Play Breakdown: Rudy Gay Hits Game-Tying Three Off Suns Blown Defensive Switch
by Seth Pollack on Dec 9, 2010 12:52 AM MST
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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PrintStop me if you've heard this one before. The game is close and the Suns need to execute on the defensive end. A play is run and the Suns defender fails to switch on a screen. The opposing shooter gets open and hits the big shot.
Here's one example that comes to mind. Remember all the heat Amare took for not switching on that screen and following Finley out to the three point line?
Here's another example that comes to mind for some reason at 12:40 in the a.m. Same kind of deal, opposition needs a big shot and the Phoenix defense blows the switch.
Tonight we are treated to yet another such example which isn't all that surprising. What is surprising is who blew the play. I honestly had no idea until I rewatched it after getting home from the game so I am going to keep you in suspense give a bit longer.
And just to be sure, here's Gentry's post game quote on the play:
"You've got to find a way to not give up a corner three. You can't give up a corner three. We didn't switch out on it, we didn't quite get out on it and you have to give him credit, he knocked down the shot."
1) You can see Rudy Gay being covered by Josh Childress about run into the Zach Randolph screen.
2) Here you can see Childress being screened by Zach's big body and note Suns number 33 who was previously with Randolph. He's left open and at this point should be switching on to Rudy Gay.
Even if there's confusion and Childress also follows Gay around the screen and they leave Zach wide open at the rim it won't matter since the Suns are up by 3 points.
3) Here you can see Childress and now Dudley who had been screened by Gasol, trying to close out but check out how much space Gay has when he catches the pass. WAY too much.
So, on this night, on this play, the Suns defensive culprit is none other than Grant Hill. Does that make you feel better or worse about the play?
I don't think anyone had seen the replay so Hill wasn't asked about the play in his post game locker room interview as far as I know. The team is off tomorrow so this will have to wait until Friday.
Here's the entire play:
But on the plus side, Jared Dudley got a block on Rudy Gay:
Video: Jared Dudley Blocks Rudy Gay
Jared Dudley, he of limited vertical ups, blocks former dunk contest contestant and high-flyer, Rudy Gay. It's not something you are going to see often so we felt it best to memorialize in video.
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Good thing Grant had Randolph well covered under the basket.
That could have closed the lead to 1!
RIP Seasons of Discontent
Yes-gotta defend the paint with 2 sec. left and up 3!
Zach could have done a lot of damage under the hoop-a big 2-pointer when they were down 3.
I guess the Suns never anticipated that the BIGGEST guy on Memphis might SCREEN for the BEST shooter on Memphis to pop a 3??
In all fairness...
Z-Bo got away with a little nudge on that screen on Childress. Just enough space for a good shooter like Rudy G. He’s having a nice season.
Man, Frye chokes on the free throw AND allows easy pass to the short corner 3. Not very good awareness.
True redemption for Rudy G though cuz he blew that miracle Suns win back in November.
I dont think this is necessarily true.
He says “we didn’t switch out on it.” Not that we were supposed to switch on all screens.
I’m not saying the game plan was to not switch on screens. I’m just saying that a lot of the time, even if you’re supposed to “switch on all screens”, it’s up to the player being screened (Childress) to call out for the switch.
it is possible that Josh didn’t help by calling the switch but still, Grant should know the situation and once he sees the most dangerous shooter on the Grizz breaking free he should leave Zach and follow…
I guess it just goes to show, even your best, smartest, most experienced defender can screw up
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
Josh also had problems the night before
Switching off onto Rudy when JD called for it after the screen. Either that or JD called for the switch late.
by hcblankscreen on Dec 9, 2010 10:33 AM MST up reply actions
Hill wasn't doing anything really
Maybe he was afraid to leave Z-Bo open for a three? His reaction was slow and he didn’t see the play coming. Props to Rudy it was still a tough shot.
by Smoooth Criminal on Dec 9, 2010 3:46 AM MST reply actions
I don't understand it
as we cannot switch, which is the easiest defensive scheme to learn, why didn’t AG place all players on 3 point line, all five of them covering practically all places behind the arc.. after referee gives the ball to inbound, they leave gasol and zach under the basket and surprise them… all five on 3pt line, no way they would get the pass and take easy shot…
really unbelievable… and grant of all people…
What is it with the Suns?
