While watching an NBA summer league game between the Knicks and the T-Wolves on NBA TV last night, the announcers brought on Donnie Walsh for an interview. Donnie is a very good friend of George and the family is considered one of the smartest basketball minds in the NBA. Anytime he is interviewed or speaking I listen intently and try to learn some pearls of wisdom from him. During this interview, what I found interesting and want to point out here is his belief on how important it is to have a shot-blocker on your team.
The comment came about when Donnie was asked who he liked in the summer league? Walsh candidly said that Robin Lopez has impressed him but that he is influenced slightly in that direction because he wants a player “like” him. A player who is a good shot-blocker and rebounder.
Walsh believes that having a shot-blocker allows you to be more aggressive defensively particularly at the end of games. He pointed to two examples from his past that made his point. One of the reasons Walsh believes some of his Pacer teams were so good in the past was because of the shot-blocking ability of Jermaine O’Neil and Dale and Antonio Davis years before. At the end of games, these players shut down the lane and opposing players were afraid to drive to the basket. Also, the defenders on the wings (Reggie Miller) could crowd their man, gamble for steals, and not have to be worried about their men beating them to the basket because they had an enforcer to protect the basket. When his Pacer teams didn’t have a shot-blocker, Walsh noticed a stark difference in how his teams defended, particularly at the end of games, which leads to less wins.
Now, I know most of you high-school and youth coaches do not have the blessing of a shot-blocker on your team or the ability to trade for one. But, if you do, consider being more aggressive, going after steals and trying to get transistion buckets. I would suggest not playing a zone defense and picking up man to man. If your players are being aggressive and crowding their defenders, but happen to get beat off the dribble, they have a somebody behind them to protect the rim. Getting into the offensive players will create more turnovers which then lead to easy buckets. The game is about getting easy baskets and this one way to create an easy opportunity.
Comments:
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I agree with the thought of a shot blocker being important to your team especially when it comes how aggressive you can be on defense. Good shot blockers who can rebound are great luxuries.
I disagree with your thoughts on being a man-to-man team when you have a shot blocker. To me, teams with good shot blockers are better situated, and the shot blocking player is better featured, when playing zone.
In a zone the perimeter defenders are able to play aggressively on the wings, going for steals and disrupting the offense’s flow by starting the offense further away than what they are used to. This can be done due to the fact that there is a good shot blocker who is babysitting the basket. In a zone the defense knows that the shot blocker will be in the area of the middle of the paint at all times. This way if the perimeter defenders get beat they can at least “funnel” the offensive player to the shot blocker, who will in turn alter or discourage a good shot. If a team with a good shot blocker is playing man, the offensive player who is being guarded by the shot blocker can pull him away from the basket simply by floating out to the wing or high post. This situation can be further exploited by inserting a good jump shooting big man or going with a quicker line up if the team is going man to man.
I feel it is much easier for the shot blocker themselves if the team is playing zone because he doesn’t always have to run and give help to the man who just got beat and leave his man responsibility.
I do not think man to man is the obvious choice. A simple 2-3 zone would work fine for a team with a good shot blocker. Personally I would be playing a match up zone if I had a good shot blocker and was coaching in High School. The responsibilities are easy to teach and learn at that level and the defensive look it gives can confuse the offense at times. Playing the match up zone aggressively could lead to an offensive player choosing the dribble drive into a tight spot with the shot blocker waiting to reject his shot opportunity or at least create a turnover situation.