{"id":130125,"date":"2024-06-08T22:53:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T21:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2024\/6\/8\/24174464\/boston-celtics-luka-doncic-dj-macleay-nba-finals-dallas-mavericks-svi-mykhailiuk-xavier-tillman"},"modified":"2024-06-08T22:53:07","modified_gmt":"2024-06-08T21:53:07","slug":"behind-the-scenes-of-scouting-luka-doncic-at-celtics-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/08\/behind-the-scenes-of-scouting-luka-doncic-at-celtics-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the scenes of scouting Luka Doncic at Celtics practice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \"2024
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Assistant coach DJ MacLeay and Svi Mykhailiuk have landed the role of Doncic in practice: \u2018He\u2019s literally been Luka.\u2019<\/p>\n

BOSTON \u2014 Defending Luka Doncic takes a team effort. There is no singular solution to slowing down the Dallas Mavericks<\/a> star. But in Game 1 of the NBA Finals<\/a>, the Boston Celtics<\/a> found something that worked.<\/p>\n

Boston switched everything, guarding Doncic straight up and choosing to take away the passes he usually generates. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford\u2019s lob game was eliminated, and the Celtics took away corner threes as well. \u201cThey are a scrappy team defensively,\u201d Gafford said at practice on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Celtics have been tirelessly prepping to guard Doncic\u2019s unique style of play, and assistant coach DJ MacLeay\u2019s scouting has been a focal point of their efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it was a collective effort, but coach DJ MacCleay has been kind of leading that charge,\u201d Sam Hauser revealed at practice on Saturday.<\/p>\n

But MacLeay is doing more than just scouting.<\/p>\n

In Dallas\u2019 heliocentric offense, Doncic is the sun, and the rest of the team revolves around him. At Celtics practice, MacLeay and Svi Mykailiuk are the suns.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s literally been Luka,\u201d Xavier Tillman told CelticsBlog at practice. \u201cHe\u2019s been Luka. Him and Svi [Mykhailiuk].\u201d<\/p>\n

\n \"
\n Photo by Chris Marion\/NBAE via Getty Images (left) and Richie LeMay of CLNS Media (right)<\/cite>
Celtics assistant coach DJ MacLeay (left) and Svi Mykhailiuk (right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Both have been essential in Boston\u2019s practice routine, but Mykhailiuk has taken to the role of Doncic a bit more naturally.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Svi,\u201d Tillman said with a laugh when asked who has been the better Doncic. \u201cSvi\u2019s got game<\/em>. Svi\u2019s good. Svi\u2019s really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, MacLeay has perfected some of Doncic\u2019s moves, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe loves the bump. He [has] a good bump spin,\u201d Tillman said of MacLeay. \u201cYou know how Luka is really good at rolling off defenders? D-Mac got that locked down.\u201d<\/p>\n

MacLeay has worked closely with Tillman and a number of other Celtics players this year, particularly the big men. <\/p>\n

Before games, MacLeay, Tillman, and player development coach Jermaine Bucknor compete in one-on-one drills where the coaches attempt to score on Tillman. The trio\u2019s competitiveness always shines through as they keep score. Tillman\u2019s competitions with the coaches have been a part of his routine since he joined the Celtics ahead of the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like that\u2019s something that I look forward to when I come into the gym, and I have my individual time on the court, is to get with those guys and do competitive stuff,\u201d said Tillman. \u201cBeing a dad at home, there\u2019s not a lot of time where you get to be competitive, so when I get to be competitive, I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

MacLeay\u2019s meticulous scouting of Doncic and the Mavs and subsequent acting gig in practice have been crucial to Boston\u2019s defensive game plan in the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cDJ\u2019s been great for us,\u201d said Al Horford. \u201cJust very clear with his concepts [and] what he wants us to do. Just kind of creating how he wants us to execute things. And I feel like our group, we\u2019ve obviously bought in, and we\u2019re really locked in and trying to do it the best we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n \"2024
\n Photo by Adam Glanzman\/Getty Images<\/cite>
\n <\/figure>\n

Doncic scored 30 points in Game 1, but he only dished out one assist and created just six potential assists<\/a>. It\u2019s the fewest assists Doncic has had in a game all season.<\/p>\n

Mixed in with a few possessions of drop defense when Kristaps Porzingis was on the floor, the Celtics forced Doncic into playing one-on-one with very little room to set up his teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey did their job well,\u201d said Mavs forward Derrick Jones Jr. \u201cThey protected the rim how they\u2019re supposed to. They sat down on our bigs\u2019 legs, so we couldn\u2019t get our lobs off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dallas\u2019 lack of lobs was staggering. On their road to the Finals, they converted 57 alley-oops\u2014 fifteen more than the next four teams combined. They averaged over three per game, yet against the Celtics, they had none.<\/p>\n