Breaking Down the 5 Basic Principles of the Chicago Bulls Defense

 Chicago  No Responses »
Oct 222012
 

Tom Thibodeau’s defenses are the stuff of legends. Since he started coaching in the NBA, he has consistently led the best defenses in the Association, no matter who he’s coached for or who has played under him.

He started coaching with the Spurs from 1992 to 1994. Over those three years, the Spurs were the fifth-best defense in the NBA as evidenced by defensive rating.

From 1995 to 1996, he was with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he had the lone blemish on his record as Philadelphia had the second-worst defense in the NBA over that span. 

Subsequent history suggests that was more related to the team’s willingness to be coached than it had to do with Thibodeau’s defense.

From there, he went to New York. With the Knicks from 1997 to 2003, Thibodeau’s defenses were the third-best in the NBA.

Then he left for Houston, where the Rockets sustained the third-best defense in the league from 2004 to 2007.

Thibodeau then signed with the Celtics, and from 2008 to 2010, the Celtics had the best defense in the NBA.

Then he was offered a head coaching job. Since that point, the Bulls are tied with Boston for the best defensive rating in the league.

In other words he’s been coaching one of the three best defenses in the NBA for the last 15 years. 

That kind of sustained success is impressive enough, but when you consider the various teams he’s done so with, it’s even more impressive. The sheer volume of players that he has had to teach his system to is phenomenal. He had 35 players with the Spurs, 35 with the Sixers, 45 with the Knicks, 42 with the Rockets,  38 with the Celtics and 18 with the Chicago Bulls. All together, that accounts for a grand total of 213 players from six different teams.

The only consistency has been success. So what is the secret to Thibodeau’s success? Why are his defenses consistently at the top of the rankings? There are five keys to his defensive success: stop the dribble penetration, cut off the passing lanes, force a bad and/or contested shot, secure the rebound and do all of this without fouling. 

Here is a play broken down into screen-caps that illustrates how the Bulls typically accomplish each of these five tasks.

 

1. Stop the Dribble Penetration

First, even though this defensive play is coming off of a long rebound, they get back and into position before the Miami Heat have a chance to run a transition play. With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade both on the floor, that’s no mean feat. James tries to penetrate, but all of the driving lanes are cut off, so he is forced to pass the ball off to Dexter Pittman along the baseline, who in turn is stopped from driving by Joakim Noah.

 

2. Seal off the Passing Lanes

Failing to get the ball inside by dribble penetration, Miami tries to get the ball inside by passing. Pittman passes the ball out to James who, after failing to get it to Udonis Haslem, swings it out to Wade. Wade tries to dribble it in but gets stopped by Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and C.J. Watson. As time winds down (note the 5.0 seconds left on the clock), he dumps it off to Haslem, but Deng keeps Haslem from going anywhere, so Haslem kicks it out to Mario Chalmers.

This is because the Bulls are doing an excellent job of guarding the passing lanes. Note how their feet and shoulders are set at the same angle (with the exception of Deng who was just picked). It’s because they are working as a single unit to “seal” the lane. They are working in concert, not as individuals. 

They maintain this “seal” by rotating to help one another. Wherever the ball goes, they essentially “flow” as a unit, each covering for the other and always doubling up on the ball. It’s why the Heat can’t get any penetration here, neither by dribbling nor passing. 

This, in many ways, is just fundamental basketball, not smoke and mirrors or gimmick defense. It does take a consistent concentration and effort for each player to be in the right position at the right time. It requires tremendous team discipline and mutual trust. Every player has to believe that if he steps to help one teammate, the next teammate will step in to help him.

 

3. Force a Bad and/or Contested Shot

What makes Thibodeau’s defenses special is that by working his team so hard on the defensive end of the court, they learn that trust by instinct. It pays off here as the Heat are unable to find the shot they want, so they pass it off to Chalmers with 1.4 seconds on the clock who has to rush a three-point shot, which does not go in. .

 

4. Secure the Rebound

Another reason why the Bulls are so successful is because they don’t stop playing defense until they have the ball. Note how they are positioned for the rebound—which they do, in fact, secure.

Essentially, Thibodeau’s strategy can be distilled down to the three words—“one bad shot”—because that’s what he wants to give you, one bad shot. If you can beat the Bulls with off-balance threes with defenders in your face and time running out, you’ve earned it. His bet is that more often than not, that’s not going to happen.

This bears out with the statistics. According to Hoopdata, the Bulls forced their opponents into taking a league-high 24.8 long-twos (16-23 feet, basketball’s most inefficient shot.) They also gave up the third-lowest field goal percentage from that range. In other words, they forced their opponents to take a lot of bad shots, and not surprisingly, they missed them.

