Popovich's "21" play

[onlooker]

Saw this at SI.com reading a scout's take on the Spurs-Jazz series:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...keW/index.html

``The one thing the Spurs do is they seem to win the last two minutes of every quarter, and when they don't, that's when they're in trouble. Let's say there are 48 seconds to go in the quarter: The Spurs like to run `21,' which is basically a two-for-one for them. Gregg Popovich wants to get two possessions in that time, so he'll come down and run a double drag and almost always get a three-point attempt out of it. They routinely put up two threes at the end of the quarter, and they usually kick butt in those moments. The overall strategy for San Antonio is to do a lot of small things every game. They'll run zone one time per game after a timeout to throw you off, but they won't run it enough so that you have to work on your zone offense and feel comfortable in attacking it. They try to beat you with 15 different tactics, and they're well prepared at them while you aren't.

You guys aware of this?

[The_Worlds_finest]

Oh man i hope sloan doesnt read ST!

[Dex]

Damn. If they get their hands on Four-Down, we'll be boomed.

BOOMED!

[timvp]

That's not really true. The Spurs always try to go 2-for-1 but rarely do they run plays to get two three-pointers. It's mostly Tony or Manu getting iso's in both situations in the 2-for-1. Sometimes teams collapse and leave a three-point shooter open, but it's not really drawn up that way.

[Sec24Row7]

Maybe one of our scouts wrote that

[Solid D]

That's not really true. The Spurs always try to go 2-for-1 but rarely do they run plays to get two three-pointers. It's mostly Tony or Manu getting iso's in both situations in the 2-for-1. Sometimes teams collapse and leave a three-point shooter open, but it's not really drawn up that way.

Agree.

Also, the Spurs do run zone more than once per game against opponents who don't score as well from the outside (as the Suns do).

[tmtcsc]

Good Gawd...It's common sense to go 2 for 1. Our opponents still have to stop it from happening. I take that back Golden State went 4 for 1.