NBA: Breakdown: That’s how Theis fights in Boston

Daniel Theis has established himself as a rookie in the rotation of the Boston Celtics. How did the Big Man do it? The analysis and the two-part video breakdown provide information. You can find more basketball news on basketball. de.

“Tommy Points don’t show up in any boxing score. And yet, Boston Celtics players have done a lot of things right when they collect such points. Daniel Theis as well – in his only seventh NBA game. The German rookie probably didn’t even know how he had done it.

Theis scored six points and seven rebounds in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at the beginning of November, asking for a mid-term interview with local television. Asked by the hostess about the “Tommy Award”, Theis first had to ask for it and even afterwards she was still perplexed.

This award and those “Tommy Points” are awarded by Tommy Heinsohn: currently a TV expert, formerly a Celtics player himself and with eight championship titles a legend in Boston. Exactly that Heinsohn was and is full of praise for Theis’ energy and dedication. Against the Kings, Theis was to deliver his first and so far only double-double during his NBA debut season (10 points, 10 rebounds in 18 minutes).

“Celtics coach Brad Stevens paid tribute to his protégé Brad Stevens,”He’s done a hell of a good first eight games. Theis is currently receiving 12.5 minutes for each game in which he scores 4.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. The Big Man was allowed to start twice. Theis has arrived at the NBA.

At the same time, the initial “Theis, Theis Baby”hymns of amazement have subsided. This is also due to the fact that the Celtics rotation on the big positions has been complete for some games. Marcus Morris had injured the first eight games and Al Horford had to pause two games due to a slight concussion.

So it should not come as a surprise if an unpunished 25-year-old rookie doesn’t go beyond three minutes or even leaves the bank in an encounter. This doesn’t change the fact that Theis has facets in his game that help Celtics to a great extent.

n the offensive, this is mainly due to roll-off in pick-and-roll. Theis is fast on his feet and in his turn to roll hard into the zone after the block for the ball guide. He can also slip the pick-and-roll, i. e. he can’t place a real block at all, but attack the zone beforehand. With that, Theis can surprise his defender.

“I’m on a roll and it’s time to go solo”

More than a quarter of Theis’ offensive actions relate to situations after he has provided a block for the ball leader. Its speed paired with athletics make Theis a good finisher above ring level. The Big Man proves this especially when it has a clear path for unwinding.

However, Theis still suffers too many ball losses as a dispenser, which cancels out an efficient game (0.96 PPP; in the percentile of 31.6%). These turnovers happen when, for example, Theis holds the ball longer after passing a pass, kickout passes or helps out a defender.

Rarely does Theis pop out behind the three-line after the block for a ball guide; he rather rotates to the middle distance by short roll. There he hits his jump shot quite solidly. Nevertheless, Theis can’t really be described as Stretch-Five, who expands the game with his throw. For this purpose he rarely stays around the arch.

As far as pick-and-roll actions are concerned, there is still a lack of voting in the “Two-Man Game”. Every now and then Theis rolls off, even though the ball guide pulls to the basket, which makes the rooms unnecessarily narrow for Theis.

Theis again plays a strong role in so-called “snake screens”: The ball guide takes the tempo after the first ball screen and can take the defender on his back. Theis as an unwinder now knows how to place a block against his opponent – the ball leader rotates into the middle of the court and then pulls it to the basket with the help of Theis’ second block. This is the winding snake action (in the video at 1:55 minutes).

The following video analysis shows Theis’ roll-off actions first.

Despite the upgradeable jump throw, spot-up actions are the fourth most frequent offensive action Theis’. A change from European to NBA basketball is always represented by the threesome, simply because of the different distance.

However, the Brad Stevens system encourages Big Men to throw. It’s a pleasure to play a game in which the Big Man places a pin-down screen away from the ball, then takes the step outwards and (thanks to a throwing screen) can be operated for a threesome. The second Big Man Bostons hands the ball to the guard or wing player, who then passes the pass for the three-way option (video at 3:42 minutes).

“To the extreme I rock[the rim] like a vandal”

I just want to play with energy and go to rebounds,”said Theis after the first game against Sacramento, explaining his role in the media round,” With my long arms I can type a few balls[to myself]. I’m trying to give the team a second chance to throw.”

From the fixed rotation, Theis has the second-best offensive-rebound portion just behind Aron Baynes, but is more efficient than his team-mate. Theis presents himself strongly at the putbacks, when he closes himself afterwards. If he tries to rebuild the game afterwards, he still loses too many balls.

However, Stevens will be able to turn a blind eye here:”He keeps on going and plays with a high level of drive. You can overlook a lot of mistakes if you play with so much energy,”said the coach after his home win over Toronto. Against the Raptors Theis scored two points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes.

Theis’ fifth most frequent offensive action is the post-up, i. e. the completion of an action with his back to the basket. This may be a change even for Theis, since in his time in Bamberg in the system of Andrea Trinchieri such actions were rarely forced in the system of Andrea Trinchieri. Accordingly, Theis lacks finesse and assertiveness when playing at the edge of the zone.

Meanwhile, in one-on-one, Theis surprised with one or two drives facing the basket. Also a facet in Theis’ play, which he barely showed in Bamberg. This is certainly also due to its improved ball handling. However, he certainly has the speed to attack enemy fives.

On the side of the ball, Theis is already more active on the offensive – sometimes in actions that are not recorded in simple statistics: Theis is an active blocker for actions far away from the ball and thus enables open throwing options for his team-mates. With Screen Assists per 36 minutes, Theis ranks among all players with at least 200 minutes of time on the 21st place. Place.

Theis’ Play-Type Stats; data via nba. com

Page 1: Theis’ offensive in analysis

Page 2: Theis’ Defensive in Analysis