Game Prep: Nuggets vs Clippers Game 2
Thoughts on what game 1 showed us and if anything might be different & showing my process about how I scout & prepare for the next game.
The Clippers blasted the Nuggets in game 1 and I do not think many people are surprised. After a grueling 7 game series in which they Nuggets came back from down 3-1 to fight back and play on basically one day’s rest is an incredibly tough task for any team. In this game prep, we are going to look at some clips & notes that I am looking at from game 1 and see if we can glean any adjustments that might be made.
The Stats
Using stats from CleaningTheGlass as well as NBA.com, trying to contextualize some of the reasons for successes and failures from game 1 with both the numbers and the film.
Denver Nuggets
-76 points on 78 poss. (YIKES)
-10/15 at the rim, pretty abysmal anywhere else - possibly probe more and get into the paint.
-Murray 2/8 from 3, but seemed to rush/be in a hurry. Needs to settle on some shots and maybe an extra bounce or two to balance and avoid fatigue shots.
Los Angeles Clippers
-Holy Kawhi. 26 points on 12/16 from the floor. Keep hunting switches and get him attacking.
-ATO’s were impactful, easy baskets & helps push the lead.
-Pretty poor in transition, by my tracking only scored 4 times out of 12 transition attacks (first 5-7 seconds of the shot clock), need to be better.
The Film
Clippers & The Isolation Problem
One of the biggest problems in setting up your defense is if you are vulnerable in isolation. The Clippers scored 30 points on 18 Isolation possessions. If you are unfamiliar with PPP and stats, that is a BRUTAL number for a defense. I think the Nuggets actually did a good job taking away the first and even forcing the Clippers into their 3rd or 4th option, but the Clippers ISO scoring was so good that it ultimately didn’t matter. Normally Isolations are defended by zoning up, or sending a double team - by my charting the Nuggets trapped 2 times giving up 2 points. It might be a better option to force the other Clippers to beat you than allow Kawhi or Paul George to Isolate.
Clippers ATO - SOB Ghost Exit
After Time Outs are great examples of how good a game the defense is playing. Since most of the specials in the playoffs are typically new, how the defense guards and even adjusts after the first time they see the play. I knew the Nuggets would be in trouble since they guarded the first play poorly then the next possession the Clippers scored off the exact play but with a different action.
Clippers Slice
Another set the Clippers ran after a time out that they might try again in tonight’s game is this Slice action for Harrell. This was against the Nuggets 2nd unit, but will still be something they might go to and we will see how the Nuggets adjust.
To Hedge, Drop, or nothing?
The biggest question I had going into this series was how in the world the Nuggets are going to try and defend the Clippers ballscreens. The Nuggets struggled with the Jazz ballscreens and tried everything to find an answer. By my charting, here is the breakdown of how the Nuggets defended the ballscreen:
Hedge - 10 Poss (18 Points)
Drop - 6 Poss (9 Points)
Flat/Drop/Nothing Really - 3 Poss (5 Points)
The Nuggets ICE every Side Ballscreen, so I did not include those.
The numbers above show that really there is not a great option, but the biggest problem I have is as the game goes along Jokic goes into nothing and getting caught in-between.
Denver Nuggets Lack of 2-Man Action
If you have ever watched the Nuggets offense, you know their bread and butter is the Jokic/Murry 2-man action as well as getting cutters and other players involved. I only had a handful of possessions in which the Nuggets got into their “flow” action and really put pressure on the Clippers defense. This will be key moving forward, and something I expect alot of in the 1st quarter in particular.
Nuggets “Open” Up
An action that the Nuggets ran was to have a player set a screen, typically a pindown, then open up for a shot. They scored two baskets off this action in game 1 and I expect them to go to this action, possibly after a timeout.
Nuggets Slice for Jokic
The most common set you will see from the Nuggets moving forward will be this Slice action for a Jokic post up. After a hand off a Nuggets guard will screen for Jokic toward the sideline and he goes into a post up. In game 1 they scored 8 points on 3 possessions, but running it only 3 times will not cut it since they scored every possession they ran it.
Can the Nuggets avoid the Hunt?
Matchups in the playoffs are so much fun, but specifically how the offense manipulates the matchup in their favor and how the defense tries to avoid those mismatches. The Clippers relentlessly attacked Morris, MPJ & Murray in game 1, and that will not change moving forward. Defending these ballscreens with hedging with a guard, possibly avoiding the switch or even hard trapping could be an option. Either way they need to avoid these switches and creating advantages for the Clippers - a huge point I am looking forward to watching in game 2.
Let me know what you guys are seeing and any feedback on how to improve this would be great!
-Coach Pyper