When they missed them, the Bulls were fairly effective at getting the ball back. According to Synergy, no team in the league gave up fewer points off of offensive rebounds than the Chicago Bulls.

By sealing off the driving and passing lanes, the Bulls force a lot of bad shots. By challenging those shots, they ensure that opponents miss a large chunk of them. Then by securing the rebounds, they eliminate second-chance points. That’s not gimmicky, that’s defense, and that’s why it’s survived for so long.

 

5. Don’t Foul

Finally, there is one other thing that the play doesn’t show because it didn’t happen: There is no foul. The Bulls gave up only .175 free throws per field goal attempt, which according to basketball-reference, is the third-lowest rate in the league. That’s a pretty remarkable figure for a team that plays as physical as the Bulls do.

It’s also why, even though the Bulls are adding a number of new players this year, there is reason to expect that Thibodeau will have no problem teaching his 214th through 218th players the same system that the previous 213 have already learned. That system is enough to keep the Bulls in playoff contention.

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Why Jason Terry’s Comments About Lakers, Heat Will Set Celtics Up for Failure

 Boston  No Responses »
Sep 262012
 

If his new tattoo’s message wasn’t loud and clear enough, Jason Terry now has some choice words for the two clubs most likely to impede his title hopes (via CSNNE Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely):

“My mission is to kill; whether it’s the Heat, whether it’s the Lakers. Hopefully both. That’s my mission, and that’s what I’m here to do,” Terry said on Tuesday shortly before teeing off at the Fifth Annual USI Shamrock Classic which was hosted by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation.

That’s one way of putting it.

This wouldn’t be the first time the sixth-man assassin played an integral role in a championship run, so the Celtics have every reason to believe he’ll do the same for them. And just as his 2010-11 Mavericks were hardly title favorites from day one, Boston enters the season trailing the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat in most title discussions.

And as improved as these Celtics are, few would dispute that the Lakers and Heat appear to have an edge—at least to some extent, and at least at this very moment.

That’s precisely why a cold-blooded assassin is needed.

But Terry’s comments are almost as dangerous as his pull-up jumper, and this time for the Celtics. Before responding with reminders about the importance of competitive fire and all that good stuff, you should remember that Boston already has plenty.

There’s enough edge in Kevin Garnett to go around the entire Eastern Conference. This team isn’t short on passion.

Beyond the question of necessity, though, there’s the more important question of prudence.

Is it really a good idea for Terry to be barking up this tree?

If you’re selling tickets, of course it is. Regardless of what JET contributes on the floor, he’s one heck of a marketing gimmick. In case the Celtics and Lakers didn’t already have enough of a rivalry going, Terry will fix that in short order.

And as Ray Allen’s replacement, he personifies the jilted lover’s new catch. Should the Celtics and Heat again butt heads in the postseason, the opportunity for Terry to outperform Allen and make him regret his defection would instantly rank as one of the most intriguing subplots.

Apparently, Terry is already making sure of just that, announcing his intent well in advance.

While such fodder is well-suited to drumming up hype, it also risks firing up a couple of clubs who aren’t likely to be intimidated. Does anyone really think L.A.’s savvy veterans and Miami’s big egos are in the least bit phased?

Herein lies the dangerous part.

Terry’s comments are going to end up on a locker-room chalkboard at some point, and it won’t be Boston’s. This is the kind of provocation that provokes in all the wrong ways—just ask the Indiana Pacers.

With a none-too-subtle chip on on their shoulders, the Pacers at times seemed more concerned with the optics of the semifinals than just doing their jobs and winning games. Danny Granger was getting in faces, Lance Stephenson (who?) was taunting LeBron James and head coach Frank Vogel was calling out Miami’s floppiness.

It all made for great entertainment.

Chances are it wound up distracting the wrong team though. The Heat appeared ever-so-briefly flustered in the series only to wrap said series up with renewed focus and the kind of business-like attitude that eluded Indiana.

We can only speculate about the psychology underlying such a turnaround, but no one would be surprised if that renewed focus were the product (at least in part) of the Heat taking umbrage with Indiana’s tough-guy sensibilities.

Terry’s incendiary remarks run a similar risk.

He may be trying to fire of his team and fans alike, but he could be firing up the wrong side, always a dangerous proposition when “stay-puft” bouncer Dexter Pittman is on the other team.

