Lithuania beats Team USA at its best

[crazylegs]

I think you guys missed my point. Not criticizing Larry Brown just giving my opinion that he needs to loosen the reins on having the team play "his style" of ball. Fundamentals are important, team play is important, and should never be compromised regardless of who's on the team. But there is a way to incorporate these things into a style of play that matches your team's talent.

These guys are not good half court defenders...they do not close out on shooters well, they do not rotate in the half court game (notice none of the big men on the squad are defensive stoppers), they do not fight over the top of picks well. But what they do well is play the passing lane very well and know how to trap and transition from defense to offense. By going to a trapping/pressing defense you create a feeding frenzy and dunk fest.
Playing an uptempo defense allows for substitution because you need fresh bodies... brining in fresh legs in your trapping defense that includes (Wade, Stoudamire, James, Marion, Boozer, Ekefor) leads to more turnover and points off turnovers. The first group isn't as well suited to a pressing trapping style (other than Iverson and Marbury) but a 1-2-2 matchup zone would cause problems. With Iverson and/or Marbury pressuring the ball, Jefferson and Iverson and/or Marbury playing the passing lane, you can get out and run off turnovers.

Now, LB has won more games that me... but when I coached that's the system that I employed to get the guys into making defensive stops and allow for easy substitution. Running, trapping, and pressing allows you to sub more freely due to the energy required by the individual players. Plus this style of play works well in tourney play cuz teams don't have time to prepare for it.

Mike,

These guys are professionals. they are supposed to fight through picks and back screens...That has nothing to do with athleticism; it has to do with defensive tenacity and will. these guys are quick enoutgh athletically to anticipate the pick or back-cut and avoid it to get to the shooter...They don't do these things well??? That's the point!!! That is Basketball 101. It's basic, fundemental, individual defense...It wouldn't matter if you're playing a 2-2-1 or a Triangle & 2....When the shooter has the ball in triple threat position for an open shot, YOU CLOSE HIM OUT. That is basic, man-to-man defense at it's purest...

I've played organized ball up until my 2nd year of college and there was never a practice where our coaches weren't drilling those individual defensive fundementals into our brains...We'd be feeling his pain otherwise.... :smh:


I understand what you are saying, but in order for this squad to even get to that point defensively, these guys have to communicate and help each other out...

What's the use of tossing in traps and playing passing lanes when these guys don't communicate well enough to stick to their assignments??? the clubs in this tourney are advanced enough off-the-dribble to get by that first defender or split a double-team.that's where everything else mentioned comes into play.

 

[MikeBigg]

Legs,

All true and valid points...but Brown has to let it be 'fun" for these guys and incorporate into the game plan the things they do best. It doesn't have to be completely press and trap, but in spurts this type of tactic can lead to easy scores and disrupt an opponent. I used to always "spring" my press and traps at the two minute (before end of quarter) to get some turnovers and cheap baskets.