Defending the Pick & Roll

[bigbendbruisebrother]

Question 1. Why did the Spurs, the top defense in the NBA have such a hard time defending Seattle's pick and roll?

In the little I saw very little of the Suns/Mavs series, it seemed like the Suns pick and rolled the Mavs to death.

Question 2. What should SA do differently (if anything) to defend Phoenix's pick and rolls?

[ALVAREZ6]

That really pissed me off, the pick n roll.

I think that the big guys should help a little more on the opposite side of the pick, even if it results in a pass downlow to the rolling big guy that set the pick.

[PM5K]

The Spurs only had serious problems with the pick and roll for one game, they adjusted and stopped the pick and roll in the next game.

They just have to know that Phoenix will try to run it and be prepared to defend it which they clearly can...

[SPURS21]

the suns pick and roll is weak, seattle set some solid and physical picks. the suns picks are lazy form what ive seen. alos the sonics ran 4-5 back picks on every play thats why they were tough to defend

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The Spurs never really solved the pick and roll. Seattle just can't shoot for anything from outside when our guards when underneath the pick. We won't have the same luxury vs. Phoenix.


Why did the Spurs, the top defense in the NBA have such a hard time defending Seattle's pick and roll?


It's a combination of two things:

1. The Spurs defensive system likes to push penetrating guards to the baseline, where if you beat one big man you've got another to help. Seattle moved theirs out top so we couldn't really push them to a baseline, and with both men attacking the rim it really put pressure on the help D, often leaving the man of whoever rotated wide open.

2. Tim's not 100%, and wasn't near the shot blocker/deterrent he normally is.

[ballhog]

It worked better for the Spurs to jump the ballcarrier and doubleteam him, hoping for some weakside help. Nash is able to dish it off or hit the shot. Stoudamire can't hit a shot from more that a foot away and Horry and Duncan help a lot. The Spurs seemed to clog the lane pretty good most of the time (except game 2). Don't forget, they have 2 first team defenders on their team----anyone on the Mavs scare the Suns?

[T Park]

seattle set some solid and physical picks

thats the biggest difference right there.


Once again, this will be a far less physical series than the last two COMBINED.