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Gonna do a breakdown of the end of game 3 in this thread, starting with the Lakers being up 91-89.
I’m mainly interested in seeing LA’s defense on Jimmy, and Bron’s uncharacteristic poor decision making on offense down the stretch.
Here Bron cuts Jimmy off, but doesn’t contest:
I’m mainly interested in seeing LA’s defense on Jimmy, and Bron’s uncharacteristic poor decision making on offense down the stretch.
Here Bron cuts Jimmy off, but doesn’t contest:
My main impression watching the game live was that the Lakers did a *horrible* job making Jimmy play in traffic, basically never sending help and giving in to the switch too easily.
LeBron should be able to handle this, but with Jimmy going off, AD should at least stunt off Jae.
LeBron should be able to handle this, but with Jimmy going off, AD should at least stunt off Jae.
Next possession, LeBron gets the switch on Duncan, but loses his balance on the Wade-esque high dribble euro and travels.
Probably flukey, but not a good first possession after finally taking the lead.
Probably flukey, but not a good first possession after finally taking the lead.
More bad LeBron. Gets “caught” on a high screen that never actually touches him, giving up the straight line drive.
This is fine, your defense is built for this. Kieff comes over. But Bron doesn’t help Kieff by switching onto Kieff’s man. Floats in no-man’s-land.
This is fine, your defense is built for this. Kieff comes over. But Bron doesn’t help Kieff by switching onto Kieff’s man. Floats in no-man’s-land.
Rondo was good in game 2 of this series against the zone.
But he has been mostly awful in game 1 and 2 of this series.
Here he tries to split an opening that isn’t there, instead of making a simple swing pass that is clearly there to LeBron. Turnover.
But he has been mostly awful in game 1 and 2 of this series.
Here he tries to split an opening that isn’t there, instead of making a simple swing pass that is clearly there to LeBron. Turnover.
Rondo is mostly back to his vices from the regular season. Sloppy/poor decisions on offense and inexplicable, hapless gambling on defense.
Game 1 and 3* of this series, apologies.
Herro rushes an early clock step-back, and then Rondo takes an early three even though he has no rhythm.
Again, what in the world is Rondo doing here? This is just an absolutely brainless move from one of the game’s smartest players.
Again, what in the world is Rondo doing here? This is just an absolutely brainless move from one of the game’s smartest players.
Jimmy gets Anthony Davis here.
Like the LeBron play, probably don’t need to actually help, maybe stunt, but certainly off of Jae, not Herro.
Instead Caruso is basically in a soft double, leaving Herro. Bucket. 6 point lead.
Again, really poor defensive execution.
Like the LeBron play, probably don’t need to actually help, maybe stunt, but certainly off of Jae, not Herro.
Instead Caruso is basically in a soft double, leaving Herro. Bucket. 6 point lead.
Again, really poor defensive execution.
This is an example of AD floating.
LeBron draws Duncan, but Jimmy doubles. LeBron kicks to Rondo.
AD is kinda aware that he’s in a poor spot for spacing so he lightly jogs to the dunker spot. But he does so right when he would have been open for 3.
Kuz makes one anyway.
LeBron draws Duncan, but Jimmy doubles. LeBron kicks to Rondo.
AD is kinda aware that he’s in a poor spot for spacing so he lightly jogs to the dunker spot. But he does so right when he would have been open for 3.
Kuz makes one anyway.
More sleeping from AD.
Double high screen for Jimmy. Literally every double high ever will lead to a roll man and a pop man. AD would obviously grab the roll man in this scenario, KCP (on his right hip) would obviously switch out to Jimmy.
But instead AD gives up the easy slip.
Double high screen for Jimmy. Literally every double high ever will lead to a roll man and a pop man. AD would obviously grab the roll man in this scenario, KCP (on his right hip) would obviously switch out to Jimmy.
But instead AD gives up the easy slip.
KCP rolling to the rim, effectively making himself useless, as opposed to rolling to the corner, allows Duncan and Jimmy to switch back. Jimmy refuses to switch the second time.
LeBron goes full bully ball (a good thing) but Jimmy pulls the chair, leading to another travel.
LeBron goes full bully ball (a good thing) but Jimmy pulls the chair, leading to another travel.
We’re about to get to the portion of the game where LeBron switches off of Jimmy too easily.
Watching Jimmy refuse to do so is a perfect example to have juxtaposed with it so people can see how it’s done.
Watching Jimmy refuse to do so is a perfect example to have juxtaposed with it so people can see how it’s done.
Much better defense here on Jimmy. Not shown, LeBron stays on Jimmy and defends him well at the rim forcing a kick out.
Here AD has Jimmy and Bron is sitting behind Jimmy. He has nothing.
If you defend Jimmy like a star instead of like he’s just a guy he can be slowed down.
Here AD has Jimmy and Bron is sitting behind Jimmy. He has nothing.
If you defend Jimmy like a star instead of like he’s just a guy he can be slowed down.
