Much is said about the precision that the Suns run with that makes it so hard to stop them. You’ve got the amazing Steve Nash passes. Amar’e and (lately) Jason Richardson’s athleticism. The three point acumen. But what sometimes gets lost in the shuffle is their ability to simply force you into impossible situations, due to presenting no-win scenarios that can only be achieved in transition. It’s much more difficult to create impossible plays to defend in the halfcourt set, because the opponent’s personnel is set, hanging out, ready. They’re not adjusting off the sprint, trying to locate anyone. The result of not only the speed with which the Suns execute the transition game, but the number of possessions they execute it in (via Synergy Sports, 13.6% of their plays are in transition), is akin to trying to run full speed through an antique store with eight rooms, end-to-end, that you’ve never been in before. Each room has a different wrinkle.
Like this.
In last night’s squash of the Blazers, the Suns got going early and never looked back. They especially used JRich. And while the Blazers’ personnel issues definitely need to be considered, there were a number of big plays that happened, especially in the second quarter, where even if healthy the Blazers were screwed. Take this example. With 47 seconds left to go in the first, Nash gets off and running like he always does. Richardson streaks to his left. The problem is that Amar’e is already ahead on the break. The defenders back are now faced with arguably the most efficient play in basketball, the Nash-Amar’e pick and roll, in the most efficient setting, transition. Here’s the result:
So here’s Martell Webster, with no one behind him, mind you, on account of that whole transition thing, trying to figure out what to do. He’s got Amar’e making what looks like a half-ass screen, but the real intent is just to get both perimeter defenders focused on cutting off Nash at the hip. After all, the first objective is stop the ball, right? Webster’s sliding down because if Amar’e breaks from that screen and just slides down, he’s got an easy one-handed dunk coming if Webster doesn’t get over.
Whoops.
Ruh-oh. While Webster’s trying to contain the most efficient play in basketball, a highly efficient shooter is spotting up on Nash’s left, with both perimeter defenders focused on containing the best transition point guard in the NBA. Which means right as Nash passes it, Webster’s too deep from trying to contain the STATATTACK and has to try and run off the three. Which he does. But by that point, JRich could have written a ballad, had that ballad published, then turned that ballad into a play, cast John Malkovich in the ballad-turned-play’s leading role, then spent the proceeds on a horse made of E-Z-Cheez before Webster’s gonna get there.
The result?
Damn it.
