How to beat Karl the FIBA way

[Rick Von Braun]

My primary focus was how to beat Karl's Nuggets offensively, from the Spurs perspective. Less hub and spoke and more motion for the SPURS.

Ditto.

The only thing I know, is that when the Spurs were running a mix of motion offense (with back screens and cutters) + pick & roll + 4-down, the Spurs were freaking unbeatable. They were beating teams with a +11.5 pts/game differential.

On Sunday, the only player I saw cutting to the basket and expecting a pass was Manu (and he did it fewer times than usual), receiving the ball once when cutting (after waiting in the low block for a pass!). You want to beat Camby's shot blocking ability... increase the speed and movement when attacking the basket to get him slightly out of position. This does require some coordination among players.

Another comment since we are at it... why is the 4-down run by the Spurs so predictable? It doesn't have to be. For example, when the guard throwing the lob pass to Tim cuts to the other side of the floor to create space for Tim, it seldom ever looks for a pass (or likewise Tim doesn't look to make a pass). Look carefully next time, the opponent guard almost always gets near Tim to double a little before running behind their man to the corner. Please don't just run to the corner like a robot without watching the ball! Tim is in perfect position to throw a lob pass to the guard cutting without his man for one second and surprise the defense. This is just a simple example of a little thing that could be done occasionally to mix things up a bit.

When your shots are not falling, it is the responsability of the team (and Pop) to mix things up and look for higher percentage opportunites. Pop has more knowledge of X's and O's than all of us combined and multiplied by 10. I absolutely don't dispute that. I don't think anyone could argue that the Spurs have the personnel to run a more complex offense either (since they have done it before this year). What I am not convinced is whether Pop has the guts to adapt and improvise in a playoff series. I don't question his knowledge of the game, but I do question his rigidity sometimes.

[TroyF]

I'll watch the games along with you from here on out and see what unfolds in the playoffs. I haven't seen Denver play in as many games as you Troy or some of the other Denver fans. I know what George did with Seattle and Milwaukee and, of course, Team USA. I watched the game Sunday and the replay of the game yesterday and in a fairly high percentage of the plays Denver ran, they lifted their bigs to the perimeter and went from there. One frequent example: D. Johnson/Miller in corner, Melo/Person wing, Camby top, KMart either high post or side screener, Miller or Boykins iso'd to work in space triple-threat or 2-man game screen/roll.

They did use some double screens and some motion that looks like 4-out, 1-in, but it was more NBA style of spread the floor with not much motion to it until the guard created action with a shot or dribble penetration. When the Spurs zoned them a few times, the Nuggets used a fairly standard zone offense with the bigs high/low.

Maybe they play differently in games I haven't seen. We can compare notes as this thing progresses, game by game.

My primary focus was how to beat Karl's Nuggets offensively, from the Spurs perspective. Less hub and spoke and more motion for the SPURS.

Like I said, I expect you are only going to see spurts of it in this series. I'm not sure that a set motion offense can work against the Spurs. Too solid everywhere to do it consistently. But the Nuggets weren't making the extra pass the other night and that was huge.

You want the game plan to beat the Nuggets?

1) You mix in zone throughout the game and pack it in. While we have some good outside shooters, all of em are inconsistent. Melo, KMart, Camby, Boykins, Person, Dermarr, Buckner, Russell and Najera can all hit the open 18 footer. . . but they can't do it consistently.

2) You get in the passing lanes. Something the Spurs did incredibly well the other night.

3) You make darned sure you don't give them easy hoops. The Nuggets are deep and athletic. From the PG to the C, every player on this team can run up and down the floor. You don't get back, you die. You spend time watching Melo on the post, KMart, Dermarr, or Camby will be catching the alley oop pass from Dre and will throw it down.

4) You run on them. The Nuggets like to be the ones attacking and forcing the pace. One of the ways to counteract that is to push the pace yourself. Like most running teams, the Nuggets hate to be attacked, they want to be the ones brining the pressure. I think teams who try to slow it down aren't nearly as effective against us. Denver finished the year with a 25-4 run after the all-star break.

Their only losses? Phoenix three times and the Rockets, who caught them on the second night of a back to back and without Camby. In the four losses, the Nuggets gave up an average of 118 points. The Nuggets were held to under 90 points only one time after the break, that Rockets game where they were dead tired.

I don't think you'll beat the Nuggets 92-81, especially not at The Pepsi Center where you now have to win a game. This is one area I don't think you exploited enough. I'm not saying you throw your gameplan out and try to score 125, but you'd better take advantage of your break chances.

