Last Play Defense

Post #1 » by **NuggetsWY** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:23 am

Do the Nuggets have a better lineup for a last play defense? Thinking about switching and length and so on.

Harris - Craig at guard
Vanderbilt - Grant at forward

Jokic or Millsap or Plumlee depending on the other team's center considering his range/mobility/strength.

Post #2 » by **THE J0KER** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 8:15 pm

Yes, thanks to Grant. We should put Craig to defend PG, Harris on SG, Grant on SF, Millsap on PF, and Jokic on center. Malone prefers Plumlee over Joker which is mistake, because Jokic is our best rebounder and one of best FT% shooters. With Plumlee instead Jokic we risk opponent offensive rebound or Plumlee missed free throw (or both) after fast foul. Plumlee can be useful for double team and eventual final block shots, but now there is new sheriff in the town, I see Grant as better for that role and probably Denver Nuggets new best blocker.

Post #3 » by **NuggetsWY** » Wed Jul 17, 2019 9:35 pm

THE J0KER wrote:Yes, thanks to Grant. We should put Craig to defend PG, Harris on SG, Grant on SF, Millsap on PF, and Jokic on center. Malone prefers Plumlee over Joker which is mistake, because Jokic is our best rebounder and one of best FT% shooters. With Plumlee instead Jokic we risk opponent offensive rebound or Plumlee missed free throw (or both) after fast foul. Plumlee can be useful for double team and eventual final block shots, but now there is new sheriff in the town, I see Grant as better for that role and probably Denver Nuggets new best blocker.

All true and I think Jokic's defense is very under-rated but if it's a last second shot by the other team (maybe 3 seconds to go) and the other team has a mobile 3-pt shooting big and/or the other team is good at setting picks on a big (which all teams are), then Millsap & Plumlee make more sense on that play.

I was valuing Grant & Vanderbilt at forward because they can switch on anyone; but yeah, depending, I can live with Jokic at center and even leave Millsap on the bench (but I like his defense a lot).

What's really nice is just how many decent defenders the Nuggets have accumulated!

U hova · Post #4 » by **U hova** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:46 pm

Malone's signature move is to sub out Jokic in those situations... maybe Grant will play center then?

Post #5 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 7:18 pm

U hova wrote:Malone's signature move is to sub out Jokic in those situations... maybe Grant will play center then?

In the past, Craig was often undersized vs opposite SF's, while his size can be only advantage vs opponent PG's in that last action, with Grant at SF.

Eventually small ball defense can be effectively used for last defense when opponent desperately needs 3pt and playing with their small ball rotation fulfilled with their 3pt specialists, but in that case I see Millsap as center and Grant as PF, together with Craig, Harris, and Beasley. Grant is taller than Millsap, but also faster, which is the main reason why I would use Millsap vs 'taller' but slower positions.