This is one of the best sports RUclips videos I've ever seen. Great premise, tons of historical clips and context, so much team variety, clear on-screen annotations to follow everyone's role - it's just all fantastic. I already loved the channel but this is just on a whole new level
@@xordus not sure about this but I think there are websites that you pay to get classified footages you want or simply he just knows and takes notes on games
The crazy thing is you could watch dozens of extremely informative videos like this one and it would only scratch the surface of the intricacies of the game that players have to deal with and deduce in split seconds. I think of guys like CP3 or LeBron and try to imagine how amazing it must be to see the game like them and all the split-second calculations they make in their minds when dissecting opponents.
@@mhoursagala7832 Basketball is a game where you will get scored on, lots of possessions in one game and the offensive players have the rules and more options in their favor. This doesn't mean there have been no good defenses; on the contrary, there have been a lot of monster defensive teams. The Golden state warriors right now are putting up historic defensive numbers.
This was awesome. Would love to see a similar deep-dive into how zone defense has been utilized/evolved over the years, particularly with how many variants are utilized today.
hoopvision68 makes an interesting video on this topic of NBA switching defense scheme evolution recently. Advance switching will makes defense look like zone defense. Go check it out. ruclips.net/video/E4H_qxksBFA/видео.html
Chris paul/lob city should get an honorable mention w their high horns PNR set. Their personnel gave them the best spacing, and they got a good shot every trip down the court !
Even more than his stepback, or his fadeaway, or his drives, Luka's ability to make something out of nothing in the pick and roll is probably his most dangerous skill. While most point guards, as you said, have about 4-5 options, Luka has too many to count. Hit the roll man, throw a lob, pick and pop, pull up 3, stepback 3 or middy, floater, fire a laser to a spot up shooter anywhere on the floor, hit a cutter, stop and pop mid-range, clear out the floor and post up, or often times, an absolutely ridiculous junk shot to draw a foul (that still goes in half the time!). imo, Luka is the best offensive creator in the league. Not the best overall player or even scorer (Giannis and KD), but the hardest to stop from getting a positive result on any given play.
I'd say jokic is even more devastating bc he can play off ball, space the floor, and he's an even better passer than luka, especially when it comes to quick decisions on the catch. Luka is very ball dominant and that makes the offense much more predictable, that being said they're both phenomenal offensive centerpieces
I don't think you fully realize how appreciative I am of this type of content. Both the NFL and the NBA don't do a lot of Xs and Os, electing to instead focusing on narratives. I absolutely adore that you do the exact opposite with these analysis videos. And I can't wait for the next one you do. Same with your player and team breakdowns. All of it is very insightful and has very high production quality
Literally just wrote a reply saying almost exactly the same thing, with the same feeling behind it, without scrolling down to see your post! Liked, and it's incredible that this content (and creator) can be so high quality to affect multiple people in this kind of way. The dude is special.
Hubie Brown has said that the purpose of setting screens is to make the defense think. Always liked that. A momentary mix-up, or even a split second of indecision, and the offense has an easy bucket.
Yep really good point about the 7 seconds Suns. People who weren’t watching back then might see them as constantly being in transition mostly due to the name. And sure they were way faster in pace than almost anyone before them for a long time, at least in the “modern NBA” and especially vs the early mid 90s to 2000s. So yea compared to an early 2000s Pistons Spurs game they were constantly in transition in comparison. Average pace by year fell to 92.9 in 94-95, then 91.8 in 95-96, 90.1 in 96-97, 90.3 in 97-98, 88.9 in 98-99, 93.1 in 99-‘00, then 90.3, 88.9, 93.1, 91.3, 90.7, 91.0, 90.1, 90.9, and 90.5 in 05-06. So between 94-95 and 05-06, it was mostly in the very very low 90s. The last time it got to 92.9+ after 94-95 was 93.9 in 13-14 and 14-15. Then it has gone up from there, hitting 100 in 18-19, 100.3 in 19-20, and 99.2 in 20-21. The Suns in 05-06 were at 95.8. That was obviously 1st in the league, and if you look at average pace by season, their pace was faster than the average pace in the NBA from 93-94 to 12-13. 13-14 the average pace was 93.9. So it’s pretty crazy the pace they had that year was higher than the average for like 20 seasons. But yea the half court offense is a very under-looked part of the 7 seconds Suns days, and this video is awesome as usual. Happy to see you got the opportunity to make a video on the NBA’s channel, and I hope they’re letting you get full monetization using their footage since it’s fair use anyway. I’ve been a long time reader/listener/watcher of your work and it’s cool to see you getting more exposure. I never miss a video or podcast. You’re seriously the best at what you do and that’s not hyperbole. I hope to see you being a guest on more podcasts, it’s awesome to see you pop up on some of the other pods I love like, and would love to see you guest on more. I know you’ve been on some of these, I forget the exact list, but some of my favorites are: Dunc’d On, Hollinger and Duncan, RealGM Radio, The Void on the Ringer with KOC, Game Theory with Sam Vecenie, The BBALL Breakdown with Coach Nick, and a more young group of podcasters with Kenny “KOT4Q” Beecham who is very well established, and his podcast with his friends called Through The Wire. That’d be such an awesome collab. Even if it’s just more of a 1 on 1 w/ Kenny or whatever. He’s a young content creator that has paved the way for a younger group and he’s fantastic, just an awesome guy.
Yep. The "7 Seconds or Less" Suns would just be a normal fast-break team w/ 3-Point shooters w/o the pick-and-roll. What helped them the best aside from their shooters is Amar'e, who was a solid shooter from around 15 to 18-feet but was also obviously extremely athletic and quick so Nash can either hit him for the pick-and-pop or the PnR (but even lob it up for a dunk also). bc he's so athletic, Centers at the time found it hard to close out on him. I should also note that Amar'e barely played in the 2006 season and yet, the Suns managed to finish 2nd in ORtg while him playing the Power Forward position as Shaq played the Center during the 2009 season didn't do much to hurt the Suns ORtg as they finished 2nd also. Nevertheless, it was the Suns' half-court game and their potent 3-Point shooting that separated them from most Run and Gun teams.
This might just be one of the most concise breakdowns of Basketball's most simple play, and yet turns into a basketball analysis masterpiece that I have not come across on ANY form of media. I cannot overstate how highly I personally rate this video - just mindblowing observation after mindblowing observation on a topic that, frankly, I thought I had down pat. Thank you for the much-needed dose of humility, and the content that seems to have achieved an already lofty summit, yet somehow continues to climb to ever greater heights. Much respect and love, brother!
