LaMarcus Aldridge has been so dominant in the post recently, that you almost have to send a double team every time or give up a basket to Aldridge. With 4:20 seconds left in the 4th and with the Blazers up two points, they decided to go to Aldridge in the post. The Mavericks were forced to send a double team to Aldridge, and because of that, we were able to see the pressure that a double team puts on a defense.
The play starts with Brandon Roy entering the basketball to LaMarcus Aldridge on the block. After making the pass, Roy cuts through the lane. As this cut happens, Jason Kidd leaves Roy to double team Aldridge.
Aldridge is prepared for the double team and gets it right to Roy. This forces Tyson Chandler to step up and defend Roy.
Chandler challenges Roy’s shot and forces the miss, but the rotation off of Kidd’s double team has resulted in a mismatch on the weakside. There, you have Shawn Marion defending Marcus Camby.
So when the ball comes off of the rim, Camby is able to use his size to his advantage and get to the rim, tipping the ball home and stretching the Blazers’ lead to four points. Here is the play in real time:
The Mavericks do everything right here. Kidd doubles quickly and forces the ball out of Aldridge’s hands. Chandler steps up and forces Roy into a tough shot. Shawn Marion rotates to Marcus Camby. Despite all that, the mismatch of Marion trying to box out Camby is too great, and it results in an easy tip in for Camby. This is the importance of having a player who command a double team in the post.