NOTE TO GENTRY/SUNS: When the other team needs a three, the players must box ALL opposing players ESPECIALLY the best shooters into the 2-point circle-especially if they are dumb enough to be in there to start, or are hanging under the basket-GRAB THEIR SHIRTS, PUSH, JUMP IN FRONT OF THEM DO ANYTHING but don;t let them get out to the 3-point line! Is that a hard concept to get across?
cuz then you're reacting to them, instead of being proactive
by just standing spread out on the 3-point line. All they need to do is run some curls and stuff and find the opening. Like any zone, all the shooter/receiver needs is to find the space for 1 second.
Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun
...try running curls with your jockstrap in hand...
They set up with everyone in a line along the paint. The Suns job was to keep them in the paint area by hook or crook or outright fouls (2 shots for blocking/grabbing).
sure, they find opening
for 2pt shot…
come on alex, it was 2,8 sec to go, griz had that play prepared, had we reacted as I said, they would have been messed up… most probably zach or gasol would shot desperation three…
but I still don't get that they cannot switch???
it happens all over and over again… most famous was not switching on duncan when he hit that three in game one few years ago…
that Duncan play
was less about the switching b/c Duncan’s less of a threat than Manu but that Amare play in that same game where he doesn’t leave Oberto to switch on to Finely…that was way worse.
Anyway, this was just another blown one
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
Like Brian13 mentioned
It would be Childress’ job to call that he couldn’t get there and ask for a switch. In a situation like this though, it seems to me that if he doesn’t call the switch, you should have your head up for something like this and take the initiative. Grant could have called that he had ball, and gone out towards Gay, but mistakes happen. That’s the nature of sports. Still sucks though.
if Chill has to call it out
Gay has the same room anyway, cuz it takes a human being at least a second to process the call out and the other guy a second to process a phyical response. This was a bang-bang play. Grant had to be prepared to switch, he had to be ready for it in advance. (IMO, of course)
Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun
yep
when you’re up three, i feel like screens should always be switched. a dump in to big on small or a drive to the basket do absolutely no harm at all.
Banzai!
by Suns' Sensei on Dec 9, 2010 11:23 AM MST up reply actions
This was a basketball smarts issue.
Hill is responsible for several reasons. One he considered a leader and verteran on the team. Two Hill should have seen Gay curling under the basket and realized his man was setting the screen. Hill should have Immediately moved to the baseline or at least attempted to get an angle to guard the three.
That being said I completely understand why hill didnt see Gay. However, I would like to see what Gentry drew up on that little white board. It appears to me that Hill being one of our best rebounders spent his few seconds battling the big to get position on the board should the shot be missed.
He was not looking to be a perimeter defender.
I put this on the coaching and the missed freethrows.
IMO.
TO THE NBA - " Yeah, you have created a rift within me ; Now there have been ; several complications ; that have left me feeling nothing ; I might say, you were ; wrong to take it from me ; Left me feeling nothing " - Disturbed, "Numb"
I wonder what the comments would have been like...
Should Hill have made the right play, defended, and cuased the missed three while Zach got an open rebound w/ and 1 from somebody out of position trying to re-cover.
TO THE NBA - " Yeah, you have created a rift within me ; Now there have been ; several complications ; that have left me feeling nothing ; I might say, you were ; wrong to take it from me ; Left me feeling nothing " - Disturbed, "Numb"
by antiw0rm on Dec 9, 2010 12:48 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I guess what I'm trying to say is....
Hill should have never been under the basket to start with. It was clear however from the setup before the play started that is what Gentry wanted.
TO THE NBA - " Yeah, you have created a rift within me ; Now there have been ; several complications ; that have left me feeling nothing ; I might say, you were ; wrong to take it from me ; Left me feeling nothing " - Disturbed, "Numb"
I think I would have tried...
Hill on the ball with instruction to watch that corner. And big B under the basket.
