We\u2019re back! Welcome to the Celtics\u2019 Top-5 Highest IQ Plays of the Week!<\/p>\n
Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game.<\/p>\n
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Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one\u2014one being the smartest\u2014and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from February 27th to March 5th are considered. The Celtics went 3-1 this week, with wins over the Nets, Sixers and Bucks, but a loss to the surging Hornets.<\/p>\n
5. Grand theft White (Alvarado)<\/p>\n
View Link<\/a><\/p>\n Jose Alvarado has made a reputation out of sneaking up from behind ball-handlers for steals\u2014he even has his own nickname (Grand Theft Alvarado) that represents this niche skill. But Derrick White has some sneaky defensive tactics as well (and sadly no nickname to show for it). He has a knack for noticing the exact moment the ball-handler loses sight of him and picking the perfect time to pounce from behind. Then, once he makes the steal, he throws a timely and accurate bounce pass to Pritchard at the rim. I love you, DWhite.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n 4. Learning from your teammates<\/p>\n View Link<\/a><\/p>\n Look familiar? An underrated part of playing with Derrick White is that his teammates can learn from him. Pritchard has seemingly studied White\u2019s uncanny ability to sneak up behind ball-handlers, because the way he does so on this play is quite Derrick-esque. As soon as Edgecombe turns the corner, PP locks in on his eyes\u2014he\u2019s staring at him to clock the exact moment he turns his head and loses vision of the right side of the floor. And as soon as VJ turns away, Pritchard pounces. Grand Theft Pritchard?<\/p>\n 3. Physical flopper<\/p>\n View Link<\/a><\/p>\n When you\u2019re physical and intense in every basketball movement you do, as Hugo Gonzalez is, you\u2019re bound to force the opposition to be extra aggressive. And you know what pairs well with the opponent\u2019s overzealous physicality? Flopping. Here, Hugo notices that Turner runs into the screen with a little extra oomph, and he takes advantage by throwing himself into Myles\u2019 body and causing an illegal screen. As if Gonzalez isn\u2019t already enough of a nuisance on the offensive glass and as a point-of-attack defender, he might slowly be figuring out the NBA\u2019s hidden flopping tricks, which will only make him more annoying to face.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n 2. Utterly classic Derrick White<\/p>\n