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Nice!
http://www.caller.com/news/2013/mar/...er=yahoo_feedsDespite being down their offensive catalyst and most productive player, the San Antonio Spurs found a way to not only beat the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, but to destroy them. The Spurs' 105-93 victory over OKC was a statement win that said a ton about the integrity of the Spurs' organization from top to bottom, the brilliance of Gregg Popovich, the productivity of San Antonio's player development staff and, most importantly, how good this team can be when they are locked in.
A defensive game plan capable of slowing the Thunder's league leading offense in a seven game series is also incredibly important. Pop knows this, so San Antonio tested a couple of new things out against the Thunder last night - things they didn't do in the playoffs last year - that may improve their chances against the Thunder in a series.
The Spurs' defensive game plan last night focused on two things: 1) icing pick-and-rolls, and 2) Kendrick Perkins.
These two things often worked in concert last night, as the Spurs really made it tough on the Thunder to create space and penetration with their pick-and-roll game when Perkins was the big man setting the screen. In last season's Western Conference finals, Danny Green accepted the Perkins screen, created space for Westbrook to pull-up for a mid-range jumper.
Last night, the Spurs used a technique called "icing" or "downing" the pick-and-roll, which essentially means that they will not allow the pick to happen. Gary Neal got in a position to deny Westbrook from using the screen and Duncan got in position to help shut off Westbrook should he choose to drive away from the pick.
The usual counter to "down" pick-and-roll coverage is a pocket pass from the point guard to the would be screener, but in this case the Spurs are imploring OKC to give the ball to Perkins. Anytime the Thunder brought Perkins up to the top of the key to run a screen-and-roll, the Spurs went to this coverage, and it did a good job of preventing the Thunder from getting to the basket after the first quarter. Interestingly, "ice" coverages usually only occur on side pick-and-rolls, but San Antonio used it successfully on high pick-and-rolls, likely because Perkins is such a poor offensive player.
The other staple of OKC's offense that the Spurs covered well last night are their pindown and curl screens for Kevin Durant. The Thunder don't try to hide when they run this play - anytime you see a Thunder player hold up a "C" with their hand, it usually means a curl play is coming - but it has been deadly because it puts Durant in positions to succeed.
In addition to Leonard and Danny Green putting in an extraordinary effort to stick with Durant through the screen and the catch, Duncan drops from Perkins to protect the rim against Durant's drive. If that is Serge Ibaka or Nick Collison setting the down screen, Duncan has less room to cheat because those two guys are solid jump shooters. But the Spurs will always leave Perkins open if he's more than two feet from the rim, and though he is OKC's best screener, this really hurts their offensive spacing.
So why didn't the Thunder just take Perkins out of the game? That leads to our third key component to the formula San Antonio used last night: Tiago Splitter.
With Splitter being so much better than last season to the point where Pop actually trusts him to play 30 minutes against the Thunder - he played a total of 29 minutes in the final four games of the WCF - it forces Oklahoma City to play with two bigs.
The Thunder tried some small ball last night, but we didn't see it much after Splitter took Durant into the post and scored on him in the first half. And when Splitter is paired with Duncan, Brooks is almost never going to have two bigs in the game and have Perkins on the bench. Perkins still does a solid job in the post against Duncan, but even though that is important, what he takes away offensively seems to matter more for the Thunder.
Unless Scott Brooks has a major change in philosophy in the next couple of months, it would appear as if the Spurs have a decided schematic advantage of the Thunder this season. Now, that was also the case last season, but last season the Thunder had James Harden, one of the five best offensive players in the league, and Leonard and Splitter weren't this good.
Nice!
ing criminal.[Splitter] played a total of 29 minutes in the final four games of the WCF.
Then again, the improvement of the "medium three" (tell me who came up with that and I'll give them credit, that's a great name) is the biggest reason to think the Spurs can improve on last season's playoff performance.
Read the whole article. It's great.
I'm glad to see it spreading.
Marks work is really a joy to read.
Thanks Brunodf! I was going to come let you guys know that was posted when I saw it was already here!
I will add a few images here that we had to leave off of the piece for copyright reasons.
First, here is how the Spurs defended a Westbrook/Perkins pick-and-roll in WCF. See how Green accepts the screen and a foot or two of space is created for Westbrook to shoot an uncontested jumper, which is something he hit all series against the Spurs.
Now, look at how San Antonio defended a Westbrook/Perkins pick-and-roll last night. This is the "ice" strategy that I was referring to. Though it is usually only used for side pick-and-rolls, the Spurs used this strategy anytime the Thunder brought Perkins up high. Look how Neal gets in a deny position to prevent Durant from using the screen. And look how Duncan is helping off of Perkins in order to get in good help position on Westbrook if he decides to drive or pull-up.
Here is the result of the possession.
Look how Neal is all over Westbrook and Duncan is there creeping towards the foulline to make a contest.
Here is the same strategy being used on a Durant/Perkins pick-and-roll. You could see Durant waiving to Perkins to set a vertical screen on Leonard's backside rather than a horizontal one (what he is trying now), but Durant ended up just driving away from the screen with Leonard and Duncan forcing him into a stepback jumper. That's still a good shot for OKC because Durant takes space, but it is much better than him getting a clean look coming off a screen.
Speaking of Durant coming off screens, here is how the Spurs handled the Thunder's staple curl set for Durant.
Leonard fights extremely hard to stay with Durant through the screen and the catch, and Duncan is able to help off Perkins on Durant's drive because Perkins is such a non-factor.
I appreciate you guys continuing to read my work!
Good read.
At the end, the 2 bigs explanation is something that we always discuss. If a team can have 2 bigs with post moves that can rebound, shoot FTs and even one of them can shoot a jumper (Tiago did one against OKC)...that is deadly, not just for OKC, but for all teams, because like the author says, it forces the other teams to play with 2 bigs.
Miami...well thats a different story...
I should have known!
Splitter is going to get paid!!!
I agree.
Well done, Mark. Really bring some quality stuff
Played great defense after the 1st half against OKC, tonight is hangover ball and Twolves can't miss.
mark, an excellent article, and not just because you were talking about the spurs. it was well written and in-depth. much appreciated.
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