While Miami and Los Angeles are more likely to respond with a cold-blooded professionalism than commensurate theatrics, the other problem is that Terry is implicitly creating expectations for Boston. The Celtics probably have a better shot at the title than many outside Boston think, but that’s the last thing anyone inside the locker room should be worried about.

A good quarterback always tells the media he’s thinking about next week’s game, not the Super Bowl.

Terry should do the same.  

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Miami Heat Video: South Beach Fans Prove as Insufferable as Team in Tribute

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Jun 082012
 

Miami Heat fans have various expectations of their team, and they start, not end, with multiple trophies. 

At least, that is what I gleaned from this clever little tribute video that includes mention of the NBA basketball legend Rony “I’m too sexy for this jersey” Seikaly and Harold “Don’t call me Baby Jordan” Miner. 

The song is called “Young, Wild and Heat” and is based on the song “Young, Wild & Free” by Wiz Khalifa. 

Yeah, I don’t think this video will garner fans outside Miami. But that’s okay, because this basketball boy band don’t care about the haters. 

It’s a nice little song with some chuckle moments but in all, it serves to exacerbate the feelings the rest of the nation has about this team and their fans. 

I really hope the Heat are on their way to an NBA title, because then things like this will actually have some measure of credence. 

Let’s take a look at some lyrics: “So what we got Bosh?/That’s how you get trophies.”

Yes, signing Chris Bosh has been the impetus behind a plethora of NBA titles.

General managers around the league are hitting themselves while thinking, “If we could just sign Bosh we would be swimming in trophies.”

“Taking talents to South Beach, Lebron told Jim Gray/ When he left the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert went kray/ And that’s when we threw that welcome par-tay/ Counting rings from the future, it’s the Heat way.”

This is my fave. It really hits the nail on the head as the Heat and their fans continue to celebrate the wealth of rings they are yet to win: “Thrive on the hating, we play to high ratings/ Step to the Heat and your D’s disintegrating.”

Um, this one is actually true. 

I certainly hope there is at least one championship in the future for this crew—or videos like this will look even sillier in time. 

Oh, and unless you dress up and hit the court, please stop referring to your team as “we.”

Just a thought, because at this point, even Dexter Pittman is barely able to do that. 

Follow me on Twitter and we can fight about it. 

Follow @gabezal

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Pacers vs. Heat: Miami Proves They Are Tough Enough to Win NBA Finals

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May 252012
 

The Miami Heat ousted the Indiana Pacers from the playoffs last night and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. During the course of the six-game series, they displayed the toughness and resilience required of a champion.

In the decisive contest, the Heat were forced to compete without star Chris Bosh (injury), key forward Udonis Haslem and backup center Dexter Pittman (suspensions). Their absences did not matter, as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and the rest of the supporting cast were able to will the team to a 105-93 victory.

Most importantly, the Miami players learned that they are able to take a punch (sometimes literally), get back up and keep fighting. They quickly adapted and didn’t quit or back down, even if it meant drawing a technical or chancing suspension to prove a point and get even.

Towards the beginning of the series, Indiana had gained a psychological advantage over their opponent. Danny Granger constantly confronted LeBron and his pseudo-tough guy act appeared to be making an impact on the King.

The Pacers as a whole seemed to be concentrated on consistently delivering hard playoff fouls and daring the refs to call them each time. They took a 2-1 advantage and appeared destined to pull off the upset.

Game 4 was a turning point and LeBron was clearly fed up with being bullied. He exploded for 40 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists with Wade following suit by putting together a 30 point, nine rebound, six assist performance during a 101-93 win.

Miami did not lose a game the rest of series and finally forged an identity.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat will take on the winner of the Celtics vs. 76ers series. Both of those squads are just as, if not more chippy than the Pacers. The Heat will not let that quality affect them in that series, as they are battle-hardened and ready to win a championship after overcoming the Pacers. 

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NBA Correct in Not Suspending Indiana Pacers’ Tyler Hansbrough for Game 6

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May 242012
 

Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat got a little more physical than the previous games in the series. We’ve seen both Danny Granger and LeBron James get into it through the first four games. But Game 5 was different. 

The action started to get out of hand in the second quarter after Indiana forward Tyler Hansbrough fouled Miami guard Dwyane Wade hard. Hansbrough was clearly making a play on the ball but followed through a bit too much and slapped Wade across the face, drawing blood. Wade was not seriously injured and finished the game without issue. Hansbrough was given a flagrant foul. 

Less than a minute later, Heat center Udonis Haslem retaliated with a two-handed attack to Hansbrough’s face, knocking him to the floor without making an attempt on the ball. Haslem received a flagrant as well.

