I was channel surfing today with the break in between the NBA Conference Playoffs and the Finals and caught the end of this playoff game in the German Basketball Bundesliga Playoffs between Alba Berlin and EWE Baskets Oldenburg (yes, I'm a true basketball nerd).

It was the 4th quarter, EWE was up by about 3-points in the last minute. As predicted, Alba fouled to put EWE on the line for free-throws. One of the things I noticed was how Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (#44 of EWE) used a perpendicular stance and a positional advantage of the trapezoid key to get by his guy twice and grab the offensive rebounds. Take a look,



Lineup Position:

Because of the trapezoid key, the offensive player has the advantage of being in a more direct line of sight to the middle of the basket. Look how Ruben has positioned himself as well, perpendicular to the lane,

From this diagram, you can clearly see, that in the trapezoid key, the offensive player has a much shorter distance to the middle. With all things being equal given size and ability, O5 should be able to get in front of the basket easier than X5, especially since X5 also has the extra responsibility of trying to box out O5,


Summary:

Definitely something to think about when playing international rules. The chance of an offensive rebound from a FT miss I'm guessing is much more prevalent than in the rectangular key in NA. Also, the stance that Ruben is using (might be illegal in NA), also gives him an advantage in going side-to-side and getting to the ball.

If you're looking for more ideas to get your players to become better rebounders, I recommend taking a look at Tom Izzo's DVD on Rebounding and Man Defense. Coach Izzo is the long-time head coach of Michigan State. Discuss this and the rest of your favorite basketball topics at the X's and O's Basketball Forum.

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At some point in your basketball season, it comes down to the players that step up and make plays and the players that don't. The Celtics made plays down the stretch last night and the Pistons didn't. All series, I talked about whether the other players, Rondo, Perkins and the struggling Ray Allen and whether they could make plays. They did, and that's why the Celtics are moving on.

I watched the game from start to finish and at the beginning of the show, ESPN did their usual 'wired' segment showing partial excerpts of the pre-game locker room speeches. I like what Doc Rivers had to say:

You don't need a speech from me, we're the better team. I don't have to trick you to fire you up, we're the better team. We don't need trick plays, we're the better team. But what we have to do is focus. Have great focus. Have great mental toughness. Dominate our space the entire night on offense and defense.

Here is the speech as well as what I thought was a key play in the 4th quarter when the Celtics made their run with Rondo hitting that jumper. In fact, Rondo and Perkins were key factors down the stretch on offense and defense,



Attacking the Double Team:

Tactically, I liked what the Pistons were doing. They were trapping the ball-screens on Paul Pierce to get the ball out of his hands. On the trap, the other 3 defenders were zoned up to cover the ball reversal. They wanted the ball to go to an open Rondo, then it was up to Rondo whether he would make the play or not,


Here is another play from earlier in the 4th quarter. PP beats Prince on the bounce and by getting into the lane draws Rasheed and Maxiell. That leaves Perkins alone on the baseline. Again, good help defense to stop PP, but allows Perkins to get underneath for the dunk,


Summary:

The past 2 games, I thought the Celtics really matured. In Game 5, they withstood a ferocious Pistons comeback and made enough plays to secure the win. In Game 6, they fought back from 10 down to take the game, the series, on the road and carried that to the NBA finals.

The NBA finals are now set, the classic matchup of Lakers vs Celtics, Magic vs Bird, all over again. It really is going to be a great series, one that I can easily see going 7 games.

If you're a big Celtics fan and a coach, then you should check out Kevin Eastman's DVDs on Skill Development. Coach Eastman is a skill coach with the Boston Celtics and this DVD features his famous Celtic 40 shooting drill. Be sure to check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to discuss your favorite coaching topics.

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I only caught the second half of the elimination game tonight between the Lakers and the Spurs. When I started watching the Spurs had a 10-point lead, but by the start of the 4th quarter, their lead was only 2. Kobe basically took the game over himself making some truly amazing plays.

