duncan228
04-29-2008, 07:04 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?page=ScoutingSunsSpurs-Game5
Scouts Inc. Update: Suns vs. Spurs, Game 5
By David Thorpe
Scouts Inc.
When teaching ways to defend the pick-and-roll (I once heard coach Mike Fratello lecture eight different ways) the first topic to be covered is typically this: It takes five guys to defend a good ball screen properly. San Antonio had used its pick-and-roll/pop sets as a blunt instrument in Games 1-3, exploiting the inability of the Suns' big men to show on the ball screen and a lack of awareness to bring help from the other side. But in Game 4, Phoenix dedicated five defenders to stopping it, without regard to what else might happen in the set.
Thanks to the Suns' adjustments and some excellent offensive performances, they have a Game 5 to prepare for, and perhaps more after that.
San Antonio continued to run its ball screens for Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, but the Suns were quick to respond by resetting their starting positions. This meant that as soon as they saw a Spurs big man move toward the ball, the Suns defenders on the weak side all adjusted their positions by putting a foot in the paint.
It looks like a weakside zone to the ball handler and makes it much more difficult to penetrate. More importantly, the defenders had a specific purpose -- do not let Parker or Manu get to the rim. The Suns' big guys combined for nine blocks because they were so aware to react and help. At the same time, the defender on the ball and his nearest teammate worked to contest the midrange jumpers that destroyed the Suns in Game 3. The Spurs still got some easy layups and jump shots from their primary ballhandler, but not nearly as many as in the previous two games. The Phoenix game plan was: Make someone other than the big three (Tim Duncan, Ginobili and Parker) beat us. And it worked to perfection because the big three still took most of the shots, but this time they were more difficult to make.
It wasn't just the off-ball defense. Boris Diaw definitely had an impact on Parker's shooting and finishing ability, using his length and savvy to disrupt him. Without question we'll see the same tactics employed in Game 5. And just as certainly, we'll see some San Antonio adjustments. When a team focuses so hard on clogging the lane on ball-screen action, it opens itself up to ball-reversal sets that leave open 3s or hard drives off the swing. Look for the Spurs to initiate the ball-screen action more quickly in order to have time to exploit the defense on the weak side. And they'll space their top three more effectively, putting Parker and Manu two passes away from each other when one has the ball.
In Game 5, guys like Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and maybe even Robert Horry need to make some 3s from the weak side to punish Phoenix for loading up so hard to stop the ball-screen action.
The Spurs will run isolations for Duncan in the post, of course, but might stop flashing Fabricio Oberto in the paint since he clogs up the lane and forces Duncan to worry about the helper instead of just beating his defender. If help comes, he needs more space to deliver an easy pass. When Shaquille O'Neal gives him room on the face-up (as he normally does) Duncan will just use his jump shot off glass, and once that starts dropping he can use his shot fake to attack and get to the rim.
Phoenix knows defense alone will not bring a Game 5 win, so it will go back to running things through Diaw like in the big Game 4 win. Diaw overwhelmed Ginobili inside and can score on almost any Spurs defender. But the Spurs, forced to pick their poison, will choose Diaw over Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Only if Diaw really gets it going will the Spurs react and adjust. Too often he has been given open looks but failed to score with much success.
Raja Bell also had an offensive explosion (27 points, 5-for-7 from 3), so the Spurs must keep an eye on him, too. They can defend him straight up early, and help off of him as normal, but if he stays hot they must get to him quicker, which leaves another Suns player open. If Phoenix starts out hitting its perimeter shots and San Antonio reacts and adjusts, Stoudemire and O'Neal can do some serious damage. They must stay out of foul trouble to take advantage of this, if it happens. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will have to make a choice: Close out the shooters earlier and risk getting hurt inside, or hope they can't continue to make those shots in such a big road game.
The Spurs aren't thinking they can earn the victory just because they're home, because the Suns are as dangerous a team down 3-1 as there can be. Phoenix is full of stars, pride, anger and frustration. The Suns have their confidence back, too, thanks to two close losses (Games 1 and 2) and a blowout win in Game 4.
Expect Game 5 to be a repeat of Game 1, full of big runs and incredible emotion, with the Suns having a chance to get the win in the closing seconds.
