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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You know what, let's watch some Suns/Bucks Game 2.
Thought it was interesting the Suns came out with Spain P&R to start. You see the Bucks focus was having whoever was guarding the ball handler fight over and navigate the screen. Middleton holds to help, Bridges slips out, Giannis there to help and sheesh.
Another adjustment was the ball pressure from Milwaukee's defense. Jrue picked up CP3 earlier (similar to ATL series). This is just good effort from Holiday to just not get screened and keep everyone at home. You see the idea is keep Brook back/help comes from strongside wing.
One thing I noticed re-watching Game 1 is the Bucks didn't get clean switches on Deandre Ayton from the jump. In Game 6 vs. Atlanta they had PJ Tucker guard Trae Young to take away ATL's ability to post up. Same concept in G1 w/ PJ guarding CP3 but execution was different.
Ayton did a good job of making sure whether he screened or slipped he had the inside path and Tucker ended up on top. First time he draws a foul. Second time help has to come. Third time Tucker finally gets a good switch, Ayton seals and finishes. That was important.
Milwaukee can tighten a lot of things up defensively but the under current is the fact that Phoenix will put pressure on what you think you can live with and find a way to make you feel like you can't. Bucks have to be willing to live in that discomfort defensively.
You know what, let's watch some Jazz/Clippers Game 4.
Utah has got to get their flow back offensively and tighten things up defensively. Have to put the doubt in the Clippers mind, get back to your ball movement, get back to your drives.
Clippers, you found something and now you have to sustain it on both ends. Small lineup has been effective in bogging Utah down but you can't let your foot off the pedal.
You know what, let's watch some Nets/Bucks Game 4.
For Milwaukee, must win. The win in G3 wasn't a series shifter but you just need one more to put the heat back on Brooklyn. Defensively, keep being active and physical. Offensively, move the ball, up the tempo in the 1/2 ct, force Brooklyn to react.
Milwaukee has the pressure points but they aren't using them consistently. You need the production from the Big 3 but it has to be the right way. Stop leaving food on the table and the food you have...season it.
You know what, let’s watch some Nets/Bucks Game 3.
This is probably what Milwaukee was looking for defensively with Giannis on Griffin. Show on Kyrie, recover. Switch to Harris on the handoff. Brook guarding Brown allows him to roam and help in the paint.
Giannis as a screener for Milwaukee has been money but for the love of everything please put some seasoning on it. If you know Brooklyn doesn't want to switch and it's a drop, let's not have Giannis rolling towards two help defenders. Draws a foul but still.
You know what, let's watch some Jazz/Clippers Game 3.
For the Clippers to go back small and Utah to start out on an 8-0 run. Man.
Clippers small lineup in theory is supposed to switch, keep the ball in front, stay out of rotation. The switch is here but now George shows help on Mitchell's drive it's a kick to Ingles for 3.