Nuggets Play To Carmelo Anthony’s Strengths Against Pacers | NBA Playbook

Nuggets Play To Carmelo Anthony’s Strengths Against Pacers

After a rough start, Carmelo Anthony really got going and had the best game of his season this year, going 14-27 (including 6-8 from the three point line) and scoring 36 points in basically three quarters (took just two shots in the fourth quarter).  If you didn’t watch the game, you probably are assuming that Anthony did a whole lot of jab-stepping with the basketball in ISO sets last night.

However, that wasn’t the case, as the Nuggets used Anthony in more Spot-Up situations than ISO situations last night, playing to Anthony’s strengths and going away from his weaknesses.  Anthony is extremely successful in Spot-Up situations, shooting 44.6% and ranking 30th in the entire NBA in terms of Points Per Possession.  The problem, Anthony has only used Spot-Up situations on 9.2% of his possessions this season, preferring to run ISO sets (37.5% of his possessions this season) even though he isn’t as successful (39.4% shooting – 89th in NBA with 0.82 PPP).  Last night, that wasn’t the case:

Melo Possession Breakdown

The way that Carmelo Anthony was used against the Pacers was completely different than the way he has been used over the course of this season.  29.7% of Anthony’s possessions against the Pacers were possessions labeled by Synergy as “Spot-Ups,” while just 18.5% of Anthony’s possessions used were ISO sets.

Instead of just giving the ball to Anthony and watching him pivot and work out of the ISO against the Pacers, the Nuggets used Carmelo Anthony off of the basketball, ran action involving other players, and forced the defense to make a decision.  Specifically, the Nuggets ran pick and rolls with Carmelo Anthony on the opposite side of the court.  5 of the 8 Spot-Ups that were ran for Anthony came this way.  This forced the defense to decide whether or not to sink in on the help man or stick with Carmelo Anthony:

As Chauncey Billups brings the basketball up, Kenyon Martin gets in position and sets a screen for Billups.  The Nuggets are running a Pick and Roll on one side while Carmelo Anthony is standing in the corner on the opposite side of the court.

The reason that the Nuggets are doing this is because they want to force the defense to make a decision, specifically Brandon Rush, the man who is defending Anthony.  As Billups starts to use the Martin screen, Rush is in the middle of the lane for his help responsibilities.

As Martin pops out and Billups looks like he is going to attack the rim, Rush sinks in towards the action even more.

As Billups kicks it out to Al Harrington, Brandon Rush is a good 30 feet or so away from his man, Carmelo Anthony.

Harrington quickly swings the ball to Carmelo Anthony in the corner, as Brandon Rush tries to return to him.

Rush can’t cover enough ground, and Anthony is able to pull up for three without a hand in his face, he knocks it down.  Here is the play in real time:

Rush gets drawn away from Anthony because he wants to help on the expected roll (which never comes), or on any drive by Billups.  The off ball action forces him to sink, and a quick swing around the perimeter gets Anthony the ball wide open in the corner.

The above clip is basically the same play as the first, but this time the Nuggets mix in a J.R. Smith cut off of the basketball.  Again, Brandon Rush gets caught trying to defend against the action happening away from Anthony (this time it’s the Smith cut in addition to the PNR), leaving Anthony once again.

As I mentioned earlier, the Nuggets did this 5 of Anthony’s eight spot ups during the course, and it resulted in an open shot each time.

In each of the above instances, Carmelo Anthony’s man is forced to make a decision.  Either help or stay close to Anthony.  Each time, the defender chose to leave Anthony and help on the off-ball PNR.  Each time, the Nuggets were able to find Anthony, who knocked down an open jumper.

While the Nuggets strategy revolved around the pick and roll, they also used some other off-ball actions to get Anthony open.

Here, the Nuggets enter the ball to Nene from the top of the key with Anthony on the wing.  Anthony’s man gets caught looking into the post, Nene quickly kicks it out, and Anthony is able to knock down another open three.

6 of Anthony’s 8 spot-ups came off of PNRs or post entries.  The remaining two spot-up opportunities that Anthony got were off of offensive rebounds.  While these plays aren’t designed, they reinforce the Nuggets’ strategy of trying to get Anthony the ball in spot-up situations.  In both cases shown above, the Nuggets get the offensive rebound and immediately look outside (instead of trying to go right back up with it), in both instances, Anthony gets a open look that he knocks down on the outside (because the defense is out of position due to the offensive rebound).

