Getting around 'Big Baby' screens key to stopping Celtics' shooters
One thing is becoming increasingly clear with every dramatic game of the Bulls-Celtics playoff series: Ray Allen may continue to average 20 points for the next 10 years as long as he has Glen "Big Baby" Davis setting screens.
"He's been great," Allen said. "He knows the more he sets picks for me, the more he gets open."
Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo combined for 82 points in Boston's 121-118 double-overtime loss to the Bulls in Sunday's Game 4, but a strong argument could be made that Davis was the Celtics' most valuable offensive weapon.
The second-year forward is listed at 6-feet-9 and 289 pounds, which makes him very effective at walling off defenders. It's an issue the Bulls need to address heading into Game 5 tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden. The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2.
"Well, hopefully he'll shrink his body up a little bit by (Tuesday)," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro joked following Sunday's victory. "He's so wide, he's like an offensive lineman. He's setting screens, he's popping. I think the Celtics' big guys, they work in tandem really well."
Starting center Kendrick Perkins has another wide body at 6-10 and 280 pounds. He actually fouled out of Sunday's game late in the fourth quarter when he stuck out his right leg on a screen and tripped Ben Gordon.
Allen knocked down 5-of-11 shots from 3-point range in Game 4, and Davis cleared shooting space for most of those. The former LSU teammate of Tyrus Thomas sets a mean screen just standing still, but Davis also flaunted the rules now and then.
On Allen's game-tying 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Davis protected Allen like a pulling guard and managed to block both Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose. Another time midway through the fourth quarter, Davis set a screen for Allen and also shoved Kirk Hinrich when he tried to slide around the pick.
"They definitely do a good job of screening," Hinrich said. "It's one of those things where in the playoffs you get away with a little bit more on screens and taking advantage of it. You have to be tough enough to get through it and still try to challenge shots."
Besides setting screens, Davis has been an offensive threat for the Celtics, averaging 17.0 points per game in the series. He's also incredibly nimble for his size and is second on the team in steals with 8 in the four games against the Bulls.
"Those flare screens are a nightmare," Noah said. "Those are crazy, because you know they're coming, but they're so wide. You want to yell at the guard to get through it, but you also understand the situation. If you help out on the guard, he can just slip to the basket and get wide-open layups. That's one of their strengths, their screening and their physicality."
Bulls vs. Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden, 6 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet, TNT
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: So far, three of the four games in this series have been decided by 3 points or less. That's just the third time in Bulls playoff history they've had so many close calls ('98 Finals, '98 East finals). Boston point guard Rajon Rondo is averaging a triple-double in the series, with 23.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10.0 assists. Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah rank 1-2 in the league in playoff blocked shots. The series is tied 2-2.
Next: Thursday, Game 6 at the United Center, TBA
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