- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 9,381
- Reaction Score
- 23,714
People want to act like Popovich draws up these profound offensive sets - he is not. For the most part, the Spurs run simple pick and rolls with Parker and Ginoboli. The Thunder big men (Perkins and Ibaka) have really struggled guarding the pick and roll. The textbook way of guarding the pick and roll is for a big man to show for a second or two before retreating back into the paint to find the big he was originallly guarding. This process generally gives the guard a chance to recover back onto his man, but in the Spurs-Thunder series, Parker has been blowing right around the Thunder big men and getting into the paint, where he can either hit a mid-range jump shot or kick it out to a wide open three point shooter.
The Thunder did make some adjustments in the second half, as they begun switching everything, forcing Parker and Ginobili into more difficult shots. I think this adjustment will help them win game three and possibly game four. If Chris Bosh returns in time for the finals, I also think the Heat will slow the Spurs offense down quite a bit. Joel Anthony is in the league for the sole purpose of stopping the pick and roll and staying in front of quicker players like Parker. The Heat can throw Wade, LeBron, and Chalmers at the Spurs dynamic guards, three of the better perimeter defenders in the league.
This isn't to take anything away from the Spurs, of course. I just wouldn't call them "by far" the best team in the league, because the Thunder aren't going to go down quietly. That said, for any basketball purist, this team is a joy to watch. Popovich has done an amazing job of promoting an environment of selflessness. They really are like a machine right now, with each player fulfilling a single role. It is beautiful to watch.
The Thunder did make some adjustments in the second half, as they begun switching everything, forcing Parker and Ginobili into more difficult shots. I think this adjustment will help them win game three and possibly game four. If Chris Bosh returns in time for the finals, I also think the Heat will slow the Spurs offense down quite a bit. Joel Anthony is in the league for the sole purpose of stopping the pick and roll and staying in front of quicker players like Parker. The Heat can throw Wade, LeBron, and Chalmers at the Spurs dynamic guards, three of the better perimeter defenders in the league.
This isn't to take anything away from the Spurs, of course. I just wouldn't call them "by far" the best team in the league, because the Thunder aren't going to go down quietly. That said, for any basketball purist, this team is a joy to watch. Popovich has done an amazing job of promoting an environment of selflessness. They really are like a machine right now, with each player fulfilling a single role. It is beautiful to watch.