NBA How To: Beating Double Teams
If teams are having success scoring in the post, one way defenses try to stop them is by double teaming the post. Double teams are the most effective way to keep someone from scoring in the post because you have two defenders now covering one. If the double team is effective, it can take a decent passer and turn him into a below average one. However, if a team knows how to handle a double team, they are able to take advantage of the defense’s willingness to have two players covering one.
Handling double teams is really a team effort. Not only does the man getting double teamed need to be able to make a good pass under duress, but his teammates need to provide him with a passing lane. In my opinion, the two teams that handle double teams very well are the San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic. Both teams have very good big men (in Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard), so they see (and beat) plenty of double teams. Despite both teams being very successful, the Spurs and the Magic handle double teams in very different ways:
San Antonio Spurs: Cut On The Double
Whenever Tim Duncan gets double teamed, the Spurs like to send a cutter diving through the lane. In theory, it makes sense, because when a double team takes place, most teams are worried about rotating on the perimeter, so when a cut happens, it is hard to adjust to. They are able to be successful with this because they have a big man who is willing to let the double team come and make a pass over it. Also important is his teammate’s ability to time their cuts just right.
