Steve Jones Jr. Profile picture
Jul 11, 2021 38 tweets 9 min read Read on X
You know what, let's watch some Team USA/Nigeria.
*shrugs* why not
wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute where is Ike Diogu.
It's one possession but the defense...looking alright. Look at the switches and look at the ball not touch the paint.
Fun double P&R, Beal and Bam screening for Dame with Tatum in the weakside corner. Decisions must be made and well...Bam was open on the roll.
Jerami Grant and Draymond in together and that should be fun defensively.
Damian Lillard in a nice set here, like the off-ball movement. Gets the pin from Draymond, backscreen with LaVine in the middle of the floor. Defense switches but Dame is right back off Draymond for a handoff. Tough to navigate.
Nigeria's played with some really good pace. When they get out and run they've gotten loose. Half court has been an adventure.
The on-ball switches have been pretty good for Team USA. Good activity on ball.
I do like Jayson Tatum going right to the post and making a quick decision. Initiating contact.
One thing I'm interested in seeing is how Team USA adjusts to teams going right to the post against the switches. Udoh able to finish over Tatum here.
Zach LaVine looks pretty comfortable out there, been initiating offense since he came in.
Pretty easy when you have KD come off a pick and roll with Tatum screening for Dame on the weakside.
Well ok Precious Achiuwa
Big 3 from Ike Nwamu. The switches have been there from Team USA, closeouts have been a little slow. KD holds as Dame fronts Achiuwa. Nigeria has been firing.
Another good defensive possession from Precious Achiuwa. Switches on to Beal, keeps the drive in front, contests the shot.
Nigeria turned up the heat a little bit defensively in this second half.
Gabe Vincent has been aggressive tonight. Team USA going to have to make sure they stay consistent with the switching. Going to be movement, guys are going to rise and fire. Vincent didn't hesitate.
Kind of missed watching Draymond doing Draymond stuff around great players. It hits different.
Metu tried to dunk on Draymond and Draymond wasn't having it.
This man Caleb Agada is hooping tonight. Sheesh. Nigeria not going away.
Yeah. Caleb Agada saw an opportunity tonight and he's taking it. He's in a zone. Any time you see someone call for pick and roll and *immediately* drive the other way, yeah.
Pop went ahead and slid Dame, Beal and KD right back in there.
The physicality from Tatum on these drives...noticing it.
Team USA has gotten hit with this dribble handoff action several times tonight. Nigeria has just been letting it fly. This time it's Oni catching and going up.
Activity on defense much better from Team USA here. Good switches on the ball. Beal does a great job battling, Tatum helps, winning play by Beal to get on the floor. Going to have to ramp up that intensity on that end of the floor.
KD can't get one to fall right now. Three great looks in a row.
Well ok Miye Oni.
Nigeria has not stopped getting up and down and letting it fly. Been able to avoid half court scenarios, scrapped the whole way.
20th made three for Nigeria. Another dribble handoff, another drive and kick for 3.
KD trying to keep em around. Sheesh.
This whole thread feels like it's been this action from Nigeria and Team USA being surprised they are pulling up from deep.
I did not think we would be getting defense chants late in this one and I apologize.
There was no way Nigeria was letting KD pull-up here.
Foul Up 3 Twitter this is your fault.
Mike Brown been coaching his tail off tonight.
I mean best case scenario for Nigeria. I'm assuming the US was hoping for a botched switch but I'm unsure. Really good denials to take the play away. End up executing the foul with only 3 seconds left.
Salute to Nigeria. They hooped. Played with confidence and that grew throughout the game. Team USA couldn't score, Nigeria was able to get up and down and Nigeria couldn't miss from deep.

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More from @stevejones20

Feb 8
Keeping an eye on the little things with Kyle Kuzma in Milwaukee. Cuts when the defense helps, spaces back out. A lot of "fitting in" ball movement here but a random screen from the corner for Dame to keep the flow up intrigues me to how they could use him.
(a whole lot of the unspoken debut tax: happy to be here, trying to move the ball, wait what's the defensive scheme, happy to be here, trying to move the ball, etc, etc.)
Doc drew up an ATO for Kuzma early. Elbow action, Brook with a DHO. Defense goes under and Kuzma turns the corner to finish. Different ways he's used and the movement/drives feel key.
Read 13 tweets
May 10, 2024
You know what, let's watch some Thunder/Mavs Game 2.
PJ Washington screens for Kyrie. Thunder not clean with their switch, opens the roll. Chet helps. OKC works to sink. The key is now *Luka* is open on the weakside.
Well, if Luka is going to cook against the drop coverage..
Read 32 tweets
May 8, 2024
You know what, let's watch some Thunder/Mavs Game 1
Early thought. I like Dallas flipping the matchups. I'm not sure about keeping a big on Chet because you still open up the roll and pop. OKC has done a great job of setting screens lower on the floor to make Dallas make decisions.
Luka on Giddey, OKC has had Chet screen under the 3PT line. Gafford in a drop but it turns into a switch to protect against the pop. Screen for Shai is another switch and now he has the Luka matchup. Look at the space he sees right away. Goes left, straight line, finish.
Read 31 tweets
Apr 25, 2024
You know what, let's watch some Knicks/Sixers Game 3.
First play of the game, Sixers go right to Joel Embiid in the post. OG showing help, Embiid spins the other way and goes right to work.
Knicks using movement for Jalen Brunson, cuts off Hartenstein and then gets a pindown from Hart. That flows right into P&R with Hartenstein. Sixers stick with the drop, Embiid is *sitting* on that pullup.
Read 32 tweets
Apr 25, 2024
You know what, let's watch some Thunder/Pelicans Game 2.
Before clips, like that Ingram is driving and looking to make plays. Finding ways to get them in rotation. OKC's ability to stick with their style of play is key. Pelicans defense is the key in this one.
Jonas Valanciunas has had some fun in the post early in this one.
Read 6 tweets
Apr 23, 2024
You know what, let's watch some Knicks/Sixers Game 2.
(yes, we are behind but let's go)
Knicks are going to have to figure out how they want to defend Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in P&R. With McBride navigating not a switch option, Hartenstein has to hold. Sixers clear the right wing. Embiid gets the pocket pass for two.
Read 22 tweets

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