Normally, Bruce Bowen is the kind of lockdown defender that can shutdown the best of the best. Tonight, Kobe just made him look silly. I just took 2 plays but I think they really show what is so great about Kobe. I think Kobe is probably the smartest 1v1 player to ever play, with the exception of Michael Jordan. Kobe reads his defender, then uses his superior speed and athleticism to take advantage. Take a look at Kobe drilling 3-pointer in Bowen's face, then breaking him down on a drive and pull-up in the next possession,



In the first play, Kobe gets the pass coming off the baseline screen. As Kobe gets into triple threat, he sees that Bowen is playing him for the drive. He knows this because of the way his feet are positioned with his hands extended outward. It's easily enough room for Kobe to shoot over,


Now, coming right back, here is Kobe again getting the quick pass from Radmanovic on the Odom drive. Bowen is caught a little out of position and so he tries to closeout quickly. As Kobe gets into triple-threat, you can see him read Bowen here. Bowen's momentum is taking him directly to Kobe, so Kobe simply attacks Bowen's hip blowing right by him. Bowen at this point can't stop fast enough and falls down,


If you haven't read the article on SI.com yet about Kobe's killer instinct, you really should. In it, Kobe talks about being a basketball nerd,

And just as he once did with Rob Schwartz, Bryant keeps NBA teammates after practice as guinea pigs. He unveils a spin move or a crossover or something else he has picked up watching tape and does it over and over and over. "The crazy thing about it is, he has the ability to put new elements in his game overnight," says George, a Laker from 1999 to 2006 and a frequent target of Kobe's requests. "He might say, 'Stay after and guard this move. Let me try it on you,' and he'll do it the next day in the game." George pauses to let this sink in. "Most of us, we'll try it alone, then we'll try it in practice, then in a scrimmage, and only then will we bring it out for a game. He'd do it the next day -- and it would work."

It's 2003, and Bryant is getting worked up in an interview while talking about a variation on a move: a jab step-and-pause, where you sink deep, hesitate to let the defender relax and, instead of bringing the jab foot back, push off it. Soon enough, Bryant is out of his chair and using the reporter as a defender on the carpeted floor. Then he has the reporter trying the move. Some people are Star Wars nerds; Bryant is a basketball nerd. "I think Kobe's actually a little bit embarrassed by his love of basketball," says Downer. "People called him a loner, but it's just that basketball is all he wants to focus on. I think he's part of a dying breed that loves the game that way."

Kobe is a true student of the 1v1 game. He`s always thinking about his shot, how to beat different defenders. That's what great players do, they study how to be great, in much the same way that MJ was.

Summary:

I don't think the Spurs could have done any more than they did to win this series. They were simply too drained from the first 2 series. They did have chances, like in Game 1, then the missed call in Game 4. But the Lakers were the better team with their youth and athleticism advantage and it was obvious. Depending on who they play in the finals, I think the Lakers have to be considered favorites though either way.

If you're looking for speed and conditioning help, you should definitely check out Alan Stein's new DVD on Reaction & Quickness Drills for Basketball. Coach Stein is the conditioning coach for Montrose Christian, famously for having worked with Kevin Durant. Be sure to check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to discuss your favorite coaching topics.

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It was great to see Ray Allen get his shot back tonight and help the team pick up the huge Game 5 win. The Pistons pushed them as far as possible to the edge tonight (and could still push further on Fri) and the Celtics battled and persevered for the win, that says a lot about the character of the players on the team.

Back to Ray Allen, ever since the Atlanta series, he has been in a major funk. For a guy that averaged 17+ points all year, and 20+ when he was the main scorer in Sea and Mil, his past 12 playoff games have been subpar in comparison,

Date Opponent/Score Pct Pts
=======================================
May 26 @ DET L 75-94 2-for-8 25.0 11
May 24 @ DET W 94-80 5-for-16 31.3 14
May 22 DET L 97-103 9-for-16 56.3 25
May 20 DET W 88-79 3-for-10 30.0 9
May 18 CLE W 97-92 1-for-6 16.7 4
May 16 @ CLE L 69-74 3-for-8 37.5 9
May 14 CLE W 96-89 4-for-11 36.4 11
May 12 @ CLE L 77-88 4-for-10 40.0 15
May 10 @ CLE L 84-108 4-for-12 33.3 10
May 8 CLE W 89-73 4-for-10 40.0 16
May 6 CLE W 76-72 0-for-4 0.0 0

Take note especially of his FT%, for a career 44% shooter, he's only been higher than that once. Well, here are 3 big 3 pointers that Ray hit in the 2nd half as well as his post-game interview with ESPN's Michelle Tafoya,



When you're a shooter like Ray, the only way out of a shooting slump (and all shooters get them), is too continue shooting the ball. I was talking to a coaching friend of mine and we laughed how Ray's struggles reminded us of a kid we coached, that also went through a shooting slump. Keep shooting, and your shot will come...

