Understanding NBA Pick and Roll/Pop Defense properly
When it comes to commenting on the goings-on with the Toronto Raptors there are many individuals operating in the blogosphere today who do a good job, from the perspective of a basketball fan, including the likes of:
Doug Smith
Mike Ulmer
Frank Ziccarelli
Eric Smith
Scott Carefoot
Tim Chisolm
Holly McKenzie
The Arsenalist
Chris Black
Realgm-Toronto Raptors
etc., etc., etc.
However …
Part of the problem which exists, in Raptorville, is a general lack of “technical understanding and experience” when it comes to the subtle nuances involved with proper execution in the NBA game.
Exhibit A - Properly Understanding NBA Defense vs Pick and Roll/Pop Scenarios
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[unlike what is stated incorrectly in the video clip above ... ]
What you see when you click on the different links below, and watch the included video clip, are a few examples of the proper ways to view, “How Teams In The NBA Attempt To Defend Against The Pick And Roll/Pop With Varying Degrees Of Success“:
Every Play Counts: The Phoenix Pick-and-Roll
The Defense Never Rests: Neutralizing Nash
Enjoy!
PS. The Raptors’ main problems yesterday against the Magic’s “3-5 Pick and Roll” were related to the lack of a “Secondary Rotation” AFTER the initial Switch was executed properly by Turkoglu and Bosh, like most good teams do when coming down the stretch of tight NBA games in the 4th quarter.
PPS. At one time, Del Harris had an excellent article available on-line, in a pdf file, which detailed the basic mechanics of proper “Pick and Roll Defense in the NBA” and contained accurate information concerning the application of “Secondary Rotations When Using Switch Techniques”. Unfortunately, it no longer seems to be available. Should it ever re-surface, however, do yourself a favour and download it. It will help you to understand what it is the Raptors SHOULD be trying to do when they intitiate a “Switch” technique vs Pick and Rolls.
Tags: Chris Black, Doug Smith, Eric Smith, Frank Ziccarelli, Holly McKenzie, Mike Ulmer, Orlando Magic, Raptors Republic, Realgm.com-Toronto Raptors, Scott Carefoot, The Arsenalist, Tim Chisolm, Toronto Raptors
November 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Funny you wrote this article — I read that post on RR and had the same reaction, and posted a comment to that effect yesterday at some point.
I surmise from your post that you don’t have the Del Harris article?
November 24th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Have the balls to comment on the article and not make a bitch post on your site…
November 24th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I actually spent a few minutes this morning googling for that del harris article. share it if you have.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Scott G. and Raps Fan,
I actually had the Del Harris article on my screen on Sunday morning … but, after experiencing some technical difficulties on Monday morning that required considerable time spent on-line with tech support which originated from India, it was inadvertently lost from my system.
Then, when I went back to the original source yesterday afternoon … lo’ and behold … what I found was that the specific article had since [Sunday] been removed from known circulation on-line.
However, I just checked the original source a few minutes ago … and was pleased to see that the original article, itself, is still available on-line through the FIBA.com web site:
The Defense on the Pick and Roll by Del Harris, p. 24.
Here’s the specific part [found on page 26] which applies to the Switch technique that the Raptors tried to use vs the Magic:
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Switching. This method is the easiest and is
utilized most often when equal-sized players
are involved in the pick-and-roll. However,
late in the game, most NBA teams will use
the switch with 4, or even all 5 men in order
to prevent a quick easy shot, especially a 3-
pointer. Note: this is a critical strategy move
to remember when you are protecting a lead
late in the game. It is a good strategy when
the possession clock is down to 7 seconds
as well, any time in the game. The open
shots beat you, especially the threes. Mismatches
caused by switching are a far less
dangerous situation to be in than giving up
an open shot to a good player. The coach
must teach how to pass off mismatches
quickly and/or drill players how to trap out
mismatches when they occur. That is, a big
player must automatically trap down for a
small teammate being posted by a big post
as X4 does in diagr. 2. A small player must
rotate over to replace a bigger teammate
stuck out on the perimeter defending a quick
penetrating smaller player due to a switch
or emergency coverage as X3 does for X5 in
diagr. 3. The mismatched man will rotate off
to the weak side and pick up an open man.
X2 rotates to 3 and X1 picks up 2.
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contained in a pdf file for that entire issue of the FIBA Assist Magazine.
Specifically …
What failed to happen properly in the example which The Arsenalist cited, is that Chris Bosh [X4 in the video clip] did not “Trap Out” for X3, Turkoglu, who was caught in the Low-post, mismatched vs Dwight Howard [#5]. The only question is: “Did Bosh do this according to the instructions of the coaching staff? or, was he, personally, negligent on this occasion?” From my POV, based on the reactions of the 4 other Raptors on the floor and the coaches sitting on the bench … who are all in plain sight during this terrific video clip … my best [educated] guess is that Bosh was doing exactly what he had been asked to do by the coaches in that exact situation, i.e. which was to stay home vs one Vincent Lamar Carter, spotting-up on the perimeter [following the initial Throwback Pass to the Wing and the Low-post entry pass to D12]. Reputable high level basketball people can spend an entire day, or more discussing the merits/drawbacks of keeping Bosh home, in this instance, vs sending him to “Trap Out” for Turkoglu and, thereby, forcing a highly specific “Secondary Rotation”.
Cheers
November 24th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Thanks for the link — some bed time reading, no doubt!
As for whether to double or not, in this specific situation I think it might actually be the better play to leave DH12 in single-coverage, at least until he puts the ball on the floor. Then, when he dribbles, Bosh can double-down…
IMO, DH12 is just not a good enough post player to command an immediate double-team, even when matched up against a large SF, particularly when VC3 is the man who would get the next pass (presumably with a defender like Jose or Bargs running at him). This, IMO, is why the switch is a sound strategic decision against the Magic, at least for the Raps.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Scott G.,
I agree with your interpretation of the Raptors’ coverage on this play.