Over the course of a seven game series lasting two weeks, both changes make numerous adjustments and counters. For the final game of their series versus the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat chose to pressure the basketball along the perimtere and play physically in the paint. The Pacers were unable to counter to the Heat won handily.
When a team is determined to pressure the ball and deny high percentage shots, individual players have little chance to overcome the odds. This adversity demands teamwork As a result, the seventh game of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals shone a spotlight in the gap between great teams and those who are merely good.
Too often, there was tremendous ball pressure – because a Miami guard had picked up the Indiana ballhandler early, a screen was shocked, two defenders created a trap as time winded down or an amazing athlete jumped into the passing lane.
Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller discussed the Centre Opposite, a variation of the Triangle Offense which places the 5 in the pinch post so another teammate can post or attack 1-on-1. It is not a revelation but mostly a weakside flash if a defender helps, forcing the defense to guard both sides of the floor. The Pacers ran this for David West in the elbow (another offensive pressure point) and this created opportunities for Roy Hibbert that were unavailable when he posted up otherwise. This High-Low action provided the Heat with food for thought, instead of doubling the post in anticipation of the inevitable entry pass.
Defenses utilizing all fie defenders can be beaten by offenses that engage all five attackers. When actions transpire on both sides of the floor, the opponent must maintain a broad focus, instead of a narrow one. Move side-to-side ball movement would have hindered the aggressive defense and yielded more space for Paul Geroge and others to attack.
It is easier to stop one or two options than to be exhausted by a high post entry followed by a D.H.O. followed by a ball screen followed by a flex cut followed by a post up followed by a kick out. The San Antonio Spurs and Tony Parker have always been known for their ability to share the ball and keep it moving ahead of the quickest defenses.
Miami’s athleticism is extremely hard to handle and can only be beaten by an extremely efficient offense. The series was not lost by a decision to leave Hibbert on the bench at the end of game one but Indiana’s failure to execute against pressure throughout Game 7. Like the Chicago Bulls who were beaten twice in the playoffs by the eventual champion Detroit Pistons before raising their physical, mental and tactical game in the 1990 offseason, the 2013 Indiana Pacers have many targets for improvement.
(Since the Spurs are capable of doing all of this, have played in the Finals before and have ten days of rest, I think they will force the series to seven games before losing. But I hope they win.)