NBA Playbook looks at the Spurs getting out of double teams

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Tim Duncan can beat your double team if you dare to send it.

Sebastian Pruiti is at it again. Today over at NBA Playbook, Pruiti looks at how NBA teams take advantage on the offensive end when double-teamed.

And wouldn’t’cha know it, the San Antonio Spurs are one team that he thinks does a great job beating double teams.

Handling double teams is really a team effort. Not only does the man getting double teamed need to be able to make a good pass under duress, but his teammates need to provide him with a passing lane. In my opinion, the two teams that handle double teams very well are the San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic. Both teams have very good big men (in Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard), so they see (and beat) plenty of double teams. Despite both teams being very successful, the Spurs and the Magic handle double teams in very different ways:

….

Whenever Tim Duncan gets double teamed, the Spurs like to send a cutter diving through the lane. In theory, it makes sense, because when a double team takes place, most teams are worried about rotating on the perimeter, so when a cut happens, it is hard to adjust to. They are able to be successful with this because they have a big man who is willing to let the double team come and make a pass over it. Also important is his teammate’s ability to time their cuts just right.

It’s yet another great post from Bassy this summer. The only thing Pruiti doesn’t mention, that I’ll add, is that patience is key. One of the main reasons the Spurs are so adept at beating doubles is because of Tim Duncan’s patience. Duncan allows himself to be double-teamed and occupies both defenders long enough to allow his teammates to get open and in passing lanes.

It’s an underrated skill of Duncan’s and something that players with lesser poise are unable to replicate.

  • Jim Henderson

    “One of the main reasons the Spurs are so adept at beating doubles is because of Tim Duncan’s patience. Duncan allows himself to be double-teamed and occupies both defenders long enough to allow his teammates to get open and in passing lanes.”

    Good point, Andrew.

  • Tyler

    TD = best passer out of the double team in the modern era. I really wish they kept track of the hockey assist; TD would be up there.

  • Jim Henderson

    Since apparently we don’t want to pull out all the stops to get this guy, I hope he ends up with Bird in Indiana. He’d be a waste on the Warriors, and I’d prefer not to see him on conference competitor, New Orleans.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors;_ylt=AuOYayH5R4dFrqgzi3wJnIq8vLYF

    Tue Aug 24 05:40am PDT
    Amundson expected to sign this week

    By Mark J. Miller

    Louis AmundsonThree teams are left in the running for free-agent forward Lou Amundson, who is expected to make his final choice this week, according to USA Today.

    The Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets, and Indiana Pacers, which needs a big man after trading away Troy Murphy(notes), are vying for Amundson, the paper reports. It will be the 6-9, 238-pound Amundson’s fourth team in five seasons.

    “We’re getting close to doing something,” his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told the paper. “I think we’ll get something done with Louis this week.”

    Amundson averaged 4.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists last season for the Phoenix Suns.”

  • rob

    If Tiago’s passing ability can translate to the NBA….it’ll be a long time in the waiting to have someone other than Duncan consistently adept at passing out of double teams.

    Of course Splitter will have to play well enough to warrant double teams.

    @Jim Henderson

    I read that article and was thinking the same with regards to New Orleans.

    But if Blair can improve upon last season this year…I think they (the Spurs) will be alright without Amundson. Though it would have been nice to acquire him thus giving the team unlimited potential in the post off the bench.

  • http://projectspurs.com Robby

    Good take! the Spurs are one of the best teams at beating the double team mainly because of Duncan.

    Btw guys, it would be nice to hear your thoughts on this… http://projectspurs.com/2010-articles/august/playing-with-the-big3.html Thanks!

  • Jim Henderson

    rob
    August 26th, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    “But if Blair can improve upon last season this year…I think they (the Spurs) will be alright without Amundson.”

    But they’re completely different players. Amundson fills a role that Blair could not possibly fill: he’s a great defender & shot-blocker. On the other hand, Blair has excellent potential on the offensive end, and Amundson does not, so they would compliment each other perfectly.

  • andy

    love the writeup. as a guard who posts up in pickup ball, i actually get double teams on occasion, and learning to be patient was one of my favorite things to have picked up from my spurs fandom.

    re: the project spurs article
    i hate to disagree with lim, but didn’t battier say that ginobili is the most balanced driver in the nba, which is part of why he’s so dangerous? with all due respect, splitter can set a pick any which way, and ginobili will probably make something out of it.

    the rest is sort of “duh” stuff for the hardcore spurs fans. that said, i hope this “focus on Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili” will still be there and provide opportunities for these new guys to shine. if we can get standout play from just splitter and anderson, and just a few shots knocked down a game from neal, i can see us making at least the wcf.

