Basketball, She Wrote
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How the Pacers are evolving the dunker's spot
🕑 Added 2024-02-24 15:58:03 +0000 UTCAnd the continued rise of inverted spacing
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
According to Cleaning the Glass, this is the exact definition of garbage time: "the game has to be in the fourth quarter, the score differential is greater than 25 points for minutes 12-9, greater than 20 for minutes 9-6, and greater than 10 for the remainder of the quarter. Additionally, there have to be two or fewer starters on the floor combined between the two teams." By that standard, despite leading by as many as 31 points for the game, and 20 during the final six minutes of action, the Pacers never played a second of garbage time against the Detroit Pistons on Friday, as all five starters stayed on the floor until the final buzzer. After giving up more points in the third quarter (45) than what the Pistons tallied in the first half (42), the decision to stick with the first five may have been born of squeamishness over potentially letting go of the rope or stridency as it applies to maintaining a sense of urgency.
At any rate, garbage time was non-garbage time -- not only by definition but also in function, especially with regard to the emergence of a specific, late-game stylistic trend and what it reveals about the developing chemistry between Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam -- or, rather, vice versa. For more on the continued rise of inverted spacing, let's return to the film room and look at what the Pacers had on hand to ensure that the game would be in hand.
Comments
Caitlin Cooper
This is a fair point. We'll have to see with more reps. I would counter that, moving for the sake of moving doesn't always equate to "better" offense. In this case, the spacing is optimized and doesn't necessarily have to be static. Nembhard is cutting himself into the dunker's spot, which makes it more difficult for the guard, who is already giving up length around the basket, to protect the rim. It might not be the meat and potatoes of the offense, but in the playoffs, when the game slows down, I think it could be a valuable side dish -- especially depending upon who is drawing the tougher match-up between Haliburton and Siakam.
Caitlin Cooper
Glad you enjoyed it, Brad!
Caitlin Cooper
Thanks, Norma!
maninthebooth
One thing I notice is the lack of player movement and ball movement in these series of sets. Player movement is what allows Tyrese to hit cutters. Is the fact that Pascal's one-on-one ability, which the team hasn't had, changing the overall offensive scheme?
Brad Cangany
I love this analysis. The game moves too fast for me to recognize what teams are attempting to do. It’s nice to understand what’s going on. Today’s game is so sophisticated that it passed me by years ago. It’s great to get this insight.
Norma
Great analysis
