Throughout the playoffs, we are going to be looking at the teams that lost their last game and look at what they can do to try and get a win.
During the regular season, the Miami Heat were one of the best teams at limiting turnovers. Their turnover rate (the percentage of their possessions that ended in turnovers) was 9th in the league with a rate of 12.77. However, against the Celtics, the Heat committed 19 turnovers. Against a tame like Boston, that is way too much.
The biggest culprit in my opinion was Michael Beasley. Beasley committed 5 turnovers during the game, and while Wade committed 7 himself, you can ignore those because he is the only option on the Heat. That means more attention on him, and with more attention comes more turnovers. Anyway, back to Beasley, while the Celtics are a good team, they didn’t really force any of these turnovers. A lot of them were ones that could have been prevented:
Here, Beasley gets the ball on an ISO set, and there is no real options for him. However, Beasley tries to force the issue and penetrate through a gap that isn’t there. He compounds the over-penetration by leaving his feet before he knows what he is going to do with the basketball. Caught in air, he tries to kick the ball out. However, Rondo is able to get his hand on the pass and make the steal.
Throughout the playoffs, we are going to be looking at the teams that lost their last game and look at what they can do to try and get a win.
When you think of Kevin Durant, you not only think of a scorer, but you think of an efficient scorer. However, during Game 1 against the Lakers, Durant really struggled. Sure, he scored 24 points but he did it on 24 shots as he looked uncomfortable the entire game.
It is no secret that the if the Thunder want to win Game 2 (and eventually the series), they need to get Kevin Durant going. To do that, I think that the Thunder are going to have to get Durant moving off the ball much more:
Ron Artest is clearly much bigger than Kevin Durant, and if they stay attached Artest is going to have the advantage. This is why getting Durant on the move is so important. It isn’t just because he is quicker than Artest, but when Durant is on the move, it is easier for his teammates to get solid screens set on Artest. In the video above, that is exactly what happens. After a quick move, Artest is in trail position when he is hit in a screen. This gives Durant some space, and that is all he really needs with his length and quick release.
Throughout the playoffs, we are going to be looking at the teams that lost their last game and look at what they can do to try and get a win.
When you think of the Suns, you think of a fast-breaking run and gun style that leads to a ton of transition points. However, according to Synergy (which is now available to everyone – and it’s awesome), the Suns only were able to score 4 points in transition on 7 opportunities. The Blazers are trying so hard to contain the Suns transition game that when the Suns do get opportunities to score on the break, they really need to take advantage of it:
When you think about the Suns’ transition game, you think of the free-wheeling style where they aren’t afraid to pull jumpers running 1 on 3. However, the Blazers did such a good job of getting back the entire game it seemed like the Suns tried to force their transition opportunities. Here, Goran Dragic takes the inbounds pass and runs it upcourt. Instead of hitting Leandro Barbosa on the wing, Dragic forces it and attempts a contested lay-up. He misses it.
Throughout the playoffs, we are going to be looking at the teams that lost their last game and look at what they can do to try and get a win.
Against the Bucks, the Hawks were 6-11 from the three point line, which is good for 54.5%. The thing is, it could have been even worse for the Bucks. The Hawks had three or four wide open looks that they missed in addition to the three point shots that the Hawks made.
The big reason for the Hawks getting open at the three point line was that the Bucks were getting “sucked in” to the lane. Now this is understandable, the Bucks lost their best post defender due to injury and the Hawks have an all-star center, but perimeter defenders can’t get sucked in to the point where they are giving up wide open threes:
This play is right off the opening-tip and after the baseline drive, the ball is passed to Josh Smith right in the middle of the lane. Though he is pretty well defended (Smith’s man helped, but was getting back into position) Joe Johnson’s man comes flying down the lane to try and help. Smith recognizes this and kicks it out for the open three pointer.
With the Jazz down by 1 and around 1:30 left it looked like the Jazz were turning to their bread and butter, the pick and roll. However, the play wasn’t designed to free up Deron Williams or hit the roll man Paul Millsap, it was run to free up Kyle Korver for three:
As the play gets going, there is actually some pretty poor floor spacing. However Korver fixes that by quickly popping out to the corner. As Korver pops out, Millsap sets a screen for Deron Williams.
That makes two of us. RT @talkhoops: I am legitimately giddy to see how Popovich gameplans for OKC. 5 hours ago
Both teams first course of action is going to be figuring out how to slow the other down. Who do you trust to be more creative doing that? 5 hours ago
The Brooks-Pop match-up is going to get major player this next series, as it should. 5 hours ago
MT @haralabob:(On SA & OKC) On the court they couldn't be more different. One maximizes their talent & is sharp, other just has great talent 5 hours ago
Top two teams in O efficiency squaring off in WCF & considered favorites for Finals if Heat stay Bosh-less. So about that defense thing.... 5 hours ago
