'Nash Rule' on Pick and Rolls

[Hat]

Found this little blurb on RealGM:

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi..._nash_rule_against_all_pick_and_roll_players/

Two or three years ago, coach Mike Woodson developed what the Hawks call "the Nash rule" to dictate how it would defend Steve Nash on the pick-and-roll. "He dissected people off the pick-and-roll," Woodson said Thursday. "Nobody knew how to play him, and people still don't know how to play him. We struggle to play him because he's so good at it."
Woodson wouldn't divulge the specifics of it, but said that the team now uses the Nash rule against "anybody that's a pick-and-roll player."

I've been seeing a lot of the P&R just fizzle out this year. It hardly works anymore as teams have found that the P&R is the Suns practically only offensive speciality. I'm going to watch how Atlanta defends it tomorrow night, but I think I got a clue: Teams are double teaming Nash immediately on the P&R (usually with whoever is guarding Amare). This creates very little room for Nash to pass, who has to either take a tough shoot, or drives to the baseline where the key is packed. When Nash IS able to pass the ball, Amare is guarded by the big defending Frye (who is camped out on the 3). Amare usually has to shoot he J, or drives to the basket for a very tough layup.

 

[AfroSuns]

Interesting, i hope the Suns bench will also be taking notes tomorrow. I wonder if it could also be what we have seen mostly this year; switch and cover Nash with a big. One thing that is very obvious this season, is the very physical way Nash has being played.