—

Now, I understand that this is just one game and that Anthony isn’t going to shoot 100% from spot-up situations all the time, but working Anthony off of the basketball is an effective strategy that the Nuggets really need to use more often as the season continues.  Not only do these “Spot-Ups” fit the Nuggets’ roster better (you let guys like Lawson, Smith, and Billups break down the defense then kick it out to Anthony instead of having them give it to him and just watch him go ISO), but Anthony is much more effective catching and shooting (44.6% shooting vs. 37.5% shooting out of ISO sets).  The Nuggets may have found a new offensive strategy that could power a playoff run (if Anthony remains in Denver).

24
Jan 2011
POSTED BY Sebastian Pruiti
POSTED IN Charts Denver Nuggets Offensive Strategy
DISCUSSION 14 Comments
TAGS

  • http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/24/is-pacers-rookie-paul-george-about-to-take-brandon-rush%e2%80%99s-job/ Is Pacers rookie Paul George about to take Brandon Rush’s job? | ProBasketballTalk

    [...] Rush is inconsistent, and gets lost on defense at times. For evidence of the later, watch the fantastic Sebastian Pruiti at NBA Playbook break down how Rush cheats off Carmelo Anthony last night again and again, even while ‘Melo [...]

  • Taron

    Ok so in your first diagram you are isolating Brandon Rush as the weak link in the defense. I partially agree with your breakdown. Brandon certainly over commits to the screen and roll while is performing his primary responsibility which is to help in that situation. What follows is where I have a different opinion. There is such a thing as help the helper! Mike Dunleavy chooses to hug his man (selfishly) whom is clearly not presenting himself as a threat to receive the ball. Infact JR Smith is standing inside the 3 pt line before Harrington recieves the ball. This is where team defense comes into play.. Helping the helper, Dunleavy has a choice to help out on Carmelo or to stay with his man. He chooses to stay, leaving the disadvantaged Rush exposed and thus giving up 3pts. Now Brandon, if he's thinking team defense, should've yelled out to Dunleavy to help close Carmelo out which would've likely forced Carmelo to put the ball on the floor giving the rest of the defense time to recover!

  • Klaurie

    Once again top article.

    Is there any way of finding out if Rush ever stuck to Anthony and one of the other Denver players got an easy look through the paint. It would be interesting just to know how many points (directly and indirectly) an elite player like Anthony can make for his team especially while there are so many teams totting up whether Anthony is really as good as everyone thinks he is.

  • Taron

    Ok so in your first diagram you are isolating Brandon Rush as the weak link in the defense. I partially agree with your breakdown. Brandon certainly over commits to the screen and roll while is performing his primary responsibility which is to help in that situation. What follows is where I have a different opinion. There is such a thing as help the helper! Mike Dunleavy chooses to hug his man (selfishly) whom is clearly not presenting himself as a threat to receive the ball. Infact JR Smith is standing inside the 3 pt line before Harrington recieves the ball. This is where team defense comes into play.. Helping the helper, Dunleavy has a choice to help out on Carmelo or to stay with his man. He chooses to stay, leaving the disadvantaged Rush exposed and thus giving up 3pts. Now Brandon, if he’s thinking team defense, should’ve yelled out to Dunleavy to help close Carmelo out which would’ve likely forced Carmelo to put the ball on the floor giving the rest of the defense time to recover!

  • Klaurie

    Once again top article.

    Is there any way of finding out if Rush ever stuck to Anthony and one of the other Denver players got an easy look through the paint. It would be interesting just to know how many points (directly and indirectly) an elite player like Anthony can make for his team especially while there are so many teams totting up whether Anthony is really as good as everyone thinks he is.

  • http://www.eightpointsnineseconds.com/2011/01/how-carmelo-hit-so-many-jumpers/ How Carmelo Hit So Many Jumpers

    [...] Pruiti of NBA Playbook broke down Denver’s commitment to finding Carmel in spot-up situations last night. It’s just a fantastic breakdown of all 8 spot-up jumpers he canned last night so [...]

  • Henry Steele

    Taron, if you rewatch the initial video clip, JR Smith sets a sneaky little pin down/flare screen as the ball is reversed to Melo in the corner. Dunleavy is basically sunk as a “help the helper” on that screen. Brandon Rush isn't being singled out so much as the weak link but perhaps as a little too eager to help on potential P/R action. For most teams, he is basically in the right spot to help. Unfortunately, he is helping off a shooter and an elite scorer, therefor, he needs to limit the distance on his close out. He's screwed either way by the effective execution of the Nuggets.

    One of the other intelligent ways DEN used Melo can be seen in clip #. They work Melo in the strong side corner, running the P/R on the wing. They then move him from the corner to the wing as the roll action moves hard to the hoop. This is called the “back.” Again, what's the D going to do? Cover the roll and Melo moves up for the spot up. Stay tight and the roll man (Nene) is going to have a dunk. Watch Phoenix or New York, this is a regular action off of their side P/R. Wilson Chandler and Jared Dudley make hay on this particular set.