What is the pick and roll? I don’t understand what is happening. I’ve never played basketball. I’ve watched it a lot but it just looks like they pass the ball around and then shoot
One of the aspects of the modern game I appreciate is the threat of the 3 point shot and how it's opened up the game. In the case of the pick and roll, we can see how the defense has to come out high even beyond the 3 pt line which often results in a 4 on 3 or even a 3 on 2 half court "fast break".
So true my friend. The three-point line changed basketball. We can thank the ABA-NBA merger for that beautiful aspect of the game (and other facets the NBA is running today).
That's why it's so fun to watch CP3, Luka, and Trae Young if you're into playmaking. They see all what's happening in the court in split seconds and make you surprised, "How did he see that?" Jokic gives me this expression, too but he works mostly in high post.
As a hooper and a coach, I LOOOOOVE your breakdowns. I love watching other hoop-heads that KNOW what basketball looks like in it’s most beautiful moments. I appreciate you.
I knew setting screens so often had become ubiquitous when I saw four kids around the age of 9 or 10 practicing pick and rolls in the park by themselves, one of them leading like the next Steve Nash
Back in the 80's, I was watching some grade school kids finish their practice while our adult rec league team was waiting for the court. This kid drives the lane to his right and slings a Magic Johnson style no-look pass to a cutter on his left for an easy layup. The coach just said, ok, guys, that's it for today. That pass was no big deal for those kids.
This is hands down the most interesting and elaborate sports video I have ever seen. Wow. Really feel like watching old nba clips for the rest of the night now.
I'm sure you get this on most of your videos but after watching this one in particular I feel that you've really increased my appreciation for basketball. I'm very excited to watch an NBA game with the insights you've given to me.
Ben, I simply cannot express how much you've improved my basketball viewing experience. I'm so much more engaged when watching games now, since I'm able recognize more of what's happening on/off ball on offense, and how defenses are communicating and adapting to the play. I really appreciate your work.
I've watched plenty of basketball commentaries, but nothing like this! It's humbling that after 30 years of playing and watching basketball, I've never noticed such intricacies about the pick-and-roll. Simply amazing! Thank you for this outstanding content!
What a big difference on early 90s PnR for other players vs today. Back then, the just hang back and let the two play but now, they're all waiting and aware that the play mighty shift to them. I love nba
Illegal defense is was a technical foul. That made the PnR an action that can be easily run 1-4 or 1-5. In today's NBA, it's difficult to spam a 1/4 PnR. 1/4 PnP is a lot easier.
Prior to your first video dropped and me finding it, I was the most casual NBA fan alive. I just looked at points/rebounds/assists to judge performance. Thank you for basketball-pilling me with all your videos and podcasts
Excellent video. Brilliant, it really breaks down the basics of how the PnR has evolved. It also helps people understand that the plays they run in the NBA aren't as simple as they seem once you include high level players at their positions. Great video.
Fantastic video. Absolutely love this detailed analysis of how plays are run. The history and context were great too. My mind is blown by all the complexity of a modern offense. There's just so much going on.
This guy's narration is awesome. Most yt video essayists sound nerdy or boring. This guy totally sells it, great mic quality, not to mention the compelling content
Happy to see you got the opportunity to make a video on the NBA’s channel, and I hope they’re letting you get full monetization using their footage since it’s fair use anyway. I’ve been a long time reader/listener/watcher of your work and it’s cool to see you getting more exposure. I never miss a video or podcast. You’re seriously the best at what you do and that’s not hyperbole. I hope to see you being a guest on more podcasts, it’s awesome to see you pop up on some of the other pods I love like, and would love to see you guest on more. I know you’ve been on some of these, I forget the exact list, but some of my favorites are: Dunc’d On, Hollinger and Duncan, RealGM Radio, The Void on the Ringer with KOC, Game Theory with Sam Vecenie, The BBALL Breakdown with Coach Nick, and a more young group of podcasters with Kenny “KOT4Q” Beecham who is very well established, and his podcast with his friends called Through The Wire. That’d be such an awesome collab. Even if it’s just more of a 1 on 1 w/ Kenny or whatever. He’s a young content creator that has paved the way for a younger group and he’s fantastic, just an awesome guy. Also I listen to some more Athletic and Ringer pods, but those are definitely my favorites. I do love Saturday’s Athletic pod with Andrew Schlecht. Alex v the Beat is fun, just an overall really fun pod. Obviously any pod you guest on I’ll listen. If you could post the ones you do guest on that’d be great. Thanks Ben and keep doing what you do.
Thinking Basketball for NBA and Brett Kollman for NFL. Two of the best sports channels on RUclips and leagues ahead of anything on ESPN, or any other major network!
I wasn’t expecting to be so interested, but when Thinking Basketball posts, I watch. So I got pleasantly surprised by how well you explained every facet of a pick and roll offense. Props to you.
Amazing video - love to see this sort of tactical breakdown. My favourite might be the Hornets version with the double-pindown for the first screener as a misdirection. What a beauty.
Love this kind of video! I got the Thinking Basketball book for Christmas and adored it! I almost read through it all by New Years. I love the analogies and commentary on human pyschology that affects how we talk about and engage a sport. It's a great book for fans of basketball, psychology, or statistics. I would definitely recommend the book and this channel. Keep up the great work Ben!
The Bulls under Thibs used to run the screen and roll and double down screen on the weak side play all the time. It was basically their default play if nothing worked out. This screen and pin down seem like a variation of that.
I'm impressed by the quality of the video, thanks to the RUclips algorithm. Watching games sometimes gets "messy", because there is so much happening for all 10 players in any given play that I miss key information.
Watch some Eurobasket/FIBA action and its like time froze for them. Space is smaller because the lanes are packed and hand checking is encouraged against the ball handler. At the same time those who can learn and succeed in that environment really figure out how to have amazing handles in such compact spaces.
@@t4d0W Thats why most of today nba seems so off. There cannot be any complexity if after beating the first guy now one comes to close on you and the paint is so open, or if after doing a couple of picks they settle for the long 3
@@RM-xk6iu did you watch this video? There is complexity, the only difference is that it's an arms race to space the floor as much as possible. It's also why length is prized more than any physical attribute in the league now
@@ichirosuzuki2252 yes, and it was painful to watch. Really man, dont you see the way they defend? my 10 year old niece has more intensity playing d than most of these guys
Mike D'antoni is the greatest offensive coach in league history I my opinion. I think he deserves more praise than people give him for his innovative system which changed the game.
