Post-Game Adjustments: The Thunder Need To Get The Ball To Durant On The Move | NBA Playbook

Post-Game Adjustments: The Thunder Need To Get The Ball To Durant On The Move

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.

Another thing I would like the Thunder to do a little more of is use Durant on the ball in pick and roll situations.  The video above is the only time I saw it happen (coming off of a set play where Durant was on the move) the whole game, and it was pretty effective.  Another thing I would like to see is Durant bringing the ball up into a pick and roll situation.  Durant has the ball-handling ability, so it is something that could work.  See if Artest can defend him when Durant has some space to work with.

The purpose of getting Durant on the move is to create some space for him.  The above video is what happens when Durant doesn’t get any space.  Durant gets it on the post (where Artest clearly has the advantage), and he is unable to do anything with the basketball but force up a jumper.

20
Apr 2010
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POSTED IN 2010 Playoffs OKC Thunder Post-Game Adjustments
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  • Jax (Visiting Thunder Fan)

    I really like what you’ve got going on in this blog. Love the play breakdowns and such.

    However, I do have one point of dissension. You stated “Another thing I would like to see is Durant bringing the ball up into a pick and roll situation. Durant has the ball-handling ability, so it is something that could work. ” I think Durant might get away with such a thing in this series. But, 141 of KD’s 271 turnovers (52%) this year have been ball-handling turnovers. KD has trouble with smaller guards playing him close, they get under him and give him trouble with his dribble. Artest isn’t a smaller guard, so pick and roll dribbling might work just fine, but I’m hesitant about that play because of the many times I’ve seen Durant stripped of his dribble while in traffic.

    Hitting Durant on the move as well as nicely executed on and off ball screens are good ways to get him open, but I think the most effective way to get him open is for his teammates to be a scoring threat from midrange and out, keeping the defense honest.

  • Sebastian Pruiti

    Jax, thanks for the kind words and the comment. Yes, Durant does have a ton of ball-handling turnovers, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the ability to handle the basketball. I think with Ron Artest defending him the key is about creating space. Durant bringing the ball up and going into a pick and roll will create that space in my opinion. The goal is to get him free around the elbow for pull-up jumpers, so penetrating through traffic shouldn’t be a problem.

    That being said, your concern is a valid one and thanks for bringing it up!

  • Jaffe

    do the thunder use durant as the screener in P/R situations, remember artest used have a habit of not leaving his man to help on dribble penetration, it could be a way to get harden-westbrook open for shots which, would eventually free durant up as artest is forced to help, u can also force switches that way