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 …
High Ball Screen into Flare Screen
Down a point, the Celtics draw up a play involving their big three with multiple options (iso for Pierce, high post jumper for Garnett and three-point shot for Allen). By keeping every player moving, Boston does not allow New York to pack the paint. Kevin Garnett frees Paul Pierce with a pindown. Ray Allen inbounds to Pierce and sets a Guard-to-Guard screen for the ball. Garnett then sets a flare screen to create an open shot for Allen. Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis space the floor along the baseline. Garnett whiffs on his screen on Toney Douglas but the defender …
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 …
Brock on Books: 11 Rings and Relentless
Recently, two key figures behind basketball dynasties of the 1990s and 2000s published books outlining their philosophies and paths to success. Sage coach Phil Jackson penned 11 Rings and determined trainer Tim Grover authored Relentless. Some may fine the tone of the books to be supercilious, as it should be easy to win when coaching and training Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. The average coach/trainer is unlikely to lead two of the ten best players of all-time but can learn from these works, which shed light on some of the most resolute personalities in basketball. Firstly, neither Jordan nor Bryant …
Running the Same Side Out Twice
Running the Same Side Out Twice: At the end of the game, running the same play or a similar play from the same look offers some advantages. During the first play, Al Horford sets a pindown screen for Kyle Korver and slips the screen, receiving a pass from Josh Smith and finishing with a dunk. Larry Drew tried to recapture lightning in a model and expose Dwight Howard – who was caught in no man’s land – by slipping another pindown for Korver, who is an excellent shooter in this sideline out of bounds play. The second time, Smith receives …
End of Game Situations
Coaches spend a great deal of time planning each possession in the last two minutes because these plays are closely scrutinized. Control that cannot be wielded throughout the game is certainly exerted as the clock winds down. “Clutch situations” define players and coaches and even though players perform at the levels consistent with their season-long statistics, they especially want to be known as someone who can succeed in these memorable moments. The free hand of basketball means that what a coach emphasizes when preparing for the last possession of a game will trickle down into the rest of the team’s …
Toronto Raptors Clutch Defense
We’ve seen this before. A hot shooter pulls up at the top of the key, given plenty of room, and drills the winning shot as time expires. The remaining defenders could have helped by closing the paint but they were standing still, out of the way and unable to help if they wanted to. During the preceding the team should have discussed how they would guard a game-winning shot attempt and prioritized who should stay on their check and who should help. I think the team should have focused on Kyrie Irving and Wayne Ellington and forced Dion Waiters and Shaun Livingston …
Raptors Bench Scoring
I am critical of the Toronto Raptors when they perform poorly on offense or defense so to be consistent I will highlight an example of good execution. Last night, the second unit created a number of high percentage scoring changes, enabling Toronto’s bench to outscore their Cleveland counterparts by a 59-21 margin. Rather than attempting a static ballscreen for two players as others watched, every Raptors player was involved in the play. They took advantage of cavalier Cavaliers defense but had good options that would have succeeded against a disciplined team. John Lucas made a three-point shot but he could …
Bad Help Defense
Sometimes, you have to avoid the easy play early in the possession (bad switches) so you aren’t under the gun later (mismatches). Sometimes, you have to anticipate what will happen next so you can prioritize what to guard. Sometimes, you have to closeout better than Courtney Kirkland. BTW: Joe Johnson hit one of his four threes on this play.
High Pick and Roll Breakdown
It’s easy to say that the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are vastly different teams (and they are if one evaluates outcomes). On the offensive end, the Spurs boast a rating of 104.9 and an effective field goal percentage of 53.2 while the Raptors lament their 97.3 efficiency and 46.9 eFG%. The massive difference between the squad comes from a lot of little things. Yes, San Antonio is more talented and experienced but even if both teams had similar skill levels, the Spurs would still come out ahead. While Toronto treated their fans to a five-game road trip featuring …