I used to watch Hawks and Mavs games simple because the Pick and Roll was so effective for both Trae and Luka they could do so much from it such as floaters and alleys which was just unstoppable, especially for James Harden when he was on the Rockets. It was like his go to move for easy points.
Watching Jabari Smith on Auburn the other day with my wife I was explaining different pick-and- roll options for the offense and defense and said that it can explain 75% of basketball these days. This video is such a perfect encapsulation of what I was trying to say and with video to match. Chefs kiss. Truly amazing content, thanks Ben!
It was always the best play. My high school coach in the '70s, who had a cup of coffee in the ABA, showed me all of those variations. But I think there's a danger of hoops getting boring. 90% of college ball is now high pick-and-roll, 3 guys outside the 3 pt line. I miss motion offenses and high/low stuff. International ball has now become NBA "Lite" since they adopted the 24 sec clock. The great European passing skills are starting to fade into memory.
This really drives home the fact that players from different eras are really hard to evaluate against one another. The game has evolved so much and so quickly. Bill Russell never saw a spread pick and roll (or a three-point line, for that matter).
Russell was a Olympic level athlete with some of the best defensive instincts of all time. At 6'9 with a 7'4 wingspan he'd have no problems. Basically he'd be early 2000s level Kevin Garnett on defense with that foot speed and if I'm not mistaken this very channel said that Russell and David Robinson has the quickest jumps of all time for big men in the GOAT series he made.
I disagree. There are aspects of players (legendary ones for that matter) that transcend all eras. Russell had the wingspan, the footwork and the defensive knowledge and execution. Otherwise there is no way he racks up DPOY all by himself. So put him with modern team like the Hornets who are tall at the wings at the 5 and he is going to help them out BIG time as a defensive anchor and rim enforcer while possibly getting the help he needs if he is switched onto a smaller player. Also Russell lived with an adage that transcends all generations of basketball: *"The game has always been, and will always be, about buckets"* . Despite all this new execution in the modern era of the NBA, it is just an efficient way to get buckets as a team. So the best defenses have the capability to defeat the schemes AND the unique talents designed to get these buckets.
7:57 into the video and all this info just give me more and more appreciation for the Defense, especially the Golden State Defense!! And how it's the wall that progresses the game... without a strong resistance the offense doesn't feel compelled to change, the obstacle is the start of the evolution and revolution. And the better the defense the more complex the game. Gosh, how i love this fundamental!!!
So funny that we were actually working on the pick and roll today in training. High school basketball, but I remember the days when I was new on the team and the then captains ran this play over and over and over and it worked like a charm every time.
Great video. One of the things I find difficult as a newer viewer of basket ball is the off ball movement which is super fast and often out of frame. This broke it down so well thanks
This second title is muuuuch better, i had ignored this video before (i would watch it "later") but this caught my eyes immediatly, i love simple things that can become diverse and complex.
Since it's something you reference so often, a video about how the illegal defense rules changed the game would be great for all of us who didn't watch when we were younger / just are younger and weren't watching the NBA before the rule changes
I should get more specific. I'm interested in the impact that the "no zone defense" illegal defense rules had on individual player stats because I think it's super important to keep in context when discussing players over time. And it interests me because theoretically the old game was very iso heavy and would lead to points inflation and support one man lead offenses (which it did) but more recently with Harden, Luka, Cleveland LeBron, we've seen historic levels of heliocentric offense with zone defense allowed and I'm intrigued as to why zone defense didn't seem to have a impact in the amount of heliocentricity and if it really had an impact on player stats. It particularly interests me in the context of the LeBron vs Jordan GOAT debate as I can never decide if Jordan would average 40 pts on 65% true shooting or if Jordan would be more grounded and have LeBron like stats and playmake more in the zone defense era. And if LeBron's strength, height, and passing talent advantages would make him the better player in an era where a lead has to have a massive passing arsenal
@@codyhulon4977 You are looking in the wrong direction. LEBRON got most of his points in drives to the basket in a ERA with no bigs under the rim waiting. If he played in a ERA with RIM Protecters that were allowed to make contact it would be a lot harder for him since he was a bad shooter (his FG% is due to drives to the basket). Less contact allowed that makes it a lot easier to drive. Bigs now are also outside the 3point and that creates easy drives because the rim protecters are a lot smaller and cant contest shoots. Another problem that LEBRON has its that his go to go move is duck his head and drive, he makes a lot of offensive fouls that are rarelly called now. Travelling and palming and carrying now are also never called due to the FACT that NBA wanted to increase the scores and players stats. THATS why NBA now lie on stats. Specially ASSISTS. Now every pass is counted as an assist. I see games with players ending the game with 14 assists and they dont even made 10 assists, there are also a lot of passes to 3 point shooters. Basically those are simple passes that even you and i could make, the shooter is the one that has the credit. Specially on those assists that players receive the ball outside the paint grab the ball and start posting up others and still getting the assist credited. AND REBOUNDS thats a simple one. REBOUNDS are rarely countested and you dont see 4 guys fighting under the rim to get 1 single rebound. OLD CP3 just broke his career rebound record and KONCHAR 6,5ft (Memphis player) with HORNACEK frame just got 17 rebounds due to the other team missing a lot of shoots.
@@codyhulon4977 Lebron is not a good playmaker. S.Nash,Kidd,Luka,Cp3, Stockton,Magic, those are good playmakers that create plays. G.Hill was leading the league in 3point % in SAC with 46% he moved to CLE in the middle of the season and turn into a 35% shooter, why? He said LEBRON was one of the reasons he got worse FG%. The same way K.Korver and M.Miller (spot up shooters) who played bad when they played with LEBRON, because one thing is to create a play and pass to a players hot spot and another is to drive on this new higways with nobody under the rim and pass it to the outside shooter that has to move away from his spot to get an assist. Some people think a lot of assists mean that that players is a great passer or playmaker. HARDEN and WESTBRICK lead the league in assists just because they had the ball all the time. Players like MANU or JOKIC are playmakers.
@@codyhulon4977 Another thing that you said.. LEBRON height??? He was a SF his height is normal from most past ERAS. You are probably thinking that he was going to play PG in other eras. And thats wrong. 1st because he isnt really that great playmaker. 2nd he wasnt a good shooter and players would do what they did to MAGIC giving him a lot of space. MAGIC later got better in shooting from outside but he always had a great post game unlike LEBRON. And MAGIC had to play with a small SG that could guard the others team PG.
