Playing By Jerry's Rules

[George O'Brien]

A few years ago the NBA (under Jerry Colangelo's institgation) radically changed the defensive rules to eliminate the old "illegal defense" calls. The immediate result was to see defenses predominate in the playoffs leading up to the championship by the Pistons.

However, the purpose was not to help defenses. It was to get rid of the slow down tactics teams had developed to exploit the illegal defense rules. In particular, it was to eliminate the predominance of the "clear out play" and the "back down, pitch out" plays that everyone was running. These plays along with the famed "triangle" were all designed to exploit the illegal defense rules - but all slowed down the game.

Successful coaches do what works. With the clearout play, the team pulls players away from the man with the ball and permit the player to try to beat his opponent one on one. If he gets by his man he can go to basket or pitch out to a teammate whose man had come by to help out. Often the result was that the player would end up dribble the ball on the outside, trying to set up a quick first step to get around his man. Everyone else was concerned with spacing and being ready for the ball in a catch and shoot situation.

The back down, pitch out play has a big guy try to back his opponent down into the basket until someone comes by to double team. At that point, the man with the ball passes to the man who is left open. The rules were changed to prevent guys from dribbling the ball for a long time while waiting for the double team, but it was still very slow.

Triangle is too complicated to explain, but it was another slow down offense.

Teams used slow down offenses because they worked, but the result was a stagnat game. Letting teams double to deny the ball, play layered zone, and other techniuqes have taken a lot of the advantage away from super one on one players.

The objective of the rule changes was to force teams to run. It was not an accident that the only team that seriously threatened the Pistons in the playoffs was the Nets - because they ran the ball. The Pistons defense was not nearly as tough if it was not allowed to get set. The Nets did not have as much talent as the Pistons, but they came close to stealing their series.

The new look Suns will have to work very hard to become good enough on defense to compete. But their ability to run a high speed offense for 48 minutes will make them competative.

 

[Mainstreet]

Originally posted by George O'Brien

The objective of the rule changes was to force teams to run. It was not an accident that the only team that seriously threatened the Pistons in the playoffs was the Nets - because they ran the ball. The Pistons defense was not nearly as tough if it was not allowed to get set. The Nets did not have as much talent as the Pistons, but they came close to stealing their series.

I think this is true of most defenses when they do not have time to set up. The Suns will be looking to push the ball a lot and speed and athleticism must be their ally. Hopefully they will also learn to attack defenses better in the half court as well with Nash to Amare post ups and good ball movement both inside and outside.

 

[PhxGametime]

I've watched the 4 Clippers games and most of 2 of the Mavs games last year - Nash and Richardson feed the post very well, average more 3PTers made per game than anybody else on Suns last year, and both move without ball well(compared to some of Suns players). Three areas that should help Hell boy in the paint - Richardson is great in the paint (although a good post-up player, not a great post-up player - he will draw double teams but IMO he's still more of a in the paint scorer ala Ceballos than a strict great post-up player... JJ is an above average defender though and everywhere I read/hear he's a great post-up player, so maybe Nugzfan is right).

I would like Suns to keep Marion and Johnson - the Suns players slinslin mentions in trades are acceptable to trade but 1 of the remaining Free Agents left wouldn't disappoint me...

 

[Errntknght]

George, "The immediate result was to see defenses predominate in the playoffs leading up to the championship by the Pistons."

Defense has always been predominant in the playoffs.

"These plays along with the famed "triangle" were all designed to exploit the illegal defense rules - but all slowed down the game."

I'm a little fuzzy on the origins of Winter's triangle offense but my recollection is that he was coaching college ball at the time. In any case, it goes too far back in time to be a response to the modern illegal defense rules. The old illegal D rule was hard to exploit - it was a judgement call by a ref that a team was playing a zone. (That was a good system which should never have been abandoned.)


"The back down, pitch out play has a big guy try to back his opponent down into the basket until someone comes by to double team."

The backdown play was used by guards as much as anyone else - Mark Jackson was probably the biggest user of it as a matter of fact. The idea was not really to make a kick out pass... an inside pass was the preferred result. Also, the backdown play was, in fact, killed by the '5 second' rule not the dropping of illegal defense rules. (Quit trying to rewrite history, George!)

"The objective of the rule changes was to force teams to run."

The objective was to put an end to the boring isolation plays, as you stated before. Some people thought that a by product of the rule changes would be to encourage teams to run because scoring in the half court would be more difficult. So far we haven't seen a whole lot of running teams blossom forth.

"The new look Suns will have to work very hard to become good enough on defense to compete. But their ability to run a high speed offense for 48 minutes will make them competative."

I certainly agree with you about the defense part of it. Sadly, the Suns did nothing that stands out as a move toward tough defense this summer. Nash and Q are not noted for their defense and I've never heard Alvin Gentry mentioned as a defensive guru. IIRC, Detroits recent status as a strong defensive team began when Carlisle replaced Gentry.

If anything the Suns D figures to be worse this year than last with the loss of McDyess, White and Harvey from the frontcourt. I guess Vroman will replace Harvey and may well be a slight upgrade. I don't see Amare, Jake and Lampe improving a whole lot on defense with our sorry coaching staff.

BBall_31, "Richardson is great in the paint (although a good post-up player, not a great post-up player - he will draw double teams but IMO he's still more of a in the paint scorer ala Ceballos than a strict great post-up player... JJ is an above average defender though and everywhere I read/hear he's a great post-up player..."

Looking at JJ you'd think he'd be a good post up player but either he's not or he's not been given the opportunity to show it. What you said about Q is good news... I don't know if coach Mikey will use him posting up but if he plays in the style of Ceballos he'll be a major boost on offense. Marion has totally shunned playing in the post or the baseline, which is where CC lived. (However, I sincerely hope Q's defense in not on a par with Cedric's...)

 

[minercon]

Let's face it..Cedric never heard of the word defense. I think all of these moves that they have made this summer will be useless, if they don't retain Marion and JJ to keep the quickness we have imported into this club at a sustainable speed that it appears we are going to maintain. If we are going to run, run, run, these guys are going to need several breathers which are longer than a total of 4 to 8 minutes a game. Each man will need to consistently play between 30 to 35 minutes a game and no more.