By Gibson Pyper
Breakdown: Duke vs Virginia Preview
Duke and Virginia square off again this Saturday, and the matchup is bigger than ever. Arguably the ACC regular season championship game, with Virginia’s lone loss coming at the hands of the Blue Devils. I broke down 3 main things for both Duke and Virginia with sets and schemes they had in the last matchup. The biggest questions are what Duke will do defensively and how Virginia will counter it, with the focus on Tre Jones impact when he returns on the defensive side of the ball. I did a breakdown podcast with Jordan Sperber that went deep into the X’s & O’s and decisions that can be made and tweaked for the rematch which you can find here: Duke vs Virginia Preview Podcast.
Duke Switching Defense
Duke switched a lot in the matchup vs Virginia, primarily looking to take them out of their Mover Blocker actions that is the primary offense Virginia runs. I have not found any examples from earlier this season where a team switched as much as Duke did, even going 1-5 switching every single action that Virginia ran. When Duke switched it really forced Virginia to play in Isolation and create 1 on 1, which is not a strength and what makes Virginia an elite offense.
Duke 2-3 Zone
Going to a 2-3 zone is something that Duke has done periodically this year, but they ran it as a primary defense last year. Coach K learned the ins and outs from Boeheim during their time coaching the USA national team, so it is always something Duke can fall back on when things are static or struggling to guard a team. Duke has SO much length and athleticism I think its something that they will run randomly throughout the game to use a change of pace and keep Virginia guessing.
Duke “Horns 4” Elbow ISO for Zion Williamson
Coach K does not run a complex offense at Duke, unlike past years when he ran a deep motion offense, this year they run basic 4-Out and let their players make plays. Duke primarily runs Horns sets when they do run plays, and one of them is getting Zion at the elbow and letting him work in Isolation. This play is difficult to handle because it is almost in the middle of the floor so even if you influence one way or the other it opens up driving lanes.
Virginia Switching Attack
Virginia went away from their normal Mover Blocker offense to run their “European Ballscreen Motion” more since Duke was switching everything. When they ran this ballscreen motion, they were able to cause some problems and attacked Duke’s switching easier. The reason this works so well to attack the switch is because the floor is spaced and basically 5 out at times, so the paint is open for slips.
Virginia End of Game Elevator
Tony Bennett has really good X’s & O’s, although many people do not like them because they are deliberate and play at a slow pace. One of the things you will notice is after a timeout or end of games he has good quick hitting actions ranging from Hammer/Throwback plays as well as Elevator plays. Here is a good elevator play run for Kyle Guy at the end of the game when Virginia needed a score.
This game is exciting, especially with the rematch at Virginia and there are layers that involve coaching on both sides of the ball. Stopping a forceful team like Duke is a tall task and Virginia is an elite defense, as well as how they will attack Duke’s switching defense. Ultimately I feel like Virignia will play well and come out strong, but Zion and RJ are too much for them in the end.
-Coach Pyper
Breakdown: Golden State Warriors Sets For Demarcus Cousins
Boogie Cousins is back. It is scary, he looks really good for coming off an Achilles injury – although playing for the Warriors probably has something to do with it. The Warriors are running sets for him to get paint touches and let him handle the ball, we will look at how they are using him in their offense and why it is bad news for the rest of the NBA.
Early Push
As the season goes along and Boogie becomes more comfortable I expect him to push the ball after rebounds it on the defensive end. Draymond is great at rebounding and starting the break, and I think Demarcus Cousins will eventually start to push the ball more and look for early attacks, handoffs and screens.
Hook Thunder
This is a set the Warriors used to run for David West & Andrew Bogut – so it makes sense they will run it for Boogie as well. Starting off with a wide pindown for usually Steph or Klay (most of the time it is Klay) who then curls inside toward the paint, and the screener opens up at the elbow for a pass – this is “Hook” action. After the pass is made to the elbow, Klay will continue into the paint opposite and set a pindown screen for Demarcus Cousins to flash in the middle for a score or a deep paint touch. This is difficult to guard since the switch really isn’t plausible in the middle of the floor, and it is set so deep that Demarcus Cousins can get a deep paint touch.
52 Get – Inverted Ballscreen
An action rather than a set, this could be potentially be a nightmare for opponents since they will use Steph and Klay as ballscreeners with Demarcus Cousins handling the ball. Since I expect him to be more comfortable bringing the ball up this makes more sense having Klay and Steph setting random ballscreens especially when denied.
