[...] Sebastian Pruiti breaks down a crucial play late in the game last night. He noticed something I didn’t. It was the same play OKC ran against Boston that got Jeff Green back-to-back 3s. [...]

Now, this is when the offensive foul is called. Was it an offensive foul? No. However, we do have to give props to Pau for being in position to even be able to flop.

How ’bout let’s not praise flopping at all? Seriously, flopping hurts the game, and I’d love to see the NBA hand out fines and suspensions for flops (as determined by reviews of the tape). I give props to Gasol for being in the right place, but he loses twice as many for pulling this sort of weak crap. Play the &$*%ing game.

There’s too much influence in the officiating in this play. Worse than Pau flopping is that generally players are called for fouls when they are so physical off-the-ball as Artest is. It’s like Artest plays in 1997 and everybody else in 2010.

@ Kamron

I don’t actually think he is praising Gasol for the flop and drawing the charge.
The praise is actually for being in a position for a call to be made (unlike when this play was run against the Celtics).

great breakdown. Feel like Artest earned respect or whatever with the refs like Kobe, D-Wade, LeBron,etc. sometimes gets ‘superstar’ calls. dont complain, it’ll never be perfect. It feels like whenever LeBron isnt in the convo, its trash-talk or b.s. about the game. enjoy the bloody perfect D mates

That was a terrible interpretation of the play. Gasol stayed up there mainly to help out Artest when Durant swung past the double screens, which Phil pointed out from the sidelines. In the Celtics clip, Wallace did the same thing. It’s basic big men defense in that situation. The only difference is that Bryant recognized the double fake for Green and jumped out to deny him the ball in time. Garnett failed to do so and gave up a wide open three. You can see Phil on the sideline pointing to both Durant coming off the screen and Green.

You can also argue that Krstic sets better screens than Collison. Or perhaps the Thunder ran this same play with Durant getting the ball, which is a play both teams recognized. So when Brooks called this one, it came down to which team adapted quicker. Obviously, the Lakers did and won the game.

Very interesting. As you pointed out, it’s Kobe that ruins the play for OK. Durant getting into the paint is key for the Celtics, where they would collapse leaving Green open. But the Lakers have Artest alone on Durant so he’s not much of a decoy. Pau knows what’s coming and busts up the play, but if Kobe didn’t front Green then it would’ve been a shot attempt.

In the lakers v thunder game: when both pau n artest cover durant, collison needs to be aware of it and slip to the basket which would force kobe to cover the paint, perhaps pulling odom over to help leaving the left corner/wing wide open for a shot. Perhaps, Collison and Green (which ever one) slips to the basket causing a collapse in the paint, all the while pau n artest are focused on durant. Ibaka is in the corner which puzzles me, perhaps green could be substitued. Ibaka and Collison could set the double screen and either one could slip the to the basket when pau moves out to cover durant. This would leave Green open if Odom chooses to collapse on the slip.

I agree flopping should not be called. In fact I hate the offensive foul in general, but no one should crucify Pau for playing in a broken system. All he did was recognize the offensive set, put himself in perfect defensive position to elimate OKC’s first scoring option, and when Durant gave him the bump he flailed as though he’d just been shot in order to create a turnover. If the league would call this weak crap less we would see less of it. So I do not fault Pau for doing his job, and that was terminate a crucial Thunder possession.

Great breakdown of a crucial point in the game! However, if Westbrook or the Thunders’ coaching staff was a little bit more patient, they would recognize that by Pau being on top of the key to meet Durant coming off the double pick, that would allow Collison to slip after the pick. With Odom being the only defender in the paint at that point, he would have to try to defend two players in Collison and also in Ibaka on the wing. If the pass is made from Westbrook to Collison, Odom would have to cover; allowing Ibaka to dive for the ball. Easy 2 points for the Thunders!

Rasheed Wallace or whoever that was for boston was in the same position as gasol…the only difference i see is the flop. also, the reason kobe got there is because he grabbed the screener and pushed himself above the screen into the passing lane where garnet(?) tried to run below the screen to green. P.S. I like this. great analysis.

Is it unusual that the Lakers seem to frequently get calls like this at crucial points in games?

Great breakdown. And to see PJ on sidelines directing his players defensively is awesome. The coach knows his stuff. Nice job.

jambalaya :also, the reason kobe got there is because he grabbed the screener and pushed himself above the screen into the passing lane where garnet(?) tried to run below the screen to green. P.S. I like this. great analysis

You seem to be suggesting that Kobe commited a foul there. You are joking right? Because what I see is Collison moving the screen to try and force Kobe away from Green. Collison slides his feet left to try and cut Kobe off and even reaches out with both hands to give Kobe a little push.

@vilnas
The comparison between the two clips is very interesting and highlights what a small difference there can be between a successful play and an unsuccessful one. Wallace shows out on Durant, but curls back toward the paint to track Durant’s path and keep himself between Durant and the basket. Gasol initial move is similar, but he adjusts to Durant coming around the screen by moving toward half court to cut off Durant’s path.

On the other side of the play, Kobe has maintained contact with Green as the play develops, and therefore is just a little quicker to read and react than Garnett, who got allowed Green to get separation while the play was unfolding. Thus, Kobe is able to move past Collison on the right, whereas Green gets a step and half on Garnett before he reacts, and Garnett’s initial move takes him into Collison’s chest.

These seem to be minor differences in the defense, especially at full speed, but they add up to a major difference in the result of the play. Good stuff.

This play wasn’t as well defended as everyone thinks. If Nick Collison was just a DECENT post player or Russ Westbrook was an actual point guard, Collison would’ve sealed off Kobe in the paint and Westbrook would have been able to find him for on over the top post entry pass, which would have resulted in an easy lay up for Collison or a shooting foul called on Kobe. Look at the last snap shot. Collison is wide open and closer to to the hoop than anyone else on the floor, except Odom, who should actually get the most credit for being the best/smartest defender on that particular play.

I think a key difference is the position of the weak-side shooter. In the Celtics clip, he’s above the free-throw line, forcing Allen to play him quite tight and it basically takes him out of the play. Against the Lakers, the shooter is in the corner, allowing Odom to defend the paint a little (if RWB sees Collison open). When Durrant has made his curl at the FT-line, Odom has both feet in the paint. This allows Kobe a little more freedom to go after Green early. Whereas KG, without weak-side help, has to make sure Durrant / Collison dont get the ball with an open lane, before leaving to cover Green.

Pau’s overplaying of Durrant also means there is no chance of that pass being made, freeing up kobe that split second earlier. Wallace merely helps on the Durrant coverage and doesnt make the pass impossible.