|
|
|
Tuesday, December 19, 2000
Nugs: Better shooting, defense would help
ESPN.com
|
For every NBA team that is on a roll, there is a team that isn't. That's why we need the doctor -- Dr. Jack Ramsay. Each week in Dr. Jack's Prescription, the Hall of Fame coach will analyze a team in distress, and offer a cure to what ails them.
This week: Denver Nuggets
|  | | McDyess has his game looking good, but he needs help from teammates. |
The Symptoms
The Denver Nuggets had just scored impressive home wins over Seattle and
Philadelphia to raise their record to 10-8. Then they lost four in a row -- to
Miami, Orlando, New York and Boston -- on a recent Eastern trip, negating the
momentum built on those homestand wins. They also own victories over the
Lakers, Spurs and Minnesota -- twice -- all in the Mile High City. They were
8-3 at home, going into Tuesday's game with Miami (which they lost); but 2-9 on the road.
They
are outscored 100-96 by opponents over the season and, although they have a
potentially high-scoring trio in Antonio McDyess (20 ppg), Voshon Lenard
(13 ppg ) and Nick Van Exel (17 ppg) -- who also leads the league in
assist/turnover ratio (9-2) -- they rank 21st in field goal percentage (.427). Reserve
players Keon Clark, Robert Pack, Tariq Abdul-Wahad, George McCloud and Tracy
Murray shoot between 43 percent and 24 percent from the field.
Team defense is also a weakness. Denver is the only team in the NBA to allow
100 points a game to opponents; and it ranks 19th in field goal percentage defense (.448). It
also allows the fourth-highest number of rebounds to opponents at 44.3 per game.
Those are statistical symptoms of a struggling team. There's also the
psychological factor of not being able to win on the road that stretches back
to 1996. During that time span the Nuggets are 34 and 161 on the road! In '98
and '99, the Nuggets won only four out of a total 66 road games played. Everyone
in Denver -- fans, media, team management and players -- are aware of that
record. In away games played this season, the Nuggets appear to wait for the
inevitable defeat to happen. After the tough, last-second overtime loss to
Boston last Sunday, coach Dan Issel, attempting to put a positive spin on
the game said, "If we play like that, something will break for us. We just
have to keep playing."
Add to all those factors an incident in which the Denver players, feeling
that Issel had come down too hard on center Raef LaFrentz after the Celtics loss,
considered boycotting practice the following day. The situation was resolved
by a team meeting -- but yet indicates a lack of harmony between the players
and their coach.
The Diagnosis
The Nuggets are a Jekyll and Hyde team -- good enough on their home court to
be in the playoffs, but with no chance based on their road performances. They
must find a way to play on the road with the same intensity, poise and skill
that they demonstrate at home. No small task, but that's what has to happen.
| |  | |
| LaFrentz |
The flap with coach Issel indicates a failure of the players to focus on the
main issue -- what they must do to play winning basketball -- whether it be at
home or on the road.
Denver generally scores well enough to win consistently; but must improve
its team defense to be a playoff team. No team that leads the league in
points allowed will be in postseason play. In general, teams score high
point totals when they run out from missed shots or turnovers. The Nuggets
don't turn the ball over excessively (14.5 tpg), but shoot a low field goal
percentage and are outrebounded consistently, as noted above. Opposing teams frequently rebound missed Denver field goal efforts to get quick scores.
Limiting fast break opportunities is the first step in keeping opposing point
totals at a manageable level. A tighter system of team defense which takes
advantage of shot blockers McDyess, LaFrentz and Clark is also needed.
| |  | |
| Van Exel |
Improved percentage shooting from the field would also benefit the Nuggets.
McDyess is the only player who shoots better than 50 percent from the field. The
other starters (Lenard, Van Exel, Posey and LaFrentz) and the principal bench
players -- especially Murray -- have enough skill and experience to
shoot with better accuracy.
There's also an absence of the tough-minded determination that all good teams
possess that enables them to overcome trends in the game that run counter to
their expectations. Strong teams battle back; the Nuggets often cave in.
The Cure
There's no quick fix for what ails the Denver Nuggets; but a good start would
be to focus on reducing opponents' points scored, rather than merely trying
to outscore them. That means a commitment to defense that must begin on the
practice floor. The Nuggets need to get down to the basics of denying quick
drives to the hoop; and developing consistent methods of handling screens,
providing weak-side help, applying effective traps and rotations, blocking
out for rebounds, and getting back against fast breaks. That will take a lot
of hard practice work -- but it will pay dividends in upcoming games.
Confidence in team defense builds pride in the total team game that will
always be there, whether at home or on the road.
| |  | |
| Lenard |
| |  | |
| Clark |
On offense, Denver needs to be more patient with its execution in order to
obtain higher percentage shots. They have the weapons to score enough points
to win -- IF players take shots that they can make consistently. Shot
selection is key. McDyess is an excellent scorer from the post and can drive
to the hoop; he's not great from the perimeter. He needs to confine his game
to a 15-foot radius from the basket, and must handle double-teams better.
He needs to find open teammates with simple, direct passes to avoid
turnovers when trapped. He has only 36 assists against 60 turnovers this season.
Van
Exel is shooting only .396, but has a special ability to find the open man.
His first responsibility is to create scores for his teammates and then take
the good shots that come to him, a delicate, but critical line to observe.
Lenard has the ability to be a great shooter -- from distance, mid-range and
even at the post. Taking only good shots will improve his current .424 field goal percentage.
LaFrentz shoots well from the perimeter, has an effective drive to the
basket, and is a good passer for a big man (19-15 assist-turnover). He's capable of
averaging 15 ppg and 10 rpg -- a step up from his marks this season. Posey must
monitor his shots to improve his overall game. He's better than .431 field goal percentage, 7.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg.
The same premise applies to the bench players. Murray, coming back from
injury, could provide a big lift to the offense with his perimeter shooting
(career .394 from 3-point range); Abdul-Wahad needs to accept his substitute
role and get his game back (11 ppg last season). The same can be said of
McCloud (.349 field goal percentage). Clark and Pack, good defenders, should score enough
to keep opposing defenses honest.
Better shot selection means a higher field goal percentage, fewer fast breaks
by the opposition and, combined with improved half-court defense, a better
chance to win games -- yes, even on the road.
Lastly, the Nuggets must pull together, and show a unified determination to
make this season a success. If they do, they'll find the joy of winning is
so much better than the misery of defeat.
|
|
ALSO SEE
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Nets
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Heat
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Sonics
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Bucks
Dr. Jack's Prescription: Raptors
|
|