  • BALLHOG

    @ Jim Henderson

    In ref to that guy from Denver…Totally agree.

    I would make this deal happen regardless of who had to be traded.

    Franchise player. Immediate Impact for Spurs. Increased chances in the West, increased interest and ticket sales….Instant Contender…

    But with this FO and coach,

    We all know better…………….

  • Bushka

    I wouldn’t have minded having Amundson, but I doubt he’d have been happy on a short term contract with very limited minutes available.

    I’m guessing he was looking for some long term stability and a chance to grab a role for himself this season.

    I’d be happy to have him but I doubt he’d be happy to sit round as the 4th or 5th big off the bench.

    I also have never been a fan of grouping together guys that can’t shoot well from outside the paint. I don’t know how Tiago is with that, but if Blair hasn’t improved with it then you can’t play him and someone like Amundson together.

    I see the niche but I just don’t think we are thin enough up front.

    96 minutes between the two power spots.

    Timmy gets 30, you’d have to think Tiago gets 28 to 30, 20-25 for Blair, and 15 for McDyess? 7 mins for Bonner?

    Obviously there will be injuries but theres no way i’d sign on a club with potentially 5 frontline players in front of me if i was Amundson. Nor would I be a club that gives someone a contract just to sit there.

  • Bushka

    @Ballhog,

    I didn’t see any mention of that Guy from Denver? Do you mean Carmello?

    He is seriously inefficient and can’t play any defence. Has one of the most ridiculous usage rates in the league to get his numbers.

    Denver will get better without him.

    Or do you mean JR Smith?

  • Bushka

    K that last comment came out wrong in Edit.

    Denver will get better without him was meant to be about JR Smith. Not Carmello.
    Carmello obviously is a very valuable scorer, I just don’t think he’d flourish in San Antonio.

  • Jim Henderson

    Bushka
    August 27th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    My response to this post from the most recent thread as of 8/28/10:

    Jim Henderson
    August 27th, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    Bushka
    August 27th, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    “Jim I don’t disagree that Amundsons talented, but do you really see the minutes for him on this team?”

    Yeah, I do. It would make the most sense to include McDyess in a sign & trade with the Suns (and perhaps Gee or a draft pick if necessary). The Suns have a small and/or inexperienced front line. That team’s going nowhere with that front line. McDyess would give them some veteran toughness and depth on their front line, and is pretty good at hitting the mid-range jumper in a Suns transition offense. In that case:

    TD – 28 mpg
    Blair – 24
    Splitter – 24

    AND

    Amundson & Bonner – 12 & 8 respectively –

    depending on the situation and matchups – in some cases I would sit Bonner, particularly if our other 3-point shooters are doing well, and boost Amundson’s minutes up to 18 or so. And of course, we should rest Duncan as much as possible, in which case the minutes for the other bigs would all go up. Amundson is a different player than McDyess, but is an overall upgrade, and is 9 years younger.

    If we couldn’t unload McDyess (I don’t mean this pejoratively – I like Dice), than I would turn Bonner and/or McDyess into situational bigs, depending on front line injury status, the matchups, and perhaps some minutes during some of TD’s rest days.

    Anyway you look at it, I would still get another big for our front line, even if I had to go for an LLE or vet min. guy like Mbenga or Boone. They can battle McDyess & Bonner for minutes, and they would help with size in certain matchups. But then gain, I wouldn’t have signed Bonner for 4 mil. either.

    And by the way, if Amundson wants to play for the best franchise in sports over the past decade, and have a reasonable shot at a title, and play with the best PF of all-time, I suggest he consider the Spurs over those other loser teams. He’s not going to get a lot of minutes on those teams anyway — no more than 20 mpg. IMO. If we trade McDyess, he could get 12-18 mpg. here. And even if we don’t, I would sit McDyess and Bonner more and play Amundson as the 4th big. Splitter & Duncan can hit the mid-range shot, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see improvement in Blair’s jumper. And even Amundson knocks down a 15 footer now & then. The main point is we have a much better rebounding & defensive team (including an excellent young shot-blocker) that can run the floor in transition with an Amundson pick up. And in my view, that’s what we need.

    Read more: http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2010/08/27/san-antonio-spurs-defensive-identity/#comments#ixzz0xvZNr96M

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