Ray Allen's Jump Shot:

A few higher quality pictures of Ray Allen's great jump shot. Unlike some other 3-point shooters like Brent Barry who shoot a set shot, Ray is a jump shooter. What that means is that he can often shoot over people by getting lift before his release, but it also means that he won't be as effective with it as he gets older. A guy like Brent can play well past his 40s because his set shot won't impact his knees like Ray's will. Anyways, here are a couple of shots of Ray shooting over Rip and Rasheed (click on pics for the high res pictures),



Here is a nice picture of Ray's jump shot at the height of his ascent getting ready to flick his wrists,


I find that watching Ray's shot is like watching a great artist perform. His shot is timeless, he moves so effortlessly in the air.

Summary:

The Celtics got big contributions outside of its big 3, which will continue to be the main theme, can Perkins and Rondo continue to play well through this and the next series if they advance? You can't fault the Pistons effort tonight. They came out and played, competed. they just got beat by better offense.

If you're looking for some more skill development stuff, shooting drills, etc..., take a look at Tom Crean's new DVD on Dynamic Skills which has some stuff on post skills and post-entry. Coach Crean of course is the new head coach for Indiana University. As always, be sure to check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum to discuss this and more of your favorite basketball topics.

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The Lakers came out runnin' and gunnin' tonight and the Spurs could never quite catch up. The game was a little too close for comfort if you're a Laker fan. Kobe was very frank about their near fatal mistakes in the post-game interview saying, "It was bad clock management. Pao missed a shot and then I tried to make a play when I should have dribbled the clock out and they got a quick score the other way. We have to learn from these mistakes."

As coaches, we always talk about good defense leading to good offense. The Lakers actually had more turnovers than the Spurs tonight, but the difference was the timing and the Lakers speed in taking advantage of those turnovers. Here are few sequences including a key one late in the 4th quarter that results in a botched handoff attempt between Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto,



The Basketball Handoff:

I know some coaches that teach the handoff in basketball like they teach the handoff in football. Though they are similar, in my opinion, there are some significant differences. Chief among them is that I prefer to teach players to flip the ball instead of actually executing a handoff. The thinking is that the ball is bigger than a football. Also, by flipping it you avoid any body/hand contact between the exchange and it happens a lot quicker than an actual handoff. Here is where it all went wrong between Ginobili and Oberto,


Here are some coaching tips that I've used to teach this idea of the dribble handoff between 2 players on the perimeter:

1. cutter should “drag the arc” ensuring the hand-off happens below the FT line extended.
2. dribbler should drive at the cutter's defender.
3. dribbler should make a short "toss" or pop the ball up to the cutter. It can slow the cutter down if the dribbler literally hands the ball off.
4. cutter must go tight by the dribbler’s shoulder to ensure there is no space for the cutter’s defender to get through.
5. dribbler and the cutter should both go with speed for the handoff.
6. dribbler should go as soon as he/she receives a pass.
7. dribbler should be inside the 3 point line to ensure the cutter is in shooting range.

Summary:

With regards to the foul at the end of the game, I thought it was a foul. There was contact on the pump fake and to be consistent it should be called. It would've been 2 shots (foul on the ground not in act of shooting) and probably gone to OT.

With a 3-1 lead, the Lakers are clearly in control. The bottom line, the Lakers are younger, quicker and more athletic than the older, slower, weary Spurs. But Game 5 between the Pistons and Celtics is tomorrow, I can't wait...

Looking for some skill development video help for your perimeter players, check out Ganon Baker's DVD on Drills for Wing Players. Don't forget to check out the X's and O's Basketball Forum to talk hoops with other coaches.

