The Memphis Grizzlies Beat The Bulls’ Post Front | NBA Playbook

The Memphis Grizzlies Beat The Bulls’ Post Front

Zach Randolph is having a very good year on the offensive end in the post.  When you start putting up numbers like Randolph has been, teams are going to start playing you differently.  Yesterday against the Bulls, Randolph was getting fronted whenever he tried to post up his man.  Not only that, but a weakside defender came over to discourage any lob over the top.  With the original post now taken away, the Grizzlies needed to come up with a way to counter the initial defense:

1

As Randolph posts up, you see a defender coming over the top of him as Kyle Korver sinks into the paint to prevent the lob.  So what are the Grizzlies going to do here?  They are going to have Marc Gasol flash to the high post (as Randolph points out).

2

As soon as Gasol makes the catch, Randolph pivots his body and seals his man off, keeping him out of the paint.  Randolph is able to use his defender’s body position against him as soon as the pass to the high post is made.

3

Gasol throws a very nice bounce pass and Randolph is able to get the basketball in the paint.  He scores and gets fouled.  Here is the play in real time:

Just a great job all around by everyone here.  Gasol does a nice job recognizing the fronted post, then flashing to the high post.  Randolph does a great job using his body and his defender’s position to provide Gasol with a passing lane.  This is how you beat teams when they front the post.

18
Jan 2011
POSTED BY Sebastian Pruiti
POSTED IN Chicago Bulls Memphis Grizzlies Post Defense
DISCUSSION 11 Comments
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  • http://twitter.com/bodie32 Andrew Bodenbach

    With more rotation I think the Bulls could have stopped this option. If Korver would commit more to Randolph and then Rose would rotate down to Korver's man you would seal everything off. Yes, the 3-point shot on the wing would be open, but I'll take my chances.

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

    With more rotation I think the Bulls could have stopped this option. If Korver would commit more to Randolph and then Rose would rotate down to Korver’s man you would seal everything off. Yes, the 3-point shot on the wing would be open, but I’ll take my chances.

  • Praefect

    Both Gasols are good at this – must run in the family.

  • Praefect

    Both Gasols are good at this – must run in the family.

  • http://www.nbaplaybook.com Sebastian Pruiti

    The problem with that, if Korver hangs in the middle, he gets a defensive three second call on him…

  • http://www.nbaplaybook.com Sebastian Pruiti

    The problem with that, if Korver hangs in the middle, he gets a defensive three second call on him…

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

    That's right. It slipped my mind. I still see more high school and college games that don't use the defensive three seconds.

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

    That’s right. It slipped my mind. I still see more high school and college games that don’t use the defensive three seconds.

  • Philip

    Gotta love a good post-to-post pass. May I recommend a video analysis of a Camby-to-Aldridge lob? Shame Camby's out for the next 6 weeks, but those guys have a pretty impressive connection.

    Also, do you think that Gasol's man (Thomas?) makes it easier for Gasol to throw the pass by covering him so tightly? Does sagging off a bit make passes more difficult to throw? I know that when teams cover inbounders they tend to do so pretty tightly, but generally inbounders would prefer to throw chest-passes; bounce passes are generally preferred when going to the post.

  • Philip

    Gotta love a good post-to-post pass. May I recommend a video analysis of a Camby-to-Aldridge lob? Shame Camby’s out for the next 6 weeks, but those guys have a pretty impressive connection.

    Also, do you think that Gasol’s man (Thomas?) makes it easier for Gasol to throw the pass by covering him so tightly? Does sagging off a bit make passes more difficult to throw? I know that when teams cover inbounders they tend to do so pretty tightly, but generally inbounders would prefer to throw chest-passes; bounce passes are generally preferred when going to the post.

  • Philip

    Gotta love a good post-to-post pass. May I recommend a video analysis of a Camby-to-Aldridge lob? Shame Camby's out for the next 6 weeks, but those guys have a pretty impressive connection.

    Also, do you think that Gasol's man (Thomas?) makes it easier for Gasol to throw the pass by covering him so tightly? Does sagging off a bit make passes more difficult to throw? I know that when teams cover inbounders they tend to do so pretty tightly, but generally inbounders would prefer to throw chest-passes; bounce passes are generally preferred when going to the post.