About This Play/Drill

In the 4th quarter of Game 7, in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics were trying to find an answer to the Wizards 7-0 run. Brad Stevens ran this ATO, which resulted in an easy Marcus Smart lay-up. The play uses some misdirection, to get an easy post entry. With Celtics' star Isaiah Thomas cutting to the wing, and a cross screen happening, it looks like the ball will work back to that side of the floor. Instead, Olynyk dribbled the opposite direction, and Horford screened X3. When X4 fought over the screen, Smart (3) simply slips to the ball. This was one of the best ATO designs of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics weathered that Wizards run, winning Game 7, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.