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Yahoo Sports called it "Grimy". To me, the Pistons v Celtics game was more like watching a classic heavyweight title fight. Two contenders slugging it out playing the game the right way with hard-nosed defense. The tough physical kind, but nothing below the belt. From the outset, the Pistons opened the game like a Mike Tyson fight, with a flurry of haymakers and devastating left hooks jumping out to a 10-0 start. Credit the Celtics for getting up off the canvas after a 9-count to hang off the ropes and go the full 12 rounds, but in the end it was an unanimous decision, Deeeee-troit Basketball!!!

The play of course that epitomized the Detroit effort tonight was from Pistons unsung hero, Jason Maxiell. Just a gutsy, "not in my house", possibly series-defining come-from-behind-block. Like the kind that Tayshaun Prince did to Reggie Miller half a dozen years ago. I also included Mark Jackson of ESPN breaking down that first 12 minutes of terror that the Pistons defense unleashed,



Double-Team and Rotate:

Just some basic concepts of double-teaming, you have to rotate to cover 1 pass away. In this case, Rasheed Wallace goes to help on Paul Pierce. Now, Chauncey Billups is help side and now must rotate to cover Kendrick Perkins. Rondo is left open in the far corner,



Jason Maxiell, Unsung Hero:

I wrote about Jason earlier in the season. It's hard not to like his game. He's not a guy that can create his own shot, but he's the spark plug. He makes all the plays behind the scenes that make the stars shine, whether it's rebounding, defense, setting picks. Despite getting beat initially off the rebound, Jason hustles back to block the sure KG dunk,


I love the "Not on my watch. Nothing easy" attitude of the Pistons. Don't give the other team any easy buckets, just say no layups and dunks!!

Summary:

Those familiar themes cropped up again for both teams. The Pistons were fired up from the get go, and looked like the better team throughout. Which Detroit team will show up on Wed? For the Celtics, scoring remains a problem. Tonight everyone struggled, but even if they had a better output from the big 3, they lacked secondary scoring. The Celtics will go home where that secondary scoring has been much better. But can they count on it?

For more defense and rebounding video help, check out Tom Izzo's DVD on rebounding and defensive drills. Coach Tom Izzo's teams are always one of the toughest teams on the boards. Don't forget to check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum to talk about this and your favorite basketball topics.

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Sometimes you can over-analyze a situation. In the case of the San Antonio Spurs today, it was simply a matter of rest and sleeping in your own bed after a week on the road. The Spurs played great today, shooting over 50% and getting 72 points from their big three.

During one of the timeouts, coach Gregg Popovich had just a couple of simple things to remind his players,

1. Play hard and stay agressive
2. Rebound and defend

Here is the clip,



Play hard and stay aggressive:

Just a good exchange with his players. I especially like how Tony Parker responded to Pop's "Don't stop being aggresive" with "I got you coach". Respect, and accountability, you can tell that Parker and Pop have that mutual understanding. That's what I call coachable.

Rebound and defend:

I like how they end their huddle with a "defense" chant. I'm a defense first coach, so I'm for anything that can remind players of their responsibilities.

Summary:

The Spurs have had a pretty long week, Game 7 against the Hornets on Monday, their plane breaks down and so they spend the night sleeping on the plane Monday night. They get to Los Angeles with essentially just 1 day to prepare for the Lakers. They play well to start Game 1 on Wednesday (perhaps spillover effect from Game 7) but tire down the stretch and lose a heartbreaker. They come back for Game 2 on Friday in LA with 1 day in-between games and get run out of the building. Finally, the Spurs get to go home, sleep in their own bed, eat home-cooked meals, drive their own car to work. Voila, Sunday Game 3, they blowout the Lakers.

It is a big deal having to play on the road. Especially since the Spurs have essentially opened the playoffs on the road, and finish their series on the road. They are an older team, so you have to wonder if they have what it takes if this series goes the distance on the road, then go on to the Finals to play another great team on the road.

The Lakers are in a good spot. They still have home court advantage, but Game 4 is another potential series clincher. If they win, they can gain enough separation and put the Spurs away at home in Game 5. They need to get more out of the transition game though, they need to use their youth and athleticism to their advantage against the slower older Spurs.

For ideas on game preparation and scouting, check out Pat Summitt's new DVD on Game Preparation. Coach Summitt is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. Don't forget to check out the X's and O's Basketball Forum to talk hoops with other coaches.

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