This play really is ubergreat. Totally agree with your assessment.

hahaha. this was just great.

This play really is ubergreat. Totally agree with your assessment.

hahaha. this was just great.

Just bafling how both Parker and Duncan can be so wiiiiiide open! Spurs could also have gotten a three with perfect rebounding position for Duncan if they needed it.

Thanks for the breakdown (and the Popovich love).

Just bafling how both Parker and Duncan can be so wiiiiiide open! Spurs could also have gotten a three with perfect rebounding position for Duncan if they needed it.

I know you said it was the Bucks “only mistake”, but there was no screen on Mbah a Moute and he SHOULD have dropped to help on Duncan. It was a HUGE mistake.

Thanks for the breakdown (and the Popovich love).

Spurs fans are so lucky to have a Coach like Pop and players that can execute like this. It's unbelievable to see stuff like this on a nightly basis.

And that was against a good defensive team.

BTW, I know thats no news, but this site is GREAT.

Sebastian, you have the job that I'd love to have (I'm OK with being a chemical engineer, but I love basketball, tactics and statistics), and you are excellent at it

Wow what a play. Really smart draw up. There is very little you can do to defend it. The only thing I can think of is perhaps Bogut being a little more vocal about struggling to get back to his man or doing a type of zone defense where the guys going up with Ginobili and Hill kind of hang back to wait and see what happens and close that passing lane. I can't imagine there is ever a situation where you can not account for where Duncan is.

I know you said it was the Bucks “only mistake”, but there was no screen on Mbah a Moute and he SHOULD have dropped to help on Duncan. It was a HUGE mistake.

That is no mistake. Especially the way Manu has played of late, any player would be sticking to him like glue out of a half court throw in. That's part of the reason this play works. The spurs often run Manu from under the rim out to the perimeter to catch a pass and then run the offense. Because everybody thinks something like that is going to happen, Timmy D can just roll around the backside of the whole mess unhindered. Free deception based bucket. Who isn't for that?

[...] amigo Sebastian Pruiti also took a look at this play over at NBA Playbook. Unfortunately for us, he’s on the eastern time zone and beat us to the breakdown. At least, [...]

Spurs fans are so lucky to have a Coach like Pop and players that can execute like this. It’s unbelievable to see stuff like this on a nightly basis.

And that was against a good defensive team.

BTW, I know thats no news, but this site is GREAT.

Sebastian, you have the job that I’d love to have (I’m OK with being a chemical engineer, but I love basketball, tactics and statistics), and you are excellent at it

Wow what a play. Really smart draw up. There is very little you can do to defend it. The only thing I can think of is perhaps Bogut being a little more vocal about struggling to get back to his man or doing a type of zone defense where the guys going up with Ginobili and Hill kind of hang back to wait and see what happens and close that passing lane. I can’t imagine there is ever a situation where you can not account for where Duncan is.

Very tough play to defend. I think the mistake was made by the Bucks in that they didn't switch on the Parker/Duncan screen. Bogut was so far out on Parker that Dooling should have just stayed with the screener (Duncan) after he cuts to the hoop. That would have been their only chance, and even then, Bonner screens Bogut off of Parker…Beautiful offense set.

There was another really good by assistant coach Mike Budenholzer on the game was ejected, when RJ went in for a Dunk after a set of screen plays..

That is no mistake. Especially the way Manu has played of late, any player would be sticking to him like glue out of a half court throw in. That’s part of the reason this play works. The spurs often run Manu from under the rim out to the perimeter to catch a pass and then run the offense. Because everybody thinks something like that is going to happen, Timmy D can just roll around the backside of the whole mess unhindered. Free deception based bucket. Who isn’t for that?

It's still a mistake, and a huge one. Duncan's cut, and the fact that he was wide open, should've been clear to Mbah a Moute from his vantage point. If ever there is a time when a defender should help, it's when someone is cutting right by him to the basket unimpeded. This is true even for defenders who are matched up against good scorers. And there was no urgent need to stick with Manu, who 1) was clearly screening and not cutting at the time, and 2) would've been met with help had he cut.

This is still a great play, of course, but there are no magical plays that produce open layups without some fault by the defense.

[...] séquence de jeu, tirée du match de la nuit dernière face aux Bucks, et que Sebastian Pruiti a décrite sur NBAPlaybook est de toute [...]

Very tough play to defend. I think the mistake was made by the Bucks in that they didn’t switch on the Parker/Duncan screen. Bogut was so far out on Parker that Dooling should have just stayed with the screener (Duncan) after he cuts to the hoop. That would have been their only chance, and even then, Bonner screens Bogut off of Parker…Beautiful offense set.

