Thunder can't score a bucket against our 2-3 defense. If we played like that for the whole game instead of the just the half, we would be winning by at least 10. Thoughts?
i posted in the game thread that imagine if we were actually draining our 3s, we would possibly be blowing them out. Really wouldn't mind Beverly starting for this series at all. Not saying we don't need Lin, because it's evident we still do, but if the team keeps making 2-3 passes before any attempts to shoot we can make this a series.
Agreed, although I think Lin is good for driving to the rim. He needs to work on his shot, but if he's not injured, I think the team is in a good place... with the 2-3 zone.
They were unprepared for the zone defense. Like another poster said, Brooks and his coaches will adjust if they see it again.
A zone is like your curveball in the nba level. You acnt expect nba players to miss 3 point shots all game.
Disagree...they have the tools to beat a 2-3 zone...Durant's range is incredible...and is a career 40% shooter.. What worked tonight...is getting into the head of Westbrook...and make him take shots...bc when the Thunder went back to Durant...they won...simple...
It was a fantastic move from Skip, and it threw them off guard. They'll adjust, just like we adjusted our line up after the first night. I would start out in man again, they'd be looking for the zone. Then mix it in at different moments in the game IMO.
It was a shock and they shot poorly from there, but giving Durant wide open 3pters along with Kmart is a bad strategy for winning if you do it all game. Like it as a change of pace though, especially when Durant sits and Westbrook is running the show alone out there. DD
This is the key! Westbrook has a huge chip on his shoulder. If you get into his head he starts trying to win his individual matchup or prove something at all costs instead of playing winning team ball. Just starts taking bad shots and forcing. Harden has been guilty of this at times too but not to the extent of Westbrook.
Like everyone's saying this is definitely not a long term solution throughout the game given OKC has more than capable outside shooters to punish the zone.
It wasn't a tight game when we went to it. Exactly it's a curveball, you use it when your fast ball (regular defense) isn't working. Offense is all about rhythm. OKC was getting whatever they wanted right before that. Durant had one open look on a 3. Brooks had to call a timeout and draw up a specific play for him. For the most part we took him out of that 4th quarter. You can adjust the 2-3 to make sure one guy doesn't get open looks.
