray Allen starts hitting his jumpers, defenses tend to leave him, even when it makes sense to:

Here, Rajon Rondo is bringing up the basketball, and Derek Fisher is already picking him up.

Allen makes the catch on the pass, and Fisher is already up on him about 35 feet from the basket, forcing him to kick the basketball back out.

After making the pass, Ray Allen sets a downscreen for Rajon Rondo.  Rondo loops around, getting a dribble handoff from Kendrick Perkins.

Rondo quickly enters the ball into Kevin Garnett in the post.  Kobe leaves Rondo to double the basketball.  Now, normally you would see some sort of rotation here.  Either like the one I drew up (with Bynum going to Rondo and Fisher rotating to Perkins), or Fisher could just go to Rondo.  This would force a skip pass (to Allen) where you would hope to get back in time.  Fisher doesn’t want to risk it, so he just stays home with Ray Allen.

This puts Andrew Bynum in a tough position, having to defend two players on his own.  He tries his best, getting big on Rondo, but Rondo is able to loft a pass over his head (because of no help from Fisher).

Perkins makes the catch and finishes with the dunk.  Here it is in real time.

Poor Off Ball Screen Defense

Yesterday, we looked at Ray Allen working off screens away from the basketball.  In the second half, the Celtics did an pretty good job of using Ray Allen to set screens and free up opponents.

Here, Ray Allen is on the low block as if he is going to pop outside off of a screen.

Instead, Paul Pierce comes off of a downscreen set by Ray Allen.  Notice that Derek Fisher is stuck to Ray Allen instead of sagging off.

Derek Fisher is responsible for help defense here, but he is afraid of a screen the screener situation and he doesn’t want to give Ray Allen any space.  This leaves Paul Pierce wide open under the hoop.

Paul Pierce makes the catch, misses the first attempt but then tips his own rebound in.  Here is the play in real time.

Forces Tough Double Teams

Another problem a hot Ray Allen causes is when he comes off of a screen, he forces double teams from strange spots on the court.

To start the play, Ray Allen sets a backscreen for Paul Pierce (look familiar?)

Ron Artest does a better job fighting through the Ray Allen screen and Paul Pierce is covered.  After setting the screen, Ray Allen comes off of a Kendrick Perkins screen.

Allen makes the catch with Derek Fisher trailing him.  That is not enough attention though, and Andrew Bynum comes and doubles the basketball.  Notice where Ray Allen is standing (pretty close to the middle of the court).  That is a tough place to execute a double team.

Ray Allen might be one of the best passers off of a double team situation like this.  He quickly gets the ball out of his hands to Kendrick Perkins.  Both Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol rotate towards Perkins.  As this happens Rajon Rondo cuts to the basket.

Rondo makes the catch and finishes with the easy lay-in.  Here is the play in real time.

Pulls The Bigs Out Of The Lane

The Lakers are big.  We all know that, and it is a pretty big advantage for LA.  Normally, if you want to pull one of these bigs out of the lane (to free up passing/penetrating lanes) you need a “stretch 4″ of some sort.  A shooter who one of the Lakers bigs needs to respect.  With Ray Allen hitting his shots, we learn of another way you can pull a big out of the lane.

As Rajon Rondo brings up the basketball, instead of being in help position Derek Fisher is right in Ray Allen’s jersey.  Understandable with the way he shot in game two.

As Rondo and Kevin Garnett run a pick and roll, Kendrick Perkins sets a screen away from the basketball for Ray Allen.  Now look at Andrew Bynum.  He is out around the three point line (not even looking at the basketball no less) covering Kendrick Perkins, who is barely a threat outside the paint.  Why?  Ray Allen.  He needs to be available to help out on any screen set for Ray Allen.

By the time Andrew Bynum turns his head and finds the basketball, it is too late.  There is nobody in the paint to challenge Rajon Rondo’s lay-up as he scores easily.  Here it is in real time.