Something that has really hurt the Miami Heat offense all season is the big three’s tendency to stand around while they watch one player with the basketball. Against the Chicago Bulls and their terrific isolation defense where they like to load up against the ball handler, this standing around hurts the offense more than usual. In game two, the Heat seemed to make an effort to cut off of the basketball and make themselves available for the pass. This player movement really helped Miami get some clean looks against Chicago’s defense:
This first example is a set play, but this set play shows how effective LeBron James can be when he is moving off of the basketball. Here, James sets the screen for Bibby and then rolls as the ball gets swung to Dwyane Wade. Once Wade makes the catch, he now has an option (James cutting) aside from isolation. James comes free on the block and Wade hits him with the pass.
After having success with the Derrick Rose/Kyle Korver pick and pop in game one, it was surprising to see the Bulls shy away from that action in game two, especially considering their offensive struggles in game two.
Chicago did try to run a similar action with 1:30 in the fourth quarter trailing by seven points, but they added another twist, and this time it really hurt the offense. Perhaps overthinking it, the Bulls ended up making the pick and pop easier instead of harder to defend by adding a few unnecessary actions:
The set starts with Kyle Korver setting a screen for Derrick Rose on the wing as he brings the basketball down the court. The first noticeable difference is that the Bulls are running this pick and roll early instead of sending Korver from the block.
With the game tied and about 20 seconds left in the first half, the Miami Heat called a timeout looking to get a basket and take a two point lead into the locker room at the half. Coming out of the timeout, the Heat ran a simple pick and roll with Chris Bosh setting a screen for LeBron James. However, what made it so effective was all of the player movement that took place before the screen, effectively disguising the pick and roll, allowing James to come off the screen and get to the rim easily:
The play starts with LeBron James dribbling the basketball at the top near half court. Once everyone gets in position, James Jones sprints from one corner to the other (where Dwyane Wade is standing out of the picture). Once Jones clears through, Mike Bibby heads from his spot and sets a pindown screen for Chris Bosh.
