Floor balance is one of the most important concepts in basketball. A team wants all five players to be spread out at different places on the floor, so that each player has an opportunity to establish himself on offense. Additionally, in this scenario each player has an opportunity to create his own opportunities in isolation. Finally, if an offense spreads out it's players, the defensive players are spread out so they are less able to stop a key offensive performer.
The New York Knicks are trying to run the best spread offense that they possibly can. So far, the team has struggled to a 9-21 record. However, without star player Krystaps Porzingas, the Knicks were expected to struggle. Nevertheless, New York is doing their best to run a good offense.
On December 7th, in a game against the Boston Celtics, the Knicks showcased their offense. Early in the first quarter with the Knicks' players spread out into five different areas of the court, small forward Mario Hezonja, dribbled at the left wing in between two defenders and tried to make a lay up. He missed the shot, but center Enos Kanter rebounded the basketball and scored. Hezonja showed his driving ability, and Kanter was in the proper position for a rebound. Hezonja's drive to the basket made the Celtics realize what he was capable of. So, they had to guard against that possibility that he would drive again into the lane. Additionally, Kanter established himself early in the game as a rebounding presence.
On the next trip down the court, Tim Hardaway, Jr. drove into the lane from the right wing. He passed to a trailing Kanter who was unable to handle the basketball. Unfortunately, for the Knicks, the Celtics scored on a fast break opportunity. However, Hardaway and Kanter had the right idea. The play was simply not completed successfully. If Kanter had caught the basketball, he could have scored. The play showed teamwork, which is necessary for any team to be successful. Again, Boston had to be mindful that New York would try something similar later on in the game.
On the next possession, Kanter was dribbling at the top of the key towards the left wing. Hardaway, Jr., curled around the perimeter took a pass from Kanter and made a three point shot. Kanter, as a center, may have seemed out of place dribbling at the top of the key. However, he did a good job of handling the basketball and of passing it to Hardaway, Jr., who in turn did a good job of moving without the basketball and making the three point shot. The play was completed successfully, and showed excellent teamwork.
On another trip down the court, Hezonja dribbled to right wing and passed the ball to Noah Vonleh, who dribbled the basketball close to the basket and made a bank shot over a defender. Hezonja made a good decision passing the ball to Vonleh, who showed his ability to assertively take the ball to the basket. This showed the Knicks ' ability to get everyone involved in the offense. Diversity on offense gives the opposition something to think about.
Later in the quarter, Hezonja took the basketball at the left wing and drove towards the basket. Then he passed the basketball to a wide open Vonleh in back of the right wing. Vonleh made an open three point shot. This showed Boston that they should not leave Vonleh open. It also displayed Vonleh's versatility and his ability to make shots from the outside as well as from the inside.
On another possession, rookie Austin Trier, positioned in back of the three point line, took a pass from fellow rookie Kevin Knox. Trier drove toward the basket and hit a step back jump shot along the baseline. The pass from Knox to Trier, and Trier's ability to complete the play, showcased yet another example of teamwork and offensive versatility.
Later in the first quarter, point guard Mudiay tossed an alley oop pass with one hand to a leaping Mitchel Robinson, who promptly dunked the basketball. The play showed Robinson's ability to finish around the rim and Mudiay's ability to time the alley oop perfectly. Once again, the Knicks showcased their offensive versatility.
Near the end of the first quarter, Trier brought the ball down the court and drove passed the left wing, spun passed defender Gordon Haywood and made a layup for the Knicks. Trier's came off a screen set by Vonleh. The play showed the importance of picks and screens in basketball. The play also showed Trier's ability to create a shot and score in isolation.
Early in the second quarter, Trier dribbled towards the basket on the left side and passed the ball to a wide open Knox in back of the perimeter. Knox promptly passed the ball to an open Courtney Lee in the corner who made a three point shot. The play showed excellent ball movement and teamwork.
Soon after, on another play down the court, Trier dribbled towards the basket on the right side and passed the ball to Knox who made an open three point shot. So, in a short span, Knox showed his ability to pass the ball and shoot the ball in back of the perimeter.
On another play, Hardaway passed the ball to an open Damyean Dotson who missed a three point shot. However, Vonleh was in good position for a rebound. He caught the ball off of the boards and put the basketball back in the hoop. The play showed the importance of getting good position for a rebound and then finishing with a put back.
With 4:24 left in the first half, Hardaway dribbled on the left side of the court and passed the ball to Kanter who made a shot close to the basket. Kanter was able to use his strength to get a good shot. The play showed the importance of interior offense. In the modern NBA, there is a strong emphasis on perimeter offense, but a team needs good interior offense as well.
