Not only did the Nets avoid infamy last night, but they might have also provided the rest of the Western Conference with a blueprint on how to stop Tim Duncan. Duncan really struggled last night, scoring only 13 points on 15 shots in 31 minutes and in my opinion it was because of how the Nets defended him. With Ginobili and Parker out, the Nets were determined to let the rest of the Spurs roster beat them, and they brought a double team just about every time Tim Duncan touched the basketball.
Step 1: Bringing The Double
When you double team a post player, there you have three options when sending the double. You can either go on the catch, on the first dribble, or on the first attack dribble. The Nets decided to bring the double team right on the catch against the Spurs (their strategy most of the season has been to come on the first attack dribble), refusing to allow Tim Duncan to even dribble without two defenders on him:
After Matt Bonner makes the entry pass, he is going to go to the high post to set a screen for George Hill (or at least I think that is the play design here). The double team will be coming from Yi, the man defending Bonner.
Read more…
The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves in yet another late game situation. This time, Kevin Durant is able to get the ball in his hands and he eventually gets a shot up. It’s not a good look (contested), and Durant misses.
The play starts with Durant on the ball-side block. Russell Westbrook is going to come down from his position and set a screen for Durant who is going to come up the middle of the floor.
Read more…
When the Bucks and the Grizzlies went into overtime, it was apparent that one player needed to step up if they wanted to get their team a win. That player ended up being Andrew Bogut, and it didn’t come from scoring the basketball.
With the Bucks up by 1, the Grizzlies set up and ran a very nice play. Mike Conley brought the basketball down and came off of a Marc Gasol screen. As this was happening Rudy Gay, who started in the corner, comes back to the middle of the floor to receive a dribble hand-off from Conley.
Read more…
Late in a tied game against the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat needed a stop and they got one. It wasn’t because of an individual defensive effort though. On this particular play, good team defense and proper rotation is what got them the stop (and eventually the win).
After bringing up the ball the length of the court, Jose Calderon swings it to Jarrett Jack on the wing. After making the pass, Calderon cuts through the lane coming off of a soft backscreen set by Chris Bosh.
Read more…