Slice Punch
A set the Warriors are running for Demarcus Cousins is a slice screen into a post up. Most of the sets the Warriors will run for him will be sets they already used before for their bigs, and using Steph and Klay as screeners will not allow a team to switch the screen. This set is a ball reversal into a slice screen for Demarcus Cousins post up. I have included the video they ran for Andrew Bogut – this action starting in the 2015 playoffs, primarily looking for split cut actions off of it.
Motion Weak
A set that has been run by every team at almost every level is “Motion Weak” by the San Antonio Spurs. After the point guard passes to the wing he will cut through the lane to the opposite wing, and the ball gets reversed to him. During the point guard cutting through, the opposite wing will dive into the lane and set a cross screen for Demarcus Cousins to post up off of.
Split Cuts
This is by far the scariest thing about the Warriors adding Boogie Cousins. I understand the post ups, spacing and play creating that he allows, but running a post up with their center on the perimeter and executing split cuts is just stupid. Stupid in the way that makes no sense from a defensive standpoint and since it is random, incredibly hard to scout. Either running off a screen or slipping to the basket or even into the post after screening on the perimeter is one of the hardest things to guard.
Early Punch
One of my favorite actions that involves Demarcus Cousins is how he will sprint up the floor and bury his man in the post. Looking to seal in the post and then get the ball on the block puts early pressure on the defense, then flowing into split cuts and actions off of it.
Not a ton of new stuff for Demarcus Cousins, but simply plugging him into their old sets makes them so lethal and hard to guard. Once he gets into the flow of their offensive schemes, adding new actions and sets are going to make the Warriors basically impossible to guard. I hope you enjoyed this breakdown, and if you have any feedback or questions let me know!
-Coach Pyper
Breakdown: Kansas vs Kentucky
Kentucky took down Kansas through their length and size, and Kansas tried everything to stop them – including a Triangle & 2 defense. Kentucky does not run anything fancy, but it is very effective and impactful for the personnel Calipari has on a year to year basis. Bill Self has better X’s & O’s in my opinion, but Kentucky’s ability to defend and crash the offensive glass really hurt Kansas. In this breakdown we will look at some of my favorite sets from the game, skills and concepts that we can take away and learn from.
Kentucky “Crashing The Glass”
Kentucky outrebounded Kansas on the offensive glass 17-9 led by Reid Travis and PJ Washington, built on Kentucky using their length and size advantage. One of the biggest things to take away from Kentucky’s offensive rebound advantage was positioning and lower body control. Not only having a relentless effort, but knowing where to be when the ball is shot as well as exploding and recovering from the lower body gives the rebounder a huge advantage.
Kentucky “Boston Lift Pin”
A counter to Kentucky’s best set from last year (Boston) was a good way they created a post up opportunity. The set starts off with an Iverson cut, or a cut from a guard over the top of two bigs toward the top of the key. As the guard clears, the second big lifts to the top of the key and receives a pass from the point guard. Opposite of this action the other big sets a pindown screen for a guard – typically Herro – and then post up no the weakside. The screen down sets up the bigs defender to be on the high side since teams usually defend a pin down with the big showing a hand on the high side and recovering, allowing the screener to seal.
Kentucky Baseline Drive Set
When I first saw this set I was not sure if it was actually a set or just a random action that allowed a baseline drive due to a defensive breakdown. I think it is a set – still trying to find another example of it, but even so it is a good action to show how a baseline drive can impact a defense. The play is designed for a hand off on the wing, then a guard filling behind and kicking back to the point guard who attacks baseline. The reason I think this is a set and not just random is where the big for Kentucky is located – high above at the free throw line, allowing the baseline drive.
Kansas Triangle & 2 Defense
Bill Self went to a Triangle & 2 Defense against Kentucky to try and muck up Kentucky’s offensive flow and it was impactful. Kentucky did get some good looks out of it, but ultimately it stymied Kentucky’s run in the second half and at least made them think about how to attack it.
Kansas End of Game Ricky
A normal set that Kansas runs is a wide flare set with a guard attacking, having the big set it wide to the corner and prevents his defender from helping too much at the rim. Late game against Kentucky, Kansas went to this same flare action but instead had a rescreen action to get Vick an open 3 and pull closer.
Skills & Situations
Two things I learned from this game that I will take away, both from Kansas. The first thing is to always teach your players to have their heads on a swivel and remain disciplined in their passing. Dotson threw the ball to Garret who wasn’t looking for the ball. I am going to teach my players to always cut and act like you are going to get the ball every possession. The second thing is a great example of how to trap in a full court press without fouling, and Kansas forced Kentucky to take a late game timeout.