Long time viewer, but a very infrequent commenter. Just wanted to extend my appreciation for your content, has really helped to develop my understanding of the game and it translates to my actual play on the court as well. Thanks man, looking forward to more. Also I really look forward to all your podcast episodes, highly entertaining and informative.
Amazing video!! Two of my sons play basket, i already taught them the pick and role move. But now we can understand it's origin and evolution, and most of all the variations and using it in game. Amazing content!! TY so much!!!
This came up on my recommended and I subscribed before the end of the video. Seeing how the first Mavericks play was drawn out blew my mind. Great video man
Shows what a balanced, high IQ team can do with a good coaches game plan. This was great. I feel like it's an element of the game I never fully understood until this.
What I like seeing more besides the elaborate actions happening now is the personnel and skillset that helps push the envelope of how much more effective the action can be. Lebron took his talents to South Beach but we saw the potential of his primary PnR relationships with a skilled shooting big for pick and pops and cuts for the fast perimeter player who can attack the basket. His end game for this ended up playing PnR with one of the most dynamic big men on offense/defense in Anthony Davis who can also rim run and finish via a lob or pop a shot near the perimeter. Now we are seeing modified DHO variants where the screener is the dangerous spot up shooter which we saw more bigs with solid handles get involved. Which my favorite outcome to this was Zion Williamson with his handles hard charging at the hoop with the option to kick it out to a player who can hit knock down spot up 3 point jumpers. Of course there is also the black sheep of these developments which was the moving screen utilized by wily bigs who knew how to get the pass off. My favorite flavor of this however was ol Bogut and Steph running this action early on. So with the further evolution of position-less basketball, I can't wait to see what crazy actions come out from the talents who can execute them.
I hate when old heads go “this new basketball ain’t fun to watch, these young bulls lack fundamentals 👴🏿” like nah the game has just evolved so much especially with the rise of the 3 that it’s like playing 5D chess you know what is coming but there is now like 15 different variations of the same play. Same with defensive schemes they’ve also had to evolve not as much but it still has in order to adapt to the offense.
Offense always has the advantage in basketball even when you get down to who hast he better talent to execute. Defenses have always worked on principles as to how they approach the ball handler. So the ball handler just has to use their athleticism and talents to turn how the defense is 'wired' against them.
This. This is why I slowly became disenchanted with basketball. The complexity is wonderful! But I have a busy work life and no time to learn it. I feel like an idiot when I watch basketball now, and I've been watching it since I was a little kid and a Celtics fan growing up in Boston. I didn't care so much about not understanding it then. Now, it bugs me to no end. Awesome video, BTW. When I have some free time 😂I'll study it some more.
Amazing video, loved the historical evolution with clips from various era leading into the modern day. Also, shout out the Theis seal you put in, always enjoyed that move from him
You could do a study of the 71-72 Lakers team that had Wilt standing at the foul line holding the ball above his head while West and Goodrich ran around in circles with Wilt passing quickly to them when they got open. That is the team that had the 33 game win streak. There is much to learn from them old teams. Basketball offense is always featured to focus on the greatest scoring threat that the team has. Everything else flows from that.
Love this breakdown - I think you gotta European basketball more credit for a lot of these intricacies and developments. It’s a much more of a 5-person offensive game than we’re used to watching the NBA.
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This is one of the best sports RUclips videos I've ever seen. Great premise, tons of historical clips and context, so much team variety, clear on-screen annotations to follow everyone's role - it's just all fantastic. I already loved the channel but this is just on a whole new level
Amen
I was thinking the same thing watching it. Perfectly broken down
dude how the hell does he find so many examples of this stuff!? does he have a team of guys watching and selecting clips??
@@xordus not sure about this but I think there are websites that you pay to get classified footages you want or simply he just knows and takes notes on games
Wish I could like a comment twice
I could literally watch hours of this. So much fun to see all the intricacies of NBA offenses.
High level content.
It lets discover, see and appreciate the game and its tactical aspects.
You're not wrong, I would eat a one hour video of this stuff.
The crazy thing is you could watch dozens of extremely informative videos like this one and it would only scratch the surface of the intricacies of the game that players have to deal with and deduce in split seconds. I think of guys like CP3 or LeBron and try to imagine how amazing it must be to see the game like them and all the split-second calculations they make in their minds when dissecting opponents.
The offense has been developing a lot faster than defense. I really wish defense would somehow catch up to offense. That would be a sight to watch.
@@mhoursagala7832 Basketball is a game where you will get scored on, lots of possessions in one game and the offensive players have the rules and more options in their favor. This doesn't mean there have been no good defenses; on the contrary, there have been a lot of monster defensive teams.
The Golden state warriors right now are putting up historic defensive numbers.
This was awesome. Would love to see a similar deep-dive into how zone defense has been utilized/evolved over the years, particularly with how many variants are utilized today.
Great suggestion (from a great great username, lol)
I think because of illegal defense rules in the 90s we only have about 2 decades worth of zones in the NBA.
@@dribblewithjacob9131 True, there would definitely be a big gap. But could still be neat to contrast different eras where it was legal
hoopvision68 makes an interesting video on this topic of NBA switching defense scheme evolution recently. Advance switching will makes defense look like zone defense. Go check it out. ruclips.net/video/E4H_qxksBFA/видео.html
@@ryanandrewbaker that name again?
Chris paul/lob city should get an honorable mention w their high horns PNR set. Their personnel gave them the best spacing, and they got a good shot every trip down the court !
Another shoutout to the DWill era Jazz circa ~2008. Sloan ran a gorgeous offense with PnRs and simultaneous off ball screens/cuts along the baseline.
Even more than his stepback, or his fadeaway, or his drives, Luka's ability to make something out of nothing in the pick and roll is probably his most dangerous skill. While most point guards, as you said, have about 4-5 options, Luka has too many to count. Hit the roll man, throw a lob, pick and pop, pull up 3, stepback 3 or middy, floater, fire a laser to a spot up shooter anywhere on the floor, hit a cutter, stop and pop mid-range, clear out the floor and post up, or often times, an absolutely ridiculous junk shot to draw a foul (that still goes in half the time!). imo, Luka is the best offensive creator in the league. Not the best overall player or even scorer (Giannis and KD), but the hardest to stop from getting a positive result on any given play.