Soon afterwards, Hardway drove into the lane and passed the ball to Hezonja on the right wing. Hezonja took the basketball and drove to the right side and made a shot close to the basket. Once again the play showed Hardaway's passing ability and Hezonja's ability to drive into the lane and score. This was another good example of teamwork.
With 3:16 left in the first half, Mudiay brought the ball up the court and went by a couple of defenders by faking left and moving right. Then he drove into the lane and made a layup. The play showed Mudiay's skills as a point guard and his ability to create off the dribble.
Then, Mudiay passed the ball from the right wing to Hezonja who was positioned at the center of the perimeter. Hezonja passed the ball to Kanter who was guarded one on one by Boston's Al Horford. Kanter dribbled and backed up Horford, and then dribbled to his left and made a layup. The play showcased the low post skills of Kanter. The play once again highlighted the importance of interior offense.
In the third quarter, Mudiay dribbled along the baseline and passed the ball to Hezonja in the perimeter. Then Hezonja passed the ball to a wide open Hardaway who made a three point shot. The play showed excellent ball movement and teamwork. It also showed the importance of passing the basketball to Hardaway, jr. when he was open. He is the best shooter that the Knicks have. It's always a good idea to get the basketball to your best player.
With 7:46 remaining in the third quarter, Kanter had the basketball at the top of the key. He found an open Hardaway at the right side of the foul line. Hardaway, dribbled all the way in back of the three point line as he was guarded by Marcus Morris. Then Hardaway proceeded to make a three point shot. Once again good teamwork was on dislay. It also showed the importance of a good passing big man. Kanter's ability to handle the basketball along the perimeter and pass the ball makes him a more versatile offensive player. It also showed once again how important it is to get the ball to Hardaway, the team's best offensive player.
Later, Vonleh received a pass at the right side of the foul line and backed up his defender all the way to the basket and made a lay up. It once again showcased Vonleh's one on one skills.
With 4:54 left in the third period, Mudiay dribbled into the lane and found a trailing Kanter for a lay up. The play showed the different options that a point guard has when he drives into the lane. Mudiay could have tried a shot. He could have tried to pass the ball to a player who may have been open along the perimeter or he could have tried to shoot a shot. Instead, he spotted Kanter who was open and moving towards the basket. Mudiay made the right decision with the basketball. Decision making ability is important for a point guard.
Towards the end of the third period, Dotson hit a fadeaway shot around the foul line. Dotson a back up player is capable of providing points off of the bench. Good back ups are important especially when they can score in isolation. Dotson dribbled close to the right side of the foul line and then backed up and made the fadeaway shot. The defender had to guard against the possible drive to the basket, but Dotson was able to adjust and make a fadeaway shot.
In the fourth period, Knox dribbled the ball to the center of the perimeter and passed the ball to Lee who was positioned on the left wing of the perimeter. Lee dribbled the basketball to the center of the perimeter and passed the ball to Dotson who curled around the right side just in front of the perimeter. In one motion, Dotson made a jump shot just inside the arc. The play showed the importance of ball movement and moving without the basketball. It was a well designed play and a well completed play. Good job for the Knicks.
Later in the fourth quarter, Dotson tried a three point shot in back of the left side of the perimeter. The shot missed. However, Hardaway went up strong for the rebound and made a shot. It showed the importance of guards rebounding as well as the centers and power forwards. Good guards try to position themselves for rebounds as well. Good guards try to be complete players who can score, dribble, pass, play defense and rebound. In this case, Hardaway made a good play to give the Knicks a second chance opportunity. Then Hardaway converted the opportunity.
With 5:16 left in regulation, Vonleh drove into the lane and missed a shot. However, Robinson was there to rebound and make the put back. Robinson got proper position and converted the scoring opportunity. A team needs centers and power forwards to establish proper position under the basket to give the team second chance opportunities. In this case, that is what Robinson did.
In this game, the Celtics routed the Knicks 128-100. The Knicks played porous defense and missed too many shots. The game showed that the Knicks continue to be a work in progress. They still need to convert more open shots and play much better defense. They are still a team finding their way.
However, the Knicks did many good things that show they have potential to improve. The Knicks need to continue to work on their defense and offensive execution. Nevertheless, the Knicks are accomplishing some good things this year despite their 9-21 record. The team needs to build on those good things in order to improve in the standings.
No comments:
Post a Comment