MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 16: Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to an officials call ... [+] during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on April 16, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Milwaukee Bucks and Brook Lopez came out in Game 1 precisely as the Miami Heat expected: In drop pick-and-roll coverage.
Milwaukee has played this basic defensive scheme for five years under Mike Budenholzer, allowing opponents to prepare for it and exploit the shots they are happy to give up. And that’s what Miami did en route to a Game 1 upset over the top-seeded Bucks.
These two teams are familiar with each other—this is the third time in four years they’ve tipped-off in the postseason. Despite Miami only having one day to prepare against Milwaukee following their play-in victory on Friday night, they knew exactly how the Bucks would defend them. The same way they always do.
This allowed Jimmy Butler to go off for 35 efficient points, Bam Adebayo to get hot in the second half, and Miami to rip off 15 threes on just 25 attempts (60 percent) on their way to a scorching 128.7 offensive rating against the NBA’s fourth-ranked defense.
At the heart of all their offensive success was Milwaukee’s drop coverage and unwillingness to move Lopez away from the hoop.
Before Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game with an injury, Milwaukee tried running out a three-big lineup. Antetokounmpo begins the possession defending Butler, something he had a lot of success with in last year’s playoffs. Caleb Martin sets the first pick to switch Bobby Portis onto Butler, with Adebayo setting the second screen.
Lopez likes to stay as close to the hoop as possible on every possession. When his man sets the second pick, he’s barely outside of the restricted area, hoping to prevent a shot at point-blank range. Only, this allows Butler to hop into a rhythm jumper at 14 feet—a very easy shot for anybody with a semblance of touch.
Jimmy Butler rises for a mid-range jumper against the Milwaukee Bucks.
nba.comMiami’s spacing sucks on this play, but that doesn’t prevent Butler from getting an open shot. Despite the crowded atmosphere around the elbow, look how open he is when pulling up.
Miami began exploiting Lopez’s positioning with Butler’s aggressiveness in the first quarter (14 points on 6-for-8 shooting), which evolved to their three-point shooting throughout the rest of the game.
Although they aren’t afraid to bomb away from the outside, they aren’t the most accurate team in the NBA, ranking in the bottom five of three-point percentage. However, it’s a different game when you can get open shots from behind the arc.
As the Heat bring the ball up and run their secondary transition offense, Grayson Allen gets thoroughly screened off by Adebayo, freeing Tyler Herro. As Herro catches the pass, Lopez is a foot below the free throw line, making this the easiest three he’ll get in a playoff game. Unsurprisingly, the 39 percent three-point shooter drains it.
Late in the second quarter, Herro again finds himself with an open three-point attempt. Adebayo receives the pass from Butler and goes into a dribble handoff action with Herro. With Lopez planting two feet inside the paint, the best way to offset that is with a dribble handoff. It puts the defense in a bind, as there’s nobody on the other side of the pick to contest the shot. That’s precisely what happens as they make another lightly contested three.
With Butler cooling off in the second half, Adebayo picked up the scoring slack against the lax defensive scheme.
The Heat big man went 8-for-12 with 17 second-half points and even laughed at Lopez and the Bucks after making another open jumper.
Adebayo isolates Lopez late in the fourth quarter. One-on-one and mano-a-mano. As Adebayo backs up to the three-point line, Lopez retreats five feet below the free throw line. This allows the ball-handler to take one dribble into a lightly contested free throw line jumper. He cashes it and laughs at the Defensive Player of the Year Candidate when Milwaukee is forced to call another timeout.
Milwaukee’s defense has been built around Lopez and this drop scheme for half a decade now. It’s a major reason why they’ve had so much success on that end of the court and have shut down opponents time and time again. Should one game affect that?
Yes and no. I’m not advocating for sweeping changes to the scheme that has literally won the Bucks a title. However, tweaks are needed.
Miami knows the Bucks too well and can prepare and practice the shots that will be available. They’re too comfortable out there. In an attempt to make them less comfortable, Budenholzer has to move his big man away from the hoop—just ever so slightly. He doesn’t have to play at the level of the screen on picks or when defending Adebayo.
He should, however, move up enough to better contest and block those shots Miami wants to take inside the free throw line. By taking just one step closer to the three-point line, Lopez should be able to better contest those shots while still maximizing his ability to protect the paint.
This feels like deja vu for the Bucks. They are far too often victims of the double outlier three-point shooting performance (the one where their opponent makes 60 percent from behind the arc and they make 24 percent). In order to minimize that opportunity and better contest those short mid-range attempts Miami loves, slight alterations are necessary.
Brian Sampson, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2023/04/17/milwaukee-bucks-film-room-heat-exploit-drop-coverage/
By: Brian Sampson, Contributor
Title: Milwaukee Bucks Film Room: Heat Exploit Drop Coverage
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2023/04/17/milwaukee-bucks-film-room-heat-exploit-drop-coverage/
Published Date: 04-17-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NBA salary cap
The NBA salary limit is a cap that restricts the total salary for each team. Each year, the league decides what this limit is. It's designed to prevent teams from signing multiple high priced players, creating unfair advantages and ensuring parity among teams. Teams must stay under the cap to sign free agents or make trades. They can go above it if certain exceptions are made, such as offering Bird rights to players or signing them a contract with a portion taken out of the salary cap and the rest as a bonus. The league salary cap is an integral part and helps to maintain a balanced team roster.
Which NBA player has blocked the most shots in a single season?
Mark Eaton's 1984-85 season set new records in blocks (456) as well as blocks per game (5.56). The NBA's single-season record for Eaton is 256, which is the most ever set.
Hakeem Olajuwon holds the NBA's record for most career blocks at 3,830. Olajuwon had an average of 21.8 points and 11.1 boards over his 18-year playing career, which included 1,238 games. He also had 2.5 assists and 3.1 block per game.
When did Bill Russell pass away?
"The great ones play when it counts most" -Bill Russell
A legend lives forever. When he stops playing, a legend is gone.
But for those few moments, the greatest basketball player gave us a glimpse of his greatness.
Russell was born in February 1934 and died on July 31, 2022. In only thirteen seasons, Russell won 11 championships with Boston Celtics.
Bill Russell has five MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections and was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a remarkable leader and defender, who ignited the game's passion for winning.
He transformed the Celtics' team from one of the worst in sports history to another. He was unselfish and a strong competitor who encouraged his teammates to achieve their full potential.
Russell has inspired generations upon generations of coaches, players, and fans. His legacy will not be forgotten.
Bill Russell, Rest in Peace. You will always be remembered as one the greatest basketball players.
Statistics
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
External Links
bleacherreport.com
sports.yahoo.com
- Yahoo Mail, Weather and Search. Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos.
- NBA Finals Game 1 receives the lowest audience in recorded ratings history
nba.com
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
How To
How can you play NBA fantasy football?
NBA fantasy is a great way to stay engaged with your favourite teams and players throughout the season. To play, you'll need a NBA fantasy league platform or website such as ESPN or Yahoo Sports. After creating an account and joining the league, you will be able to choose your NBA player team.
Once you've established your team, you will be able track each player's stats as well as how they contribute towards your overall score during the season. To get better results for your team, you can easily change your line up at any moment. As the season progresses, you'll need to stay on top of player trades, injuries, and suspensions to stay competitive. You'll see your team's performance compared to other league teams at the end of the season.
NBA fantasy can make the NBA season more interesting for you, your family, and friends. It's worth a try. Good luck building your team, and may the best team win!
