08-19-2020, 06:51 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-19-2020, 06:52 AM by DanSchwartzgan.)
Game within the game:
https://theathletic.com/2004399/2020/08/...the-looks/
"On the other side, where to hide a poor defender who is key to an offense is another constant puzzle for a coaching staff to solve. In the exploitative world of playoff strategy, if the opponent knows where to find the weak link, it tends to target him relentlessly. One suspects Rick Carlisle will be searching for the safest harbors in which to shelter Luka Doncic from the sort of low effort blowbys that can obliterate a defense.
Meanwhile, Doncic’s assignments will provide an interesting tactical window into the Clippers-Mavs series. In Game 1, Doncic spent 39.0 percent of his defensive time on Marcus Morris Sr., guarding JaMychal Green and Patrick Beverley 13.0 and 10.1 percent of his defensive time, respectively. Perhaps coincidentally, but also perhaps not, Morris’ strong offensive showing was a big part of the Clippers’ win (almost as big a part as technical fouls, but we’ll save that complaint for another day.) The midseason addition scored 19 on only 13 shots. One suspects that Carlisle would prefer to have Doncic spend time on a smaller threat, which in turn raises the question for Doc Rivers as to how best to deploy Beverley.
It would appear the Clippers prefer to put size onto Doncic, with Morris (30.9 percent), Leonard (18.3 percent) and Paul George (13.4 percent) carrying the bulk of that defensive load. Beverley only guarded Doncic 8.0 percent of the Slovenian’s offensive time. Considering Beverley’s primary skill is as a dogged on-ball defender, and that the Mavs don’t have a lot of other options for that sort of treatment given Doncic’s centrality to the offense, is there much point in Beverley being on the floor at the same time as Doncic if the primary effect will be giving Doncic exactly the sort of low usage hiding place Dallas so desperately would like for him to have?
Watching these moves unfold over the course of both these and every other series will be fascinating subplots as the postseason develops, and we’ll continue to check back to see which adjustments are made and how they work out".
https://theathletic.com/2004399/2020/08/...the-looks/
"On the other side, where to hide a poor defender who is key to an offense is another constant puzzle for a coaching staff to solve. In the exploitative world of playoff strategy, if the opponent knows where to find the weak link, it tends to target him relentlessly. One suspects Rick Carlisle will be searching for the safest harbors in which to shelter Luka Doncic from the sort of low effort blowbys that can obliterate a defense.
Meanwhile, Doncic’s assignments will provide an interesting tactical window into the Clippers-Mavs series. In Game 1, Doncic spent 39.0 percent of his defensive time on Marcus Morris Sr., guarding JaMychal Green and Patrick Beverley 13.0 and 10.1 percent of his defensive time, respectively. Perhaps coincidentally, but also perhaps not, Morris’ strong offensive showing was a big part of the Clippers’ win (almost as big a part as technical fouls, but we’ll save that complaint for another day.) The midseason addition scored 19 on only 13 shots. One suspects that Carlisle would prefer to have Doncic spend time on a smaller threat, which in turn raises the question for Doc Rivers as to how best to deploy Beverley.
It would appear the Clippers prefer to put size onto Doncic, with Morris (30.9 percent), Leonard (18.3 percent) and Paul George (13.4 percent) carrying the bulk of that defensive load. Beverley only guarded Doncic 8.0 percent of the Slovenian’s offensive time. Considering Beverley’s primary skill is as a dogged on-ball defender, and that the Mavs don’t have a lot of other options for that sort of treatment given Doncic’s centrality to the offense, is there much point in Beverley being on the floor at the same time as Doncic if the primary effect will be giving Doncic exactly the sort of low usage hiding place Dallas so desperately would like for him to have?
Watching these moves unfold over the course of both these and every other series will be fascinating subplots as the postseason develops, and we’ll continue to check back to see which adjustments are made and how they work out".