The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 181 - 121 "Hansen’s Happy Joint Defense

Since the NBA began allowing zone defense in 2001, the strategy had started to exhibit its allure.

The Kings initially matched up with the Lakers, going back and forth, even almost making it to the finals.

The Spurs were one of the teams that used it best.

The most common zone defenses are 2-3 and 3-2, one focusing on interior defense, the other on the perimeter.

Hansen had seen plenty of these defenses during his NCAA days, not only used by opponents but also by Barry University itself.

The 2-2-1 zone defense is essentially a variation of the 2-3 zone, with the biggest difference being the center’s position.

This involves a rule issue: the NCAA and international games don’t have the "defensive three-seconds" rule, so the center can stay under the basket.

But in the NBA, that’s not allowed, which means that the center in a zone defense tends to position outside the lane, forming a 2-1-2 setup.

Thus, the essence of this defense is the same as the 2-3 zone, mostly to limit the opponent’s interior offense.

In the face of Randolph’s stellar performance, this defensive adjustment was beyond reproach.

The Grizzlies on the offense, Randolph, being double teamed by Duncan and McDyess, had no good opportunity and had to pass to the perimeter; the ball eventually reached Guy, whose three-point shot from outside veered off.

Guy’s three-point shooting percentage was at a career-high this season, but he and James belong to the same category: high accuracy with more open shots.

The Spurs’ zone defense was a well-oiled machine, leaving no completely open spots.

After Duncan grabbed the defensive rebound, the Spurs launched a fastbreak; "the French sports car" Parker floored it, leaving Conley behind and scored with a flying layup.

Cheers erupted in the arena, showing the immediate effect of the Spurs’ defensive adjustment.

Popovich then sat back down on the bench and started chatting with his assistant coach Budenholzer.

Aside from limiting the opponent’s interior offense, the 2-1-2 zone also holds the advantages of a zone: the ability to quickly transition to a defensive counter-attack.

Especially since the Spurs had Parker and the Grizzlies used a twin-towers lineup, it was highly targeted.

Of course, every zone has its weaknesses, and the biggest one for the 2-1−2 is the mid-to-long range shooting, but that was not the Grizzlies’ strength.

In fact, the only real threat was Hansen’s outside shooting, and Hill had already been instructed to stick closely to Hansen.

Hence, even though Randolph was on fire, it wasn’t enough to help the Grizzlies win the game.

However, in the moment Popovich turned his head, Hansen and Conley exchanged a signal.

As the Grizzlies moved into the frontcourt, Conley continued to gesture to Randolph on the strong side to demand the ball, but at the same time, Hansen and Little Gasol set an off-ball screen on the weak side.

Hill followed Hansen closely and, according to Popovich’s pre-game plan, was to guard Hansen’s three-points and penetration, mainly the threes at that moment.

Because the 2-1-2 defense also greatly limits penetration, as soon as Hansen reached the free throw line, he would have been met with a multi-man trap.

Hill’s defense was solid, and his execution was strong, seeing that Hansen didn’t ask for the ball at the three-point line but was moving towards the free throw line, Hill gave up the chase around Little Gasol’s screen and instead stepped up to block Hansen’s retreat for a three-pointer.

Hansen moved to the free throw line, and Conley’s pass was already on its way.

Upon catching the ball, Duncan in the middle retreated a large step.

In that instant, the 2−1−2 became a 2−3 defense; such was its flexibility.

To break a 2-3 zone, the best formation is a 1-3-1 with a big man who has a mid-range shot, someone who can draw the center out from inside.

But Hansen wasn’t an inside player, his strengths were penetration and floaters; Duncan’s retreat posed no issue except...

Hansen had already jumped for a mid-range shot in the moment Duncan stepped back.

When Duncan lunged to contest, the disruption he could cause Hansen was limited.

"Swoosh!"

Hansen’s mid-range shot nailed it.

That crisp sound drew Popovich’s gaze back to the court.

He hadn’t paid attention and only by looking up at the replay on the big LED screen did he find out what happened.

Hansen’s mid-range shot?

Although Hansen did possess the ability to shoot from mid-range, daring to take that shot in that position and making it so decisively was still surprising.

In the Spurs’ possession game, Parker continued the pick-and-roll with Duncan, turning into a spinning top after seeing Randolph rush out, eluding Little Gasol’s block and scoring off the board.

Parker’s condition tonight was equally impressive.

to 8.

Two defensive teams had sparked an attacking exchange during this period, stirring up the atmosphere in the arena.

"Defense! Defense!"

Fans started chanting support for the home team.

The Spurs still adhered to their recent defensive strategy, with Hill continuing to cut off Hansen’s three-point chances.

The difference was, Duncan showcased his agility, pouncing outwards as soon as Hansen received the ball at the free throw line.

Hansen, seeing this, switched directly inside using his "Mysterious Steps" to get past Duncan and seeing McDyess coming to help, passed to an open Randolph.

The quality of Hansen’s passes in the middle of his drives was typically average, a bit off.

Fortunately, Randolph was nimble enough with long arms to reel the ball back in, then took a step and slammed it down with both hands, scoring.

The arena became restless, and the excitement surged on the Grizzlies bench, even Hollins excitedly threw a punch.

A piece of trivia of little consequence: Randolph is one of the few all-star power forwards with the fewest dunks; his seasonal dunk count was only half that of Nowitzki.