3/4 of NBA teams left in playoffs use 2 post players.

[RocknRollface]

Ive heard allot about how the league has changed and that 2 post player teams couldn't compete now days against teams that play "stretch" 4s.

Its been my opinion that the opposite was true and that undersized non physical 4s would not be able to rebound and would be too susceptible to foul trouble on defense.

 

[hawkfan33]

I would say 2/4, the Spurs play a lot more small ball line ups than they do with the Splitter/Duncan combo. Although that has been very successful for them throughout the year.

 

[woodyk1]

Ive heard allot about how the league has changed and that 2 post player teams couldn't compete now days against teams that play "stretch" 4s.

Its been my opinion that the opposite was true and that undersized non physical 4s would not be able to rebound and would be too susceptible to foul trouble on defense.

This is true at this point. However, don't underestimate the injuries to Rose and Westbrook (and Rondo, to some respect). Would the Bulls or Thunder (or Celtics) be considered teams with 2 posts?

Also, the Spurs may use 2 posts, but Parker is their best player. The Pacers may use 2 posts, but George is their best player. And, would the Warriors have been better if David Lee was completely healthy (and Curry had healthy ankles).

And, of course, then there is the Heat.

 

[hawkfan33]

This is true at this point. However, don't underestimate the injuries to Rose and Westbrook (and Rondo, to some respect). Would the Bulls or Thunder (or Celtics) be considered teams with 2 posts?

Also, the Spurs may use 2 posts, but Parker is their best player. The Pacers may use 2 posts, but George is their best player. And, would the Warriors have been better if David Lee was completely healthy (and Curry had healthy ankles).

And, of course, then there is the Heat.

This is a tricky question. Lee is a good scorer but terrible defensively. I think the Warriors actually found their identity going forward in the playoffs this year and that is going small with Barnes or Green at the four. Of course this requires a healthy Bogut to be able to protect the rim with these small lineups but I think Bogut is a much more valuable piece for the Warriors than Lee.

 

[woodyk1]

This is a tricky question. Lee is a good scorer but terrible defensively. I think the Warriors actually found their identity going forward in the playoffs this year and that is going small with Barnes or Green at the four. Of course this requires a healthy Bogut to be able to protect the rim with these small lineups but I think Bogut is a much more valuable piece for the Warriors than Lee.

I agree overall with the Warriors especially when Bogut is healthy. Barnes at the 4 was a tough mismatch in the playoffs. I was thinking that Lee's post presence might have opened up some space for Curry and Thompson against the Spurs. Lee is bad defensively as you said, however.

 

[RocknRollface]

I would say 2/4, the Spurs play a lot more small ball line ups than they do with the Splitter/Duncan combo. Although that has been very successful for them throughout the year.

True they play small allot because they play against other small teams. Without Splitter they couldn't defend Memphis or keep them off the boards.

 

[RocknRollface]

This is true at this point. However, don't underestimate the injuries to Rose and Westbrook (and Rondo, to some respect). Would the Bulls or Thunder (or Celtics) be considered teams with 2 posts?

Also, the Spurs may use 2 posts, but Parker is their best player. The Pacers may use 2 posts, but George is their best player. And, would the Warriors have been better if David Lee was completely healthy (and Curry had healthy ankles).

And, of course, then there is the Heat.

Im not really speaking to who the best players are just more so to the 4 spot and how the NBA has "evolved." I believe it has evolved simply because they're aren't as many good post players around anymore to demand attention in the lane.

I would say the Thunder and Bulls do play 2 bigs and the Celtics did when they won the title. Even though Boozer and Ebaka can shoot away from the rim they can rebound and defend in the paint on the other end.

 

[woodyk1]

Im not really speaking to who the best players are just more so to the 4 spot and how the NBA has "evolved." I believe it has evolved simply because they're aren't as many good post players around anymore to demand attention in the lane.

I would say the Thunder and Bulls do play 2 bigs and the Celtics did when they won the title. Even though Boozer and Ebaka can shoot away from the rim they can rebound and defend in the paint on the other end.

I do agree that there aren't as many good post players. Players do not work on those skills as much as they should starting at a young age.

Also, a trade of Rudy Gay and an injury to Danny Granger helped those 2 teams (Memphis and Indiana) emphasize their post play even more than they were previous to those events. Sort of like the injury to David Lee, those 2 events helped those 2 teams realize the full potential of 2 post players.

 

[thejumper5]

What it really comes down to is defense still being the difference between champions and also-rans. Teams that play a stretch-4 tend to have better offenses and worse defenses than teams that run 2-post systems. The big exception is the Heat, but Lebron makes up for any defensive deficiency himself.

