Each day, we are going to preview the night's NBA Playoffs action by looking at the adjustments that can be made by the losing team and showing what they can do to win.
The New York Knicks have played the Boston Celtics very close in the first two games of their first-round NBA Playoffs series (so close, that if a few possessions go their way, they could be winning this series 2-0), and now taking the series home, the Knicks will be looking to get back in the series by winning Game 3. To get the win the Knicks need to make a few adjustments on both the offensive and defensive end.
New York Knicks’ Game 3 Adjustments: More Pick And Rolls, Don’t Give Rajon Rondo Too Much Space
Offense: More Pick And Rolls
During the regular season, the Knicks were one of the best pick-and-roll offenses in the NBA, scoring 0.92 points per possession in running the pick-and-roll 17.19 percent of the time. In the playoffs, the Knicks have seen their pick-and-roll effectiveness go even higher, scoring 1.03 points per possession.
However, despite the increase in effectiveness, the Knicks have run the pick-and-roll even less in the postseason, running it just 15.64 percent of their total possessions. If I were the Knicks, I would like to see them taking some of their isolation possessions (they ran 25 of them in Game 2) and dedicate those possessions to the pick-and-roll, especially with Carmelo Anthony as the ball handler. Historically, Anthony hasn't had a ton of success coming off of ball screens, but you can see how much pressure is put on the Celtics terrific pick-and-roll defense when a great scorer like Anthony comes off of a ball screen. The defense starts to pay too much attention to Anthony, and the roll man is able to get free at the rim.
Defense: Don’t Give Rondo Too Much Space
One of the biggest dilemmas for any team playing the Boston Celtics is how to defend Rajon Rondo. You want to play off of him, because he isn't even close to having an effective outside jump shot. With that being said, you don't want to play too far off of him, because not only does that give him the space to find passing lanes, but it also gives him the space to build up speed and get by the defender playing off of him. Against the Knicks in Game 2, Rondo was able to score 30 points because he was given so much space by the Knicks, both in transition and in the half court.
Here, Rondo gets the ball in transition and everyone is playing off of him. However, once Rondo gets to that three-point area, someone needs to step up and force Rondo to pick up his dribble. That never happens, and Rondo is able to get himself all the way to the rim, where he is able to finish easily.
Even in the halfcourt, Rondo was given way too much space to operate:
On this particular play, Rajon Rondo is bringing the basketball up, actually walking it up. As Rondo gets to the top of the key, his man, Toney Douglas is playing all of the way below the free throw line. This is simply too much space because it allows Rondo to get a running start and use that speed he builds up to get by Douglas. Here, Douglas needs to be in front of the free throw line, giving him enough space to try to bait him into shooting, but not enough space to allow him to build up speed to get to the rim. Not only that, but as a defender, you have Rondo running at you at full speed while you are sitting back on your heels trying to defending him. There is no way you are going to get in front of him and get the stop.
If you are the Knicks and you are able to corral Rajon Rondo, you are giving yourself a chance to get the win.
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