The worst play of the game came after the score was already easily in Miami’s favor. With less than a minute left in the blowout, Heat center Dexter Pittman put his forearm into Pacers guard Lance Stephenson’s neck. 

The NBA of course wants their games to be exciting but not dangerous. With that in mind, the NBA announced a three game suspension for Pittman and a one game ban for Haslem. Noticeably left off that list was Hansbrough.

This was the correct call. In determining discipline for hard fouls, the intent is more important than the result. 

As Wade and Hansbrough went up together in the second quarter, the Pacer forward directed his efforts towards the ball—not his opponent. His intent wasn’t to hurt or intimidate but to make a basketball play.

Haslem and Pittman had no regard for their opponents’ safety. It is clear on replays that Haslem’s hands come down on Hansbrough before he even releases the shot. Pittman’s play was just disgusting.

It’s the playoffs—it is going to get physical. But basketball is not hockey. You can’t fight or make a big hit on the other guy to gain momentum or establish your authority. Hansbrough wasn’t attempting to do either with his foul. It’s hard to say the same about Haslem.

The shorthanded Heat will try and close out the series tonight in Indianapolis without two of its role players. Pittman hasn’t contributed much so far in these playoffs, but Haslem had provided much needed height for Miami. His 5.4 rebounds per game is third most on the team through 10 playoff games. His absence is a key storyline to watch in tonight’s game.

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Heat vs. Pacers: Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra Accuses Indiana of Headhunting

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May 242012
 

Erik Spoelstra has poured gasoline onto the wildfire that has become the Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers playoff series.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, coach Spo believes that the Pacers have been committing unreasonable and dangerous hard fouls—particularly against LeBron James and Dwyane Wade—in every contest between the two teams this season.

“The league does not have a problem with hard fouls on our two main guys. In nine games now, there’s been over a dozen hard fouls to the face, some of the tomahawk variety,” he said. “Some of them have drawn blood. They don’t have a problem with it, so we don’t have a problem with it. Our guys will continue to attack. They’ll play their game and we’ll focus on what we can control.”

Spoelstra isn’t wrong, as his star players have been on the receiving end of some ridiculous hits, but he who lives in a glass house should not cast stones. Certain Miami players have been committing the most egregious acts of the series.

The first four games saw Danny Granger and LeBron going back and forth at one another, Wade demolishing Darren Collison on a fast break and numerous other brutal acts that do not belong on a basketball court.

Game 5 was a tipping point, an absolute dogfight that saw two Miami players get suspensions for violent play and Tyler Hansbrough escaping with just a technical foul for drawing blood during an attack on Wade. 

Heat PF Udonis Haslem retaliated shortly after with a two-handed club to the face and shoulder of Hansbrough. His vengeance earned him a one game suspension.

Dexter Pittman, Miami’s center, then took it too far in the waning seconds of a blowout win. He threw a savage elbow right into Lance Stephenson (who gave the choke sign to King James after a missed free throw in Game 2), and the league office slapped him with a three-game vacation.

This can no longer be considered a “chippy” matchup between two teams doling out tough playoff fouls; it is now a full on war that is getting more vicious with each passing battle.

Game 6 will be played tonight in Indiana, and it will be interesting to see if these teams hold back their aggressive behavior in fear of suspensions during a critical Game 7 (should it be necessary).

It’s highly doubtful that will happen, and fans should expect another scrappy confrontation between the two sides. There is unfinished business to be taken care of, and neither team looks ready to back down.

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Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers Game 6: Live Score, Analysis and Reaction

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May 242012
 

Tonight the Indiana Pacers will be trying to extend their season by one more game, and the Miami Heat will be looking to send them fishing in their own stadium. 

The big story of this game is going to be how it shakes out with the Miami bigs. Already absent is their best power forward, Chris Bosh, who was lost for the series in Game 1 due to an abdominal strain. Now, they are also without Udonis Haslem, who has started in place of Bosh, and reserve center Dexter Pittman as they are both suspended for this game.

Pittman’s suspension, although it is for three games, is less impactful as he is less essential to the team’s success. Still, for tonight it could be more important that he is not there simply because of the dearth of big men on the Heat bench now.

Will the Pacers be able to take advantage and send the series to a Game 7? Will Danny Granger be effective tonight on his rolled ankle? Was the NBA uneven in suspending Haslem but not Tyler Hasnbrough? Who wins?

Feel free to chime in with your comments and predictions below. 

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2012 NBA Playoffs: Are the Miami Heat the New Bad Boys?

