The List: Defensive chemistry, Michael Porter's dribble crutch, and busting the zone

1. People think of “chemistry” as an offensive attribute but is just as much a sign of familiarity and connection on the defensive end of the floor. In the clip below, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic execute a great, quick switch back after Murray gets witched out onto a big. Plays like this as well as seamless rotations are a byproduct of players working together for years and years and being able to quickly read each other and anticipate what your teammates on the court behind you are about to do.

2. Michael Porter Jr. has a neutral dribble crutch that you’ve probably noticed. He likes to take that little rocking crossover dribble before making his move. It’s a fine move and there is a limited role for it in his arsenal but the clip below shows how it is much more of a crutch than an aid right now since it comes before a ball screen that would’ve been much more explosive had he not started his dribble. Had he not dribbled, he would’ve exploded off of the ball screen or utilized a quick jab step before turning the corner and attacking the defensive center.

3. Passing up open catch and shoot opportunities has been one of Murray’s biggest weaknesses so far in his career. He seems to have the mentality of an attacker much more than a shooter, which is a shame because he is a phenomenal catch and shoot shooter.

4. RJ Hampton was the victim of a basic screen, rescreen action out of a sideline out of bounds play. These are the type of possessions that can go unnoticed when watching a rookie but they add up over time. Luckily for Hampton, plays like this are all a part of the learning process.

5. My favorite Denver Nuggets lineup of 2021 and the perfect lineup to bust a zone. 5 shooter, 3 rebounders, 2 low usage role players, 3 stars.

6. A lot of the league’s best undersized centers are dominant against 90% of the league but vulnerable to true skilled centers like Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Full List