Kansas Mental Mistake
Kansas Trap
I hope you guys enjoyed this breakdown, I look forward to getting more in depth with these – and if you have any feedback let me know!
-Coach Pyper
Nebraska Wesleyan Point Series (Princeton Offense)
Nebraska Wesleyan won the 2018 Divison 3 National Championship last year and are off to a hot start to this season. I want to give credit to Jordan Sperber (Twitter Bio) who did a fantastic breakdown on the Princeton Offense and how it fits with today's modern basketball. He talked about how Nebraska Wesleyan runs a portion of the Princeton Offense - the "Point Series," which involves some basic action into an elbow touch that triggers different reads. I went into a deep dive into how Nebraska Wesleyan runs their Point Series, and it is one of the best series I have come across this year. In this breakdown we will look at all of the options and reads in their Point Series as well as some counters they run for quick hitters to allow easier scores. In total we will look at the 10 main options as well as 5 counters that Nebraska Wesleyan has run this year, starting with their basic action to trigger their reads.
2018-19 NBA X’s & O’s Preview
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Live Stream
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Half Court Hoops NBA Preview
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Golden State Warriors Horns 2-Man/Stagger
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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr runs some incredible action as well as establishing an amazing motion offense. A big part of these sets and motion that allows them to work is the initial action before each set – primarily motion strong. Motion Strong is a set that the Spurs and Pop made famous and is now run by almost every team at every level. Now we have established the base – the motion strong part – we will look how it flows into Horns.
Horns formation is the ball in the middle of the floor, two players – typically both bigs – at the elbows and two players – usually guards – in the corners.
The basic idea of this play is utilizing a counter out of their basic motion action to get a backdoor with weakside action. I love plays that involve a main action and have weakside movement or action to force the defense to guard every spot on the floor. Obviously this is magnified with the Golden State Warriors personnel and the fact they have 3 of the most lethal scorers in the NBA today, but I think the concept at the high school level can work. After the point guard passes to the big who is trailing, the big flips is back and both bigs sprint to the elbows. The point guard then hits the elbow and cuts opposite with the other big – forming a stagger.
The big at the elbow then turns and dribbles at the guard in the corner – usually Kevin Durant – who would setup his cut and go backdoor. If the guard cutting backdoor is covered then the weakside stagger for Klay Thompson would be the next look. The ability to run a shooter off a stagger screen with backdoor action combined with these skilled players and it is a great play.
Enjoy!
Coach Pyper
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Cleveland Cavaliers AI Back
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This set is designed for a shooter after decoy action, out of Iverson Series that is extremely common throughout the NBA. The Iverson cut is a basic action that is designed to get a guard cutting over the top of two bigs from wing to wing.
After the Iverson Cut, the guard will receive a pass from the point guard on the wing. As the player uses the Iverson cut to get open, the guard in the corner will clear opposite and empty out that space. When the guard receives the pass he will drive to the baseline and draw x4 away when he has to help. This allows the 4 man to set a “throwback” screen for the shooter – in this case 2.
The footwork for 4 here is plant hard outside and fake a ballscreen, then turn and set the throwback screen for 2.
This is great action against teams that ICE side ballscreens (Chicago Bulls ICE Defense – Michael Bowden on YouTube), since x4 will drop every time in that coverage.
Enjoy!
Coach Pyper
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Boston College “Thru Rip” Lob Set
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This set from Boston College is good action to get some basic movement into a backscreen for an athlete. This is a basic counter out of their through series in which the point guard cuts through the lane opposite. What I really like about this set is the lob man starts out extremely high on the wing and sprints into the backscreen looking for a lob.
As we can see in the video, the point guard passes to the wing and cuts through the lane. The opposite big (4 man) lifts to the sweet spot in the middle of the floor and receives a pass for a ball reversal. As the ball is being reversed the 5 man steps up and empties the paint almost like he will go and set a ballscreen for the ballhandler. The point guard then continues through and sets a backscreen for the opposite athlete on the wing for a lob.
This is a similar set the Houston Rockets run, however the Rockets run it into a dribble hand off and not looking for the backscreen as often. Having a player set a backscreen before receiving a dribble hand off or a ballscreen is a great way to get them open – even in a motion offense. What I am taking away from this set is that every time we have a chance we should try and backscreen, especially when looking to get yourself open.
Enjoy!
Coach Pyper
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