Celtics-Magic preview: 'Small ball' isn't really that small

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BOSTON – The term “small ball” gets thrown around with ease these days by coaches, fans and the media.

But more than anything else, so-called small ball lineups are often five-man units that are based more on skill than size.

Playing with more skill while giving away some size has been a gamble that has paid off lately for the Celtics who come into tonight’s game against Orlando riding a four-game winning streak, which equals their longest stretch of success this season.

And while the Celtics (26-21) certainly have to feel good about their chances at beating a reeling Magic team, which has lost seven in a row, Boston knows all too well that Orlando can’t be taken lightly.

The two met earlier this season on Nov. 29, a game that ended with the Celtics getting whipped 110-91 which has been one of their worst losses this season.

“When we went down there, we got pounded,” said Stevens, making reference to the scoreboard as well as the 54-34 rebounding edge Orlando had that night. “The way I look at it, when a team beats you and you played them once, they’re a lot better than you are. So we’ll find out.”

One of the reasons for Stevens’ concern is that Orlando's small ball lineup in the grand scheme of things, isn't really small. 

“Sometimes those lineups are pretty big,” Stevens said. “For example, when Orlando goes small, it’s Tobias Harris at the 3 [small forward] or Aaron Gordon at the 4 [power forward]. That’s not really that small. Channing Frye at the 4 isn’t that small. What it is, is skilled. It changes the complexion of how you have to defend them. And it changes your rotations, your ball-screen defense, some of your matchups. It just keeps you on your toes.”

For the Celtics, that’s a good thing.

Considering their success of late and recent announcement of Isaiah Thomas being named to his first All-Star team, there’s legit concern about this team having a letdown, lackluster-type performance tonight.

“We need to play consistent,” Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations, told CSNNE.com. “Even the games we play well, we can still get better. After we have a few good games, we have to avoid the letdown of that next game. It’s been amazing how our team has responded to adversity and rises to challenges. I wish our team could stay as focused and determined when we’re on a winning streak.”

Success tonight for Boston will indeed be connected with how they handle Orlando’s small-ball skilled lineup.

 

 “Every game, you go into the game with an idea of how you would guard traditional lineups and how you guard small lineups,” said Stevens who added, “Because every team goes that way at some point.”

 

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