Basketball Terminal

Chapter 94 Half

Compared to the first successful low-post pick-and-roll play, Nash's second play didn't work as well. It wasn't that the play design was bad, but rather that there wasn't enough practice, leading to a lack of familiarity with its execution. Nash required Levi, DeAndre Jordan, Irving, and Harden to run a high-post double screen.

This is a sister tactic to the low-post double screen, moving the screen position and ball handler to a higher position, which greatly increases the variety of plays. It requires the two interior players, Levi and DeAndre Jordan, to take turns setting screens for the ball handler multiple times. Furthermore, Levi and Jordan can also set off-ball screens against each other.

For example, DeAndre Jordan might set a screen for Harden, then screen for Levi on the other side before cutting to the basket. At this point, Harden has several options: he can drive to the basket himself or pass to Jordan. Levi, after using the screen, can step back to the top of the key, then back up at a 45-degree angle, and cut inside the paint. Harden can also pass to him for the finish.

The three players need to make the best choices based on the changes in defense, making it difficult for the opponent to defend. The problem is that there are too many choices and it is too complicated. Originally, the pick-and-roll combination of two people only had a few variations, but the complexity increases dramatically with the addition of one more person.

It tests not only the players' experience and ability to adapt to changing situations, but also the level of understanding between teammates; neither can be lacking.

Li Wei, Harden, and Irving haven't practiced this routine much. Irving, Harden, and Green do know how to use it, but it's very predictable. Usually, Harden has the ball, and Irving cuts to the basket after Green's off-ball screen, receiving the ball and going for a layup. There aren't many variations.

DeAndre Jordan, however, understood the intricacies of the game. He told Levi, "This is a tactic that I used to employ when I played with Griffin and Paul on the Clippers. The coach wants you to play the role of Griffin. You need to be able to shoot from the top of the key and at a 45-degree angle, and you also need to be able to drive to the basket."

Li Wei thought to himself, "I'm only getting 50 yuan, do I have to do so much work?" Moreover, according to Nash, this tactic has an upgraded version. After receiving the ball at the high post, Li Wei can provide support, such as hand-off passes, direct passes to teammates cutting to the basket, and bounce passes to guards cutting to the basket.

Li Wei actually knows all of these things; he used to play point guard. But knowing them and having tactical chemistry are two different things. They haven't practiced or played together enough times to develop sufficient teamwork. When they try to execute complex plays, it's easy for mistakes to occur.

After entering the game, Li Wei ran two high double screens and made two mistakes. Once, after setting a screen with DeAndre Jordan, both ran inside simultaneously, preventing Harden from passing and resulting in a missed opportunity. The second time, he faked a move to get rid of his opponent, but fooled Harden, resulting in a wrong pass to the opponent and a turnover.

On the sidelines, D'Antoni said to Nash, "Steve, isn't it too hasty to have them play such complicated tactics now?"

Nash shook his head and said, "Games are the fastest place to test your playing style and grow. A hundred training sessions are not as good as one real game."

D'Antoni sighed. Nash exuded the rawness of a new coach. He was impatient, presumptuous, and made unrealistic demands on the players. However, Nash's rough-around-the-edges approach was actually a good fit for players like Levi, who were equally rough around the edges and had worked his way up to the league.

After two failed attacks, other players might not use this tactic and would opt for a more familiar and simpler one. Li Wei, however, pondered where the problem lay and whether there was a simpler way to get this tactic working and make it work.

On the defensive end, Li Wei maintained a semi-relaxed state; being constantly tense wouldn't work. In a game, you need to learn to balance tension and relaxation so you can concentrate your energy when it's most needed. Both sides entered this state, and the score climbed rapidly. Li Wei seized an opportunity, cut to the basket, and put back in for a layup, scoring 2 points.

Having scored 10 points and reached double figures, the tactical issues remained unresolved. Li Wei tried again, using DeAndre Jordan's screen to shake off the Raptors' players and find a path to the basket. After Irving drove to the rim, he followed closely, seizing the opportunity to put back in the basket for a layup.

Irving was being lenient, missing the layup, so I won't hold back. Points +2, rebounds +1. Li Wei discovered the first advantage of this tactic: as the third man in a double pick-and-roll, he's the easily overlooked player who can steal the opportunity to cut to the basket and grab a rebound.

The Raptors players quickly realized this and bypassed the screen to block Levi's drive to the basket, rendering the tactic ineffective. Players on the court reacted to each move, seeing who had more options and the fastest reaction time.

At halftime, the score was 59-61, with the Raptors leading the Nets by 2 points. Back in the locker room, Li Wei didn't forget to discuss his experience using the tactics with Nash, frankly admitting that it was a bit complicated. Nash told him, "This is the NBA, complexity is normal. Just adapt to it."

This was Nash's response; his way of dealing with problems was old-fashioned, telling you to face the problem head-on and solve it. You can hardly find much comfort from him. Li Wei, however, wouldn't let Nash off the hook, saying sarcastically, "Coach, you can't be ignorant, can you? I heard from DeAndre that this tactic is copied from the Clippers. You copy the Clippers' tactics? I don't think you want to make it to the conference finals."

Nash's forehead veins bulged as he said, "Tactics are universal; can this be called copying?" Actually, Levi was right. This high-post double screen was indeed designed for Griffin. Max had previously reminded him to make some tactical arrangements for Griffin's arrival. So, naturally, it was copied from the Clippers.