PREDICTION: Spurs win Game 5
Scouts Inc. Update: Suns vs. Spurs, Game 5
By David Thorpe
Scouts Inc.
When teaching ways to defend the pick-and-roll (I once heard coach Mike Fratello lecture eight different ways) the first topic to be covered is typically this: It takes five guys to defend a good ball screen properly. San Antonio had used its pick-and-roll/pop sets as a blunt instrument in Games 1-3, exploiting the inability of the Suns' big men to show on the ball screen and a lack of awareness to bring help from the other side. But in Game 4, Phoenix dedicated five defenders to stopping it, without regard to what else might happen in the set.
Thanks to the Suns' adjustments and some excellent offensive performances, they have a Game 5 to prepare for, and perhaps more after that.
San Antonio continued to run its ball screens for Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, but the Suns were quick to respond by resetting their starting positions. This meant that as soon as they saw a Spurs big man move toward the ball, the Suns defenders on the weak side all adjusted their positions by putting a foot in the paint.
It looks like a weakside zone to the ball handler and makes it much more difficult to penetrate. More importantly, the defenders had a specific purpose -- do not let Parker or Manu get to the rim. The Suns' big guys combined for nine blocks because they were so aware to react and help. At the same time, the defender on the ball and his nearest teammate worked to contest the midrange jumpers that destroyed the Suns in Game 3. The Spurs still got some easy layups and jump shots from their primary ballhandler, but not nearly as many as in the previous two games. The Phoenix game plan was: Make someone other than the big three (Tim Duncan, Ginobili and Parker) beat us. And it worked to perfection because the big three still took most of the shots, but this time they were more difficult to make.
It wasn't just the off-ball defense. Boris Diaw definitely had an impact on Parker's shooting and finishing ability, using his length and savvy to disrupt him. Without question we'll see the same tactics employed in Game 5. And just as certainly, we'll see some San Antonio adjustments. When a team focuses so hard on clogging the lane on ball-screen action, it opens itself up to ball-reversal sets that leave open 3s or hard drives off the swing. Look for the Spurs to initiate the ball-screen action more quickly in order to have time to exploit the defense on the weak side. And they'll space their top three more effectively, putting Parker and Manu two passes away from each other when one has the ball.
In Game 5, guys like Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and maybe even Robert Horry need to make some 3s from the weak side to punish Phoenix for loading up so hard to stop the ball-screen action.
The Spurs will run isolations for Duncan in the post, of course, but might stop flashing Fabricio Oberto in the paint since he clogs up the lane and forces Duncan to worry about the helper instead of just beating his defender. If help comes, he needs more space to deliver an easy pass. When Shaquille O'Neal gives him room on the face-up (as he normally does) Duncan will just use his jump shot off glass, and once that starts dropping he can use his shot fake to attack and get to the rim.
Phoenix knows defense alone will not bring a Game 5 win, so it will go back to running things through Diaw like in the big Game 4 win. Diaw overwhelmed Ginobili inside and can score on almost any Spurs defender. But the Spurs, forced to pick their poison, will choose Diaw over Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Only if Diaw really gets it going will the Spurs react and adjust. Too often he has been given open looks but failed to score with much success.
Raja Bell also had an offensive explosion (27 points, 5-for-7 from 3), so the Spurs must keep an eye on him, too. They can defend him straight up early, and help off of him as normal, but if he stays hot they must get to him quicker, which leaves another Suns player open. If Phoenix starts out hitting its perimeter shots and San Antonio reacts and adjusts, Stoudemire and O'Neal can do some serious damage. They must stay out of foul trouble to take advantage of this, if it happens. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will have to make a choice: Close out the shooters earlier and risk getting hurt inside, or hope they can't continue to make those shots in such a big road game.
The Spurs aren't thinking they can earn the victory just because they're home, because the Suns are as dangerous a team down 3-1 as there can be. Phoenix is full of stars, pride, anger and frustration. The Suns have their confidence back, too, thanks to two close losses (Games 1 and 2) and a blowout win in Game 4.
Expect Game 5 to be a repeat of Game 1, full of big runs and incredible emotion, with the Suns having a chance to get the win in the closing seconds.
PREDICTION: Spurs win Game 5