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PLAYBOOK - How the Spurs got Richard Jefferson’s three late in the game?
David Locke - February 21st, 2012
Tags: Locked on Jazz
The Spurs took their time getting into the set and had perfect spacing to start the play.
Bonner in the left will hold Jefferson, Neal and Richard Jefferson on the right wing. Interesting move by the Jazz to have Millsap defend Duncan because he is a better pick and roll defender. Tony Paker and Tim Duncan are setting up the pick and roll.
This is the breakdown by the Jazz. Devin Harris pops out onto the right shoulder of Parker. This means Millsap needs to go right and cut off the Parker drive. Instead, Millsap goes left and shades out to the outside of Duncan leaving Parker a wide open lane for the drive. This is a major miscommunication. Earlier in the play, Harris looked over to the bench for the defensive call and he moved first. Not sure whose fault this is, but this is where the play breaks down. The Spurs genius from here is their patience and spacing to take avantage.
Josh Howard does a nice job attacking Parker to stop his drive. Jefferson and Howard moved to where they needed to go. Howard came from the right block and stops Parker.
Hayward slides down to take the passing lane to Richard Jefferson away. Big Al has left Bonner completely to stop Parker. Parker makes the natural pass to Neal
Neal immediately moves the ball as Hayward gets back. The best part of this shot is look at Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner. Both of them are shooter ready. Jefferson even has his legs bent. Josh Howard didn't waste a moment. The minute he could he turned toward Jefferson but it was too late.
Richard Jefferson nails the three. Give the Spurs credit. The Jazz made a mistake early in the defense and the Spurs had the paitence, the perfect spacing, ready positons, and the completion of the play. From a Jazz standpoint this is why 5 guys have to be on the same page the mistake at the point of the pick and roll was too much to recover from even though 4 of the 5 players did the correct thing.