ArbitraryWater
07-12-2016, 09:09 PM
https://i.gyazo.com/4169d476059581e0ec1e54df1d736d62.gif
https://i.gyazo.com/1743c7e8be88a9bc7d19f63efd71ba01.gif
^Terrell Brandon (elite defender) SERVED by MJ.
During the Bulls-Pistons series, the Pistons' 4th quarter policy was to double-team MJ every single time he touched the ball.. Here's an examle from Game 6 of 1989 ECF, starting at the 9 minute mark - MJ is double-teamed 10 of 13 times he touched the ball to finish out the game.. The 3 times he didn't get doubled were because he shot the ball immediately - here's all 10 double-teams shown in gifs:
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11703590&postcount=88
Here's the New York Times on Jordan, 1987:
"Last season, Jordan had to overcome the harrassment of zone traps and double-triple teaming to average 37.1 points a game."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s9_GKFNL9E&t=0m49s
The strongside flood is only necessary when there are actual defenders on the weakside to flood over, which doesn't occur without today's weakside spacing.. In today's game, every team places multiple shooters behind the 3-point line on the weakside to draw defenders away from the strongside, thus spacing the entire halfcourt - weakside spacing is a staple of every team's offensive strategy today.
However, the 80's didn't have 3-point shooting to space the floor - weakside spacing didn't exist and defenders didn't need to occupy the weakside - all defenders remained on the strongside and/or in the paint, eliminating the need to flood.
Here's further detail on spacing and weakside spacing:
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11606684&postcount=408
Doubling the post before the ball gets there is an extremely obvious move that leaves someone wide open - it prevents a post player from catching it, but that's only a consideration in today's game because the spacing gives players too much time and room to operate once they catch it... The spacing and further distance of help defenders makes today's post players too dangerous when they catch the ball.
Otoh, when there isn't spacing and help defense is much closer, a team is better off NOT compromising their defense by doubling early and leaving someone wide open.. The lack of spacing made previous eras better-equipped to handle a post player that has the ball.
Btw, when a post player is doubled without the ball in today's game, it's usually a halfway double, which is the same distance a help defender would be if there was no spacing...
https://i.gyazo.com/1743c7e8be88a9bc7d19f63efd71ba01.gif
^Terrell Brandon (elite defender) SERVED by MJ.
During the Bulls-Pistons series, the Pistons' 4th quarter policy was to double-team MJ every single time he touched the ball.. Here's an examle from Game 6 of 1989 ECF, starting at the 9 minute mark - MJ is double-teamed 10 of 13 times he touched the ball to finish out the game.. The 3 times he didn't get doubled were because he shot the ball immediately - here's all 10 double-teams shown in gifs:
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11703590&postcount=88
Here's the New York Times on Jordan, 1987:
"Last season, Jordan had to overcome the harrassment of zone traps and double-triple teaming to average 37.1 points a game."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s9_GKFNL9E&t=0m49s
The strongside flood is only necessary when there are actual defenders on the weakside to flood over, which doesn't occur without today's weakside spacing.. In today's game, every team places multiple shooters behind the 3-point line on the weakside to draw defenders away from the strongside, thus spacing the entire halfcourt - weakside spacing is a staple of every team's offensive strategy today.
However, the 80's didn't have 3-point shooting to space the floor - weakside spacing didn't exist and defenders didn't need to occupy the weakside - all defenders remained on the strongside and/or in the paint, eliminating the need to flood.
Here's further detail on spacing and weakside spacing:
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11606684&postcount=408
Doubling the post before the ball gets there is an extremely obvious move that leaves someone wide open - it prevents a post player from catching it, but that's only a consideration in today's game because the spacing gives players too much time and room to operate once they catch it... The spacing and further distance of help defenders makes today's post players too dangerous when they catch the ball.
Otoh, when there isn't spacing and help defense is much closer, a team is better off NOT compromising their defense by doubling early and leaving someone wide open.. The lack of spacing made previous eras better-equipped to handle a post player that has the ball.
Btw, when a post player is doubled without the ball in today's game, it's usually a halfway double, which is the same distance a help defender would be if there was no spacing...