Karl Malone: The Ultimate Power Forward

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PART 1 - LOW POST

[QUOTE]This is Part 1 of

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PART 3 - DEFENSE

[QUOTE]This is Part 3 of

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PART 5 - PASSING

[QUOTE]This is Part 5 of

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PART 6 - PICK AND ROLL

This is Part 6 of “The Ultimate Power Forward” series, detailing several of the key components that made Karl Malone the greatest power forward to ever play the game.

For all of the diverse offensive skills (which have been covered extensively here over the past week) Karl Malone possessed that helped make him the second-leading scorer in NBA history, perhaps no play became as synonymous to the Mailman scoring than the pick-and-roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XLvqH9qoik

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about Karl Malone running screen-roll without mentioning his Hall-of-Fame pick&roll partner: John Stockton. Together, Stockton&Malone put on nearly a two decade-long clinic of how to run the pick&roll. Any type of defense they faced within the rules, they would counter and execute. It starts with Stockton, who had supreme court vision, the ability to pass accurately and quickly (thanks to his ability to pass off the dribble with one hand rather than two) and was an excellent shooter off the bounce. Malone always set a rock solid screen and combined his mobility, great hands and supreme ability to finish with both power and skill around the basket – was the ultimate finisher. Together, Stockton&Malone were simply unstoppable on the pick&roll.


In traditional side-screen roll, Stockton’s first read is always to go middle behind Malone’s screen – whose own read was to roll to the basket if the weakside help doesn’t come, or “pop” out on the baseline for the jumper if the help-defense rotates to shut off the paint.


Here Malone’s man shows out on Stockton and the weakside help is slow. Malone rolls unimpeded to the rim and skillfully finishes over Kobe who is late in his rotation.


On this play, the Chicago Bulls force the pick&roll baseline (a defensive staple of Phil Jackson coached teams). Utah counters with Malone simply re-screening to allow Stockton to drive baseline. This forces Malone’s man to help on Stockton and allows Karl to turn and roll uncontested to the rim.


Chicago’s weakside help defense is slow to react and Malone has a wide-open lane to drive for the hammer dunk.


Here in the same situation, Chicago’s help-defense reacts to clog the lane. As a result, instead of rolling – Malone simply pulls up from the elbow and drains the open 18-footer.


Here against Houston, Stockton’s man decides to go under on the screen so Stockton knows he’ll have a clean look from the foul line area if the big doesn’t show out.


The Rockets choose to stay with the screener (Malone), so Stockton simply pulls up and hits the open foul-line jumper.


After playing together for 10+ seasons, Stockton&Malone developed a sixth sense for knowing when to slip the screen. Here, they again show their standard side screen-roll.


Instead of setting the screen, Malone slips right to the rim. Because Stockton could pass so well off-the-bounce, his trademark one-hand pass right by his defender’s ear leads Malone perfectly and the Mailman makes an excellent one-handed catch on the move and promptly finishes strong at the rim for a three-point play.

As Doug Collins said, “Whatever you show them, they counter it.” In the 90’s most offenses in the NBA were based more on isolation and post-ups than predominantly screen-roll. Now in 2013, with rule changes virtually every successful team relies on running the pick&roll to some degree of success. Guards are taught the nuances of the play at much earlier ages, and come into the league more skilled in that area. Nevertheless, the pick&roll bar set by Stockton&Malone has yet to be eclipsed. They did it longer, better, and more proficiently than any other duo in NBA history. Everyone knew it was coming, and they still couldn’t stop it.

[Asukal]

Did you just get Karl Malowned?

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The best PF to ever do it.

[lucky001]

The best PF to ever do it with a minor

Fixed

[AnaheimLakers24]

Even though he has no rings, hes still better than the entire kings franchis. OUCH

[Prime_Shaq]

Duncan >

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Duncan >

Duncan is a center

[QUOTE]Even Spurs coach Gregg Popovich seemed to acknowledge the charade on the eve of last year

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Malone is the best pure Power Forward, and the best Forward of the 1980-2000 era, hands down.

[lil jahlil]

I think the OP just found out how to copy and paste.

[rmt]

Duncan's oh-so-valuable skill - protecting the rim is glossed over in this article - as is Malone's 4 all-nba defensive honors compared to Duncan's 15. On the defensive end of the court, it is not a contest and in longevity (where Malone has an edge on almost everyone) - well, Duncan's pretty much caught up with that. All that without the ring argument and no, MJ was in the East (no excuse for not reaching more Finals).

I've often wondered what it would be like if Duncan played with a passer such as Stockton instead of that (especially recently) ball-hog, Parker. Spurs were patterned/modeled after the Utah Jazz, who represent all that is good in basketball - grit, team work and effort. Both Malone's and Stockton's longevity and physical conditioning are unparalleled.

[jstern]

Can you post his stats for games where Stockton didn't play? But don't put them all together, instead post them individually, one by one in new posts.

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1989-1990 Season (Stockton misses [COLOR="Red"]4 games[/COLOR])

November 22, 1989 Magic v Jazz

Magic (W) 119 Jazz 97

Malone:
33 points
9 rebounds
4 assists
4 steals
1 block
3 turnovers
11-18 FG
11-13 FT
40 Minutes


November 25, 1989 Lakers v Jazz

Lakers (W) 92 Jazz 86

Malone:
31 points
8 rebounds
4 assists
3 turnovers
11-18 FG
8-10 FT
42 Minutes


February 7, 1990 Nets vs Jazz

Jazz (W) 108 Nets 101

Malone:
26 points
4 rebounds
2 assists
1 steal
1 block
4 turnovers
10-18 FG
6-9 FT
40 Minutes


February 8, 1990 Hornets v Jazz

Jazz (W) 94 Hornets 74

Malone:
15 points
14 rebounds
5 assists
1 steal
3 turnovers
6-18 FG
3-6 FT
36 Minutes