Since the Toronto Raptors have made the playoffs after a six year drought, fans want them to do well so a lacklustre fourth quarter and a copious moments that can be most optimistically linked to inexperience was frustrating. It’s not that beating the Brooklyn Nets in a playoff series is an impossible dream but that there is a way the series must unfold for Toronto to win whereas other storylines may better suit Brooklyn.
Utah Jazz Basketball Lessons
The John Stockton-Karl Malone era of the Utah Jazz, which began when Stockton was drafted in 1984, took shape when Malone was selected in 1985, picked up speed when Stockton became the starting point guard in 1987 and was consolidated when Jerry Sloan became coach in 1988 ended in 2003, providing many lessons relevant to today’s coaches and players. Some might argue that the team’s peak – back-to-back losses in the N.B.A. Finals – exemplified how the two players were ultimately unsuccessful but they still illustrated a number of concepts that any youth coach or player. The team definitely made …
Offensive Spacing
Spacing forces the defense into difficult choices. This year, the Raptors have greatly improved their outside shooting (36.8% in 2013-14, 12th in N.B.A., compared to 34.3% in 2012-13, 26th in N.B.A.). Spreading out the shooters, with all players engaged in the play, provides Greivis Vasquez with several options when he is double-teamed after a high screen (Dwane Casey substituted Steve Novak into the game for Chuck Hayes immediately before this play). The Grizzlies want to blitz the high rub as time runs down without conceding a high percentage look. Two outside defenders still attached to Novak and Kyle Lowry. At …
Brooklyn Nets Ball Movement
Brooklyn Nets Ball Movement: In the fourth quarter of a tied game, the Nets went with a small line-up against the Raptors. Andray Blatched played inside and four guards spaced the floor. Earlier in the position, Paul Pierce had driven into the middle of the court and kicked the ball out. As Deron Williams begins his drive, Pierce is in the way so he must exit cut to the wing so Williams can attack. Amir Johnson leaves Pierce to stop Williams. Brooklyn has the ball in the free throw circle with one player on the weak-side block and three shooters …
Screening Zones
Screening zones generates opportunities: Marshall Plumlee sets a possible flare screen on the top of Syracuse’s 2-3 zone. When Amile Jefferson sets a ball screen, the middle defender must step up to contest Rasheed’s Sulaimon’s drive. The wings are matched up with Duke’s outside shooters. As the shot goes up, Plumlee rolls to the hoop, in a seam between defenders and towards the likely area for a missed shot to land. He is able to time the rebound perfectly and dunks the putback before any defender is ready. If Sulaimon had turned the corner, Plumlee would have been ready to …
Determining Responsibility for Improvement
Last night’s Toronto Raptors – Sacramento Kings game proved very controversial as fans, coaches and players were disappointed by the loss and eager to designate an appropriate culprit to focus their frustration. Ultimately, the team aims to improve and while a loss can serve as a powerful motivator, they need to target their efforts appropriately. Discontent breeds disillusionment but dedication and determination lead to progress.
Poor Late Game Execution
The New York Knicks passed up one shot after another (for worse shots), failed to manage the clock and lost the game. They may have run a perfect drive and kick drill for a practice session but game situations demand that a team know what shot they want to take, what they can settle for and what they can’t do (jack threes and commit loose ball fouls). During many critical plays, the Knicks fail to get a great scoring chance (such as a Carmelo Anthony drive or post up or an open look). And sometimes, there’s a reason that they’re …
Denver Nuggets Ball Movement Leads to Dunk
Denver Nuggets Ball Movement Leads to Dunk: Since the Miami Heat are known for aggressively trapping ball screens in order to force the action away from the basket, the Nuggets set multiple screens during the same play. On one occasion, J.J. Hickson slips the screen and rolls to the hoop. Ty Lawson passes the ball to Darrell Arthur, a reliable jump shooter from that spot, which causes a chain reaction of bad rotations. Miami is confused as to who will cover Arthur, Hickson and Randy Foye in the corner. LeBron James feels that he cannot leave Wilson Chandler, Ray Allen …
Offensive Execution
The execution of these plays (the process) led to two different outcomes in Chicago’s 82-81 win over New York. The Bulls involved everyone in their set, although it was designed the entire time for Derrick Rose to take the shot. On the other hand, the Knicks don’t seem involved in helping to get Carmelo Anthony open or moving into a passing lane once he gets the ball. Chicago had more diverse and more effective options as their play unfolded. In the first play, Jimmy Butler uses an elevator screen from Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer to get open at the …
Late Game Defensive Strategy
Great teams prepare for critical situations on the practice court and in the video room, discussing what will happen ahead of time and debriefing what actually occurs. It is easy to coach offensive plays and decisions but often less time is devoted to the defensive component. There are a number of ways to handle each situation so all players must have a sturdy grasp of what the team will do at this moment in time. Misunderstanding and miscommunication leads to mistakes. Below are a handful of late-game scenarios that result in stops because of solid play and sound strategy. No …
Don’t Stop the Ball
Chris Bosh shot-fakes repeatedly instead of attacking the hoop or moving the ball. As the twenty-four second clock is about to expire, Bosh moves the ball to Joey Graham in the corner (who is hardly a threat to shoot from that area). Passing off this late in the shot clock is not a good decision and it puts teammates under a lot of pressure. It’s selfish because one is avoiding a turnover or missed shot and giving it to a teammate who must rush instead. However, this time, Graham takes the ball strong and finishes at the rim, and Raptors …
Kobe Bryant Career Shot Chart
Over Labour Day, I decided to look into how Kobe Bryant changed how he has worked over the years. Early in his career, he was not a great shooter but developed a mid-range game as he developed and received more touches. He has always been able to get to the paint and the line. Lately, his percentages have trailed off a bit and he has been shooting more from just inside the arc than closer to the paint. For someone who has taken almost five thousand three-point shots, Bryant has never been an above-average shooter from that area. The shot …
Ranking Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson
This month, both Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady announced their intent to retire from basketball. Two athletes who were highly regarded when they were drafted (first pick overall in 1996 and highest high school player drafted in 1997 respectively) who came to symbolize the leadership vacuum and problematic Collective Bargaining Agreement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Both players became first team all-stars but fell short relative to the high expectations they faced and the accomplishments of their superstar peers.
Game 7: Miami and Indiana
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 …
Tim Duncan Highlight Reel
Throughout the postseason, especially during the Western Conference Finals, Tim Duncan has demonstrated why he was worthy of First Team All-N.B.A. consideration. He has been a steady screener and a sound shooter (every big should master the jumper from the foul line area. Perhaps most surprisingly, Duncan seemed to redouble his efforts against the potent post due of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, outhustling his counterparts for rebounds and on rim runs and taking over games in overtime. The N.B.A. assembled a Duncan highlight reel proving that the sixteen year veteran still has game.
Protect the Rim
Not only did the outcome (a buzzer beater to win the game) suggest that Indiana should have defended Miami’s last shot differently but the process behind the Pacers defense was also flawed. Michael Jordan may have said that he would force LeBron James to the left (however, I think that he would have cut him off before the rim). The zone shooing percentage of the Heat players suggested that the Pacers should have used 7’ Roy Hibbert, helped from anyone but Ray Allen or double-teamed the ball to force LeBron to pull-up or pass. Indiana could not have been surprised …