Watch the NBA | The difference between Chivalry and Kay is like that between Jones and Holiday

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2024-06-10 16:01Posted in Beijing basketball commentator, Tencent NBA writer

Celtics vs Mavericks G2

G2 is basically a continuation of G1, and the content is much the same. The Mavericks have improved in defensive details, the rotation is relatively in place, the position of the basket is manned, and the 45° corner vacancy is also considered timely, and they did not lose to the Celtics in this regard.

But the basket was still pierced by the inside pass, and the three-point line was torn apart by the follow-up fixed-point breakthrough, which was a bit helpless. Kidd thought of two layers, and the Mavericks also executed two layers, but the Celtics had a third layer, and there was no way out.

Holiday is the Lone Ranger's nightmare, and he's the third layer that Kidd didn't expect, or couldn't solve. Typically, the ball is forced out of the main hand, and the role player receives the ball in some awkward position to face the defense, which means a successful defense. But if a role player is at the level of Holiday it's another story.

The Lone Ranger G2 continued G1's defense change strategy, and in order to avoid G1's unclear explanation, this time it was changed very thoroughly. The one-on-one defense of Tatum is also well studied, giving the left hand to break through, not giving the right hand and stepping back three points, and before the reasonable collision zone, the assistant defender will block Tatum's offensive basket route and force him to play halfway. The Mavericks were too risky to help defend a bit, shrinking Katatum in the corner on the strong side, and the route to the bottom corner for three points was too clear. But the Mavericks still did a good job of making up for it in many rounds, trying to get Tatum to get the ball out of a spot where there was no direct chance, and I can recall Smart's acrobatics and White's missed throws in the summer of '22, except that now they're in that position with Holiday and the progressive White.

High-quality finishes and close-range jumpers from open cuts, and breakaways that didn't have a chance at the right point, Holiday and White as the final stoppers of the Mavericks' defensive coverage — especially this one — shattered Kidd's layout and the Mavericks' defensive efforts.

This is the most important winner in G2.

The defensive discipline of the two sides in G2 is very close, and the outside line is not accurate, but the gap between the two sides' ability to deal with the so-called puzzle is too great. Jones Jr. is not only unthreatening from the outside, but also has the problem of handling the ball weakly exposed in G2.

Both Jalen and Pritchard have been in the crosshairs of Doncic from behind, and the reason why they are so bold is that the basic principles of the defenders are very clear:

First, the hero has a center most of the time, so he can't empty the basket, and there will be someone to guard the middle of the Kai;

Second, Kai won't give big empty spots in the bottom corner, and both positions are usually filled;

Thirdly, Kai will boldly let go of the weak side at 45°, so the defender in this position becomes a guerrilla. As long as the first and second conditions are met, the defender at this position will attack Doncic.

G1 said after the game that the Mavericks had to solve the problem of being released at 45°, but judging from G2's performance, Kidd didn't have many options.

The reason why Kidd is said to have "not many ways" rather than "no way" is because he did do something. After the timeout and at the beginning of each quarter, the Heroes will design a no-ball starting style for Doncic, so that the original 3D puzzle pieces can be used as off-ball cover for Doncic, which tries to put Doncic in a one-on-zero or one-on-one environment in the middle offense, which works well.

The core shift to the ball is a good response to the Celtics' strategy. But the Heroes are not in their genes this kind of team, and most of the time they can't maintain off-ball tactical coverage. In addition, Kidd also has a small snack like Gafford's low seat sitting on Tatum, which can be played occasionally without continuity.

Kidd's other approach is the "false five", which he will still show at the end of each half. Objectively speaking, G2's "pseudo-five" has some effect, although Jones is put at the top of the arc, but the "pseudo-five" at least empties the basket, making it less difficult for Jones to rush the basket. Xia is still a little better at this time.

Kidd took out the "pseudo-five", in fact, basically announced that the Lone Ranger lost half. There are two problems with this lineup, one is that the space is still not enough, and the other is that Kleber plays a defensive center, and the basket protection and pick-and-roll will be relegated. If Kidd feels that the center is always pulled to the top of the arc anyway and it is difficult to protect the basket, and the benefits of improving the space are already greater than the benefits of improving the basket, then he can continue to gamble, which requires Kleber to be a man.

The point here is that there is indeed such a situation:

What makes the Mavericks more uncomfortable than Doncic at the starting point may be that the center is not on the bottom line.

Compared with G1, the frequency of Kai's blocking and dismantling to find Doncic has declined in perception, probably because of the improvement of the Hero's single defense and rotation performance, and Kai's inaccurate three-point shooting today, which led to the lower income of Doncic.

But if Kai doesn't point to Doncic, most of the defenders left by the Mavericks in the two bottom corners are Doncic and Irving, and their ability to shrink and help defend is undoubtedly inferior to the frontcourt players.

Kidd used frontcourt players to defend White and Doncic to defend the center for some periods in this game, so that Kai's center went to the top of the arc to cover Doncic, which would keep the Hero's center on the baseline. The Maverick will also pay attention to the position of the two defenders on the weak side, and try to keep the big man in the bottom corner to shorten the distance he can move to the basket. These options allow the big man to be more involved in the basket protection.

But Kai will change the cover man when he finds out. Jalen's game-killing goal was just that - White went to the top of the arc to cover, allowing Jalen to catch Kleber, and the two bottom corners were Doncic and Irving, and the Mavericks opened the door.

This is Kidd's very troublesome position, and at this time, it may be necessary for the defender on the weak side of 45° to do some swiping contraction, try to slow down the double probe, and give the baseline time to prepare. But the Celtics' 45° players are much higher than the Mavericks' level, and Holiday in that position can shoot and pass.

After falling behind 0-2 and returning to their home court, how much room do the Mavericks have to adjust?

Owen's personal status needs a callback. G2 he played unreasonably, it was irrational to scold the double tanhua, and it was still easier to look for the center, Pritchard, and Hauser, while Irving seemed to want to respond to the boos from North Shore Gardens head-on. Of course, Owen is synonymous with unreasonableness and solution, and his mentality may have influenced his performance to a greater extent than his choice. If the hero wants to turn the tables, there is no hope for Doncic to carry it on his shoulders, and the script of 16 years of double godhood is the way out.

Can Kidd find a way to save the Lone Ranger 45°? PJ Washington basically contributed what he should have in his ability, and his spot-up break toss was a bit useful, but Jones Jr. was too underweight on this stage. Kidd is less afraid to slack off at the No. 3 position, and he will remember the second regular season meeting between the two teams, and if so, Jones Jr. will have to respond.

Time was running out for Kidd to figure it out.

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