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One glaring positive from tonight's game: the Lakers are game planning and executing better and better when it comes to dealing with extra defensive help on post ups.
On the last pod I shared that 39% of recent post ups that faced extra help were countered. Tonight it was 64%.
On the last pod I shared that 39% of recent post ups that faced extra help were countered. Tonight it was 64%.
The results are clear and have been fairly consistent. Counter the help -> buckets.
When LA counters -> 1.3 points per possession from post ups (tonight was 1.29).
When they dont, 0.59 points per possession (tonight it was 0.5).
It's just a matter of countering consistently.
When LA counters -> 1.3 points per possession from post ups (tonight was 1.29).
When they dont, 0.59 points per possession (tonight it was 0.5).
It's just a matter of countering consistently.
When you post up as a team more than ANY other team in the league, and defenses are regularly sending extra help to try to stop AD, LeBron, and Harrell, exploiting that help is imperative.
Let's walk through a few of the ways we saw LA counter tonight.
Let's walk through a few of the ways we saw LA counter tonight.
Actually to start with, here's what it's looked like when extra help comes and LA doesn't counter.
AD may be having a career year as a post scorer from an efficiency standpoint (he is), but you still don't want him going 1 vs 1.5/2 defenders.
AD may be having a career year as a post scorer from an efficiency standpoint (he is), but you still don't want him going 1 vs 1.5/2 defenders.
Here we see DET "dig" down from the high side. LA counters w/a cut by that perimeter player (Bron), drawing help from KCP's man to prevent a Bron flush.
That means KCP & Schröder have a 2v1 weak side. AD makes the read, then Gasol "pins in" his man to prevent the corner rotation
That means KCP & Schröder have a 2v1 weak side. AD makes the read, then Gasol "pins in" his man to prevent the corner rotation
When that help comes from the high side, cutting the now open perimeter guy gets either a bucket or forces help, creating a numbers advantage weak side.
If Bron doesn't cut, nothing happens.
If AD doesn't pass to KCP, nothing happens.
If no Gasol pin-in flare, nothing happens.
If Bron doesn't cut, nothing happens.
If AD doesn't pass to KCP, nothing happens.
If no Gasol pin-in flare, nothing happens.
Now watch KCP on this play. DET sends a dig from the high side yet again. DET bumps over to cover the now open Schröder. This = numbers advantage weak side.
KCP sets a pin-in flare screen for Gasol, then vacates to drag his man away (also useful) to result in an open Gasol 3PA.
KCP sets a pin-in flare screen for Gasol, then vacates to drag his man away (also useful) to result in an open Gasol 3PA.
On this play, both Schröder and Kuz set pin-in flares during AD's post up. Neither are used, and the execution & communication can be cleaned up a tad, but the intent & gameplan is clearly there.
This is progress.
This is progress.
Yet another new counter, LA used a lot of speed cuts right off the post man in tonight's game. This time Schröder gets a bucket from it.
Defender trails/gets at all stuck in screen -> handoff for bucket
Defender goes under -> can fade for 3pt shot
I like this addition.
Defender trails/gets at all stuck in screen -> handoff for bucket
Defender goes under -> can fade for 3pt shot
I like this addition.
And we saw this a few times tonight.
If you clear out and AD attacks quickly with that speed cut, you vacate where the help would've come from and counter it by removing it.
In that way it's a quick 2 birds with 1 stone type move for the Lakers.
If you clear out and AD attacks quickly with that speed cut, you vacate where the help would've come from and counter it by removing it.
In that way it's a quick 2 birds with 1 stone type move for the Lakers.
And here is LA's best counter to that post help all season from my perspective.
We get a speed cut (countering and/or removing a high dig) + a weak side staggered screen (countering and/or removing baseline help).
4 occupied defenders gives AD a true 1v1 plus 2 scoring outlets.
We get a speed cut (countering and/or removing a high dig) + a weak side staggered screen (countering and/or removing baseline help).
4 occupied defenders gives AD a true 1v1 plus 2 scoring outlets.
The execution can be cleaned up on some of these, but we're seeing more consistent and purposeful countering of help defense against LA in the post.
Updated numbers: 69% of help was countered. Counter possessions -> 1.38 points/possession tonight. No counter -> 0.5 points/poss.
Updated numbers: 69% of help was countered. Counter possessions -> 1.38 points/possession tonight. No counter -> 0.5 points/poss.