I’d have jokic ahead as a creator but Luka is great
I'd say jokic is even more devastating bc he can play off ball, space the floor, and he's an even better passer than luka, especially when it comes to quick decisions on the catch. Luka is very ball dominant and that makes the offense much more predictable, that being said they're both phenomenal offensive centerpieces
It's Jokic.
His one man offense with pick and rolls is almost unstoppable.
(it's actually LeBron, but ok)
So thankful for your content. Liking basketball is one thing, APPRECIATING it and all it's machinations is a whole other level.
TB breaking down playmaking footage of masters like Doncic, Stockton, Magic and Nash was pure music.
rly dope to see the actual evolution of basketball and the strategy behind it
Plus all that footage and retro moments. That was great to discover.
Thank you Ben for being the best basketball analyst without it being close!
I can't stop watching these. Best basketball content
He Desperately Needs To Be Hired By The NBA Or ESPN…Can’t Let This Talent Go To Waste.
@@henoccharlot708 NBA collared with him, hes getting there
Not even close, absolutely not even in the same universe. Damn this is a treat after treat from this channel.
I don't think you fully realize how appreciative I am of this type of content. Both the NFL and the NBA don't do a lot of Xs and Os, electing to instead focusing on narratives. I absolutely adore that you do the exact opposite with these analysis videos. And I can't wait for the next one you do. Same with your player and team breakdowns. All of it is very insightful and has very high production quality
Literally just wrote a reply saying almost exactly the same thing, with the same feeling behind it, without scrolling down to see your post! Liked, and it's incredible that this content (and creator) can be so high quality to affect multiple people in this kind of way. The dude is special.
Hubie Brown has said that the purpose of setting screens is to make the defense think. Always liked that. A momentary mix-up, or even a split second of indecision, and the offense has an easy bucket.
so beautiful you included old school players like oscar
Exactly respect for the game all around
Yep really good point about the 7 seconds Suns. People who weren’t watching back then might see them as constantly being in transition mostly due to the name. And sure they were way faster in pace than almost anyone before them for a long time, at least in the “modern NBA” and especially vs the early mid 90s to 2000s. So yea compared to an early 2000s Pistons Spurs game they were constantly in transition in comparison.
Average pace by year fell to 92.9 in 94-95, then 91.8 in 95-96, 90.1 in 96-97, 90.3 in 97-98, 88.9 in 98-99, 93.1 in 99-‘00, then 90.3, 88.9, 93.1, 91.3, 90.7, 91.0, 90.1, 90.9, and 90.5 in 05-06. So between 94-95 and 05-06, it was mostly in the very very low 90s.
The last time it got to 92.9+ after 94-95 was 93.9 in 13-14 and 14-15. Then it has gone up from there, hitting 100 in 18-19, 100.3 in 19-20, and 99.2 in 20-21.
The Suns in 05-06 were at 95.8. That was obviously 1st in the league, and if you look at average pace by season, their pace was faster than the average pace in the NBA from 93-94 to 12-13. 13-14 the average pace was 93.9. So it’s pretty crazy the pace they had that year was higher than the average for like 20 seasons.
But yea the half court offense is a very under-looked part of the 7 seconds Suns days, and this video is awesome as usual. Happy to see you got the opportunity to make a video on the NBA’s channel, and I hope they’re letting you get full monetization using their footage since it’s fair use anyway. I’ve been a long time reader/listener/watcher of your work and it’s cool to see you getting more exposure. I never miss a video or podcast. You’re seriously the best at what you do and that’s not hyperbole.
I hope to see you being a guest on more podcasts, it’s awesome to see you pop up on some of the other pods I love like, and would love to see you guest on more. I know you’ve been on some of these, I forget the exact list, but some of my favorites are: Dunc’d On, Hollinger and Duncan, RealGM Radio, The Void on the Ringer with KOC, Game Theory with Sam Vecenie, The BBALL Breakdown with Coach Nick, and a more young group of podcasters with Kenny “KOT4Q” Beecham who is very well established, and his podcast with his friends called Through The Wire. That’d be such an awesome collab. Even if it’s just more of a 1 on 1 w/ Kenny or whatever. He’s a young content creator that has paved the way for a younger group and he’s fantastic, just an awesome guy.
Yep. The "7 Seconds or Less" Suns would just be a normal fast-break team w/ 3-Point shooters w/o the pick-and-roll. What helped them the best aside from their shooters is Amar'e, who was a solid shooter from around 15 to 18-feet but was also obviously extremely athletic and quick so Nash can either hit him for the pick-and-pop or the PnR (but even lob it up for a dunk also). bc he's so athletic, Centers at the time found it hard to close out on him.
I should also note that Amar'e barely played in the 2006 season and yet, the Suns managed to finish 2nd in ORtg while him playing the Power Forward position as Shaq played the Center during the 2009 season didn't do much to hurt the Suns ORtg as they finished 2nd also. Nevertheless, it was the Suns' half-court game and their potent 3-Point shooting that separated them from most Run and Gun teams.
This might just be one of the most concise breakdowns of Basketball's most simple play, and yet turns into a basketball analysis masterpiece that I have not come across on ANY form of media. I cannot overstate how highly I personally rate this video - just mindblowing observation after mindblowing observation on a topic that, frankly, I thought I had down pat.
Thank you for the much-needed dose of humility, and the content that seems to have achieved an already lofty summit, yet somehow continues to climb to ever greater heights. Much respect and love, brother!
What is the pick and roll? I don’t understand what is happening. I’ve never played basketball. I’ve watched it a lot but it just looks like they pass the ball around and then shoot
One of the aspects of the modern game I appreciate is the threat of the 3 point shot and how it's opened up the game. In the case of the pick and roll, we can see how the defense has to come out high even beyond the 3 pt line which often results in a 4 on 3 or even a 3 on 2 half court "fast break".
So true my friend. The three-point line changed basketball. We can thank the ABA-NBA merger for that beautiful aspect of the game (and other facets the NBA is running today).
@@david.tousignant20 The addition of the 3 point line has been great for basketball and I've been watching the game for a long time.
That's why it's so fun to watch CP3, Luka, and Trae Young if you're into playmaking. They see all what's happening in the court in split seconds and make you surprised, "How did he see that?" Jokic gives me this expression, too but he works mostly in high post.
dont forget lebron in that convo, arguably a top 3 passer in the game, sees the floor very well and can make any type of pass of the pnr action
As a hooper and a coach, I LOOOOOVE your breakdowns. I love watching other hoop-heads that KNOW what basketball looks like in it’s most beautiful moments. I appreciate you.