With Griffin sidelined due to injury, using Levi as an experiment was perfect. He also wanted to see how well Levi understood and executed the tactics. "I didn't expect this guy to mock me?" Nash ignored everyone else, grabbed his clipboard, and pulled Levi aside to explain the details of the high-post double screen play. After listening for a while, Levi thought, "Damn, he really doesn't understand. Oh well, I'll have to rely on myself."

Actually, Nash wasn't ignorant of the tactic; rather, his understanding of it was somewhat out of touch with the current tactical landscape. Some of his ideas were stuck in the last era, reflecting his memories of setting pick-and-rolls with Stoudemire, Frye, and Marion, and he lacked a proper grasp of Harden and Irving's strengths and weaknesses.

For example, Nash was a typical dynamic ball-handler, moving and weaving a lot after pick-and-rolls, and liked to pass while moving. Harden, on the other hand, was relatively static, making more stationary passes. Nash preferred bounce passes, while Harden preferred horizontal passes and lobs. As for Irving, his passing style was incomparable to Nash's.

"Let me briefly explain a few details. Do you understand?"

Li Wei thought to himself, "I understand, but what's the use? It's not like you're the one going up to pass the ball. There are several angles where it's clearly a bounce pass to score. Harden and Irving don't have that many bounce passes, do they? Also, your understanding of the high post isn't high enough. This isn't the era of the free throw line and the top of the key anymore; the three-point line is more important."

"I... understand half of it."

"Understanding half of it is enough for you. Perform well in the second half."

Nash patted Levi on the shoulder, thinking to himself that someone who could understand half of his tactical skills was quite talented. He was right about Levi; he was a guy worth nurturing.

Li Wei truly regretted it. Why did you have to ask Nash such a good question? Couldn't you have figured it out yourself, or asked him after the game? Next time, ask D'Antoni, or some other coach. But D'Antoni probably isn't much better; otherwise, why would he and Nash be mentor and student?
The third quarter began with the score remaining very close. The Raptors are a highly disciplined team, and Nurse favors zone defense. They even used a 1-3-1 zone formation at one point to counter the Nets' fierce perimeter firepower. With only Siakam left under the basket, DeAndre Jordan really had no answer for him.

Faced with the Raptors' unpredictable zone defense, Nash realized that keeping DeAndre Jordan in the paint was ineffective, so he took Jordan off the court early and brought Levi back in. The best way to break down a zone defense remains to spread the ball out, move it around, and utilize long-range shooting from the perimeter.

The 1-3-1 formation was stretched thin, and Harden seized a great opportunity, making a direct pass to Irving under the basket. Irving penetrated the Raptors' defense, and Siakam blocked him, with someone coming over to help. Irving quickly moved the ball to the left corner, where Levi was positioned. He received the ball, took a three-pointer from the corner, and it went in!
In the first half, Li Wei wasted a three-point opportunity, but this time he made it, bringing his total to 15 points. This three-pointer signaled the failure of the Raptors' 131 zone defense, prompting them to switch back to a 2-3 zone defense and expand their defensive area. Both teams played an open and expansive game on both ends of the court, without much finesse, relying instead on wide-ranging passes, quick turnovers, and a barrage of three-pointers.

The Raptors brought in Japanese player Yuta Watanabe, who, along with Li Wei, is one of only two Asian players in the league. During a fast break, Watanabe seized an opportunity in the right corner and hit a three-pointer, helping the Raptors tie the game. The two teams have very similar offensive styles; NBA teams nowadays tend to have very similar playing styles.

Seeing a Japanese player on the court, it wouldn't be right for Li Wei not to try and take him down. The two were matched up against each other, and Nurse didn't want Siakam to wear down Li Wei too much, as he needed Siakam's isolation plays in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Li Wei greeted Harden, who immediately understood and led Li Wei and Brown to execute a double screen play at the high post. This time, Li Wei played the role previously played by DeAndre Jordan, first setting a screen for Harden in the middle, then for Brown, and then cutting to the basket.

Harden lobbed a pass to Li Wei, who jumped and landed under the basket. However, the play wasn't entirely successful. The Raptors' defense remained organized, with Watanabe Yuta holding up his hands under the basket to block Li Wei, while a Raptors player came to help from the side.

However, for Li Wei, it was already a success. His upper body activated Armament Haki, transforming him into a mini-Ma Long, and he dribbled the ball sideways, pushing aside Watanabe Yuta, and scored with a layup off the backboard. The referee blew his whistle and called a defensive foul on Watanabe Yuta!

Li Wei roared, his arms brimming with power.

Yuta Watanabe glanced innocently at the referee. It didn't matter; Levi's jump shot was powerful, and Watanabe, lacking the strength, forced his way down, naturally resulting in a foul. This was Watanabe's first time playing against Levi, though he already knew of his reputation. He hadn't expected this Chinese-American center to have such a strong drive.

Li Wei made the free throw, bringing his score to 18 points, getting closer to surpassing 21. But what made Li Wei even happier was that the high-post double screen play had worked. Nash, watching from the sidelines, thought to himself, "He only understood half of my idea. No wonder there were flaws; he only executed half the play successfully."

Everything is perfectly reasonable.

(End of this chapter)