“What’s our offensive philosophy? Create two-on-ones.” Joe Mazzulla said. His voice rose as he pounded the table for emphasis. “Find the two-on-one, make the right play against the two-on-one. For as long
as I’m here, that’s going to be our offensive philosophy.”
It was a moment that captured the fiery precision of Boston’s head coach — part tactician, part motivator in the wake of the Celtics’ emphatic 138–107 preseason win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mazzulla wasn’t just outlining a strategy; he was defining a culture.
Weeks earlier when he was asked about how the team’s shot profile would differ due to the roster changes, he responded, “everything comes down to two-on-ones.”
Despite popular belief, Mazzulla has consistently defined the Celtics’ offensive identity around creating and capitalizing on two-on-ones and three-on-twos, emphasizing reads, spacing, and advantageous basketball. Surely you will get the contested pull-ups from capable shooters and the heat checks during smoking hot runs.
Of course, the Celtics don’t generate their looks that way for a full 48 minutes, or even every game, but when they do, the offense hums. The ball moves with purpose, the spacing sharpens, and the shots look cleaner, more deliberate, and far more sustainable. The Celtics did this numerous times in the 4th quarter in their four-point win in Orlando.
On this play the Celtics start with Stack Out Flip Flare to get into Spain Pick and Roll.
Stack out is a type of entry the Celtics use a ton to get the ball to the wing. This is when the big (in this case Queta) sets a pin down for someone to cut to the wing as Gonzalez does.
The flip is the little pass back to Pritchard. Queta then sets the Flare screen so Gonzalez can go to the corner. They immediately get into Spain PnR after that which is a pick and roll where someone sets a backscreen on the on-ball screeners man. Pritchard in the case is the back screener, and Queta is the on-ball screener.
As the play happens, Orlando sends two to White, and Pritchard sets a good screen on the opposing big allowing Queta to roll free. This creates the two-on-one.
Celtics used Shake action a ton on their rolls in this game. Shake action is when one person is rolling (Queta), and the person in the corner (Walsh) lifts up to the wing at the same time. This makes it much harder for the tag man, who is tasked with guarding two people, to effectively guard both players. He has to commit to taking away the roll or corner three.
White ends up getting the ball to Pritchard after his screen, which creates a three-on-two with both defenders scrambling.
Pritchard drives which causes the corner defender to cater to Queta and leave Walsh open on the wing for three.
Next, the Celtics run a simple handoff between Pritchard and Queta.
Queta does a great job slipping the screen as both Magic defenders go up to the ball. This creates the two-on-one.
As you watch this develop, you can see the Shake action happening again. As Queta rolls, Gonzalez lifts to the wing. This also creates a three-on-two as the defender in the weak side corner can’t help much because Walsh occupies his corner.
Magic aren’t able to defend it well enough, and we get a lob.
On this one, the Celtics flying defense leads to offense.
Jalen Suggs drives to the rim, and two Celtics are there. Walsh deters the shot attempt, and Luka Garza deflects the pass. As they run the break, the two-on-one is created with Bane between Pritchard and Walsh.
White gets the pass to Walsh, and that creates another two-on-one under the basket.
Celtics score.
Now on to the two biggest threes of the night. Celtics run 77 action (two on ball screens) for Brown.
The Magic blitz him, and this creates the three-on-two.
As Wendell Cater Jr takes a step towards Walsh, we created a two-on-one in the corner. Garza makes a phenomenal cut directly into Bane, taking his attention away from White for just long enough.
A good pass from Walsh and White hits the three.
Lastly, the big shot from the kid.
Brown gets deep into the paint causing Carter Jr to step to him. This is all we need to create the two-on-one in the corner.
Brown gets the ball to Pritchard; he drives and puts his trust in Walsh who prevails.
The Celtics came away with a gritty win and playing basketball the correct way in the 4th quarter was a big part of that.