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May 242012
 

I thought I turned on the Miami Heat-Indiana Pacers basketball game Tuesday night, but it seems they broadcast an Ultimate Fighting match instead. The bodies were dropping like flies, and two Miami Heat players will be missing some time because of the carnage they brought.

Udonis Haslem reacted immediately to a hard foul on Dwyane Wade by Tyler Hansbrough that was rightly called a flagrant-1. Hansbrough went for the ball, but in the process, raked Wade across the face.

On the next trip up the court, Haslem raised both arms high and came down on Hansbrough with a chopping motion on his shoulder and head. From my seat on my easy chair, it was obviously a retaliation play, with an ejection to follow for Haslem.

Instead of giving him the flagrant-2 he deserved, he was gifted with the same flagrant-1 Hansbrough received and was allowed to stay in the game. Considering there was malicious intent on his part, and that he made no attempt to go for the ball, the call was shocking.

It opened the door for another ugly foul near the end of the game as Heat center Dexter Pittman lowered the boom on Lance Stephenson with an elbow to the throat area as Stephenson was flying to the basket attempting to rebound. He saw him coming and laid him out.

Stephenson is the one who gave LeBron James the choke sign in Game 3 when he missed a free throw.

Pittman also received just a flagrant-1 for his shot.

It looks like Miami is out for blood and exacting revenge on anyone they think has dissed them.

According to NBA.com, the NBA righted the mistakes Wednesday, suspending Haslem for Game 6 and Pittman for three games.

After the game on Inside the NBA on TNT, Charles Barkely speaking of Haslem’s play said, “That was unneccessary. If the referee had any stones, he should have got a flagrant-2.”

Talking about the Pittman mauling, he said, “That crossed the line right there. I never deliberately tried to hurt somebody.”

Kenny Smith chimed in comparing it to Andrew Bynum’s assault on J.J. Barea last year and said it was “even worse.”

What has gotten into the Heat?

It seemed like it started when the played the Chicago Bulls in April. James Jones gave a forearm shiver to Joakim Noah and earned a flagrant-2 foul in the process for his trouble.

Later, Wade shoved Rip Hamilton down right in front of the referee, and then James put up a blindside pick on the smallest player on the court, John Lucas lll, and leveled him.

It seemed like a message game letting the Bulls know what they were in for when the two teams inevitably squared off in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls took a detour, however, when Derrick Rose went down with his ACL tear and Chicago took an early vacation.

Miami seems like they have a  

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Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman: How Suspensions Will Impact Heat in Game 6

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May 232012
 

After two flagrant fouls that appeared to be both intentional and retaliatory in nature, the NBA suspended the Miami Heat‘s Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman in a stiff punishment that could significantly impact Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers (via ESPN’s Brian Windhorst):

Haslem was suspended by NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson for Thursday’s Game 6 and Pittman was suspended for three games. Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough, who also committed a flagrant foul on Heat star Dwyane Wade, had his foul upgraded to a flagrant foul 2 from a flagrant 1, but he avoided suspension.

While Pittman’s more extensive suspension won’t worry too many Heat fans, Haslem‘s is another story.

Though he’ll only miss one game, it’s a game that singularly determines whether the series will come down to a winner-take-all Game 7. It also happens to be in Indiana.

Pittman hasn’t played more than seven minutes for the duration of the postseason, but Haslem has been a prominent piece of the Heat’s short-handed interior rotation—especially over the last two games against the Pacers.

Though the 31-year-old power forward hasn’t been exceptionally productive throughout the playoffs, he tallied a combined 24 points and 10 rebounds in Games 5 and 6.

With Chris Bosh sidelined by an abdominal strain for at least the remainder of this series, Haslem has become a vital contributor.

His emergence over the course of the last two contests coincides with Miami returning to dominance in a quintessentially up-and-down series.

More importantly, Haslem is the kind of guy who does all the little things championship rosters need someone to do. He’s a tough defender and a reliable source of hustle. It goes without saying he’ll be dearly missed against a Pacers’ front line featuring the likes of Roy Hibbert and David West.

Still, it isn’t exactly time to panic.

Indiana’s Danny Granger is considered day-to-day after rolling his ankle in the first half of Game 5, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll be at full capacity even if he returns for Game 6.

Moreover, Erik Spoelstra’s club is unquestionably on a roll. Sure, the Pacers will come out with renewed urgency—especially with team president Larry Bird describing his team’s recent performance as “soft.”

But every indication as of late is that the Heat are finding a stride that should withstand even Indiana’s best effort.

Don’t expect another lopsided blowout in Game 6, but if the Heat wind up losing, it will have a lot more to do with the Pacers overachieving than the loss of Haslem and Pittman.

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