End Game Playcalling: Give your best player the ball or working for the most efficient shot?

run Harden pnr, no run Harden ISO. Harden pnr > Harden ISO

 

As others have mentioned, it's simply rare for the most efficient shot in the half court to not be made(or assisted) by the team's best perimeter player. For the Rockets, Harden doing anything >>> any other play they can draw up.

The only reason the Spurs didn't run a Parker PnR is because of the time limit and the fact that they had Manu/Duncan. Just as the Rockets may not have given the ball to Harden if we had, say, CP3 on the team.

 

I understand the article's point of efficient play vs star player for the last shot. But the last play went to Duncan's hand with option to cutting Manu; two veteran all stars. The play also establish Duncan at 15'. In my view, that's giving the ball to the best player at a great spot.

Tony had the hot hands, but Duncan still the all star.

If anything, the Spur's last play glorified giving the ball to the all star (we are just talking about this play of this game since that's what the article is based on). Tony was on fire, but give the ball to Duncan.

NBA stars usually shoot at a high percentage. So I agree, give the ball to the player that shoot at a high percentage, but the coach needs to run a play for the star still. Even Rockets ran a play for Harden.

In fact, I argue that Machale called the gutsier play. The inbound went to Asik close to the 3 point line. If Leanard fought over that screen or cut of the passing lane to Harden, you now have Asik with the ball way outside. Spur's was in a "better" situation. Duncan had the ball at 15', Beverly was fantastic covering the cutting Manu (I hate to say this, I love Lin, but he get caught with his man cutting behind him way too much anyways). And you end up with Duncan shooting a mid range jumper... still a decent shot. Can you imagine Asik taking that shot?

This is longer then I thought lol. Anyways, give the ball to your best player and give them a play that result in an efficient shot. That can be iso.

 

harden = duncan = superstar = most efficient player in end-game situations

 

Other teams would kill to have a closer/playmaker like Harden. So, yes, you want the ball in his hands during winning time.

 

it depends on the hot hand/situation.

although i think for now we are going with harden ISO at the end of games because we still have not developed a solid offense yet since this squad is still new to each other, so its kind of like "give the ball to harden and see what he can do" game. i personally don't like that style, i think there needs to be more team ball towards the end. not to mention harden has proved to be reliable in the clutch, so that also gives warrant for him to have the ball towards the end. once other players become more reliable i think we will see them taking the final shots more, but for now harden is the man.

 

7 seconds is the old school value for how much time a player needs on an ISP play, add 3 seconds for a chance of an offensive board if he misses.

 

Give the ball to a star player. Doesn't have to be the best. Wade and Manu have taken the last shot in the clutch plenty of times. Manu was the one meant to receive the hand off in the Spurs play. They were running the same play we ran, except it's a little better for them since Duncan can make that shot when the hand off is denied. Either way, you damn sure aren't giving the ball to Leonard or Battier to run a play through.

 

That was absolutely the case. There is no question in my mind that Manu was the first option on that play. He inbounded to Duncan, faked a cut over the top of Duncan's pick and then cut inside instead. Amazingly, Beverly bit on Manu's first fake but still recovered and prevented the pass that would have guaranteed a layup/dunk/and-1.

Manu cut fast and hard and Duncan was looking for him. Because Duncan was out at 15' the only defenders near the basket were Harden & Parsons. If Duncan hit Ginobli while streaking down an open lane, that's almost guaranteed layup or foul or both. Beverly single-handedly saved that play. I think Duncan hoisted up a poor shot because he didn't think he would have to, but the clock was ticking.

Beverly's block on Green was amazing, but also amazing was his straight up block of Jackson. He was one-on-one with a dude at least half a foot taller than him, Jackson stopped and popped, and Beverly straight up blocked him. That never happens in the NBA. It was an amazing play.

 

Give it to Harden, our go-to guy. We will live with whether he makes the shot or not.

He has the responsibility and he needs to learn how to close out games.

Only when he's covered or having a bad scoring night can he have the option of passing it. But it's his call.

 

Spurs forum analyzes the difference between our defense and GSW's when Spurs ran the same endgame play (complete with screengrabs)

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2013...rockets-top-spurs-in-final-seconds/in/3906849

basically says Harden’s positioning near the lane (and far from Green) prevented the Duncan pass to Manu. Writer also says either Harden and Rockets knew the play or Harden was playing bad defense but he was in the right spot at the right time.

 

I think the Spurs is a team we're trying to emulate. But on offense, we run a freer system, with players encouraged to read-and-react according to certain basic principles (spacing, ball movement, corner 3s, etc). I think we've adapted some of Adelman's principles.

Spurs run their sets with multiple options. They're more structured. Like in the GSW game--cmon Pops, running the same play twice. That's why the 2nd time (during OT) wasn't successful.

One other thing--I'm not really a McHale fan, but at least he doesn't shout at the players when they commit mistakes. Rolls his eyes, sarcastic remarks, etc, but not shouting at them. Unlike when Pops shouted at Nando de Colo once for fouling Bev.
In this regard McHale > Pops

 

lol - please - it depends !

 

Run your most effective play. If that's giving the ball to your best player, so be it.

Basically, if you have enough time (more than 5 seconds) for someone to make a play, you give it to your best play maker. But run a play to give him room to make play. So it shouldn't be just give the ball to X, but HOW you give it to him and WHAT OPTIONS he has with the ball. That requires smart play calling.

 

Let's say you have Matt Bonner and Corey Joseph on the court instead of Duncan and Ginobli. What's the chance of success of that play with those guys?

 

Simple. Run a play to give your best player (Da Beard) the most effective shot! I like the fact that Harden took the screen from Asik to get his winning shot off against Spurs. I think he should use more screen instead of going full ISO.

 

The article is BS. Just another example of a stat guy throwing up straw men to make stat guys look smarter.