TO THE NBA - " Yeah, you have created a rift within me ; Now there have been ; several complications ; that have left me feeling nothing ; I might say, you were ; wrong to take it from me ; Left me feeling nothing " - Disturbed, "Numb"
rebound
wouldn’t matter since Grizz were down three…even creates the potential for fouling on the put back. Just let him have it
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Dec 9, 2010 12:59 PM MST up reply actions
someone would have probably fouled zach regardless
it’s the suns, remember… but there would not have been enough time, shot went in almost at the buzzer… had it bounced off the rime, game over…
well that's my point
if Grant just leaves Zach and Josh also follows Rudy then Zach is alone under the rim and he’s not a threat at all…
Gentry said as much on the radio today. He took the blame for not having the team ready to defend the play but Grant also should know…he’s Grant.
I think more than anything, he had sat for so long that he just wasn’t into the game mentally at that point.
It happens…and it seems to happen to the Suns.
But then again, it happens to other teams too, we just don’t pay as much attention. Imagine if the Grizz lost again after having a big lead here and think about the way they flew a 4 pt lead in like 5 seconds.
I just don’t see this one blown play as having bigger meaning. I do see the way the bench played defense in the fourth qtr and the fact that Hedo played so well and hit the big shot as having more of a long term impact.
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Dec 9, 2010 3:59 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
sure, many positives
after all we allowed only 92 points in regulation which is great… but these small things win games, determination, communication, mental toughness… we just seem not to have it…
overall, griz deserved to win, and having 1-1 in those two close home games, in which they led entire game is more than fair for suns… but still… lakers should have lost to clips last night… celtics to sixers… they didn’t!!
I was wondering about this in bed last night
I wanted to get back up and watch the replay, but old myself to let it go. Nice to know the Suns have no one on the roster who can be counted on to make the right play. Damn.
Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun
What's this?
My brain only remembers that we were up three with 2.8 seconds to go.
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
truth
and If Frye hits both FT’s we aren’t lamenting this loss. And if Warrick and Childress hits some Ft’s we aren’t either, and if Nash doesn’t miss that one, we aren’t………….
And why not foul someone, put em on the line, thus eliminating a 3?
Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx
by Wil Cantrell on Dec 9, 2010 9:23 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Because he got the ball and immediately shot it.
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Dec 9, 2010 10:01 AM MST up reply actions
can you foul someone off the ball?
or they get two free throws and the ball? I forgot the rule.
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
yes
in the final 2 min they get the ball…it’s the hack-a-shaq rule
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Dec 9, 2010 10:43 AM MST up reply actions
In the last two minutes, wouldn't that have given them 2 FT's and the ball?
Auntie Em: Hate you, hate Kansas, taking the dog.
Dorothy
also
lets not forget that Conley missed a FT as well…just saying
I always hate to put blame on losing a game on missed shots, even a FT
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Dec 9, 2010 10:42 AM MST up reply actions
also
the Suns got a LOT of help from the refs in that final quarter…they let the Suns get away w/ a ton of fouls on the defensive end
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Dec 9, 2010 10:46 AM MST up reply actions
i thought the same thing.
not that i am complaining, but the suns got away with murder the last couple of minutes. if anything this was a good game to boost the bench confidence and especially Turkyglu. we live to lose another day.
wait..back up, what the F* is a "chris duhon"?
Yup…and think of it this way, there was a point there that this was looking like a 20+ point blow out but instead the fans got an exciting game so they will come back which is good.
Speaking of fans, it would have been nice if the crowd had done anything in the 2nd qtr to help raise the energy level instead of passively waiting for the team to do something they could react to. I know that’s asking too much of a Phx crowd though..
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
Would have been nice if the players would have given the fans something to cheer about in the 2nd quarter.
Were we supposed to just start getting pumped when the Suns turned the ball over? Or when they missed their 11th shot in a row?
RIP Seasons of Discontent
yeah
I don’t know…I guess there are very few crowds that are going to recognize that the team needs an energy lift and somehow provides it.
Phoenix fans are front runners. We see it all the time both with the teams that get supported and even within games. The crowd comes alive once the game is close but kind of ignores all the individual plays leading up to cutting the lead.
