Tony Allen Shutting Down Durant Because "He Can Get Around Screens"

[eliteballer]

During the first two games of their first round series, Kevin Durant is 9-for-25 (36 percent) while being guarded by Tony Allen and 10-for-18 (55.5 percent) against everyone else on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Allen missed 27 games this season while recovering from a knee issue and appears to be healthier and faster.

Allen is especially adept at avoiding screens to stick with Durant.

http://grantland.com/features/nba-playoffs-winners-and-losers-round-one-2014/

Pretty much confirms my thoughts that a huge part of Durant's offensive game/OKC's offense is heavily reliant on screens...

[Cocaine80s]

tony allen is da man

[QuebecBaller]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w97KTYeP-Mg/UU66lqaNo1I/AAAAAAAAHCI/12Nw1eB-6f8/s640/Tony+Allen+Turnover.gif

[russwest0]

Allen has done a great job on Durant so far, but I have no idea why Brooks hasn't had KD bring the ball up at all to eliminate the need to fight to get open every time down. Let him bring it up and initiate a 2 man game with Ibaka with Russ off ball slashing. Of course that'd make way too much sense for Brooks to do :lol :lol

[aburre21]

Allen has done a great job on Durant so far, but I have no idea why Brooks hasn't had KD bring the ball up at all to eliminate the need to fight to get open every time down. Let him bring it up and initiate a 2 man game with Ibaka with Russ off ball slashing. Of course that'd make way too much sense for Brooks to do :lol :lol

Kd bringing the ball up on Tony Allen? :lol


He'd get his lunch taken

[G-train]

Allen has done a great job on Durant so far, but I have no idea why Brooks hasn't had KD bring the ball up at all to eliminate the need to fight to get open every time down. Let him bring it up and initiate a 2 man game with Ibaka with Russ off ball slashing. Of course that'd make way too much sense for Brooks to do :lol :lol

You can't just dribble down with a 7 footer and initiate a 2 man game against a good defensive team.
Firstly it will take him 10 seconds to get down court. So you are already under shot clock pressure.
Secondly the position on the pick and roll will be undetermined, as it wasn't generated on the offensive team's terms.
Thirdly there won't be proper spacing from other players til about 4 seconds on the shot clock.
So no.... your post makes no sense, I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[tmacattack33]

Allen has done a great job on Durant so far, but I have no idea why Brooks hasn't had KD bring the ball up at all to eliminate the need to fight to get open every time down. Let him bring it up and initiate a 2 man game with Ibaka with Russ off ball slashing. Of course that'd make way too much sense for Brooks to do :lol :lol

Durant is certainly slick and has a good handle, but i doubt he'd be able to bring the ball up full time, especially against Tony Allen and Memphis.

I don't think he has that speed to get away from a man who is pressing him (which would be Tony Allen...a great defender) and maybe a trap or two from the defense.

[russwest0]

You can't just dribble down with a 7 footer and initiate a 2 man game against a good defensive team.
Firstly it will take him 10 seconds to get down court. So you are already under shot clock pressure.
Secondly the position on the pick and roll will be undetermined, as it wasn't generated on the offensive team's terms.
Thirdly there won't be proper spacing from other players til about 4 seconds on the shot clock.
So no.... your post makes no sense, I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Did you watch their series vs the Grizzlies last year? Durant running point was the only shit keeping OKC close. With Westbrook off ball they'd win every game as long as OKC went small and forced one of Gasol/Randolph to cover the 3pt line.

[russwest0]

Durant is certainly slick and has a good handle, but i doubt he'd be able to bring the ball up full time, especially against Tony Allen and Memphis.

I don't think he has that speed to get away from a man who is pressing him (which would be Tony Allen...a great defender) and maybe a trap or two from the defense.

He did it all last series, just got no help from his teammates.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Tony Allen is Chicago tough.