Florida ran this often during their championship years

There was another really good by assistant coach Mike Budenholzer on the game was ejected, when RJ went in for a Dunk after a set of screen plays..

I think Mbah a Moute should have helped on Duncan, but that's the best case scenario for the Bucks, and what would happen? Duncan has low block position on a much shorter defender. That's a bucket anyway. And while it was clearly a mistake on his part, it's a great point by sum12 that Ginobili often starts from under the rim, comes out, gets the ball, and wreaks havoc.

Just watched it again – what a great set. If Ilyasova had hedged hard on the screen, Parker might have had to hesitate on the pass. But in that case Bonner comes free for a three with Duncan in rebounding position. Amazing.

Eh, I'm not overly impressed. Both Hill and Manu's men are completely focused on them and have no awareness of their help side responsibilities. That's not good defense. You're really underselling how much either of their defenders could have prevented Duncan from being open, long enough for Bogut to recover. Notice how their heads are turned towards their man and they're playing right next to their man, rather than jumping towards the ball as they should. There's also no hedge whatsoever by Bonner's man – which could have disrupted Parker's passing lane and the general timing of the play. Especially given the crowd around Bonner, a pick and pop becomes a much lesser threat. There were ways to defend it. It's a nice play, but it wasn't very good defensive execution or positioning.

There's always a way to defend a given play. Have a more open mind than that. This one was not defended well, and it resulted in an open layup. If you breakdown film on open layups out of half court sets, you'll inevitably find they all involve defensive breakdowns.

It’s still a mistake, and a huge one. Duncan’s cut, and the fact that he was wide open, should’ve been clear to Mbah a Moute from his vantage point. If ever there is a time when a defender should help, it’s when someone is cutting right by him to the basket unimpeded. This is true even for defenders who are matched up against good scorers. And there was no urgent need to stick with Manu, who 1) was clearly screening and not cutting at the time, and 2) would’ve been met with help had he cut.

This is still a great play, of course, but there are no magical plays that produce open layups without some fault by the defense.

Florida ran this often during their championship years

I think Mbah a Moute should have helped on Duncan, but that’s the best case scenario for the Bucks, and what would happen? Duncan has low block position on a much shorter defender. That’s a bucket anyway. And while it was clearly a mistake on his part, it’s a great point by sum12 that Ginobili often starts from under the rim, comes out, gets the ball, and wreaks havoc.

Just watched it again – what a great set. If Ilyasova had hedged hard on the screen, Parker might have had to hesitate on the pass. But in that case Bonner comes free for a three with Duncan in rebounding position. Amazing.

Eh, I’m not overly impressed. Both Hill and Manu’s men are completely focused on them and have no awareness of their help side responsibilities. That’s not good defense. You’re really underselling how much either of their defenders could have prevented Duncan from being open, long enough for Bogut to recover. Notice how their heads are turned towards their man and they’re playing right next to their man, rather than jumping towards the ball as they should. There’s also no hedge whatsoever by Bonner’s man – which could have disrupted Parker’s passing lane and the general timing of the play. Especially given the crowd around Bonner, a pick and pop becomes a much lesser threat. There were ways to defend it. It’s a nice play, but it wasn’t very good defensive execution or positioning.

There’s always a way to defend a given play. Have a more open mind than that. This one was not defended well, and it resulted in an open layup. If you breakdown film on open layups out of half court sets, you’ll inevitably find they all involve defensive breakdowns.

[...] NBA Playbook.com [...]

You don't know shit douchebag. Fucking nerds

This is what basketball is all about. Ball movement (tp dribble) and player movement (the bottom two spurs moved up and dragged the defense with them. Compare that to an isolation play.

“If ever there is a time when a defender should help, it's when someone is cutting right by him to the basket unimpeded. “

The ball was at the top right of the key. That is the thing about the ball. Everyone follows it. Luc probably didn't even see duncan.

What kind of fucking blog begs for money? Your analysis is severely flawed, I can tell you have never coached past possibly the middle school level. You don't even know Spurs terminology, how the hell are you qualified to break down a set? Call it a day, you will never be in the league as a coach, scout or anything. Just another internet nerd that thinks they know it all.

Help side usually means leaving your man to go at someone with the ball. If you leave you guy eveytime someone runs past you then you are super screwed.

Nice comment bro! Since you appear to know everything, could you tell the class what is so wrong about Sebastian's analysis?

why are you being a douche, pete?

[...] • The Spurs iced that win in Milwaukee with one of the best set plays of the season. [...]

So says the guy typing angrily from his basement cubicle while hating his own job. Jealous much?

