Should The Magic Have Fouled Down Two? | NBA Playbook

Should The Magic Have Fouled Down Two?

A Jameer Nelson jumper with 32.3 seconds left cut the Thunder’s lead from 4 to 2.  With an eight second difference, coach Stan Van Gundy was faced with a pretty tough decision.  He could either have his team foul, extend the game, and basically turn the game into a free throw shooting contest or he could have played straight defense, try to get the stop, and the tie or win the game. Van Gundy decided to play straight defense:

Unfortunately for him and the Magic, the Thunder were able to score (due to some poor defense from Hedo and a late help from Dwight Howard). Because this decision backfired, you have to ask if this was the right decision or not. In my opinion, it was the right decision, especially considering that the Thunder are the best free throw shooting team in the NBA.

However, with that being said, the Magic are one of the best three point shooting teams in the NBA. That means that if they extend the game and make their threes, they would have caught up in two possessions (they foul and the Thunder make 2 FTs – 4 point deficit, make a three – 1 point deficit, they foul and the Thunder make 2 FTs – 3 point deficit, make a three – tied game). With 32 seconds left, it isn’t really a stretch to say that is possible.

I am still leaning towards playing straight defense though. What do you guys think?

14
Jan 2011
POSTED BY Sebastian Pruiti
POSTED IN 4th Quarters Clock Management OKC Thunder Orlando Magic
DISCUSSION 15 Comments
TAGS

  • http://twitter.com/itskerem kerem ozkan

    chances of a late-game stop are a lot better than making two consecutive threes. straight defense seems obvious.

  • T13

    Straight D, no question. You should know that, Pruiti!

  • http://twitter.com/alpakbulut Alp Akbulut

    durant's leaner wasn't an easy one to make. defence wasn't great, but not terrible either. howard should have been a little closer to hedo realizing that the shot clock was about to be over and durant had no other chance than shooting it himself. the decision was right. having one stop and then going for a two (or even three to win) is much more possible than making two threes only to tie the game up.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QRIWJ5FAZABRG7O7XRSVFEFAEE Hugo

    j-rich was so much better sticking to Durant in D. still have no idea why it was Hedo on a crucial play.

  • http://twitter.com/bodie32 Andrew Bodenbach

    When you're facing a scorer like Durant I would foul. Most times I would play straight D, but not when I'm facing a superstar.

  • http://twitter.com/itskerem kerem ozkan

    chances of a late-game stop are a lot better than making two consecutive threes. straight defense seems obvious.

  • T13

    Straight D, no question. You should know that, Pruiti!

  • http://twitter.com/alpakbulut Alp Akbulut

    durant’s leaner wasn’t an easy one to make. defence wasn’t great, but not terrible either. howard should have been a little closer to hedo realizing that the shot clock was about to be over and durant had no other chance than shooting it himself. the decision was right. having one stop and then going for a two (or even three to win) is much more possible than making two threes only to tie the game up.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QRIWJ5FAZABRG7O7XRSVFEFAEE Hugo

    j-rich was so much better sticking to Durant in D. still have no idea why it was Hedo on a crucial play.

  • http://twitter.com/bodie32 Andrew Bodenbach

    When you’re facing a scorer like Durant I would foul. Most times I would play straight D, but not when I’m facing a superstar.

  • MadKing

    Fouling Durant is stupid. The guy shoots 90% from the line. I think that something that is commonly overlooked when playing D vs. fouling is the chance for a fast break opportunity. When you foul you give the defense a chance to set up and it usually rarely results in fast break points. I, like most everyone, think the Magic's transition game is pretty damn good. I say you play good D and hope to find something with your transition game. It was a good call by SVG.

  • MadKing

    Fouling Durant is stupid. The guy shoots 90% from the line. I think that something that is commonly overlooked when playing D vs. fouling is the chance for a fast break opportunity. When you foul you give the defense a chance to set up and it usually rarely results in fast break points. I, like most everyone, think the Magic’s transition game is pretty damn good. I say you play good D and hope to find something with your transition game. It was a good call by SVG.

  • Guy from Europe

    You always have Turks watching out for their bros in formus – which is OK. But he just went pass Hedo, seeing some space in front of Dwight. Defense was a sensible strategy, badly executed, though.

  • Guy from Europe

    You always have Turks watching out for their bros in formus – which is OK. But he just went pass Hedo, seeing some space in front of Dwight. Defense was a sensible strategy, badly executed, though.

  • Guy from Europe

    You always have Turks watching out for their bros in formus – which is OK. But he just went pass Hedo, seeing some space in front of Dwight. Defense was a sensible strategy, badly executed, though.