I knew setting screens so often had become ubiquitous when I saw four kids around the age of 9 or 10 practicing pick and rolls in the park by themselves, one of them leading like the next Steve Nash
Back in the 80's, I was watching some grade school kids finish their practice while our adult rec league team was waiting for the court. This kid drives the lane to his right and slings a Magic Johnson style no-look pass to a cutter on his left for an easy layup. The coach just said, ok, guys, that's it for today. That pass was no big deal for those kids.
Highest quality basketball content on RUclips! Can't get enough.
This is hands down the most interesting and elaborate sports video I have ever seen. Wow. Really feel like watching old nba clips for the rest of the night now.
I'm sure you get this on most of your videos but after watching this one in particular I feel that you've really increased my appreciation for basketball. I'm very excited to watch an NBA game with the insights you've given to me.
Chris Paul is my favorite player to watch the PnR and their modifications. He just knows how to do it all
Ben, I simply cannot express how much you've improved my basketball viewing experience. I'm so much more engaged when watching games now, since I'm able recognize more of what's happening on/off ball on offense, and how defenses are communicating and adapting to the play. I really appreciate your work.
As someone who loves your content, this may be my fav so far. So detailed, yet accessible.
I've watched plenty of basketball commentaries, but nothing like this! It's humbling that after 30 years of playing and watching basketball, I've never noticed such intricacies about the pick-and-roll. Simply amazing! Thank you for this outstanding content!
This episode is by far the most entertaining&educational. Editing and narration at its best!!!
What a big difference on early 90s PnR for other players vs today. Back then, the just hang back and let the two play but now, they're all waiting and aware that the play mighty shift to them. I love nba
Illegal defense is was a technical foul. That made the PnR an action that can be easily run 1-4 or 1-5. In today's NBA, it's difficult to spam a 1/4 PnR. 1/4 PnP is a lot easier.
Prior to your first video dropped and me finding it, I was the most casual NBA fan alive. I just looked at points/rebounds/assists to judge performance.
Thank you for basketball-pilling me with all your videos and podcasts
Excellent video. Brilliant, it really breaks down the basics of how the PnR has evolved. It also helps people understand that the plays they run in the NBA aren't as simple as they seem once you include high level players at their positions. Great video.
Fantastic video. Absolutely love this detailed analysis of how plays are run. The history and context were great too.
My mind is blown by all the complexity of a modern offense. There's just so much going on.
This guy's narration is awesome. Most yt video essayists sound nerdy or boring. This guy totally sells it, great mic quality, not to mention the compelling content
The first crossovers were atributed to him, then now the pick n roll. Dang Oscar you're on a roll! Truly a genius in basketball the Big O.
That was an absolutely beautiful play and so well set up by you sir.
Liking these videos before I watch is a habit now, you already know the content is going to be excellent
Happy to see you got the opportunity to make a video on the NBA’s channel, and I hope they’re letting you get full monetization using their footage since it’s fair use anyway. I’ve been a long time reader/listener/watcher of your work and it’s cool to see you getting more exposure. I never miss a video or podcast. You’re seriously the best at what you do and that’s not hyperbole.
I hope to see you being a guest on more podcasts, it’s awesome to see you pop up on some of the other pods I love like, and would love to see you guest on more. I know you’ve been on some of these, I forget the exact list, but some of my favorites are: Dunc’d On, Hollinger and Duncan, RealGM Radio, The Void on the Ringer with KOC, Game Theory with Sam Vecenie, The BBALL Breakdown with Coach Nick, and a more young group of podcasters with Kenny “KOT4Q” Beecham who is very well established, and his podcast with his friends called Through The Wire. That’d be such an awesome collab. Even if it’s just more of a 1 on 1 w/ Kenny or whatever. He’s a young content creator that has paved the way for a younger group and he’s fantastic, just an awesome guy. Also I listen to some more Athletic and Ringer pods, but those are definitely my favorites. I do love Saturday’s Athletic pod with Andrew Schlecht. Alex v the Beat is fun, just an overall really fun pod.
Obviously any pod you guest on I’ll listen. If you could post the ones you do guest on that’d be great. Thanks Ben and keep doing what you do.
Thinking Basketball for NBA and Brett Kollman for NFL. Two of the best sports channels on RUclips and leagues ahead of anything on ESPN, or any other major network!
Amen, Brother!!
I wasn’t expecting to be so interested, but when Thinking Basketball posts, I watch. So I got pleasantly surprised by how well you explained every facet of a pick and roll offense. Props to you.
Amazing video - love to see this sort of tactical breakdown. My favourite might be the Hornets version with the double-pindown for the first screener as a misdirection. What a beauty.
5:42 Damn. Radical choice in a pick&roll ngl.
This play is the key to understanding basketball in my opinion. Once I got my head around the pick and roll a lot of other things fell in to place
It’s honestly amazing I love the pick and roll
Love this kind of video! I got the Thinking Basketball book for Christmas and adored it! I almost read through it all by New Years. I love the analogies and commentary on human pyschology that affects how we talk about and engage a sport. It's a great book for fans of basketball, psychology, or statistics. I would definitely recommend the book and this channel. Keep up the great work Ben!
You explain these sooooo masterfully, most ytbers trying to explain nba plays result in just a jamble of words with no meaning
Spot on, it's a tough show besides this gold spot.
The Bulls under Thibs used to run the screen and roll and double down screen on the weak side play all the time. It was basically their default play if nothing worked out. This screen and pin down seem like a variation of that.
I'm impressed by the quality of the video, thanks to the RUclips algorithm. Watching games sometimes gets "messy", because there is so much happening for all 10 players in any given play that I miss key information.
The video I didn't knew I wanted. Really shows you how beautiful basketball can be.
This video is absolutely spectacular I was engrossed from start to finish, keep it up
Modern offenses are so fun to watch. They are complex and beautiful.
Wow, what an incredible overview! This is one of my favourite videos that you've done, Ben.
The best analyst!
It's insane how 80's and 90's nba games had the paint so much more crowded than nowadays.
Watch some Eurobasket/FIBA action and its like time froze for them. Space is smaller because the lanes are packed and hand checking is encouraged against the ball handler. At the same time those who can learn and succeed in that environment really figure out how to have amazing handles in such compact spaces.