Oh well, this isn’t that kind of town and honestly when I’m in the stands, I’m not that kind of fan either.
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
I know this may come as a shock.
But I’m not the YMCA fan that’s going to yell encouraging words when the millionaires are having a tough time doing their job. If they can get pumped up by people yelling at them that they suck then I think we’re in business because I do plenty of that when they’re struggling.
RIP Seasons of Discontent
i think its obvious
that they needed a boost. it was more than obvious that they were tired. Even the announcers of the game scott williams was talking how they needed energy drinks at half time. the crowd got spoiled all the years of seven seconds or less and the amare slams through out the game. they are waiting for the next big play. i love just seeing a good pass and wish they were all like mr. orange… as big of a redneck he looks like. im from NC and i know what a redneck looks like and mr orange is pure redneck.
wait..back up, what the F* is a "chris duhon"?
Dude.
In that second quarter last night we were waiting for ANY play. I would have settled for a nice layup or boring 15 footer.
RIP Seasons of Discontent
by Scott Howard on Dec 9, 2010 10:55 PM MST up reply actions
I was trying man!
But nobody in 232 was helping out. The guys behind me were earnestly discussing their church softball league for like a quarter and a half.
Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."
FOUL!!
I’ve been wrestling with this and screaming at the tv going back to the Finley shot, and the Duncan shot and against the Spurs on XMAS day a few years back….WHY DON’T THE SUNS FOUL IN THAT SCENARIO?? And to answer the above question, you have to foul after the inbounds.
I know there’s much debate on this and it’s kind of a religious thing…some coaches buy into it, some coaches just hate the idea. But if you let them inbounds the ball and then foul. They’d have to make the 1st, miss the 2nd, get the rebound and score it….in 2 sec.
Now in this case, the inbounds pass went straight to Gay and no one was close enough to foul. So I think you needed more pressure from Frye towards the baseline to force a pass back up court or make him put more air under it. And everyone in the building had to know Gay would be the one to get the shot. So you can’t let a single pick leave him open. Double him, make someone else hit the shot. Or at least stay close enough to be able to foul.
ahh
Great birthday present oh well team is coming along if JRich turns up we win were going in the right direction just need to get consistent on the rotations and we should be fine
"Da Suns’ Bench. Call them Victoria’s Secret — all kinds of wonderful support."
This didn't hurt as badly as the Roger Mason 3. Or the Jamal Crawford 3.
Or even the accursed Tim Duncan 3.
Boy we really get our asses kicked at the end of regulation, huh?
I have returned, peoples. I think I suffer from a multiple personality disorder. I feel like a completely different person on this user vs EricSun89, RAWR.
Oops, I forgot the Ron Artest tip-in.
I have returned, peoples. I think I suffer from a multiple personality disorder. I feel like a completely different person on this user vs EricSun89, RAWR.
Hey, that reminds me. What happened to RMason? He seems to have vanished from the comment boards.
"I'm sort of a pessimist about tomorrow and an optimist about the day after tomorrow." ~Eric Sevareid
the problem was that Gay got free
Suns wanted to foul (like they did the previous time) but couldn’t get close enough to Gay, who got the inbounds pass.
Blogging Suns Basketball at Bright Side of the Sun
And is this defensive error the same as Jason Richardson messing up on Roger Mason?
by 8472species on Dec 9, 2010 2:30 PM MST reply actions
no
different mistake, same result…that was JRich cheating to far in the lane to dig at Manu with the ball instead of staying home on the shooter who had a chance to win the game. Although I believe in that case the Spurs were down two so Manu was still a threat to tie
on the Danny Granger big shot which was LB and JRich messing up the switch as I recall
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
J-Rich does this every game
Is it coaching? No trust in the bigs?
by hcblankscreen on Dec 9, 2010 4:22 PM MST up reply actions
Even if we'd run the defense well, he might have hit the shot.
No one thing lost the game.
Besides scoring fewer points than our opponents, that is.
Boll.
by waxmonkey on Dec 9, 2010 3:25 PM MST reply actions 2 recs
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