12-16-2021, 03:08 PM
(12-16-2021, 12:30 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: THJ was terrible on defense all game long but the final shot wasn´t his fault. The entire team collapsed on every single drive. And that´s exactly what they did on the final possession. Double team forces LBJ to give up the ball. Ellington gets it. Brunson with an overagressive close out to prevent the 32% 3-point shooter from taking the corner 3. Westbrook easily blows by him. Kleber steps up to challenge the drive. THJ has to put a body on AD to prevent the easy layup or lob. Helps in the paint. Is late on the close out. It is his man that makes the shot but the mistakes happened prior to that.
First of all. We can question if blitzing/doubling LBJ was the right decision. DFS gambling for a steal certainly wasn´t the right decision. Turns it into a 4vs5. Took him out of the possession. Next. When Ellington catches the ball Brunson probably could have recovered in time. Instead we have Bullock coming over and helping one pass away. Leaving Westbrook wide open in the corner. Next. Brunson´s terrible close out. Giving up easy penetration.
I think a better defense makes different rotations. Maxi closing out against Westbrook. THJ rotation to the middle and picking up AD. Brunson rotating to the middle. Trying to stay in the passing lanes and preventing the LBJ cut + kick out to Reaves.
Absolutely agree that the Mavs should have used KP. The Lakers aren´t a good shooting team and the Lakers only got an open 3-point opportunity because the Mavs had to collpase to prevent easy points in the paint.
Mavs are awful at this. They need to be coached to close out but then bend their knees and crouch down at the last moment to be able to correct quicker if the shooter decides to try and put it on the floor and blow by the defender.
Especially do this if you are the defender and you know that it could be an easy blow by attempt from the ball holder.
Mavs get caught in this trap too often and the ball handler easily just puts it on the floor and proceeds closer to the basket while our defender is 8 feet behind him now. Frustrating. Happens too often.