coastalmarker99
04-12-2021, 01:08 AM
thread: (Film Breakdown)
The Wilt Rules: How Wilt Chamberlain was defended by the 60s Celtics.
For this thread, I will be going over the defensive concepts that Auerbach’s Celtics created to try and defend the NBAs most dominant player.
The general idea of the Celtics defensive scheme was to limit the amount of post touches Wilt received.
They figured if they could deny him the ball, then the rest of his teammates on the floor wouldn’t be able to beat them.
Film Breakdown:
Now when sifting through the film this is a common defensive strategy I see teams use against Wilt:
(Footage from the 1967 Finals 76ers vs Warriors)
Jeff Mullins leaves Wali Jones wide open to front and take away the post entry to Wilt:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265642863554560
Former Warriors player and coach Al Attles in an interview described it as having “a man in front of Wilt, and a man in the back of Wilt.”
Red Auerbach being the first known NBA coach to organize and fully maximize this double team concept.
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265734949474307
There are many examples of the early Celtic teams employing this coverage in available footage.
The Celtics often had K.C. Jones drop back and stand directly in front of Wilt on the block. The idea was to force non-threats like Guy Rodgers to shoot:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265773352546311
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265812598583302
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265852599652355
This time Frank Ramsey quickly threatens the entry pass:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265881351647235
Havlicek immediately takes away the entry pass in transition:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265909533175813
Tom Sanders threatens the entry pass baiting rookie McCoy McLemore into shooting from 20 feet out:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265930181746698
Here the Celtics use K.C. Jones as the designated doubler, meaning that when Wilt received the ball K.C. immediately left his man to double team:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265986804801540
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266042094116868
This possession goes to show just how great Wilt was, absorbing the double team and banking a fadeaway shot over Russell:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266101217026049
It’s also worth noting that illegal defense is being played here in some of the clips.
Remember, illegal zone defense did exist in the 60s. Wilt claims that it was never called, one ref telling him he hadn’t called a no-zone ruling in two years and wasn’t going to start now.
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266106527051778
The quick double and entry pass denying was relatively effective for keeping the ball out of Wilt’s hands.
Due to poor spacing and lack of playmakers surrounding him, it was often easy for Celtic players to help and rotate.
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266156007292940
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266194863255552
In this play Heinsohn shows his terrific help instincts by playing free safety and anticipating the post entry pass to Wilt, resulting in a steal:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266225867591684
Similar situation here with Wilt in the post, but this time Russell fronts and Heinsohn is prepared to help off Nate Thurmond.
A careless pass from Wayne Hightower ends up as an easy steal for Russell:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266266359353347
Plays like this where Guy Rodgers ignores Wilt down low with a 1 on 1 matchup really highlights the poor decision making and lack of offensive structure:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266332579110913
Here Wilt gets great post position on Russell but it quickly goes to waste as Wayne Hightower launches a contested outside shot:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266377193844739
Whenever Wilt was able to receive the ball on the block he was absolutely devastating 1 on 1.
Getting to his spots on the floor and usually, the lack of shot contests from Russell made it easier for him to score:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266417597620227
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266446899027975
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266482449948678
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266519947010053
The Wilt Rules: How Wilt Chamberlain was defended by the 60s Celtics.
For this thread, I will be going over the defensive concepts that Auerbach’s Celtics created to try and defend the NBAs most dominant player.
The general idea of the Celtics defensive scheme was to limit the amount of post touches Wilt received.
They figured if they could deny him the ball, then the rest of his teammates on the floor wouldn’t be able to beat them.
Film Breakdown:
Now when sifting through the film this is a common defensive strategy I see teams use against Wilt:
(Footage from the 1967 Finals 76ers vs Warriors)
Jeff Mullins leaves Wali Jones wide open to front and take away the post entry to Wilt:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265642863554560
Former Warriors player and coach Al Attles in an interview described it as having “a man in front of Wilt, and a man in the back of Wilt.”
Red Auerbach being the first known NBA coach to organize and fully maximize this double team concept.
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265734949474307
There are many examples of the early Celtic teams employing this coverage in available footage.
The Celtics often had K.C. Jones drop back and stand directly in front of Wilt on the block. The idea was to force non-threats like Guy Rodgers to shoot:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265773352546311
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265812598583302
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265852599652355
This time Frank Ramsey quickly threatens the entry pass:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265881351647235
Havlicek immediately takes away the entry pass in transition:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265909533175813
Tom Sanders threatens the entry pass baiting rookie McCoy McLemore into shooting from 20 feet out:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265930181746698
Here the Celtics use K.C. Jones as the designated doubler, meaning that when Wilt received the ball K.C. immediately left his man to double team:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381265986804801540
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266042094116868
This possession goes to show just how great Wilt was, absorbing the double team and banking a fadeaway shot over Russell:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266101217026049
It’s also worth noting that illegal defense is being played here in some of the clips.
Remember, illegal zone defense did exist in the 60s. Wilt claims that it was never called, one ref telling him he hadn’t called a no-zone ruling in two years and wasn’t going to start now.
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266106527051778
The quick double and entry pass denying was relatively effective for keeping the ball out of Wilt’s hands.
Due to poor spacing and lack of playmakers surrounding him, it was often easy for Celtic players to help and rotate.
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266156007292940
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266194863255552
In this play Heinsohn shows his terrific help instincts by playing free safety and anticipating the post entry pass to Wilt, resulting in a steal:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266225867591684
Similar situation here with Wilt in the post, but this time Russell fronts and Heinsohn is prepared to help off Nate Thurmond.
A careless pass from Wayne Hightower ends up as an easy steal for Russell:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266266359353347
Plays like this where Guy Rodgers ignores Wilt down low with a 1 on 1 matchup really highlights the poor decision making and lack of offensive structure:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266332579110913
Here Wilt gets great post position on Russell but it quickly goes to waste as Wayne Hightower launches a contested outside shot:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266377193844739
Whenever Wilt was able to receive the ball on the block he was absolutely devastating 1 on 1.
Getting to his spots on the floor and usually, the lack of shot contests from Russell made it easier for him to score:
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266417597620227
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266446899027975
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266482449948678
https://twitter.com/WiltStats/status/1381266519947010053