Hooooooo!! That was supposed to be for your eyes only! Many teams are so unworthy to see this play executed from Pop's brilliant mind!

This is what basketball is all about. Ball movement (tp dribble) and player movement (the bottom two spurs moved up and dragged the defense with them. Compare that to an isolation play.

“If ever there is a time when a defender should help, it’s when someone is cutting right by him to the basket unimpeded. ”

The ball was at the top right of the key. That is the thing about the ball. Everyone follows it. Luc probably didn’t even see duncan.

What kind of fucking blog begs for money? Your analysis is severely flawed, I can tell you have never coached past possibly the middle school level. You don’t even know Spurs terminology, how the hell are you qualified to break down a set? Call it a day, you will never be in the league as a coach, scout or anything. Just another internet nerd that thinks they know it all.

Help side usually means leaving your man to go at someone with the ball. If you leave you guy eveytime someone runs past you then you are super screwed.

Nice comment bro! Since you appear to know everything, could you tell the class what is so wrong about Sebastian’s analysis?

why are you being a douche, pete?

wow, this play even gets a lot of people to react here. i hope they ran this play again and see a defender in Mbah a Moute's position help on duncan. then, we' see if this play still has some tricks left to show.

but of course. i'd like to think that the reason teams run plays is to cause the defense to breakdown and get the best shot possible. otherwise, why run a play?

So says the guy typing angrily from his basement cubicle while hating his own job. Jealous much?

Hooooooo!! That was supposed to be for your eyes only! Many teams are so unworthy to see this play executed from Pop’s brilliant mind!

Mbah a Moute helps on Duncan, Manu just slips down the lane for an easy two (or hand off to Timmy if Mbah a Moute comes back to him).

wow, this play even gets a lot of people to react here. i hope they ran this play again and see a defender in Mbah a Moute’s position help on duncan. then, we’ see if this play still has some tricks left to show.

but of course. i’d like to think that the reason teams run plays is to cause the defense to breakdown and get the best shot possible. otherwise, why run a play?

I was wondering how TD got so open on that play. Thanks for the breakdown and replay.

or Parker comes off the Bonner screen with his choice of either a jump shot or drive to the basket.

Mbah a Moute helps on Duncan, Manu just slips down the lane for an easy two (or hand off to Timmy if Mbah a Moute comes back to him).

Keyboard warrior

I was wondering how TD got so open on that play. Thanks for the breakdown and replay.

or Parker comes off the Bonner screen with his choice of either a jump shot or drive to the basket.

Keyboard warrior

This is a solid play by the Spurs with all the right ingredients to succeed in a big way, e.g. big-on-little picks, big-on-little 2nd screens, staggered screens with a bigger wing-on-big 2nd screen, initial mis-direction, etc. That said, however, the most important aspect of this sequence is the totally inept way in which a Scott Skiles coached team responded defensively to what is a regular series of events in a conventional half-court NBA set. The Bucks D was really caught napping on this specific play, as Dooling, Ilyasova, Mbah A Moute, and CDR all made serious/basic errors in judgment that a well-prepared defensive team has no business making. [Hint: The first sign that the Spurs were going to run this play was TP taking the ball out-of-bounds, and from that point on everything the Bucks did in response was simply a comedy of errors, culminating in the decisions:

- not to have Dooling "hard deny" the initial hand-off pass back to Parker
- not to "trap", or "hard hedge", or "switch out" with Ilyasova vs Parker
- not to have CDR "switch" to Duncan [vs Hill's back screen]
- not to have LRMAM “switch” to Duncan [vs Ginobili's back screen]

Simply a stunning lack of high end defense by the Bucks with the game on the line.

This is a solid play by the Spurs with all the right ingredients to succeed in a big way, e.g. big-on-little picks, big-on-little 2nd screens, staggered screens with a bigger wing-on-big 2nd screen, initial mis-direction, etc. That said, however, the most important aspect of this sequence is the totally inept way in which a Scott Skiles coached team responded defensively to what is a regular series of events in a conventional half-court NBA set. The Bucks D was really caught napping on this specific play, as Dooling, Ilyasova, Mbah A Moute, and CDR all made serious/basic errors in judgment that a well-prepared defensive team has no business making. [Hint: The first sign that the Spurs were going to run this play was TP taking the ball out-of-bounds, and from that point on everything the Bucks did in response was simply a comedy of errors, culminating in the decisions:

- not to have Dooling "hard deny" the initial hand-off pass back to Parker
- not to "trap", or "hard hedge", or "switch out" with Ilyasova vs Parker
- not to have CDR "switch" to Duncan [vs Hill's back screen]
- not to have LRMAM “switch” to Duncan [vs Ginobili's back screen]

Simply a stunning lack of high end defense by the Bucks with the game on the line.

