Should Kevin Durant Have Gotten Denied Late? | NBA Playbook

Should Kevin Durant Have Gotten Denied Late?

After a call to reverse a backcourt violation (which was the correct decision), the Oklahoma City Thunder were up by one point on the Denver Nuggets with just 5 seconds left on the shot clock.  Eventually, Kevin Durant was able to hit an open pull up jumper that put the Thunder up three points.  Durant was able to get open because of a poor decision made by the Nuggets:

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As the ball goes to the trigger man, you have Russell Westbrook standing in the backcourt along the sideline, with Kevin Durant standing right at midcourt.  Westbrook sprints right in front of James Harden’s face, and as that happens, Durant flashes to the backcourt.  Wilson Chandler, the man covering Durant, is trying to deny him the full length of the court, so he stays with  him.

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With Chandler denying Durant, Durant now has the freedom to cut backdoor, which is exactly what he does, leaving Chandler behind.

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As Durant cuts backdoor, he has plenty of space to work with.  With the man denying the inbounder sinking off to help on Westbrook, Harden has all the space needed to make the pass to Durant.

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Durant makes the catch, takes a dribble, and knocks down the easy jumper before Nene can close out on him.  Here is the play in real time:

With a short clock situation (under 5 seconds left on the shot clock), I don’t really understand the need for Chandler to deny Durant in the backcourt.  If he wants to make the catch back there, let him, and just keep your body between Durant and the rim.

Chandler doesn’t do that, and the result is a jumper that forces the Nuggets to try and get a three to tie the game.

28
Apr 2011
POSTED BY Sebastian Pruiti
POSTED IN 4th Quarters Defense Denver Nuggets OKC Thunder Round 1: Oklahoma City vs. Denver
DISCUSSION 10 Comments
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  • http://www.facebook.com/drdamour Chris DaMour

    2 things about this play:
    1 – Denver had just almost successfully forced a turn over due to a hard deny defense on the previous inbounds play, so they HAD to try again
    2 – Durant actually shoves off for the backdoor advantage, it’s at the 5 second mark. chandler was wrapped arround durant, so his bad balance because of this poor defensive technique allows durang to gain the leverage to show off him. I like that durant is doing MJ-esque things like that shove though, he’s starting to figure it out.

  • http://www.facebook.com/drdamour Chris DaMour

    2 things about this play:
    1 – Denver had just almost successfully forced a turn over due to a hard deny defense on the previous inbounds play, so they HAD to try again
    2 – Durant actually shoves off for the backdoor advantage, it’s at the 5 second mark. chandler was wrapped arround durant, so his bad balance because of this poor defensive technique allows durang to gain the leverage to show off him. I like that durant is doing MJ-esque things like that shove though, he’s starting to figure it out.

  • SJ

    Silly D by Chandler, force your man towards half-court, keep him in front, the shot clock is your friend. Instead you try and deny with no help, get burned, and let him nail a jumper.

  • SJ

    Silly D by Chandler, force your man towards half-court, keep him in front, the shot clock is your friend. Instead you try and deny with no help, get burned, and let him nail a jumper.

  • http://www.facebook.com/drdamour Chris DaMour

    2 things about this play:
    1 – Denver had just almost successfully forced a turn over due to a hard deny defense on the previous inbounds play, so they HAD to try again
    2 – Durant actually shoves off for the backdoor advantage, it's at the 5 second mark. chandler was wrapped arround durant, so his bad balance because of this poor defensive technique allows durang to gain the leverage to show off him. I like that durant is doing MJ-esque things like that shove though, he's starting to figure it out.

  • http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/04/28/denver-puts-themselves-in-poor-position-to-get-the-game-tying-three/ NBA Playbook – A Look At The Playcalling In The NBA Through Videos, Pictures, & Words » Denver Puts Themselves In Poor Position To Get The Game Tying Three

    [...] After Durant’s big jumper, the Denver Nuggets had the ball, looking to tie the game.  After a J.R. Smith attempt got blocked, the Nuggets tried to run a play for Arron Afflalo.  However, with the way the play was designed, it put Afflalo in the worst position possible: [...]

  • SJ

    Silly D by Chandler, force your man towards half-court, keep him in front, the shot clock is your friend. Instead you try and deny with no help, get burned, and let him nail a jumper.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GN26OTNWY7BNR26QTQSQ2S5Q2Y Jaffe

    What i also found interesting was the nuggets had no contingency for it no one stepped up, no one covered durant until he was inside the three point line. If that was Kobe, would the same thing had happened or would someone have rotated?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GN26OTNWY7BNR26QTQSQ2S5Q2Y Jaffe

    What i also found interesting was the nuggets had no contingency for it no one stepped up, no one covered durant until he was inside the three point line. If that was Kobe, would the same thing had happened or would someone have rotated?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GN26OTNWY7BNR26QTQSQ2S5Q2Y Jaffe

    What i also found interesting was the nuggets had no contingency for it no one stepped up, no one covered durant until he was inside the three point line. If that was Kobe, would the same thing had happened or would someone have rotated?