5) Shoot your threes well. . . In the four Nugget losses after the break, teams shot the three ball 44 - 91 (48.4%) Those teams averaged 11 three point made shots a game. That kills the Nuggets, because it forces them to use KMart to run out at perimeter players and doesn't allow us to get our fast break off. It also prevents the Nuggets from getting a lot of blocked shots (again, because they are charging out on shooters) In those four losses, the Nuggets blocked a grand total of 11 shots. That's less than half their season average. The other night the Nuggets blocked 8 shots and you guys went 3-13 from three point territory. You won't win with those numbers.

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Some of you who have read other threads might be able to see a little bit why I laugh at the "Nuggets gave us their best" stuff I've seen in other threads. You don't go 25-4 in this league shooting 40% and committing more turnovers than assists.

I still think you guys are going to find a way to win this series. You're the Spurs. You have playoff experience. You have Duncan. You've been through the pressure that this Nugget team hasn't.

But don't underestimate what this Nugget team is. This run wasn't a fluke and this team isn't going to go down without a drop down drag out fight.

[Solid D]

Some very good points, Troy.

[Phonzie20]

I fear the next game (from a fan perspective).

You'll have to wear Camby down. Yes. I know Camby doesn't garner attention the way Timmay! does. But he is OUR important piece.

Najera will be back and he is the perfect replacement to our old hustler Ryan Bowen.

blah blah balh.. but yeah... I feel it'll be 1-1 after tomorrow.

[Phonzie20]

Some very good points, Troy.

Troy is a VERY good poster. Very neutral. Good guy.

Even though he thinks Melo will be a superstar.. Something we have debated in the past.

[Solid D]

Something I mentioned last week...the need for the Spurs to pick off or put a body on Camby because of the way the Nuggets use him to "spy" or watchdog Tony Parker on his lane penetrations. Exhibit A of the need for this came Sunday night. The Spurs did not do this and it really impacted TP's effectiveness in there. The Nuggets like to use Camby like the Spurs used David Robinson. Free to roam.

Sean Elliott commented about this today on a radio interview...only he used the term "shadow" but basically the same observation about Marcus.

Lifting with the "big" that Marcus is defending only helps so much so the Spurs need to make him pay by having Marcus' man (when he leaves them)flash from the top to the hoop a la Amare Stoudamire's bread and butter play (fed by Nash). Timmy or Nazr cannot leap & dunk like Amare but they can still make Marcus' pay.

[Phonzie20]

Something I mentioned last week...the need for the Spurs to pick off or put a body on Camby because of the way the Nuggets use him to "spy" or watchdog Tony Parker on his lane penetrations. Exhibit A of the need for this came Sunday night. The Spurs did not do this and it really impacted TP's effectiveness in there.

Maybe they did? Who knew Dre was going to blow up like that?

How'd you like that Demarr dunk?

[TroyF]

Troy is a VERY good poster. Very neutral. Good guy.

Even though he thinks Melo will be a superstar.. Something we have debated in the past.

Thanks Phonz, but the other night only kept telling me what I already know about Melo. He played mature, didn't force shots and came up big when we needed him. The kid is 20 and the Spurs defensive gameplan is built on stopping him. They were even giving Bowen help in the post against him. That's respect and you don't get that respect if you aren't a special player.

As for the Camby thing, you are dead right Solid D. You have to be very physical with Marcus. You also have to run plays right at him and try to draw some fouls. He's a spy. No matter what you do, that's what the Nuggets will keep him as.

Thing about Marcus is, he's almost like a Duncan on defense. By that I mean no matter what you do, he's going to make his presence felt if he's on the floor. You have to just deal with that reality and figure out how to play around it.

I posted a few numbers up above. Here is another one for you. . .

After the all-star break, the Nuggets were 21-1 in games which Marcus Camby played.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

All I know so far is that if my life depends on Pop calling something innovative on offense in the playoffs, hand me the gun so I can go ahead and pull the trigger and get it over with.

[Phonzie20]

Thanks Phonz, but the other night only kept telling me what I already know about Melo. He played mature, didn't force shots and came up big when we needed him. The kid is 20 and the Spurs defensive gameplan is built on stopping him. They were even giving Bowen help in the post against him. That's respect and you don't get that respect if you aren't a special player.

As for the Camby thing, you are dead right Solid D. You have to be very physical with Marcus. You also have to run plays right at him and try to draw some fouls. He's a spy. No matter what you do, that's what the Nuggets will keep him as.

Thing about Marcus is, he's almost like a Duncan on defense. By that I mean no matter what you do, he's going to make his presence felt if he's on the floor. You have to just deal with that reality and figure out how to play around it.

I posted a few numbers up above. Here is another one for you. . .

After the all-star break, the Nuggets were 21-1 in games which Marcus Camby played.

I called Melo 'solid' on our board. I got crucified. I really don't think sportcenter is EVER going to open with him.... Gald to have him but come on... superstar?