We’re back, and so is Jayson Tatum! Welcome to the Celtics’ Top-5 Highest IQ Plays of the Week!
Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game.
Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only
be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from March 6th to March 13th are considered. The Celtics went 2-2 this week, with wins over the Mavs and Cavs but losses to the Spurs and Thunder.
5. Playing Ron Harper Jr.
I just need to nerd out on Ron Harper Jr. for a second. The man is 6-foot-4 with a 7-foot-1-plus wingspan, and he has figured out the exact ways in which to lean into his physical tools on the defensive end. On this play, he sticks his arms out to poke away the ball from one of the best ball-handlers in the league, and he’s only able to do it without getting called for a foul because of his length. On other plays, he uses his arms to contest and block shots and get deflections in the passing lanes. Harper Jr. is a threat on both ends of the floor and is 100% an NBA player in my eyes.
4. Assimilating Tatum
Let’s be honest. This year’s Celtics are VERY different from last year’s, and not just in terms of their roster construction. They have more ball and player movement, and they run more actions per possession. But early returns of Tatum’s integration into this new system have been as good as they can be; he’s had a clear willingness to make the simple extra pass (like he does in the above clip) and limit his isolation opportunities unless they’re against good matchups. Tatum has already assimilated to his squad’s new offense, which is a testament to his unselfishness, IQ, and feel.
3. Time and score
When we hear “time and score,” many of us immediately go to the end of the game. But on this play, Brown showcases how a keen understanding of the shot clock can effectively win you possessions. Because Jaylen takes a look at the clock as the ball gets swung to Schroder, he knows that Dennis doesn’t have enough time to take a dribble and still get a shot off. So instead of closing out short like he typically would on a shooter of Schroder’s caliber, Brown runs through his shot and makes it impossible for him to even get something on the rim.
2. One step ahead
Neemias Queta has obviously grown in a number of ways this season with increased opportunity. But one of the most underrated developments has been his passing vision. On this play, he notices that Tatum has the inside positioning on Merrill, a smaller and weaker defender. He knows that the lob pass has a high probability of being intercepted by Mobley, so he calls for the ball and quickly touches it over to Tatum once it’s swung to him. High IQ stuff from Queta.
1. Fake Nash-dribble
Finishing against Victor Wembanyama is a largely unsolvable puzzle. Typical footwork, up-fakes, and arm angles are not going to work when it comes to finishing against the most physically gifted shot-blocker of all time who also happens to have incredible instincts when it comes to his and other’s bodies. Here, though, White makes such an unbelievable move that even Wemby’s arms can’t catch up to. Derrick drives right and when he gets into the lane, he positions his body and eyes in a way that makes Victor think he’s going to Nash-dribble around the rim—something Wemby has consistently made players do this season. But White then quickly throws the ball off the backboard once he feels Victor pick his foot off the gas. Special stuff.