[G-train]

Did you watch their series vs the Grizzlies last year? Durant running point was the only shit keeping OKC close. With Westbrook off ball they'd win every game as long as OKC went small and forced one of Gasol/Randolph to cover the 3pt line.

Yeah the one they lost 4-1. Different tactics.

It is not that simple.
Over 48 minutes and various lineups, it is much more of a difficulty for the Thunder to guard an interior player than it is for an interior player to guard the worst offensive player for the Thunder.

[G-train]

He did it all last series, just got no help from his teammates.

The Grizzlies denied him help from his team mates, and let him play like that.
One guy dribbling up will not beat a good team, not even Prime Jordan.

Different series, different players, different tactics.

[Threethrows]

A huge part of any individual's offensive success is screens. Good screens are key, and teams or players that often get away with illegal screens are huge difference makers.

It's stupid to expect most perimeter defenders to be able to stay with their man because one screen means game over when the offensive player is someone good enough to shoot OR drive.

That's why guys that are really good at fighting over screens are considered such good defenders. It's basically what separates good from bad defense for a guard. But most of these guys aren't ALSO good offensive players. For those guys they just need to develop their own 3 point shot and they are good to go as long as they have someone else to play off of on offense.

[tmacattack33]

He did it all last series, just got no help from his teammates.

...and they got killed in that series.

[LONGTIME]

...and they got killed in that series.

:oldlol: Every game went down to the final minute... yeah they got killed. :rolleyes:

[oarabbus]

Someone plz explain why Durant can't shoot over a guy 6" shorter than him

[SamuraiSWISH]

Someone plz explain why Durant can't shoot over a guy 6" shorter than him
He couldn't out physical Tony Allen to even get the ball first.

[JohnFreeman]

Allen is just a great defender, and Durant is a product of officiating bias and iso plays

[LONGTIME]

Someone plz explain why Durant can't shoot over a guy 6" shorter than him

Honestly Durant is soft. Whenever someone plays physical defense and denies him the ball, he hangs his head and pouts instead of fighting to re-eastablish position to get the ****ing ball.

[Lebronxrings]

He did it all last series, just got no help from his teammates.
don't make me bring up the 4th quarter stats

[Relinquish]

When guarded by Allen or Ariza, KD looks quite mortal. Last game Ariza guarded him, KD shot 8-21.

[MMM]

Someone plz explain why Durant can't shoot over a guy 6" shorter than him

My guess is getting right up under him is going to impact your rhythm despite having 7 inches to shoot over. Lower body function can't be ignored in one's jump shooting abilities

[russwest0]

...and they got killed in that series.

every game came down to the wire and there was no Westbrook + OKC's whole entire supporting cast played like shit.

There's no doubt in my mind Durant needs to be bringing the ball up more. Brooks is also a jackass for ever running a lineup without one of Westbrook or KD like he has in both games so far.

[MMM]

When guarded by Allen or Ariza, KD looks quite mortal. Last game Ariza guarded him, KD shot 8-21.

8-21 is not that bad

[PickernRoller]

Sounds a lot like the same thing that troubles Lebron. Both Bron and Durant depend heavily on PnR to get their shots. 1-on-1 is not their strength.

[ShaqCarriedKobe]

Someone plz explain why Durant can't shoot over a guy 6" shorter than him
Because Durant is soft, mentally weak, and a choker. He'll never be LeBron. :confusedshrug:

[becken]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w97KTYeP-Mg/UU66lqaNo1I/AAAAAAAAHCI/12Nw1eB-6f8/s640/Tony+Allen+Turnover.gif

[BoutPractice]

So what? Most good modern offenses rely heavily on screens.

[dunksby]

KD haters better have their fun right now cause it aint gonna last.

[RoseCity07]

Seeing Memphis beat OKC would be sweet as hell. Memphis is a tough team that doesn't get any attention. They play great team ball and are committed to defense. When they beat you it's because they shut you down and play great defense. I can't wait to see the next game.