George O'Brien
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It is easy enough to assume that the Lakers are on the decline. But what is more interesting is that the way it happened was that a team was able to shut down Kobe. I'm not sure that would have been possible just a few years ago, but the rules have changed.
The NBA has routinely changed fundimental rules about the game such as adding the 24 second clock, adding the three point line, etc. During the 1950's they outlawed zone defenses and in the late 70's modified the rules to permit some double teaming but still restricted against "illegal defenses". This was drastically changed two years ago and the implications are being felt across the league. One result was the way the the Pistons stopped Kobe.
For most of the history of the NBA, it was not really possible to defense a great wing player. Play him close and he will get by for layup. Play off him and he will hit the long jumper. As long as the illegal defense rules were in place, a guy like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant was effectively unstoppable.
Prior to the change in the rules, one of the most common tactics was to clear out one side of the court and let a guy try to beat his man one on one. It led to a lot of guys dribbling around while everyone stood still waiting for something to happen. If someone tried to get across the court to help on defense, the player could pass the ball and then get it back leaving the second defender out of position and subject to illegal defense calls.
Some people imagine that the new rules led to the common use of zone defenses. There was some, but not really because defenders were not allowed to stay in the paint for more than 3 seconds (except for Shaq
). However, there were some new defensive structures developed that have altered the way the game is being played.
In theory, Kobe was being defensed by a "help man" defense. However, a better description might be to call it it a "press zone". What this defense does is to guard the main scoring threat very tightly with a second man playing in a kind of zone behind the first. This second man would be playing the passing lane with the nearest teammate of the offensive player, but the main thing was to be in possition to respond if the offensive player got by the first man. By studying tendencies, the player would know which way the offensive player would go and be in position when he makes his break.
This press zone is not quite a pure double team because the second man is in position to help out on another player if the balls is passed. What he is doing would have been illegal just a few years ago, but now more and more teams are adopting it.
The Suns saw variations on this approach early in the season against Marbury and then later against Johnson. Johnson struggled for a while, but began to respond the only way this can be beat - by passing the ball. As JJ got special treatment, his assists to Amare and Shawn increased substantially.
Every team will be reviewing the taps of how the Pistons did it and I expect that everyone will be using this press zone against "gimme the ball" stars. Obviously it takes very good defensive players to stop someone like Kobe, but they were not super human. It is simply that they were allowed to do things Kobe never faced during his championship years.
The way to beat the press zone is the "old fashioned way" - quick ball movement, moving without the ball, and a balanced attack. The Pistons did not have a single player who averaged over 18 ppg, but had 8 guys who averaged 9.5 ppg or better. (Of course, holding opponents to an average of only 84 ppg didn't hurt). In the old days, the playoffs were where the superstars would get the points and the supporting guys didn't - but that model is now in serious question.
Obviously having a good offensive system AND an offensive superstar is ideal, but the day when a wing player can totally dominate on his own may be coming to an end.
The NBA has routinely changed fundimental rules about the game such as adding the 24 second clock, adding the three point line, etc. During the 1950's they outlawed zone defenses and in the late 70's modified the rules to permit some double teaming but still restricted against "illegal defenses". This was drastically changed two years ago and the implications are being felt across the league. One result was the way the the Pistons stopped Kobe.
For most of the history of the NBA, it was not really possible to defense a great wing player. Play him close and he will get by for layup. Play off him and he will hit the long jumper. As long as the illegal defense rules were in place, a guy like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant was effectively unstoppable.
Prior to the change in the rules, one of the most common tactics was to clear out one side of the court and let a guy try to beat his man one on one. It led to a lot of guys dribbling around while everyone stood still waiting for something to happen. If someone tried to get across the court to help on defense, the player could pass the ball and then get it back leaving the second defender out of position and subject to illegal defense calls.
Some people imagine that the new rules led to the common use of zone defenses. There was some, but not really because defenders were not allowed to stay in the paint for more than 3 seconds (except for Shaq
). However, there were some new defensive structures developed that have altered the way the game is being played.In theory, Kobe was being defensed by a "help man" defense. However, a better description might be to call it it a "press zone". What this defense does is to guard the main scoring threat very tightly with a second man playing in a kind of zone behind the first. This second man would be playing the passing lane with the nearest teammate of the offensive player, but the main thing was to be in possition to respond if the offensive player got by the first man. By studying tendencies, the player would know which way the offensive player would go and be in position when he makes his break.
This press zone is not quite a pure double team because the second man is in position to help out on another player if the balls is passed. What he is doing would have been illegal just a few years ago, but now more and more teams are adopting it.
The Suns saw variations on this approach early in the season against Marbury and then later against Johnson. Johnson struggled for a while, but began to respond the only way this can be beat - by passing the ball. As JJ got special treatment, his assists to Amare and Shawn increased substantially.
Every team will be reviewing the taps of how the Pistons did it and I expect that everyone will be using this press zone against "gimme the ball" stars. Obviously it takes very good defensive players to stop someone like Kobe, but they were not super human. It is simply that they were allowed to do things Kobe never faced during his championship years.
The way to beat the press zone is the "old fashioned way" - quick ball movement, moving without the ball, and a balanced attack. The Pistons did not have a single player who averaged over 18 ppg, but had 8 guys who averaged 9.5 ppg or better. (Of course, holding opponents to an average of only 84 ppg didn't hurt). In the old days, the playoffs were where the superstars would get the points and the supporting guys didn't - but that model is now in serious question.
Obviously having a good offensive system AND an offensive superstar is ideal, but the day when a wing player can totally dominate on his own may be coming to an end.