More weird offense here, although it works out and leads to a made free throw.
LeBron swings to KCP who is neither open nor ready to shoot, & he immediately drives into traffic and gets bailed out.
Caruso is butt naked in the corner, or, I dunno, slow down and run better stuff.
LeBron swings to KCP who is neither open nor ready to shoot, & he immediately drives into traffic and gets bailed out.
Caruso is butt naked in the corner, or, I dunno, slow down and run better stuff.
Watch Anthony Davis, they guy I think should have won DPOY, guarding Jimmy Butler who hadn’t so much as attempted a 3 in this game and is *literally* spotting up 35 feet from the rim...
... completely abandon Alex Caruso, no stunt, no reach, no help.
Embarrassing effort.
... completely abandon Alex Caruso, no stunt, no reach, no help.
Embarrassing effort.
AD gets a touch on the other end, settles for the pull-up despite having nothing going offensively all night. No physical aggression. Miami isn’t really even loaded up on him this possession.
AD gets switched onto Jae Crowder.
AD ignores Jae, letting him get inside position for an OREB, but not so that he could contest Duncan or offer any help. Just so that he can sit in the circle and do nothing.
Then LeBron hands the ball back to Miami on a platter.
AD ignores Jae, letting him get inside position for an OREB, but not so that he could contest Duncan or offer any help. Just so that he can sit in the circle and do nothing.
Then LeBron hands the ball back to Miami on a platter.
First lazy LeBron switch, gives Jimmy to Kuzma with no resistance.
Kuz does a really nice job of giving up space, using his size to bait Jimmy into settling for a tough stepback that he misses.
Kuz does a really nice job of giving up space, using his size to bait Jimmy into settling for a tough stepback that he misses.
More weird offense. Miami is in m2m, so Kuz eventually runs up, I’m guessing to screen for LeBron to get Duncan onto him, but he audibles to a slip to the 3.
He’s not really all that open, and definitely not balanced but LeBron passes to him anyway. Kuz obliges. Misses.
He’s not really all that open, and definitely not balanced but LeBron passes to him anyway. Kuz obliges. Misses.
Story of the game down the stretch with the Laker defense.
Lebron gives up the switch with absolutely no resistance, then KCP’s teammates just watch him get cooked.
The move is to blitz him with Rondo off of Jae and rotate.
MAKE HIM PLAY IN A CROWD LIKE ALL STARS DO.
Lebron gives up the switch with absolutely no resistance, then KCP’s teammates just watch him get cooked.
The move is to blitz him with Rondo off of Jae and rotate.
MAKE HIM PLAY IN A CROWD LIKE ALL STARS DO.
LeBron finally makes a good decision on offense, draws two and hits Kuz for the foul, makes both, lead back to 6.
Kuz goes for the pump fake in the corner even though Jimmy hadn’t taken a three all game. Gives up a straight line drive. Just really bad defense.
Amazing effort by LeBron to cover for Kuzma. Actually thought this should have been a no call.
Nice aggressiveness from Jimmy.
Amazing effort by LeBron to cover for Kuzma. Actually thought this should have been a no call.
Nice aggressiveness from Jimmy.
I’m okay with LeBron taking jumpers, this was just way early in the clock, a lot further out than it needed to be, and right after an iffy call went against him.
If he drives here, he’s going to get the call, no question.
Really uncharacteristic decision making from Bron.
If he drives here, he’s going to get the call, no question.
Really uncharacteristic decision making from Bron.
Again, there’s not even a screen here. LeBron switches anyway.
Nice job from Kieff though. Jimmy was noticeably less comfortable going against Kuz and Kieff. Jimmy settles for an impossible shot and misses.
Nice job from Kieff though. Jimmy was noticeably less comfortable going against Kuz and Kieff. Jimmy settles for an impossible shot and misses.
LeBron, perhaps the greatest floor general of this generation who has impeccable court vision, has no idea Kelly is sneaking up on him, another crucial turnover.
Bad possession from Miami, nice job from Davis smothering Robinson.
AD post up, Miami helps off of Kieff, huge three from Kieff.
Two weak switches, Bron onto Kieff, and then Kieff onto KCP who helplessly fouls Jimmy.
Watch the Jimmy drive though. LeBron has to help off of Jae. Jimmy will not go downhill like that if he feels like he’s playing in a lot of congestion.
Trust your rotations.
Watch the Jimmy drive though. LeBron has to help off of Jae. Jimmy will not go downhill like that if he feels like he’s playing in a lot of congestion.
Trust your rotations.
Stagnant Laker offense solved by LeBron putting his head down and going to the rim. Really nice kick out to Kieff who just misses an open three. Good offense though.
One last time for good measure, Lebron gives up the easy switch to Kieff.
Jimmy attacks him this time, no setting, Lakers send absolutely no help or stunting or anything, Jimmy makes them pay.
Game over.
Jimmy attacks him this time, no setting, Lakers send absolutely no help or stunting or anything, Jimmy makes them pay.
Game over.