@@t4d0W Thats why most of today nba seems so off. There cannot be any complexity if after beating the first guy now one comes to close on you and the paint is so open, or if after doing a couple of picks they settle for the long 3
@@RM-xk6iu did you watch this video? There is complexity, the only difference is that it's an arms race to space the floor as much as possible. It's also why length is prized more than any physical attribute in the league now
@@ichirosuzuki2252 yes, and it was painful to watch. Really man, dont you see the way they defend? my 10 year old niece has more intensity playing d than most of these guys
My high school basketball coach always mentioned Bird and Mchale’s pick and roll.
Mike D'antoni is the greatest offensive coach in league history I my opinion. I think he deserves more praise than people give him for his innovative system which changed the game.
I always amaze the pick and roll in basketball, the one who created it is truly a genius
I used to watch Hawks and Mavs games simple because the Pick and Roll was so effective for both Trae and Luka they could do so much from it such as floaters and alleys which was just unstoppable, especially for James Harden when he was on the Rockets. It was like his go to move for easy points.
Watching Jabari Smith on Auburn the other day with my wife I was explaining different pick-and- roll options for the offense and defense and said that it can explain 75% of basketball these days. This video is such a perfect encapsulation of what I was trying to say and with video to match. Chefs kiss. Truly amazing content, thanks Ben!
It was always the best play. My high school coach in the '70s, who had a cup of coffee in the ABA, showed me all of those variations. But I think there's a danger of hoops getting boring. 90% of college ball is now high pick-and-roll, 3 guys outside the 3 pt line. I miss motion offenses and high/low stuff. International ball has now become NBA "Lite" since they adopted the 24 sec clock. The great European passing skills are starting to fade into memory.
This really drives home the fact that players from different eras are really hard to evaluate against one another. The game has evolved so much and so quickly. Bill Russell never saw a spread pick and roll (or a three-point line, for that matter).
Russell was a Olympic level athlete with some of the best defensive instincts of all time. At 6'9 with a 7'4 wingspan he'd have no problems. Basically he'd be early 2000s level Kevin Garnett on defense with that foot speed and if I'm not mistaken this very channel said that Russell and David Robinson has the quickest jumps of all time for big men in the GOAT series he made.
I disagree. There are aspects of players (legendary ones for that matter) that transcend all eras. Russell had the wingspan, the footwork and the defensive knowledge and execution. Otherwise there is no way he racks up DPOY all by himself. So put him with modern team like the Hornets who are tall at the wings at the 5 and he is going to help them out BIG time as a defensive anchor and rim enforcer while possibly getting the help he needs if he is switched onto a smaller player.
Also Russell lived with an adage that transcends all generations of basketball: *"The game has always been, and will always be, about buckets"* . Despite all this new execution in the modern era of the NBA, it is just an efficient way to get buckets as a team. So the best defenses have the capability to defeat the schemes AND the unique talents designed to get these buckets.
7:57 into the video and all this info just give me more and more appreciation for the Defense, especially the Golden State Defense!! And how it's the wall that progresses the game... without a strong resistance the offense doesn't feel compelled to change, the obstacle is the start of the evolution and revolution.
And the better the defense the more complex the game. Gosh, how i love this fundamental!!!
So funny that we were actually working on the pick and roll today in training. High school basketball, but I remember the days when I was new on the team and the then captains ran this play over and over and over and it worked like a charm every time.
Great video. One of the things I find difficult as a newer viewer of basket ball is the off ball movement which is super fast and often out of frame. This broke it down so well thanks
The Curry-Draymond pick n roll game is a lethal combo.
This second title is muuuuch better, i had ignored this video before (i would watch it "later") but this caught my eyes immediatly, i love simple things that can become diverse and complex.
13:15 Wayne Ellington, I feel you bro.
More Thinking Basketball content? Say less!!
Omg this video made me love this page even more. I’m actually a stan for this channel
Skipping over Marc Price and the Cavs is wild. Great video tho
I love your videos, but I just heard “boom goes the dynamite” and now I can’t unhear it lol
Since it's something you reference so often, a video about how the illegal defense rules changed the game would be great for all of us who didn't watch when we were younger / just are younger and weren't watching the NBA before the rule changes
There are dozens of zone defences.
Some were made illegal some didnt.
Some were legal than and now are illegal and vice versa.
I should get more specific. I'm interested in the impact that the "no zone defense" illegal defense rules had on individual player stats because I think it's super important to keep in context when discussing players over time. And it interests me because theoretically the old game was very iso heavy and would lead to points inflation and support one man lead offenses (which it did) but more recently with Harden, Luka, Cleveland LeBron, we've seen historic levels of heliocentric offense with zone defense allowed and I'm intrigued as to why zone defense didn't seem to have a impact in the amount of heliocentricity and if it really had an impact on player stats.
It particularly interests me in the context of the LeBron vs Jordan GOAT debate as I can never decide if Jordan would average 40 pts on 65% true shooting or if Jordan would be more grounded and have LeBron like stats and playmake more in the zone defense era. And if LeBron's strength, height, and passing talent advantages would make him the better player in an era where a lead has to have a massive passing arsenal
@@codyhulon4977 You are looking in the wrong direction.
LEBRON got most of his points in drives to the basket in a ERA with no bigs under the rim waiting.
If he played in a ERA with RIM Protecters that were allowed to make contact it would be a lot harder for him since he was a bad shooter (his FG% is due to drives to the basket).
Less contact allowed that makes it a lot easier to drive.
Bigs now are also outside the 3point and that creates easy drives because the rim protecters are a lot smaller and cant contest shoots.
Another problem that LEBRON has its that his go to go move is duck his head and drive, he makes a lot of offensive fouls that are rarelly called now.
Travelling and palming and carrying now are also never called due to the FACT that NBA wanted to increase the scores and players stats.
THATS why NBA now lie on stats.
Specially ASSISTS.
Now every pass is counted as an assist.
I see games with players ending the game with 14 assists and they dont even made 10 assists, there are also a lot of passes to 3 point shooters.
Basically those are simple passes that even you and i could make, the shooter is the one that has the credit.
Specially on those assists that players receive the ball outside the paint grab the ball and start posting up others and still getting the assist credited.
AND REBOUNDS thats a simple one.
REBOUNDS are rarely countested and you dont see 4 guys fighting under the rim to get 1 single rebound.
OLD CP3 just broke his career rebound record and KONCHAR 6,5ft (Memphis player) with HORNACEK frame just got 17 rebounds due to the other team missing a lot of shoots.
