Fire Monty! Actual in depth analysis of Monty's playcalling

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The best end of game plays give you options. Rarely is a set that finishes with the ball handler driving just a hero-ball, isolation play. On the final play against the Celtics the Hornets had off ball movement designed to potentially create a drive and kick. In this case—and most score-or-lose situations—the ball handler (Gordon) drove and shot, forgoing the pass. And I’m okay with that.

...Even after Anthony Davis’s game winning put back people were still critical of Monty’s play call. The mood seemed to be Well-It-Worked-But-I-Still-Don’t-Like-The-Isolation. But as I said before, that was just one of a few potential options. Gordon’s layup was a good attempt; a high quality look we’ve seen him make plenty of times before. His shot barely missed going in and Davis was in position to win the game off the miss. Take a look at it again. Roberts cuts cross court and and if Paul Pierce cheats off him to defend Gordon then it leaves hi wide open for a kickout pass.

It’s also worth noting that while Gordon drove, Davis stays away from the basket before coming in for the putback. That’s by design. It forces the defense to choose: cover Davis away from the play or lose track of him to play help defense.

The Celtics chose the latter and it allowed Davis to come in almost unchallenged to put in the game winner. The Celtics don’t box him out because they have no idea where he is. On the flip side, if they kept a man on him it takes away a defender from the basket and potentially gives Gordon an easier chance to score.

...Monty knows any end of game play ultimately comes down to execution. “I’ve been running the same stuff, the same tricky plays all year. It just comes down to execution…If it goes in, everyone, they think I’m Popovich if it doesn’t go in they think I can’t coach,” he said after the Celtics win. “I’ve got five hundred plays at home but you only need one. If the guy makes the shot people think you’re a genius.”

Even though the execution hasn’t always worked out, Monty know’s his plays work saying, “Bottom line is I believe in my system and I believe it’ll win us a championship someday.”

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