Pete seems like a douche, but Dee Dee I'm kind of laughing at the image of a basement cubicle. Like somebody who works from home, but such a dweeb they build themself a cubicle so it feels like work… ok maybe its just me!

Oh and for the record, I've learned waaaay more about the technical details of basketball from this website than most analysis on TV. Maybe it isn't the exact terminology the players and coaches use, but some of the stuff Pruiti notices and breaks down would have been completely missed by me.

What an a-hole, cracking on the author without one example? Saying he will never be a coach in the league?? lol What a Baffoon!!! Almost as entertaining as this great play breakdown, good job Sebastion! Keep em coming!

Pretty similar to a play you brokedown by the Nets a few months back. Then again…
Tony Parker & Tim Duncan > Devin Harris & Brook Lopez.

Pete seems like a douche, but Dee Dee I’m kind of laughing at the image of a basement cubicle. Like somebody who works from home, but such a dweeb they build themself a cubicle so it feels like work… ok maybe its just me!

Oh and for the record, I’ve learned waaaay more about the technical details of basketball from this website than most analysis on TV. Maybe it isn’t the exact terminology the players and coaches use, but some of the stuff Pruiti notices and breaks down would have been completely missed by me.

What an a-hole, cracking on the author without one example? Saying he will never be a coach in the league?? lol What a Baffoon!!! Almost as entertaining as this great play breakdown, good job Sebastion! Keep em coming!

Regardless of if Luc helped or not, the mismatch created by forcing the 2 or 3 to help on a center in the low post would have had the same result. Timmy might have had to be more creative with his shot, but it will always be a high percentage play if executed like that. Here's a guy who commands double teams any time he's within 15' of the basket, and a SF is going to stop him? “Like clubbing baby seals” -Clyde Drexler.

The only thing bordering on a mistake from the Bucks was Bogut hedging Parker so far out. If the situation presented itself again in the same game, you can bet that the Bucks' coach would opt for letting Parker have the extra second behind the screen rather than have Timmy all alone at the hoop. “Fool me once…”

Pretty similar to a play you brokedown by the Nets a few months back. Then again…
Tony Parker & Tim Duncan > Devin Harris & Brook Lopez.

Good stuff.

Regardless of if Luc helped or not, the mismatch created by forcing the 2 or 3 to help on a center in the low post would have had the same result. Timmy might have had to be more creative with his shot, but it will always be a high percentage play if executed like that. Here’s a guy who commands double teams any time he’s within 15′ of the basket, and a SF is going to stop him? “Like clubbing baby seals” -Clyde Drexler.

The only thing bordering on a mistake from the Bucks was Bogut hedging Parker so far out. If the situation presented itself again in the same game, you can bet that the Bucks’ coach would opt for letting Parker have the extra second behind the screen rather than have Timmy all alone at the hoop. “Fool me once…”

Good stuff.

Great stuff as always Sebastian. Negotiating screen-the-screener is tough for defenses even if they know it's coming; heck, flex still works, even though EVERY team in the league knows exactly what's going to happen when players run it.

Houston runs a similar play in the half court set, but they set a double screen low and have the screener run through to get a three in the corner.

Great stuff as always Sebastian. Negotiating screen-the-screener is tough for defenses even if they know it’s coming; heck, flex still works, even though EVERY team in the league knows exactly what’s going to happen when players run it.

Houston runs a similar play in the half court set, but they set a double screen low and have the screener run through to get a three in the corner.

Why hedge Parker that high on the perimeter? He is a guy you go under on any screen above the foul line anyways. Major mistake by Bogut and Dooling. But would be interesting to see this play materialize if Bogut stays with Duncan.

Why hedge Parker that high on the perimeter? He is a guy you go under on any screen above the foul line anyways. Major mistake by Bogut and Dooling. But would be interesting to see this play materialize if Bogut stays with Duncan.

The Spurs have NEVER run anything resembling this play before, especially with Parker taking the ball out. How could the Bucks possibly have seen this coming?

The great big man defenders hedge screens on the perimeter. And Bogut may be the best big man defender in the NBA right now, as Duncan and Garnett have both lost a step.

Until about 2 seasons ago, Duncan was the best in the business at showing on the P&R at the top of the key, hedging screens, and switching. Garnett is the only other big man who's shown a similar ability to disrupt screens in the same way and cover the ball handler on the perimeter.

