It was a big issue in last year's playoffs against the Suns when we just kept switching on the screens with Steve Nash and getting abused. Nate said that it wasn't his game plan to switch on the screens, yet the players continually switched. Fast forward to this year. What is going on? We're still switching on screens! Once again Nate says he's frustrated with his team switching on screens. What does this say for his ability to teach as a head coach? What does it say for his ability to communicate his defensive ideology and vision to the team? It can't be the personnel. Wesley Matthews and Gerald Wallace weren't on the team last year, yet now they are switching too. Nate is supposedly known as a defensive minded head coach yet it is a year later and he still hasn't remedied a pretty basic defensive concept.
When a screen is being set, you have a few options 1) Go under and give up a wide open shot to the guard. 2) Go over the top and allow the guard to get into the lane. 3) Switch and get caught in a mismatch 4) Trap and risk giving up dunks/layups. You don't see teams have as much trouble with our on-ball pick and rolls because outside of the old Roy, we don't have anyone who is a threat to hit a jump-shot and drive to the hoop. Switching isn't always a bad option, it just depends on the matchup. Tonight, we actually looked more lost when we didn't switch. I recall back to back plays where we fought over the top on a Barea, so we wouldn't get caught in a mismatch with Dirk. The first one resulted in Barea getting a wide open layup. The next time down, LMA saw history repeating itself and so he stopped and showed for a split second, but it allowed Dirk to get the ball and since the defensive scheme was to keep someone on Dirk, there was no rotation to cover him. Add to the fact guys like Kidd and Peja are stroking it from outside when we collapse, our options are fairly limited.
It's not the fact that we're switching on the screens that's the big issue. It's the fact that its been a year and we're still doing the same thing that frustrates Nate. It's the fact that he can't communicate or command to his team his defensive philosophy or game plan.
I don't know any coach who says you absolutely never switch screens under any circumstances. I can only guess that Nate tells the guy to fight over the top of screens as their first option unless its like a Batum/Wallace screen where a switch doesn't do much to hurt you. If Nate dug in his heels and said no switching what-so-ever, it would be a layup drill. Dallas is going to find Miller, Roy, Rudy, and Matthews and have Dirk set a screen on them. At that point, we're in some trouble, and we have to decide what we're willing to give up. I think making guys like Jason Kidd beat you on the outside is the percentage play, but clearly that hasn't worked in our favor. I still think Jason Kidd will have a tough time beating us in 4 out of 7 games, but so far he is 2 for 2.
I don't think there is an easy answer as to why we are so bad at defending the Pick and Roll. With that said no team under Nate McMillan has been good at this for whatever reason.
I haven't seen any stats that prove or disprove this statement. When I used to log games for Synergy, I didn't notice Portland being below average at pick-and-roll defense, but I certainly wouldn't have said they were the best either.
Whenever I read what McMillan's strengths and weaknesses are, his best strength is that he has control over the team. So anything the players do wrong should be blamed on him telling them to do it that way.
I remember a breakdown Kenny Smith did (last year, maybe) about how, of the 7 ways to defend the P&R, Portland generally used two. He walked through it with Ernie, iirc, and showed how other teams could gameplan around those two options. I'm sure you watched more tape than Kenny, though, so I'm interested in your thoughts on that. Regardless, if Dirk's getting sent to the line on any contact, or Andre's called for the foul when fighting through the screen, or Dirk makes a one-legged fallaway regardless of the D it doesn't really matter.
I don't think switching was an issue yesterday. I am fine with switching guys that we have occasionally. The biggest issue with the PnR yesterday I had was the stupidity of Rudy and Wes, I believe. Wes going under on picks for Kidd, and then Rudy fighting over the screen on Barea. So a guy who wants to get to the hoop, you allow him to, and the guy who wants the jump shot, you allow him it. Awful. No need to switch on it, jus go under on Barea, stop his penetration. Rudy got a quick hook after he did it a few times in a row.
I remember Cuban freaking out on Chuck and Kenny for criticizing Dallas' pick and roll defense against Phx a few years ago. Cuban cited all these stats they use on how to play certain teams on P&Rs and their success using those methods. There is no doubt Boston, Chicago, and those types of teams seem to have a much better plan of attack when it comes to defending P&R's. Or maybe they have better team defenders, I haven't thought about it too much.
Kidd making jumpers is throwing a wrench in our P&R defense. And Wesley needs to flop on some of those screens that he tries to fight through. Once Chandler/Kidd get called for a few offensive fouls, they'll think twice before going to those plays.
Let's see here..... Repeatedly went with Batum guarding Nowitzki, and watched as Dirk repeatedly backed him down for easy scores.... Left Peja (and Kidd) open on the perimeter repeatedly to take uncontested 2pt/3pt shots.... Repeatedly allowed JJ Barea to drive into the key and often finish lay-ins, how about knocking that little midget to the floor once? Oh yeah AND we switched on screens allowing Dirk to shoot at will or back down Matthews.... pathetic..........
