When the Jazz run their isolated left wing pick n' roll with Williams and Boozer, there are two ways we can defend it. One way should be fairly effective, and the other not so much. First, take a look at the "wrong" way to defend it. In this situation, the Jazz are running the pick to get Williams (Blue 1) free in the middle of the court where the Rockets defense has to collapse into the paint. As you can see, Boozer (Blue 4) is set up to the left of our PG (Red 1) Since Williams is a deadly shooter from 3, his defender must go over the pick. This means that Boozer's man (Red 4) has to slide over and "bump" Williams before jumping back to Boozer as he rolls. With Williams initially dribbling toward the top of the paint as he curls around Boozer's pick, this requires our 4 to cover a lot of ground in a very short amount of time. Boozer will often be open as a result. In addition, other defenders like our SF (Red 3) and our SG (Red 2) will have to at least take a step into the paint (and away from their man) to slow Williams. Of course, Williams has the speed to get right to the rim if there is no help, and the ability to dish to the open spot up shooters if there is help. Playing the pick 'n roll this way results in a worst case scenario for the Rockets. In this second scenario, the Jazz are trying to set up the same play, with Williams dribbling to the middle off a Boozer pick. However, if our PG overplays Williams to the left, it becomes difficult to pick from that side, forcing Boozer to set the pick on the right side instead. The result is that Williams goes baseline and Boozer rolls to the middle. There are several advantages to this. For one, our 4 doesn't have to help as far. He simply has to make a step or two toward the baseline, and then drop back into the paint. Our SF (Red 3) can disrupt Boozer in this case too, because he doesn't have to be so conscious of leaving his man. That's because, all the spot up shooters are now two passes (or one tough cross court, cross body pass) away from the ball handler. Any pass that Williams makes is going to have to be to the right, with a defender shadowing him to that side, and no option to pass left (the baseline has become an extra defender). Even a forward pass from the baseline to his SG (Blue 2) is obstructed by the basket and our SG (Red 2). How the Rockets defend this play alone (which the Jazz run a LOT) could very well be the difference between winning and losing. Sure, even if we can funnel Williams baseline we may still get burned because he's simply that damn good, but we're most certainly screwed if we allow him to get to the middle of the court where he can pick the defense apart. It's infinitely more desireable to force Boozer to the right so that even if he receives the pass of the pick 'n roll, it's up to him (and not Williams) to make the quick decisions. So keep an eye out. It'll be interesting to see if the Rockets make this adjustment after watching tape of game 1.
Nice picture. Pretty stars. (sorry, had that nick commercial stuck in my head) Actually pretty good analysis.
Nice job on the analysis and the illustrations. But wouldn't the Jazz be able to counter that type of defense by starting the two man game closer towards the baseline (ensuring that Boozer will be able to pick off the Rocket's PG) and then allow DW to attack the middle. It would make DW cover more real estate on his way to the basket and allow our defenders more time to react - but I think if the Rox's PG overplayed DW's right, Williams would go left and have a field day with either lay-ups or short jumpers against the Rocket's PF.
Cool analysis. I feel like the Jazz in this case would have Williams drive hard baseline to force our 4 to commit to stopping the drive since our 1 will be far behind having hedged to the left, leaving Boozer possibly open down the lane though it will be a harder pass. I agree we should do it just to disrupt their offense some though and give them something other than what they want to do.
Nice work. I like the idea of forcing him baseline. You know what they always say, "The baseline is like having an extra defender".
Have we run *any* zone this year? (Sorry, I follow the team but typically only via boxscores and highlights). Anyway, might be something to mix in, just in spurts, if we had the right lineup on the floor.
If they push the play further toward the baseline and then Williams gets loose to the right, you're correct, it's bad. Help defense has to come further over, leaving shooters even more open. But I don't understand how starting closer to the baseline ensures that Boozer can pick our PG on his left. The way I envision it is our PG on Deron's right, our PF in front of him, and the baseline on his left. Since he'd be more or less boxed in, our PG could be able to cover him to the point that he wouldn't have space to go to the middle (because he would have to go too close to the sideline) even if a pick was set. Essentially I see it as a trapping play where his only option would be to hit Boozer on the roll. If we can reduce him to that one option, that's a start. Of course, there's a counter to everything, so no matter what we do they will probably adjust eventually. It's gotta be worth a shot though.
I think they should play it exactly how they did against the Suns, where they basically zoned the man rolling.....and forced Nash to be a shooter....same thing we should do with the Jazz and DWill. DD
Good analysis. Another play they run quit a bit for Harpring is that baseline screen that give him a 15 footer at the freethrow line. I noticed they ran that play a lot last year and a few times this past game. Let's hope the rockets make the necessary adjustments before and during the game to beat the Jazz. Here's a lineup I'd like to see just to see something different offensively: Scola, Landry, Battier, Tmac, Brooks btw, great job breaking down the bball play like you're jvg
Sounds good to me. I know DWill is a good shooter, but I'd rather him score 30 and not get anyone involved.
ClutchCityReturns, That's how the Bulls did it against Stockton. However, they had two of the best wing defenders in the history of the NBA do that play. They had Rodman on Malone and actually played Pippen on Stockton. One thing you did not mention about the second option your present is that Deron doesn't have to go baseline. He can isolate the PF on him. The problem is not Deron taking a pick baseline, the problem is Deron getting a mismatch on the PF. It works like this: Alston overplays the middle, so Deron just dribbles away from him to the wing. If Alston follows him, then Boozer is now on the proper side to run their normal PnR, so we are back to your Scenario #1...nothing was gained. If Alston does not follow Deron's fade to the wing, then that is a switch, and now Deron can isolate against our PF as Boozer dives to the basket for a post up.
Very nice analysis Clutchcityreturns! You know what really bugs me. While we and the Rockets staff are wondering how to slow them down, Jazz players are probably watching videos of Game 1 and coming up with ways to get Luther head to play more minutes....
That's why I think that any time the pick is coming, our PG needs to overplay Deron's right hand. If our PG follows Deron like you said, our PF needs to shade the baseline, and our PG needs to shade the sideline. This makes a pick useless since Deron would have to dribble out of bounds to use it. If all else fails, I'd trap Deron with our PG and our PF as he goes baseline. It's better than letting him run free like they did in Game 1.
Your uber paint skills just made me LOL in the office and people were looking at me weird ... damn you!
Yea.........Our point gaurd needs to fight through the pick while the player guarding boozer drops back into position and the red three helps out.........But then boozer has good post up position and can really pound in on our "big men" and score or get us in foul trouble........ So what do we do to stop the easy post ups by Carlos............Double Team him...............But then they shoot well............. So what do u think we can do to slow that ClutchCityReturns........ BTW very good anylasis..... 5 star
Nice analysis.... A few other things I'd like to see: 1. mix in a Zone 2. Pick up Williams full court...dont make things so easy for him 3. be more physical in the paint (play dirty, I dont care) 4. finish at the bucket....dont anticipate a foul ***5. T-Mac HAS to be WAY more aggressive! The rest goes without needing mention...make free-throws and open jumpers.
