The Nuggets and the Warriors seem to always play exciting games, and last night was no exception.  We even had a foul called on another half-court heave (this time in the third quarter though).  Looking at some stuff from late in this game gives an awesome insight into some late game execution:

We are going to first look at the defensive end with around 40 seconds to go in the game.  The Nuggets just got their second offensive rebound of the possession, and up by 3, if they get another bucket they can clinch the game:

As the Nuggets run a pick and roll, I want you to focus your attention on Andris Biedrins.  Right now he is attached to Nene, because he can’t camp in the lane for fear of a defensive three seconds call.

As Carmelo rolls, he has a pretty clear lane to the basket, but Andris Biedrins comes over and helps hard.  You don’t usually see this because most defenders are worried about their man getting the pass after the help.

I like Biedrins theory here.  Forget about Nene, Carmelo Anthony is dangerous with the basketball, if he passes it to Nene, he just needs to trust his teammates behind him on the rotation.  Andris Biedrins gets the block that leads to a jump ball.  So instead of being down 5, the Warriors are down 3 with a chance to get the ball.  After Carmelo tries to steal the tap, the Warriors have the ball with a chance to tie:

On the inbound, you are going to have Tolliver running to the corner and Steph Curry coming to the basketball.  As all of that goes on, Corey Maggette is just going to turn and take a step to the basketball to provide an outlet option.

Because Steph Curry is a dangerous three point shooter, J.R. Smith needs to stay with him no matter how far out he is, so when Monta Ellis makes the pass to Maggette, there is now a lane for Monta to cut through.  This is a great play design, because all of the action is happening on one side of the court, and that frees up the other side.

After Monta makes the pass, he cuts towards the open area with Andris Biedrins setting him a screen.

Monta makes the catch and pulls up from three.  Nene is there, but he doesn’t have the time to get his hands up and challenge the shot.  So Monta calmly knocks down the three.

Overtime

Offensive rebounds hurt the Warriors late in the game (on the block above, that was the Nuggets third attempt at the basket), but in overtime it hurt them the most.

As J.R. Smith pulls up for the jumper, you have Kenyon Martin (who set a pick for Smith) crashing the boards.  The Warriors have pretty good initial position with three guys on the inside ready to box out anyone who tries to get the offensive rebound.

That good position is given up as both Warriors go to box out Nene, allowing for Kenyon Martin to walk into offensive rebounding position untouched.

Kenyon Martin gets the rebound and kicks it out.

Chauncey Billups gets the kick out and knocks down a three to give the Nuggets the lead.

Stephen Curry hits a three:

The first thing to notice is that Monta Ellis is bringing the basketball up.  Late in games Steph Curry is usually the one bringing up because the Warriors want to get Ellis the ball in a scoring position.  This time though, Ellis is bringing the ball up, so you should know that there is a play in the works for Steph Curry.

As Monta gives the ball to Andris Biedrins, he then cuts.  The real action is on the other side of the court though.

Devin George cuts backdoor using two screens, and right after that cut, you have Steph Curry coming off a screen set by Corey Maggette.

As Curry comes off the screen he makes the catch and he is wide open to knock down the three.

J.R. Smith hits a three:

This final play is where the Nuggets end up taking the lead for good.

This is a play the Nuggets like to run late.  They have Carmelo setting a pick for Chauncey Billups.  As that is going on, you have a double screen being set for J.R. Smith on the weak side in case there is nothing available on the pick and roll.  That is the beauty of the play, Smith is the third option (after the roll and Billups doing something off the screen), so it is hard to focus your attention on him because if you do, Carmelo our Billups will end up with a basket.

You can see, as Billups comes off the screen, Steph Curry is staring at him.  This allows for Smith to float to an open area without Curry defending him.  Also, Martin is able to sneak in for a screen because Curry isn’t paying attention.

As Billups gets to the top of the key, there is nothing open.  Not the roll, not the shot off the pick, so he turns to his third option which is J.R. Smith popping out while getting two screens.

J.R. Smith makes the catch and knocks down the open three.

Every morning (or late-afternoon), I am going to breakdown the some key possessions from the previous night’s games.  Good possessions/bad possessions you can find them all here.

Some more late game stuff here.  We have three clips that we are going to look at.  One from the Detroit vs. Dallas game, one from the Nuggets vs. Warriors game (bet you know which one I am talking about here), and one from the Blazers vs. Grizzlies game.

Detroit’s Late Game Attempt

First of all, the Pistons are missing someone on the court.  Seriously.  Charlie Villanueva was 4-6 from 3, and he accounted for 4/5 of the team’s three point makes.  The rest of the team was 1-11.  Even the Mavericks’ announce crew was wondering why he wasn’t out there.  I understand if you want to run a play for Ben Gordon, that’s fine.  The Pistons use him as a decoy though, so why not throw your hottest shooter out there?

That being said, this is a fantastic play run by the Pistons.  You have Gordon acting as he is going to curl around a screen, instead, he sets a screen for Stuckey and then pops out.

Look where Jason Kidd is.  He thought Gordon was going to curl through, so he cheated it.  Ben Gordon set the screen though, and there is nobody to switch onto Rodney Stuckey (late in games, most teams switch all screens.  It looks like the Mavs were doing this too).

The result is Stuckey wide open in the corner.  He misses the shot, but it was a great look.  What I can’t understand, is why didn’t the Pistons run this for Charlie Villanueva?

The Blazers Going For It

Before we talk about the play, I wanted to talk about something.  The Blazers are catching some stuff about running their play so early in the clock.  I like this call though, in this situation.  You are down 1, you want to extend this game as long as possible.  If you score you are up 1 and if you miss, you give yourself another chance to tie/win the game depending how the foul shots turn out.

This is a designed play to give Martell Webster the shot.  Roy is going to drive, forcing the help to come.  Juwan Howard sneaks behind Webster’s man to set a pick, giving Webster an open look.

By the time Webster makes the catch, his man has a foot in the paint, and he needs to close out.

Webster gets to step into the pass and take an uncontested jumper, he just doesn’t knock it down.  A shame too, it was a nice play.  Oh, and sorry Blazers’ announcers, it wasn’t a foul either.

The Warriors Foul

So here it is.  This is pretty bad, but what makes it even worse is that the Nuggets executed George Karl’s play so badly, that if the foul didn’t happen, I would be talking about the Nuggets poor execution.

J.R. Smith is supposed to curl off a screen set by Nene.

However, J.R. Smith takes a straight line and runs right to the basketball.  Because of this, Nene can’t even get a good pick in.  The circle is where the play was designed for J.R. Smith was to make the catch.  He wasn’t going to get a three right at the line, but a 30 footer is a good shot with this much time left (and with J.R. Smith shooting it, the kid has range).

Instead, Smith makes the catch right near half court.  The Warriors defend this perfectly, they have two guys closing in on Smith, not allowing him to get a good look of…but…

They both jump in the air.  Ellis’ foul was a tough call, but you can’t give the refs a chance to make that call.  I don’t understand what jumping does either.  Does Maggette or Ellis really think that they are going block that shot?  Just stand there with your hands up and get the win.  If he makes it, so be it, but more often than not, he won’t be making that shot.  No reason to jump and contest.

Every morning (or late-afternoon), I am going to breakdown the some key possessions from the previous night’s games.  Good possessions/bad possessions you can find them all here.

Last night there were two close games, both ending with the losing team having a chance to tie the game with a 3.  Both teams ended up with a tough look from the corner.

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