Boston’s Tacko Fall, Grant Williams talk ‘Theising’ – but what is it?

On the latest episode of the Athletic’s Grant and Tacko Show, Tacko Fall and Grant Williams discuss “Theising” — but what is it?

Boston Celtics big men Tacko Fall and Grant Williams got into the move bringing them arguably more success than any other this season on the latest episode of their shared podcast, so much so it’s being copied by many other teams in the league.

That move — originally called “the Gortat” after big man Marcin Gortat, who pioneered it several seasons ago — has found new popularity through its frequent deployment by Boston’s starting center Daniel Theis.

So much so, in fact, it’s being recast as “Theising”, which certainly rolls off the lips a bit more smoothly.

But…what is Theising?

Mostly, sticking your posterior out as a stealthy screening tactic, if we’re being honest.

The big man moves down low as if to prepare to get a rebound, using his rear end to block a defender and allow a teammate a clearer path to the cup.

“I’ve really been really trying to do some of that,” noted Fall on the podcast.

“But the way I Gortat is like — Theis would really box you out; he would turn around. But me, when I roll, I’m facing you and put my arms up.”

Suggesting it was an illegal play, the two way center was quickly corrected by his teammate. “It’s not because if you do it the right way,” said Williams, “it’s technically a duck-in; a post-up. That’s the way it’s supposed to be done.”

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“You really think about side pick and roll when the man sets the screen, rolls and then seals back his own,” he continued.

“[It’s] as if he’s trying to get a post up and then they throw it back to the left, he drives a baseline and gets a wide-open layup, kind of the same concept as what we call Gortat or Theis. It’s just in the middle, you set a screen and instead of the ball handler giving it up, you’re rolling … instead of looking for a lob.”

Or … you get in front of your man and then post them up as if you’re trying to get the ball again and they say no, [then] your teammate who has just his defender on the side can then lay it up at the rim,” finished Williams.

The Tennessee product noted it’s not even a new aspect to Boston’s offense, as both center Aron Baynes and forward Al Horford were using the move in limited examples as recently as last season — it’s just that the nuances and frequency of how Theis has executed the move has remade it as his own.

“We do it consistently but it’s all about efficiency,” noted the Tennessee product. “It’s all about how you can put the ball in the basket easier and it’s an easy two points right there.”

To hear more about the rookie Celtics frontcourt duo’s thoughts on how Boston uses their bigs on both ends of the court, be sure to listen via the embedded player above, or visit the linked page here.

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