Parquet Plays : How the short handed Celtics maintained their offensive identity

Despite being shorthanded without Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta, the Boston Celtics marched into Milwaukee on the night of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return and delivered a resounding statement, dismantling the Bucks in a dominant 108–81 triumph. 

The manner in which this roster continues to uphold the standard of Celtics basketball, regardless of who is available on any given night, serves as a compelling testament to the staff of the year, led by head coach Joe Mazzulla. A prime example of sustaining that unmistakable Celtics edge is rookie Hugo González, whose approach and poise reflect the culture instilled from the top down.  

Hugo González earned the third start of his young NBA career last night and delivered his most complete performance to date. The rookie erupted for career highs in points (18), rebounds (16), and steals (three), showcasing his two-way impact as Boston improved to 41–20 on the season.

After the game, González reflected on the team’s resilience in navigating injuries without compromising its identity. “We’ve got our standard, and we want to maintain it every single game. We don’t like to make excuses,” he explained, a succinct encapsulation of the mindset that continues to define the Boston Celtics. 

The defense, hustle, and difference in shot margin definitely highlighted last night’s win. Boston again held the Bucks to just 81 points as they shot an abysmal 36 percent from the field. The glass told a similarly decisive story. Milwaukee was overwhelmed in the rebounding battle, 54–41, including surrendering 19 offensive boards that fueled repeated second-chance opportunities. Perhaps most telling was the shot differential: a staggering +21 advantage in favor of the Celtics, a statistical embodiment of their control on both ends of the floor. 

While those numbers tell a compelling story, what I found also to be great in real time was the fluidity of the player and ball movement. Watching live, the offense felt purposeful and connected; each cut, swing, and extra pass carrying intent. 

That impression only strengthened upon rewatch. The film validated the eye test, revealing a series of possessions that embodied the unselfishness and precision driving this performance. Here are the ones that stood out to me.  

For years now, the Celtics have treated their opening offensive possession as something of a thesis statement, an early indicator of the themes they intend to establish. More often than not, that first trip down the floor offers a glimpse into the tactical priorities for the night.  

In this instance, they opened with “Horns Chest,” immediately signaling that constant movement would anchor the game plan.  

Here Boston does some slight window dressing before getting into the main action. Baylor Scheierman hands it back off to Derrick White, and Sam Hauser starts in the corner. Horns alignment can be easily identified by two players at or near the elbows of the free throw line.  

When Hauser flashes up to the elbow and Scheierman relocates to the corner, it creates a momentary disruption in the switch between Giannis and Aj Green, leaving Giannis a step behind Hauser. Hauser then flows into the “Chest” action, which is when someone sets an on-ball screen then receives a Flare screen.  

The on-ball screen can take multiple forms, including a traditional pick or a “Ghost” screen, as Hauser, the Ghost screen sows additional confusion for the Bucks, causing yet another defender to lose his assignment and creating an exploitable advantage for the offense. 

After this, the Flare screen from Nikola Vucevic makes sure Hauser’s defender can’t get back to him, and now, we have a small switched onto Vuc. 

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that Vuc just immediately goes under the rim when he gets a mismatch. This forces Ousmane Dieng to attempt a scram switch in the middle of the possession but in doing so, he leaves Hugo Gonzalez open in the corner.  

The shot didn’t fall, but the process was great.   

Next, the Celtics go to “Flex” action for Vuc.  

Flex action is fundamentally a two-part sequence. The first element involves a player setting a Flex screen for a teammate positioned in the corner or short corner, creating the opportunity, usually, for that teammate to execute a baseline cut. This initial screen sets the stage for the second phase of the play. 

After that the screener receives a pin down screen.  

Vuc hasn’t been flawless, but having a center capable of operating as an off-screen shooter adds a whole new layer of unpredictability to the Celtics offense. As the 7-footer curls off the pin-down set by the point guard, he draws a switch on a smaller defender and calmly converts a hook shot. 

Here Boston uses a simple “Flare” screen to get Hauser an open look.  

A Flare screen is an off-ball screen set between the passer and the recipient. 

Hauser missed this one, but the Celtics made good use of Flare screens all game.  

Next, Boston goes to the famous “Spain” Pick and Roll.  

Spain or “Stack” Pick and roll is an on-ball screen followed by a back screen on the on-ball screeners man.  

As Payton Pritchard turns the corner after the screen, four(!) bucks collapse into the paint, leaving a number of Celtics open.  

Ron Harper Jr. gets the pass and knocks it down.  

For the next play, Boston goes to “Blind Pig” action.  

Blind Pig is a dribble handoff under a denying or high playing defender. After the handoff to Harper Jr, the ball is supposed to go to Pritchard as you see Luka Garza pointing to him.  

The problem is, Ryan Rollins is playing very close to Pritchard, denying the pass.  

The Celtics see they can’t get the ball to Pritchard how they intended, so Garza flashes under Rollins and Pritchard is able to get the ball with a head of steam, and it results in a layup.  

Here the Celtics go to “Stagger Spain” and get a three off it.  

Stagger, named after Staggered screens, are two of the same off-ball screens set with some space between them.  

Boston leverages this action to free Payton Pritchard at the top of the key, flowing back into its Spain PnR. Before White even establishes the back screen for Vuc on Bobby Portis, he comes open on the roll. Pritchard delivers the pass on time, and White’s subsequent screen, set immediately after the catch, forces yet another defensive switch. 

Portis sees the mismatch and tries to go back to his matchup but is unable to because White runs to the three-point line after he screened.  

They eventually get the ball to Vuc in the post, and a cut by Gonzalez draws Cam Thomas off of Hauser, and Vuc hits him for a no dip three.  

The Flare screen returns and great pass placement by Pritchard leads White to an open three.  

After a foul, Mazzulla calls “Double Get” for the next offensive possession.  

Double refers to the two screens on the play. The first being from Hauser and the next from Garza after the handoff.  

“Get” is when a player passes the ball to someone and immediately goes to *get* it back as Pritchard does.  

The screen by Garza creates mismatches for him and Pritchard that are pivotal to the possession. Hauser eventually gets it back to Pritchard with the big on him, and he’s able to drive past him. He misses the layup, but the mismatch Garza has allowed him to get the putback.  

Another good play ran for Vuc here as they go to “Stagger Hawk” to get him a mid-range.  

As we saw on a previous play, Boston uses the Staggered screens to get a player to the top of the key. This time they use it to flow into a “Hawk” cut for Vuc as we see here.  

The Nuggets have used this action a bunch in the past for another Nikola.  

Having Pritchard set the screen is pivotal to the action’s success. If he makes solid contact, the defense is forced into a difficult choice: switch a smaller defender onto Vuc or hesitate on the exchange. A clean switch creates an immediate size mismatch in the post, while any reluctance to switch leaves Vuc uncovered on the cut, which is precisely what unfolds on this possession. 

And to cap it off we have the Flare screen return.  

In the end, it’s not just about the play itself, but the precision and intentionality behind how Boston deploys it. By using personnel creatively, putting shooters like Pritchard and White into screening actions and flowing seamlessly between counters, the Celtics force defenses into layered decisions where every option carries consequences. The brilliance lies in the details: timing, spacing, and the ability to manipulate matchups before the defense can react. It’s a reminder that at the highest level, advantage isn’t accidental, it’s engineered.