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You know what, let's watch some Nets/Suns
The consistency and the activity is what has to build for Brooklyn on defense. The breakdowns usually look really bad, have to get to an area of being solid. Booker screens for Crowder here, should be a simple switch but it turns into a layup. Can't give those up.
Simple stuff really has an impact for Brooklyn. Harden comes off a double P&R, look at the weakside. Crowder/Booker are just in early help position. Johnson exchanges with Harris and the Suns switch but the timing isn't there for Crowder to recover. Open 3 for Harris.
Nets got more activity from DeAndre Jordan in the second half and frankly they may just have to live with that. I'm not sure what they are getting out of the drop. CP3 has all the room to get the look he wants and Ayton still ends up getting the rebound. Both can't happen.
Booker comes off the screen and there just isn't much impact on the ball. He's in control of the possession. Jordan recovering to Ayton's roll, not a lot of weakside help. Booker keeps Brown from recovering and ends up finishing.
Great defense from the Suns here, watch the activity and awareness on these switches. Crowder pulls over to give nail help as Harden drives. Booker closes out, Paul/Crowder switch as Brown cuts. Multiple efforts.
It's about activity for Brooklyn on defense, this is better here. CP3 screens for Booker, guards mess up the switch but Jordan switches as he comes off. Johnson on Ayton, Brown is there on the catch. Harden closes out to the skip to CP3
Good job by Harden here bending the Suns defense. Comes off the screen and Ayton is in a drop. Keeps Bridges from recovering but keeps Ayton engaged until he can find Jordan on the late roll.
Winning play from Mikal Bridges, started the play next to DeAndre but look at the effort to get this block.
Activity was there for Brooklyn on this possession but key is sustaining it and staying solid. Good switches to start the play. Shamet ends up on Saric, TLC kicks him out. Now Green tries to come in, Shamet gets beat off the drive and rotations aren't there.
Switching is great to keep a play in front but you have to guard behind it. Green switches and denies, TLC kicks Shamet out of the post. Good stuff. Now SHamet gets beat middle, no help, easy layup. That's not so good.
Great awareness from Mikal Bridges here. Nets run a handoff to Harden and clear the side. As Shamet watch Bridges plant himself in the paint. Ayton does a good job of coming up, Johnson showing help, Bridges gets the steal.
Tyler Johnson was hooping hooping last night.
James Harden getting to the midrange is something to watch.
Giving DeAndre Ayton credit for his increased activity on defense. He's dropping back as Harden comes off and he gets beat. Last year that's probably a layup. This year gives the effort to end up getting a block. Think his footwork opens plays up but progress is progress.
So the Nets went zone and it didn't go so well. Like the attempt to have in your back pocket but yeah.
Nets zone had issues matching up and if you're not matched up to start trouble is coming. See here, no one really takes Paul. Brown isn't really matched up with anyone. No one has Crowder on the weakside. Great pass by Paul and immediately in rotation, leads to an open 3.
Suns switch Ayton on to Harden here, you can switch your way into a mismatch you can also switch and show help. CP3 is lurking showing early help. Problem is the funnel is to Harden's left hand, he beats the defense. Also look at Green's screen. Takes Bridges out of late help.
Initial switches good for Brooklyn here but the communication/awareness after has to be there. Good switch on the first cut. Good switch by Jordan as Booker comes off. Watch the weakside, looks like Johnson is trying to pass Ayton to Brown, Brown trying to recover, ends in a lob.
Nets went to switching with DeAndre Jordan in P&R. At the very least you had more activity from him and the defense could stay solid. Felt like the Suns may have taken the bait at times but I'm sure the Nets will live with these shots.
Effort to recover from Nets here, not a perfect possession but the attempt to scramble is a positive. Jordan sinks on drive, help on Ayton rolling and Nets recover out of it. Not a perfect switch on Booker's screen but two guys trying to contest better than zero.
Suns run this pindown for Booker which is tough because of the angle. Harden calls for the switch, Jordan's there to contest the shot. Activity from him makes a difference.
Jordan switches the P&R here and again it allows the Nets to stay at home and keep the ball out of the paint. Suns attack him off the bounce, gets beat but able to fight to get a contest. Tougher look than most the Nets have given up at times.
It's about staying solid for the Nets defensively. Jordan switches on to Booker, TLC battling Saric in the post. Watch the weakside though. Bridges looks like he's going to set a screen and Shamet is there. Then Shamet/Chiozza try to switch (which you can't do here) give up layup
(like there was just no need to switch there, Shamet could have stuck with his man as no screen was really set. little things like that hurt)
James Harden off-ball movement is fun but I mainly posted this because Payne got knocked down and Saric helped but then said "hey man you gotta get up". Didn't work out. Man tried to push him to recover.
Another example of Brooklyn trying to do the right thing but it not working. Jordan switches on to Booker which is fine. Harden trying to kick Chiozza out of the matchup with Saric and takes the roll. Not the most natural recovery, gets there but Payne ready to let it fly.
Joe Harris is tough man. Suns switch this and Harris just lets it fly.
We say it all the time but man when Chris Paul just decides he's getting to his spot and pulling up, I don't know what you do.
Thought Jeff Green had a few solid possessions switching on to Booker in the 4th. Good activity from Bruce Brown on this possession. Initial help and almost steal but watch the second drive. Brown takes Bridges cutting, Shamet goes for the steal, Brown rotates to contest the 3.
Active switches from Brooklyn on this possession and it looks different when the effort/awareness is there. Ends up with Green able to contain vs. Booker and contest. All about consistency.
Switches from Brooklyn were solid here but they switched themselves into a mismatch off-ball with Shamet on Ayton. This is good help from Green but the bigger thing for Ayton is get that ball back up after the catch. Brings it down, keeps it down, gets stripped.
Vintage CP3.
Nets went to Harden screening for Green in P&R late. Suns switched which gave Harden the matchup vs. Ayton without having to flip it. Quick drive forced help, open 3 for Green.
Harden screens for Green here, Suns switch again. This time more of show and help. CP3 pulling over from nail. Problem is looking at the right side, look at the space Harden has. Improvement in that right key here, drives right, forces help, kicks to Harris.
I think inverting the screen when you want to get to a switch might be the new wave. Have whoever you want to get the mismatch set the screen. Teams may give the switch as an automatic rather than when it's reversed.
Harden screens for Green again, Suns switch again. Notice the cut from Green to clear out that side. Also notice that Ayton is looking to send to help but the help isn't there. Harris being one pass away makes it different. Harden able to drive left and finish.
Nets flip it and have Green screen for Harden. Suns again give the switch. Watch the chess match. Johnson one pass away with CP3 on him, CP3 right at the nail to show help. Harden tells Johnson to cut which brings Harris one pass away. More space, drives, forces help, kicks for 3
Green screens for Harden again here. This time the Suns don't switch, Ayton is above the 3PT line but dropping. This is my concern with Ayton, containing penetration in P&R. In position but opens up, gets beat and it's a layup.
Here's the thing for the Suns, that CP3/Booker/Bridges/Crowder/Ayton lineup is great both ways. But Ayton has to hold up his end and that's my concern come playoffs. He's making steps defensively but it's a different animal and he's going to be put in action.
Nets went back to Harden screening for Green and the Suns again did not switch. Went to show and recover and it worked. Ayton has to do a better job of containing here, gets beat and Green gets a layup.
All vibes right?
Suns had CP3 screen for Booker and the Nets actually gave the switch putting Shamet 1v1 against Booker. Also notice they gave no help.
