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How the Bucks Adjusted & Beat the Suns

In Basketball, Coaching, N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

After Phoenix won the first two games of the 2021 N.B.A. Finals decisively, it seemed as if Milwaukee would be hard pressed to avoid a sweep. Not only did the Bucks extend the series but they completed an impressive sweep. Most teams do not feature a dominant athlete like Giannis Antetokounmpo but there are some ideas that any coach can take from these games and apply to their own teams. Pressure the Ball: Jrue Holiday did an excellent job of setting the tone and pressuring Devin Booker and Chris Paul the length of the top. This used up the shot …

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Pick and Roll Drills

In Drills by Brock Bourgase

In F.I.B.A. play, offenses often go to a pick & roll situation as the shot clock winds down. The action can also be used in transition & half-court offensive systems. Players must not only master the dribbling, passing, screening & finishing techniques but also understand how to read the defense & make sound decisions. Two-Player Game (Phase A) Learning Goal: Understand the basic techniques & tactics required for the two-person game. Points of Emphasis: Move without the ball & dribble at game speed. Two players start in each corner and the remaining players start in the centre jump circle. The …

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2015 N.B.A. Offense Lessons

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

The first half the N.B.A. season has demonstrated the progression of offensive basketball at the highest level. Young players can develop their own game by playing with focus and patience and applying some of these elements. When young teams run discipline sets, the ball moves, everyone looks good and the team takes advantage of good looks. If that same team rushes, disjointed basketball unfolds and teams look their age. Any team can play hard, play smart and play together on offense. Coaches should study the best teams in the league because they are applying concepts that work against the most …

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Follow Your Shot

In International Basketball by Brock Bourgase

“Don’t get caught watching the paint dry.” Wilbur “Shooter” Flatch A screen and roll play continues after the shot is released. The defense must still secure the ball and the offense still has some high percentage scoring opportunities on the offensive glass. Defense: Cory Joseph goes over the screen so Facundo Campazzo cuts back and uses Luis Scola as a rescreen. Anthony Bennett stunts to stop the drive and Campazzo must pass the ball. Scola pops and Kelly Olynyk, who was playing under the screen closes out the shot but does not make contact on the box out. After the …

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F.I.B.A. World Cup Trends

In International Basketball by Brock Bourgase

The United States S.M.N.T. won their second consecutive F.I.B.A. World Cup, behind Kyrie Irving’s adroit ballhandling, tremendous outside shooting, intense ball pressure and countless dunks by Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried. Pundits may have expected the U.S.A. to struggle against Spain in the final but like 2010, Spain was upset earlier and a young American squad captured the title. The team struggled at the beginning of the final defensively but DeMarcus Cousins helped recapture the paint and Irving began penetrating the Serbian zone and getting to the rim or finding open shooters. What may have been an upset actually showed how …

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Can OKC Win without Serge Ibaka?

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

On the eve of the Western Conference Championship series, the announcement that forward Serge Ibaka would miss the remainder of the playoffs was an inauspicious announcement for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the number two seed behind the San Antonio Spurs, the team possessed a certain edge, evidenced by their win in the 2012 Conference Final and a 4-0 sweep of the season series this year. The explosive athleticism of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Ibaka was a factor that the experience and execution of the Spurs could never match. Despite a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the Thunder can still win, …

Game 2: Improving Toronto’s Screen and Roll Game

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

When all five players are involved in a screen and roll, the defense cannot simply collapse and play the drive and the roll. Passing lanes open, space in the paint expands and high percentage scoring chances develop. The increased movement also permits those away from the ball to crash the offensive glass. In Game 1 of the playoff series, Brooklyn was able to blitz Toronto’s ball screens and limit their passing chances. down 1-0, the home team performed much better in Game 2 at the offensive end (when they did not turn the ball over as a result of an …

High Ball Screen into Flare Screen

In Plays by Brock Bourgase

Down a point, the Celtics draw up a play involving their big three with multiple options (iso for Pierce, high post jumper for Garnett and three-point shot for Allen).  By keeping every player moving, Boston does not allow New York to pack the paint. Kevin Garnett frees Paul Pierce with a pindown.  Ray Allen inbounds to Pierce and sets a Guard-to-Guard screen for the ball.  Garnett then sets a flare screen to create an open shot for Allen.  Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis space the floor along the baseline.  Garnett whiffs on his screen on Toney Douglas but the defender …

High Pick and Roll Breakdown

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

It’s easy to say that the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are vastly different teams (and they are if one evaluates outcomes). On the offensive end, the Spurs boast a rating of 104.9 and an effective field goal percentage of 53.2 while the Raptors lament their 97.3 efficiency and 46.9 eFG%. The massive difference between the squad comes from a lot of little things. Yes, San Antonio is more talented and experienced but even if both teams had similar skill levels, the Spurs would still come out ahead. While Toronto treated their fans to a five-game road trip featuring …

Bad Habits on Defense

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

The Toronto Raptors have some bad habits which have really hurt their performance this year. A lack of ball pressure is allowing penetration into the paint (drive and pass) and demanding help. These shots close to the basket and open looks become high performance scoring chances for the opportunity. On the ball, players could improve their quickness (footwork and hands).  Away from the ball, team members could be in better position, be more aware of the opponents around them and rotate in anticipation, not reaction. Screen and roll defense is very passive. A ballscreen can be an opportunity for the …

Little Things in the League

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

In the N.B.A., the small details make a difference in whether a play is successful or not. Offensive Rebounding Amar’e Stoudamire gets to the weak-side of the rim and grabs the offensive rebound in traffic. He chins the ball, takes a front pivot and goes up for the putback. Post Defense Tyson Chandler uses his size to move the offensive player away from the hoop and towards the hash mark on the baseline. He remains balanced and uses his hands on contest the shot. Pick & Roll Defense Kevin Garnett hedges the screen and roll and recovers to his man. …

Pick & Roll Defense

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

Despite the trouble that the Grizzlies had with this play, it is not that difficult to defend.  The Spurs gave up 47% in the paint and 44% mid-range to the Clippers during the year.

Defending Jeremy Lin

In N.B.A. Basketball by Brock Bourgase

In contrast to how Toronto defended a Jeremy Lin on February 14th, Miami caused significant problems for the Knicks point guard by blitzing New York’s ballscreens.  The Knicks are running “Short” (Steve Novak is coming up behind the screen but since Lin is off-balance and unable to see the entire court, he cannot make a good pass and turns the ball over.