You only hedge screens where the player is a threat to shoot the ball coming off of it. Never on a guy who makes a 3 pointer every 5th game, and especially not on a guy who cannot shoot it on the move or off the dribble from beyond the arc (ie Tony Parker). Sorry boss, but this is just a poor play by Bogut and Dooling. Spurs run this play a lot, most of the time the look is Parker turning the corner and getting into the lane.

The Spurs have NEVER run anything resembling this play before, especially with Parker taking the ball out. How could the Bucks possibly have seen this coming?

The great big man defenders hedge screens on the perimeter. And Bogut may be the best big man defender in the NBA right now, as Duncan and Garnett have both lost a step.

Until about 2 seasons ago, Duncan was the best in the business at showing on the P&R at the top of the key, hedging screens, and switching. Garnett is the only other big man who’s shown a similar ability to disrupt screens in the same way and cover the ball handler on the perimeter.

You only hedge screens where the player is a threat to shoot the ball coming off of it. Never on a guy who makes a 3 pointer every 5th game, and especially not on a guy who cannot shoot it on the move or off the dribble from beyond the arc (ie Tony Parker). Sorry boss, but this is just a poor play by Bogut and Dooling. Spurs run this play a lot, most of the time the look is Parker turning the corner and getting into the lane.

Re: Mastermind (Sorry I can't seem to get the reply feature to work for some reason)

That's not true. Teams often hedge against non-shooters, as well. The point of a hedge is not simply to take away an outside shot. It's to disrupt the timing of the play. It's to change the angle the ballhandler is attacking the basket. It's to give the screened defender time to recover. Bogut hedges on Parker for a reason. The second guy fails to do it. He should have.

re: cwcwcwcwcw

No, help side does not mean leaving your man. It means playing in between your man, the hoop, and the ball. The farther away from the ball your man is, the farther off of him you play. Watch most NBA plays – if you notice the help defenders, they're generally in a position where they look like they could be guarding someone entirely different from the guy they actually are. Why is that? Because their guy is far from the ball, and their rotation responsibility is the other man. So if Player X is guarding a wing in the corner, and there's an offensive player at the weak side block, he'll play in between the weakside block guy and the ball, and as the ball is swung, then he'll step over closer to his man. It's basic help defense. In this case, what it means is Mbah a Moute or the guy covering Hill can step off in help D to get into the passing lane so Duncan isn't open, and then recover onto his own guy. He doesn't need to guard Duncan, or disrupt the passing lane for long – just long enough for Bogut to recover.

Re: Mastermind (Sorry I can’t seem to get the reply feature to work for some reason)

That’s not true. Teams often hedge against non-shooters, as well. The point of a hedge is not simply to take away an outside shot. It’s to disrupt the timing of the play. It’s to change the angle the ballhandler is attacking the basket. It’s to give the screened defender time to recover. Bogut hedges on Parker for a reason. The second guy fails to do it. He should have.

re: cwcwcwcwcw

No, help side does not mean leaving your man. It means playing in between your man, the hoop, and the ball. The farther away from the ball your man is, the farther off of him you play. Watch most NBA plays – if you notice the help defenders, they’re generally in a position where they look like they could be guarding someone entirely different from the guy they actually are. Why is that? Because their guy is far from the ball, and their rotation responsibility is the other man. So if Player X is guarding a wing in the corner, and there’s an offensive player at the weak side block, he’ll play in between the weakside block guy and the ball, and as the ball is swung, then he’ll step over closer to his man. It’s basic help defense. In this case, what it means is Mbah a Moute or the guy covering Hill can step off in help D to get into the passing lane so Duncan isn’t open, and then recover onto his own guy. He doesn’t need to guard Duncan, or disrupt the passing lane for long – just long enough for Bogut to recover.

[...] San Antonio Spurs have tremendous offensive and defensive execution, and this page breaks down one of their beautiful plays, maybe the best in the NBA this [...]

Thanks a lot for this. I loved it. Much better than similar things they show on TV, live during the game

Thanks a lot for this. I loved it. Much better than similar things they show on TV, live during the game

Thanks a lot for this. I loved it. Much better than similar things they show on TV, live during the game

[...] ensuing 3-pointer, and by the time Nelson and the Magic figured it out, it was too late. The Spurs did something very similar to beat the Bucks almost exactly one year ago. Last night’s play was another great call by Popovich, with pinpoint [...]

[...] *Spurs fans might note that Popovich will often use double back-screens (with basically random players like RJ/Bonner/Hill) at the basket to allow Duncan to curl around for an easy two. One rather stark example of this is easily seen in Sebastian Pruiti’s solid breakdown. [...]