    I love that DEN is incorporating Melo as a catch and shoot guy. It will allow the Nuggets to move the ball more effectively on the reversal and get Melo the ball in the 2nd most dangerous spot on the floor – the corner three. It will also allow other DEN players to rack up the most underrated (and only tracked by the teams) stat, the hockey assist.

    George Karl, an old dog learning some new offensive tricks. Nice.

  • Henry Steele

    Taron, if you rewatch the initial video clip, JR Smith sets a sneaky little pin down/flare screen as the ball is reversed to Melo in the corner. Dunleavy is basically sunk as a “help the helper” on that screen. Brandon Rush isn’t being singled out so much as the weak link but perhaps as a little too eager to help on potential P/R action. For most teams, he is basically in the right spot to help. Unfortunately, he is helping off a shooter and an elite scorer, therefor, he needs to limit the distance on his close out. He’s screwed either way by the effective execution of the Nuggets.

    One of the other intelligent ways DEN used Melo can be seen in clip #. They work Melo in the strong side corner, running the P/R on the wing. They then move him from the corner to the wing as the roll action moves hard to the hoop. This is called the “back.” Again, what’s the D going to do? Cover the roll and Melo moves up for the spot up. Stay tight and the roll man (Nene) is going to have a dunk. Watch Phoenix or New York, this is a regular action off of their side P/R. Wilson Chandler and Jared Dudley make hay on this particular set.

    I love that DEN is incorporating Melo as a catch and shoot guy. It will allow the Nuggets to move the ball more effectively on the reversal and get Melo the ball in the 2nd most dangerous spot on the floor – the corner three. It will also allow other DEN players to rack up the most underrated (and only tracked by the teams) stat, the hockey assist.

    George Karl, an old dog learning some new offensive tricks. Nice.

  • Tomazlah

    I like the anallysis, it only points out the obvious, that Karls so called random offense isnt maximazing players talents. Melo is the most versatile offensive player in the NBA (with Kobe), and he is used only in isolations, i mean really. Whats up with coaching in the nba. Let me say just this, there isnt a play in a basketball playbook that melo cannot execute, (not only spot up shooting), pick and roll (with nene is unstoppable ask Hollinger), pick and pop, backdoors, post game, isos- if karl would utilize melo in number of different ways, melo would become unstoppable and deadly efficient, but no, karl only has one offensive philosophy- attack the basket no mather what, attack, attack, attack, even when this becomes blatently predictible and opposing teams start to camp under the basket. This is the greatest downfall of Nuggets and off course no D but thats another story,

  • Tomazlah

    I like the anallysis, it only points out the obvious, that Karls so called random offense isnt maximazing players talents. Melo is the most versatile offensive player in the NBA (with Kobe), and he is used only in isolations, i mean really. Whats up with coaching in the nba. Let me say just this, there isnt a play in a basketball playbook that melo cannot execute, (not only spot up shooting), pick and roll (with nene is unstoppable ask Hollinger), pick and pop, backdoors, post game, isos- if karl would utilize melo in number of different ways, melo would become unstoppable and deadly efficient, but no, karl only has one offensive philosophy- attack the basket no mather what, attack, attack, attack, even when this becomes blatently predictible and opposing teams start to camp under the basket. This is the greatest downfall of Nuggets and off course no D but thats another story,

  • Tomazlah

    I like the anallysis, it only points out the obvious, that Karls so called random offense isnt maximazing players talents. Melo is the most versatile offensive player in the NBA (with Kobe), and he is used only in isolations, i mean really. Whats up with coaching in the nba. Let me say just this, there isnt a play in a basketball playbook that melo cannot execute, (not only spot up shooting), pick and roll (with nene is unstoppable ask Hollinger), pick and pop, backdoors, post game, isos- if karl would utilize melo in number of different ways, melo would become unstoppable and deadly efficient, but no, karl only has one offensive philosophy- attack the basket no mather what, attack, attack, attack, even when this becomes blatently predictible and opposing teams start to camp under the basket. This is the greatest downfall of Nuggets and off course no D but thats another story,

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    [...] Will Carmelo, a sub-par operator of the pick and roll, expand this part of his game? Will he become more of a spot up threat, operating off the ball to find open spaces and claim post position? Will he, in essence, alter his [...]

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    [...] Will Carmelo, a sub-par operator of the pick and roll, expand this part of his game? Will he become more of a spot up threat, operating off the ball to find open spaces and claim post position? Will he, in essence, alter his [...]