Scouting fun
I always enjoy stuff like this, especially since I admittedly know little at this level of depth about game strategy:
But now that Detroit has a best-of-seven date with the Chicago Bulls, let's take a look at how one Eastern Conference scout would defend the Pistons' popular "horns" set."By horns, we mean a post player lining up at each elbow, usually with two shooters spacing the floor at each wing or corner and a one-guard front," the scout said. "There are several different options a team like the Pistons can run off of this because the wings can shoot and both post players are good passers as well as shooters.
"The key to defending horns, which generally begins with a brush screen by one post for the point guard, is for the defender guarding the screener to maintain contact with the screener while showing to slow down the ballhandler. If the defensive post player loses contact, the screener can slip to the basket; because of the alignment, the backside is empty."
That means there's nobody to rotate over and deal with the post player slipping the screen.
"Some teams attempt to have the opposite post defender drop to the middle on the slip screen," the scout said, "but that leaves you vulnerable for a pass to either (Chris) Webber or (Rasheed) Wallace who can eat up that shot."
Unsure of why the Pistons don't get the 'jump-shooting team' label that the Bulls are always pegged with :-)
For more reading up on the Pistons, check out this post at DetroitBadBoys going over 'what they learned' after the Pistons' first round series with the Magic.
And the NBA announced that the series starts Saturday. But, uh, no time yet. It's on TNT so you'd think it'd be a prime-time game, but they've had early-afternoon games in these playoffs as well.
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Or why Dallas never got pegged with it.
by Scotter on May 1, 2007 5:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Clicking around
While Ben, Kirk and Luol may not reach Springfield as a reward for their individual accomplishments, the Bulls' perimeter trio can make it tricky for foes to reach the NBA Finals.
In addition to specific sets run for Gordon and Deng, the biggest challenge defined by the Chicago offense is the drive-and-kick option.
"All three of those guys can shoot along with (Andres) Nocioni," said one Eastern Conference scout, "and the guards can take guys off the dribble, making gap help a risky proposition."
Explanation: gap help refers to a defender sliding over to help a teammate who's about to be beaten off the dribble by Gordon, for example. If the help defender is guarding Deng, an open jumper (that figures to go in) could be the result.
"Here's my recommendation," said the scout. "Almost never leave Gordon or Hinrich or Deng to help on the drive. With (Ben) Wallace and (Ty) Thomas on the floor, the key is making the guys guarding them aware of penetration. That means your bigs must be the primary helpers because Wallace and Thomas, especially Wallace, aren't threats to make that mid-range shot. P.J. (Brown) can make it, but his release is a bit slow and he's not looking at threes like the perimeter guys."
How about a caveat?
"Well, if you leave Wallace or Thomas to stop dribble penetration and nobody rotates to them, either one will dive to the rim for a pass and dunk. I'd rather live with that risk, though, than watch Gordon, Hinrich and Deng shoot open threes."
by kos on May 1, 2007 5:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
w-w-w-w-wallace
and a key will be if Gordon/Hinrich can get by the first man, as Billups and Hamilton are far better defenders than the corpses Miami had.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 1, 2007 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's a good point
- Deng doesn't shoot threes (as opposed to what the scout says in the last line). But is automatic from 20 feet. He can also reliably hit thoughs shots on pull ups on the fast break.
- Gordon doesn't depend on the offense to get shots. As you've pointed out, he is superior at creating his own shots. It will be interesting to see if the Pistons put Billups on him, and if Billups can stop him. That's the best way to disrupt the Bulls. I really think that Gordon's dissappearing act in the Heat Bulls series losses last year was the difference.
- The scouting report doesn't mention how critical getting to the line is, especially for Gordon.
- He's underrating Tyrus' game, by essentially equating him with Ben Wallace. He can blow past someone for the drive at any time. While TT doesn't have a reliable jumpshot, he can still create his own shots. The main problem with T is turnovers and being a so so passer.
- He is also underrating Nocioni's ability to drive. Against a slower defender, like Walker or Webber, he does fine.
by GWKD on May 2, 2007 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and deng
by Sambossanova on May 1, 2007 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
post has been moved to the front page
by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 1, 2007 11:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thomas
Shouldn't the pistons be a little worried about their bench? If this is a long series, you're talking about some serious minutes for the starters. They're not old, but aside from Prince they're not that young either.
by jai on May 2, 2007 12:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Pistons' starters
Rasheed - 32
Billups - 30
Rip - 29
CWebb - 34
Prince - 27
Bench:
Dyess - 32
Delfino - 24
Murray - 27
Davis - 38
I don't think, outside of Webber, Detroit is worried about their age. They could use some more youth coming off the bench, but that hasn't hurt them.
by Boney on May 2, 2007 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had to laugh
by sue369 on May 2, 2007 9:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
by Boney on May 2, 2007 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kirk can pull wrists out from their sockets!
by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 2, 2007 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Update!
127 votes? Jeeze. I wonder if anyone has ever been unanimous
by NittanyBull on May 2, 2007 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
There has been and here is a link about the guy
by SRQman on May 2, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah, thanks
by NittanyBull on May 2, 2007 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How shocking . . .
That's not quite as bad as the dude from New Orleans that gave PJ Brown a 5th place vote for MVP last season, though. I bet even PJ had to be laughing his ass off when he heard about that.
by Big D on May 2, 2007 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chris Paul missed by one vote
by Paxson Jackson on May 2, 2007 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ben Gordon's Blog
http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/gordon_blog0607.html
by hongydraw on May 2, 2007 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The craziest thing....
Talk about ricockulous!!!!
by tyger1147 on May 3, 2007 7:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
More info on Bulls game times...
"The Bulls and Pistons will begin at 3:30 p.m. if both the Dallas-Golden State and Utah-Houston first-round series go to Game 7s.
If only one of those series extends to a Game 7, the Bulls and Pistons will begin at 6 p.m. And if neither of them goes the limit, the Bulls and Pistons will begin at 7 p.m."
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/368670,CST-SPT-bullnt03.article
by 1958ChiTown on May 3, 2007 2:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Out of the two Eastern conference semifinal series
by TkGoUWGB on May 3, 2007 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Man, this blows.
What a stroke of luck for Dallas.
I really wanted to see Baron at his best in this potentially historic game. He was the ringmaster of Golden State's mad, frenetic circus of roundball.
by 1958ChiTown on May 3, 2007 10:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Doesn't seem to matter much right now.
by wjb1492 on May 3, 2007 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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