Out of the Timeout: A corner 3 for Richard Jefferson

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In our Out of the Timeout series this week, we look at a play the San Antonio Spurs ran in the fourth quarter of their 124-121 overtime win against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

This play starts out with DeJuan Blair (4) throwing the ball in to Tony Parker (1) and both players going up court. Many times, the big man who threw the ball in stays up near the top of the key at the beginning of the play. But in this instance, Blair goes all the way to the low block.

As Blair makes his way down low, Tim Duncan (5) moves up from the other block towards the top of the key to set a pick on Tony Parker’s defender. As Duncan sets up to pick Parker’s man, Ish Smith, Smith changes his angle to take on Duncan. Recognizing this, Tony Parker dribbles away from Duncan’s pick.

After a couple of dribbles to his left, Parker crosses over and comes back towards Duncan, this time with a more pick-friendly Smith. After setting the pick, Duncan rolls to the basket. As this is going on DeJuan Blair casually tries to get in a position between Richard Jefferson (3) and the man guarding him.

While Parker dribbles off Duncan’s pick, Blair sets a screen on Jefferson’s man, Shane Battier, who is watching the Parker and Duncan pick-and-roll. Coming off the pick, Parker fires a pass to the opposite corner for Jefferson. Who catches it and knocks down the shot.

 

  • ITGuy

    Go Spurs Go!!

  • SpurINhouston

    As long as RJ has got the 3 in him, we’ll be hittin’ open 3’s all night (threats from Ginobli, RJ, Bonner-when healed,) or bank shots from TD/DeJuan and McD. I love the versatility because we also have TP the penetrator who has been slicing down the middle for either the foul or easy layup. I’m aware of the defense deficit but, c’mon….you gotta admit that this year’s offense is tons quicker and cleaner than last year (the turnovers will lessen with time).

  • Jacques

    Love how TP is making Smith move around. In this case, it looks like Tony could’ve also hit the jumper in case the screen for RJ was not there. GO SPURS!!!

  • Colin

    Great back-screen by Blair! That made the play happen.

  • Hobson13

    Colin
    November 8th, 2010 at 8:00 am

    You’re right. Blair’s screen made that work. That’s yet another thing he’s very good at. His wide frame is really good at setting solid screens. Once this kid finds his touch (and he wasn’t as bad against the Rocks) he’ll go back to being the Beast. Here’s to hoping he has a break through game tonight.

  • ImWithStupid

    Love the breakdown, who knew Blair had a little sneaky ninja in him, very smooth…… Great to see all Jeffersons work with Pop pay off. Has the making of a really bad “Made for TV movie”. They would have to cast Billy Bob Thornton as Pop… Epic!

  • Colin

    @Hobson

    Blair will be fine. As far as the breakout game goes, I don’t see too many more 23 pt 20 reb performances in his career such as he had last year. I was never one who saw him as a “difference maker” for this team or any other team. He might be the difference in a few games during this season because it is 82 games but not as a go to player. He simply makes the Spurs better under most circumstances by complementing Ginobili, Duncan, Parker, and Jefferson’s skills (hopefully if his improvement continues).

    I think what happened on that Jefferson corner 3 is a microcosm of what his career will be. He will always be a dependable rebounder/hustler/garbage point scorer/screen-setting machine. He does a lot for this team.

    What more can a 6’7″ (??) power forward with no jump shot or offensive “go to” move expect to be in this league? I don’t want to hear Barkley, Boozer, or any other unfathomable comparisons either. Blair can’t and perhaps never will hold a candle to Barkley and his overall skill set.

  • rob

    If the percentage of those shots could manage to stay around 38% for the rest of the season…the Spurs are in good shape offensively. A 38% 3 point average is the same as a 57% 2 point average.

    Notch up the D…and the Spurs will be one of the favorites come playoff.

    To the people in the know and have been around the Spurs at close hand…how does Jeffersons demeanor/reaction with other players seem to be this year compared to last?

    Also…one can’t help to be happy for both the Spurs and Jefferson. He could have pouted and not been professional and/or serious about improving this summer. His work and commitment show how great a character Jefferson is.

  • ThatBigGuy

    I love how Pop took advantage of proper defense to get RJ an open shot. Watch Battier as Tony fakes the drive to RJ’s corner. He’ll slide over to cover RJ, because he knows that you never leave a shooter to cover a driver. But when Tony heads the other way off the Duncan screen, Battier slides back toward the lane as a weak-side help defender. That’s when Blair nails him with the back screen.

    Also, if Duncan has to roll hard down the lane so that Scola has to pick him up. That means Hayes has to recover off his hedge, run down the lane, recognize that Scola picked up Duncan, find Blair, then realize the ball is in RJ’s hand already. This leaves the Spurs playing 5 on 4, as Hayes is just scrambling around. If Duncan doesn’t roll hard, Hayes can recover from his hedge and Scola stays home with Blair, allowing him to push Blair off his screen or cover RJ until Battier recovers.

    We had a play just like this, only instead of RJ staying in the corner for the 3, he ran the baseline for an alley.

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  • Jim Henderson

    Colin
    November 8th, 2010 at 9:29 am

    “What more can a 6’7″ (??) power forward with no jump shot or offensive “go to” move expect to be in this league? I don’t want to hear Barkley, Boozer, or any other unfathomable comparisons either. Blair can’t and perhaps never will hold a candle to Barkley and his overall skill set.”

    You just prefer to assume that a 21 year old player with obvious physical ability and mental determination cannot develop a dependable jumper with sufficient practice/time, and become a force inside. There have been many players in this league over the years that have improved their overall game immensely from age 21-25. And Blair is likely to be one of them. Barkley is not a good example, but a Boozer-type player is certainly within reason over the next 4-5 years. I’d say perhaps a 20% chance.

  • Bankshot21

    Jim Henderson
    November 8th, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    “There have been many players in this league over the years that have improved their overall game immensely from age 21-25. And Blair is likely to be one of them.”

    What exactly leads you to this hypothesis? A hope and a prayer? A magical crystal ball? A mood ring? A lamp with a genie in it? What?!

  • rob

    The only problem I see with the “developmental” proccess is that by the time they become “matured” and a legitiment contributor worthy of being on any nba team…it’ll be time for them to sign with another team for money the Spurs aren’t willing to overpay.

    What a waste of time and investement that would be.

  • Menudo

    Love Ninja’s knowing giggle…