TEAM-SPECIFIC
BKN: Damage Apart, Right here Comes Ben Simmons (Once more). After what seems like an eternity later, Ben Simmons appears to be like just like the participant he as soon as wasJacob Sutton, JSutt Hoops
DAL: Franz Wagner 1-on-1: Guarding Luka Doncic in NBA & FIBAGrant Afseth, Sports activities Illustrated
DEN: Jokic put the Nuggets on his bothersome decrease again and carried the crew to a victory over Portland on FridayVinny Benedettto, Denver Gazette
“Problem your self,” Malone stated. “Take into consideration what life was like earlier than Nikola obtained right here. Folks don’t do this, you recognize? They count on (it). 9 years now, (it’s like) ‘Effectively, it’s all the time been like this.’ No it wasn’t. Don’t do this. Do misinform your self. What Nikola has carried out is historic in nature. It’s wonderful. That’s why he’s a two-time MVP. He’s a world champion, and he’s a Finals MVP, as a result of each evening, (it’s) his capability to be nice for himself however extra importantly his capability to make everybody round him higher. That actually is the definition of greatness. We have now been spoiled, and I’m certain a few of us do discover ourselves perhaps taking it without any consideration, however simply remind your self that not many guys like Nikola Jokic have walked by means of these doorways. Recognize each alternative it’s important to watch him play.”
DEN: Jokic dominates after lacking earlier recreation, Nuggets take first of pair from Path BlazersBennett Durando, Denver Put up
DET: Dying, taxes and dumb turnoversAaron Kellerstrass, Piston Powered
DET: Pistons’ improved offense not sufficient in blowout by ClippersOmari Sankofa II, Free Press
GSW: Movie Evaluation: How the Warriors have been utilizing inverted ballscreens to maximise their rim pressureJoe Viray, Golden State Of Thoughts
Jonathan Kuminga has been cooking. Andrew Wiggins has regarded higher. Draymond Inexperienced is positively affecting the crew. Inverted ballscreens have performed a giant half.
Consider the traditional ballscreen setup: a giant setting a display for a guard or wing dealing with the ball, or a wing setting a display for a guard in sure conditions. Whenever you invert that setup, the roles flip: a guard or wing setting a display for a giant, or a guard setting a display for a wing.
Inverted screens — particularly when set by the likes of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson — are a easy technique to create dilemmas for defenders, who’ve three poisons to select from:
Do they keep on with Curry/Thompson and belief within the ballhandler’s man to battle over the display, on the threat of letting the ballhandler get downhill for a layup?
Do they change the motion, which generates two mismatches: a small towards a giant, or a giant/wing towards a small?
Do they double the ballhandler on the threat of letting both the screening Curry or Thompson get open on a pop-out three?
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