When Plays Don't Work: Timing & Design
A breakdown of the New York Knicks Chin set and how timing and play design make plays work or not.
The New York Knicks ran a normal “Chin” set against the 76ers that resulted in a contested step-back long 2 - basically the worst shot in the NBA unless your name is Kevin Durant. In this breakdown, we are going to look at why the timing and spacing design could have been improved upon with examples from the same game and other teams.
Starting this week I will be diving deeper into team and player-specific breakdowns that will be more in-depth for paid subscribers, as well as the final 5 posts of the 5-Out Offense study. Right now I am starting to dive deeper on the Bulls 5-Out Offense, the Grizzlies Elbow series, and Minnesota Timberwolves X’s & O’s - those breakdowns will release in the next few weeks!
Note: if you are reading this in the e-mail only form some of the gifs and videos are not showing up correctly.
New York Knicks Chin Set
Chin is one of the most common ballscreen sets run throughout basketball and comes straight from the Princeton offense. The Princeton Offense typically relies on timing, execution and IQ, something that the first example of this clip is lacking.
When you are designing a play or a playbook for your team the biggest things I always focus on are:
1) Who will this play be run for?
2) How will this work against multiple defensive coverages?
3) The timing, spacing, and execution teaching points.
For example, let’s say this season your point guard is your best player and scorer, so designing a play that has multiple options might not be the best idea since it takes the ball out of his hands and forces other players in playmaking or decision-making positions. Instead, you may run one action for him off-ball, but end up getting him the ball back with the end result having him be the decision-maker.
When the Knicks ran this Chin set the play starts off with a screen off the ball for Fournier to catch the pass from the point guard.
Once the pass is made then the point guard Derrick Rose then receives a backscreen from Taj Gibson, possibly looking for an easy layup.
Most of the time in the NBA this option won’t be there, but the main purpose of this backscreen is to have the big Embiid sag off his man and force him to be out of position in ballscreen defense.
This backscreen does force Embiid to sag back, but the timing of the ballscreen screws up this play for the Knicks.
Watch how Gibson hesitates and does not go directly into the ballscreen for Fournier and even when the ballscreen is set Curry is allowed to stay attached on the ball and it blows up this play.
Shake or No Shake?
Take a look at this clip of the same Chin action run by the Nuggets from a few seasons ago and notice how they run it.
Jokic and Plumlee both have a good pace (almost to a fault with regards to the backscreen) to their backscreen ballscreen combination. The quickness they go into the ballscreen ensures the defense will be late or in drop coverage allowing the ball to get downhill, but the Nuggets also empty out the back screen to the strong side of the floor - creating shake or single tag action.
When the Knicks run this Chin action, they have Julius Randle and Derrick Rose spacing opposite - notice what happens with Harris on the roll man.
Murray clears out strongside:
Rose clears out weakside:
Since Randle is spaced close enough Harris can tag the roll man and jam up spacing even more. The Nuggets run this action with only one player on this side and it forces the defender to make a decision to either tag the roll man or stay on the shooter - designing this into the advantage of the offense.
Can It Work?
All of this has been said to the detriment of the current play design, but can it still work when the Knicks run this play this exact way?
The above clip is later in the game tonight shows a better pace from Taj Gibson, and getting into the ballscreen action with better intent. The backscreen option wasn’t even there, however, and let’s be honest having Drummond on defense really helps with execution.
I hope this sheds some light on play design, timing, and how they all play into how one possession unfolds in the NBA. If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
Enjoy!
Coach Pyper
I have three questions regarding the language as I’m not fluent in English.
What do those terms mean:
1. allowing the ball to get downhill
2. Embiid sags off
3. To tag the player
Thanks and sorry!
What is the identifying feature(s) that makes this Chin? The off ball screen followed by the back screen at the elbow for the passer?