@@codyhulon4977 Lebron is not a good playmaker.
S.Nash,Kidd,Luka,Cp3, Stockton,Magic, those are good playmakers that create plays.
G.Hill was leading the league in 3point % in SAC with 46% he moved to CLE in the middle of the season and turn into a 35% shooter, why? He said LEBRON was one of the reasons he got worse FG%.
The same way K.Korver and M.Miller (spot up shooters) who played bad when they played with LEBRON, because one thing is to create a play and pass to a players hot spot and another is to drive on this new higways with nobody under the rim and pass it to the outside shooter that has to move away from his spot to get an assist.
Some people think a lot of assists mean that that players is a great passer or playmaker.
HARDEN and WESTBRICK lead the league in assists just because they had the ball all the time.
Players like MANU or JOKIC are playmakers.
@@codyhulon4977 Another thing that you said..
LEBRON height???
He was a SF his height is normal from most past ERAS.
You are probably thinking that he was going to play PG in other eras.
And thats wrong.
1st because he isnt really that great playmaker.
2nd he wasnt a good shooter and players would do what they did to MAGIC giving him a lot of space.
MAGIC later got better in shooting from outside but he always had a great post game unlike LEBRON.
And MAGIC had to play with a small SG that could guard the others team PG.
Loving the content, you’re killing it
1:29 Red on Roundball!
Long time viewer, but a very infrequent commenter. Just wanted to extend my appreciation for your content, has really helped to develop my understanding of the game and it translates to my actual play on the court as well. Thanks man, looking forward to more. Also I really look forward to all your podcast episodes, highly entertaining and informative.
Amazing video!! Two of my sons play basket, i already taught them the pick and role move. But now we can understand it's origin and evolution, and most of all the variations and using it in game. Amazing content!! TY so much!!!
A thinking basketball movie would be so cool. Best basketball analysis out there.
seeing that clip of Lakers VS Kings brings warm feelings to my heart. When those two teams met it was always toe to toe.
This is some of the best basketball content I've ever seen. Thanks for this.
This came up on my recommended and I subscribed before the end of the video. Seeing how the first Mavericks play was drawn out blew my mind. Great video man
One of the best if not the best basketball video I have ever seen.
You made this day great, Sir.
I wish you delved little into Mark Price's splitting the pick and roll which i think is what most modern players do now.
Yessssir! Was waiting on a video breaking down the PNR. Such a simple idea that continues to evolve.
Shows what a balanced, high IQ team can do with a good coaches game plan. This was great. I feel like it's an element of the game I never fully understood until this.
My dad running simple ones with me in front of my house made me love basketball what a beautiful complex deep nuanced yet simple concept
output like this from a studio would be well received and appreciated.
this is what one person with a passion and work ethic can do ya'll
Watching what Nash did in Phoenix was just an awesome time. Miss those days.
Amazing basketball video, as a player it helps understand how every one should run the pick and roll.
Pick and Roll offense is the best offense for me, thanks for breaking this down!
What I like seeing more besides the elaborate actions happening now is the personnel and skillset that helps push the envelope of how much more effective the action can be. Lebron took his talents to South Beach but we saw the potential of his primary PnR relationships with a skilled shooting big for pick and pops and cuts for the fast perimeter player who can attack the basket. His end game for this ended up playing PnR with one of the most dynamic big men on offense/defense in Anthony Davis who can also rim run and finish via a lob or pop a shot near the perimeter. Now we are seeing modified DHO variants where the screener is the dangerous spot up shooter which we saw more bigs with solid handles get involved. Which my favorite outcome to this was Zion Williamson with his handles hard charging at the hoop with the option to kick it out to a player who can hit knock down spot up 3 point jumpers. Of course there is also the black sheep of these developments which was the moving screen utilized by wily bigs who knew how to get the pass off. My favorite flavor of this however was ol Bogut and Steph running this action early on. So with the further evolution of position-less basketball, I can't wait to see what crazy actions come out from the talents who can execute them.
Taking out hand checking made the game really fluid.
Subscribed. What an unbelievable video from start to finish, the effort does not go unnoticed.
I hate when old heads go “this new basketball ain’t fun to watch, these young bulls lack fundamentals 👴🏿” like nah the game has just evolved so much especially with the rise of the 3 that it’s like playing 5D chess you know what is coming but there is now like 15 different variations of the same play. Same with defensive schemes they’ve also had to evolve not as much but it still has in order to adapt to the offense.
Offense always has the advantage in basketball even when you get down to who hast he better talent to execute. Defenses have always worked on principles as to how they approach the ball handler. So the ball handler just has to use their athleticism and talents to turn how the defense is 'wired' against them.
This. This is why I slowly became disenchanted with basketball. The complexity is wonderful! But I have a busy work life and no time to learn it. I feel like an idiot when I watch basketball now, and I've been watching it since I was a little kid and a Celtics fan growing up in Boston. I didn't care so much about not understanding it then. Now, it bugs me to no end. Awesome video, BTW. When I have some free time 😂I'll study it some more.
It makes so much sense the way the game is played today that I’m almost like “wtf are you doing” when i’m watching pre 90s era spacing.
I actually lost it laughing when it got back around to the Luka/Mavs pick… absolutely insane. Well written vid could watch this forever
I borrowed Red Auerbach's basketball in the library a lot on VHS
Yo this is one of the best basketball videos I've watched. Makes ya think the game better.
This is the kind of basketball content I want to see more of!
As someone who never played but like watching skit, this video was so helpful in showing how one simple thing changed the whole game
A video on Evan mobley would be interesting hes been a great defender for a rookie
Analytically he's the best rookie defender since Tim Duncan.
man ican't wait for that future thinking basketball video on the next variations of screens & pick n rolls you spoke about towards the end
Amazing video, loved the historical evolution with clips from various era leading into the modern day. Also, shout out the Theis seal you put in, always enjoyed that move from him
You could do a study of the 71-72 Lakers team that had Wilt standing at the foul line holding the ball above his head while West and Goodrich ran around in circles with Wilt passing quickly to them when they got open. That is the team that had the 33 game win streak. There is much to learn from them old teams. Basketball offense is always featured to focus on the greatest scoring threat that the team has. Everything else flows from that.
Love this breakdown - I think you gotta European basketball more credit for a lot of these intricacies and developments. It’s a much more of a 5-person offensive game than we’re used to watching the NBA.