 

[hawkfan33]

I agree overall with the Warriors especially when Bogut is healthy. Barnes at the 4 was a tough mismatch in the playoffs. I was thinking that Lee's post presence might have opened up some space for Curry and Thompson against the Spurs. Lee is bad defensively as you said, however.

A healthy Lee would definitely have been helpful against the Spurs. I think Lee would be great off the bench for the Warriors too, but due to his contract he is always going to get starters minutes. It took an injury for Jackson to go with the ultra small line up. It will be interesting to see how they play next year, Jack is probably gone and he was great for them this year, although he is also terrible defensively. The Warriors really screwed up by using their amnesty clause on Charlie Bell instead of Andris Biedrins.

 

[spliff45]

and...Frank Vogel leaves his rim protector on the bench so he can watch LBJ drive for the winner.

 

[hawkfan33]

and...Frank Vogel leaves his rim protector on the bench so he can watch LBJ drive for the winner.

The Heat would have just popped out whoever Hibbert was on any way, Hibbert isn't going to just hang out underneath the rim and give up a wide open look to someone.

 

[Benddontbreak]

The Heat would have just popped out whoever Hibbert was on any way, Hibbert isn't going to just hang out underneath the rim and give up a wide open look to someone.

There was no way any heat player, including Lebron, would’ve hit a GW jump shot in that situation.

 

[hawkfan33]

There was no way any heat player, including Lebron, would’ve hit a GW jump shot in that situation.

Why?

 

[kicker22]

The Heat would have just popped out whoever Hibbert was on any way, Hibbert isn't going to just hang out underneath the rim and give up a wide open look to someone.

Regardless of whether he would have been in a position to contest the shot, I feel under no circumstance do you leave questionably your best defender on the bench in a situation in which a player has time to put the ball on the floor.

Either way, absolute mental lapse giving the games best player an open lane.

 

[hawkfan33]

Regardless of whether he would have been in a position to contest the shot, I feel under no circumstance do you leave questionably your best defender on the bench in a situation in which a player has time to put the ball on the floor.

Either way, absolute mental lapse giving the games best player an open lane.

I would have had Hibbert in the game too, with 2 seconds left he could have defended Bosh out on the perimeter to contest his shot. The initial reaction by people on the internet last night was that Hibbert would have been at the rim to contest LeBron if he had been in the game, and that isn't true. It was a good play call by Spoelstra to get LeBron a clear out with just one guy to beat.

 

[trj]

I would have had Hibbert in the game too, with 2 seconds left he could have defended Bosh out on the perimeter to contest his shot. The initial reaction by people on the internet last night was that Hibbert would have been at the rim to contest LeBron if he had been in the game, and that isn't true. It was a good play call by Spoelstra to get LeBron a clear out with just one guy to beat.

I dunno, George screwed up and got caught in bad defensive position I wonder what happens if George doesn't get caught on Lebron's hip and forces an 18 ft. jumper........hindsight is 20/20 i guess.

 

[hawkfan33]

[/B]


I dunno, George screwed up and got caught in bad defensive position I wonder what happens if George doesn't get caught on Lebron's hip and forces an 18 ft. jumper........hindsight is 20/20 i guess.

From George himself, the play Miami ran had something to do with it:

Just as the play was beginning, George saw Allen sprinting by and it distracted him. "It kind of threw me off a little bit," he said. James burst away from the basket to receive the inbounds pass and then just as quickly he whiplashed back the other way back toward the basket. George appeared to be caught off guard by both moves. The first surprise was acceptable. The second was all James needed to punish him

Read More: LeBron James teaches Paul George lesson in winning all greats must learn - NBA - Ian Thomsen - SI.com​

 

[trj]

From George himself, the play Miami ran had something to do with it:

Just as the play was beginning, George saw Allen sprinting by and it distracted him. "It kind of threw me off a little bit," he said. James burst away from the basket to receive the inbounds pass and then just as quickly he whiplashed back the other way back toward the basket. George appeared to be caught off guard by both moves. The first surprise was acceptable. The second was all James needed to punish him

Read More: LeBron James teaches Paul George lesson in winning all greats must learn - NBA - Ian Thomsen - SI.com​

Lebron should have been his only concern......you force Lebron to do anything else, except an uncontested layup, you live with it.

 

[JHHawk]

Paul George is a wonderful player,who had some huge clutch moments last nite,and generally did a fine job guarding Lebron,despite Lebrons numbers, but, George made a horrible mistake on the last play.
His inexplicable,out of character,out of control close out/gamble was inexcusable. Too bad he lost his mind for a second, and did not just square up lebron under control forcing him to shoot a jumper.
Hibbert is not the issue, it was George's dumb gamble that sunk the Pacers.

As far as two posts....Hibbert and West? West hits shots out to 15 ft,as he did repeatedly last nite. If not a stretch 4, he is close.