Let's get into habits and instincts defending the ball screens and the ball screen ball handler.
Caris' natural instinct is see the screen and defend the ball handler going downhill. Certain players don't expose him on it, but learn from it. Here Caris sees Larry Nance Jr. setting the first screen, doesn't feel for the 2nd and Clarkson b/c he's isn't smart enough to use that screen for a 3 pointer winds up wit a bad shot.
Here's Larry Nance Jr. again, as the 1st quarter is ending, trying to ball screen Levert. Levert almost gets the steal. But Caris doesn't really feel for the reset screen and gets caught going under. On this particular play it benefited us b/c Jordan Clarkson again inexperienced instead of being patient and pulling up for 3, goes downhill and turns the ball over. Great help coverage by Okafor.
Here's another example. Caris' blindside gets screened, Ingram for whatever reason decides against shooting that 3. Something that no vet would turn down. Then the reset, Caris gets caught hard on this one. (he's in the scouting report now) They know Caris doesn't feel or fight through the screen. Ingram again young and dumb, doesn't shoot that 3. Dinwiddie makes an incredible effort and limits the damage. Part of this is the way our players understand how to defend the screen and what shots we allow, the other is bad instincts. This is a bit of both. Caris isn't a lost cause, but he's the type that needs the help. But at this point Jarrett Allen is 19 and has 2 fouls so he can't really provide the help Caris needs on this.
Here's the type of help Caris Levert needs on ball screens. But first watch Webb, remember he's a call up here for a few days. Already calling out screens, and rerouting them. Here's an example of Kuzma setting a soft pivot slide screen. Webb is trailing him forcing him off Joe Harris' back, but make no mistake Joe Harris played a perfect angle on this screen, pressures the strong side, sees the screen coming, perfect footwork, even if Kuzma attempts a strong one, Joe likely breaks through it. Here he pressures Ingram to drive into help D double team coverage and turns the ball over.
This is the type of defense we want Levert moving up to. Before I forget this what Joe Harris is doing is called "Top Lock" when you blow up the screener's original route.
This is very subtle and exactly what I'm talking about that Levert doesn't do enough of. Look at D'Angelo Russell at the beginning of this gif, look how he hears the call for the screen and immediately steps in and feels for Nance's hip or elbow wit his arm to know what direction it's being set and how much space he has to get over it.
On the weak side watch Jordan Clarkson attempt a strong screen on James Webb III and look how easily he slides right through it and closes out Kyle Kuzma who thought he had a wide open 3 and then had to reset it to Caruso.
All that's left is an iso 29 foot jumper vs D'Angelo Russell. This is how you shut down ball screens. These are winning plays.
Good and Bad plays
Good:
Again watch Caris, this time the screen is coming downhill in, he can see it in transition. Still goes under the screen but Clarkson isn't pulling up. And for some reason Larry Nance Jr. screens his own teammate
Levert finally goes over the reset screen. Again b/c he sees it. But he finally goes over the screen, now Clarkson goes downhill as he's done all game, but this time he's met by Russell, Harris, Acy, Levert and gets his shot blocked. This was great.
Bad:
Quincy Acy has to understand in these possessions NOT TO VOLLEYBALL SPIKE THESE BALLS INTO NOWHERE. There's four men in that area, a tip block gets us the ball. Unfortunately we loss the ball here and they got another opportunity b/c of it. Not securing rebounds and blocked shots are never a good thing. Broken plays good, not securing ball after it bad.
Good:
Watch how Russell feels for this screen, look at his arms, but also watch James Webb III, watch how he reroutes Kyle Kuzma's hard screen attempt, this frees up D'Angelo to guard his man one on one.
Bad:
Quincy Acy on the reset (you'll see later more on this), D'Angelo is left to fight over the screen (good on him, this kid is learning to be a really good defender), Acy stays dropped back, causing the roll man to be free. This messes up Caris Levert and he winds up over helping on the roller. Leaving his man wide open to knock down a backbreaker 3.
I understand our D is made to give up that 14-20 foot look. But this is simply Acy staying back and not accounting for Larry Nance Jr as the roller. If he followed the way Webb rerouted Kuzma, Nance ends up floating 26 feet away, instead of rolling hard untouched for the first 3 steps and causing Levert to leave his assignment.
This is why I love Webb. And why Kenny Atkinson should love Webb. Look how he reroutes "Top Locking" Kuzma again. As he tries to screen Levert. Levert has an easy job getting through that screen b/c James Webb III knows how to break screens. But watch as Kuzma goes across the floor, he tells Larry Nance Jr. set the screen on Levert's blindside. Webb follows Kuzma but now, he can't break this screen, b/c it's a double screen, if he tries to shove out Nance Jr., Kuzma is wide open for 3, so he stays wit Kuzma, but here again is the issue wit how we defend screens.
Quincy Acy and trust me I know he a good defender, effort wise, IQ wise, you can't see a double screen, more importantly you can't have your man set a clean screen on a player you know has issues getting over the screen. You have to help your teammate. The screen is clean, the roll is hard, he takes Levert wit him and Jordan Clarkson finally looks like a genius in this game.
People the Milwaukee Bucks are playing the Nets today. Giannis gets freed up mainly by screens. That's why they kill us.
You can't drop back otherwise and hang players out to dry. That's what Acy did on this night to Caris.
And let's end this on a good note. The fact that Allen Crabbe is really, really good fighting through screens. Top lock and side stepping.
Here's an example of three screens he fights through in one critical possession that got us the ball back and kept us in the game.
This is why Kenny plays him out there, this is why we're in games late and potentially come back. This right here is what we want from Caris. What he needs to become, so that he doesn't get caught having to rely on Acy or lesser defensive IQ'd players to hang him out to dry. Again I love Acy but that was unacceptable.
Ready for your thoughts.
