Image via Complex Original
NBA teams spend hours upon hours working on one movement. The pick-and-roll switch—a fundamental play for offense and defense—happens like a billion times a year. That one play can gauge the competency of any team just because it's so basic. You know how I knew the Knicks were doomed last season? It wasn't all of the Melo-drama or J.R.'s antics or even Mike Woodson's nonsense. Watching plays like this one unfold every few possessions did it. The Knicks, when hit with a pick-and-roll, didn't know what to do.
Unfortunately, that leaves their big men—already tasked with somehow corralling a ball-handler who's smaller and quicker—in compromising positions. When a guard comes off that screen and sees a 7-foot traffic cone in front of them, guys like Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, and Russell Westbrook will virtually walk thru. Watch these perimeter magicians take on the likes of Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James in A Recent History of Big Men Getting Crossed Up.
Stephon Marbury on Yao Ming
Date: 2002
Game: Rockets @ Suns
At the start of his rookie year, Yao got a nice taste of NBA life from Stephon Marbury.
Dwyane Wade on Kevin Garnett
Date: 5/4/2011
Game: Heat @ Celtics
The patented but not really Wade-step ahem, Euro-step, ahem at it's best. Good artists copy, but greatest artists steal.
Derrick Rose on Joel Anthony
Date: 5/24/2011
Game: Bulls @ Heat
REMEMBER HOW GOOD DERRICK ROSE CAN BE?
Kyrie Irving on Dwight Howard
Date: 12/12/2012
Game: Lakers @ Cavs
Dwight's got a lil movement to him, but Kyrie Irving off the dribble simply can't be guarded.
Joe Johnson on Chris Bosh
Date: 1/30/2013
Game: Heat @ Nets
Chris Bosh is such a targeted name on the Internet that the first interpretation of this GIF isn't, “Oh, sick crossover from Joe Johnson,” but instead, “HAHAHAH CHRIS BOSH SUCKS.”
Joakim Noah on Zach Randolph
Date: 2/17/2013
Game: East @ West
Joakim Noah out here being the most skilled big in the league.
Kevin Durant on Kevin Garnett
Date: 3/10/2013
Game: Celtics @ Thunder
Garnett in 2003 against modern day Durant would be a helluva battle. In 2013 though, this GIF felt like assisted suicide.
Russell Westbrook on J.J. Hickson
Date: 11/18/2013
Game: Nuggets @ Thunder
Westbrook made Hickson look like he was moving with clown shoes on.
Steph Curry on Serge Ibaka
Date: 11/29/2013
Game: Warriors @ Thunder
Ibaka is one of the NBA's most mobile bigs, but like, Steph Curry. No bigman can stop the Warriors' little whirling dervish.
Nate Robinson on Kris Humphries
Date: 5/2/2013
Game: Nets @ Bulls
Hopefully Nate Robinson is recovering from his torn ACL well. We need him to keep up good work like this.
Carmelo Anthony on Kris Humphries
Date: N/A
Game: Knicks @ Celtics
Humphries is still guarding that feint to the right.
J.R. Smith on Tristan Thompson
Date: 1/30/2014
Game: Cavs @ Knicks
Let's see if J.R. can pull this shit on Kevin Love this season.
Deron Williams on Anthony Davis
Date: 2/9/2014
Game: Pelicans @ Nets
For perimeter ball-handlers, this GIF is the future. That future is terrifying.
Patrick Beverley on LeBron James
Date: 3/16/2014
Game: Rockets @ Heat
LeBron isn't technically a “big man” in the traditional sense, but c'mon: Patrick Beverley crossing up LeBron James is the ultimate David vs. Goliath NBA battle.
Kevin Durant on Darrell Arthur
Date: 3/24/2014
Game: Nuggets @ Thunder
Man, what the hell is Darrell Arthur supposed to do against the MVP?
Paul Pierce on Tyler Hansbrough
Date: 4/25/2014
Game: Raptors @ Nets
Ever since Jameer Nelson did this in 2012, we've had at least one “Paul Pierce Gets Crossed Up Cause He's Old LOL” highlight per season. Pierce can't move that well now. This shit will happen. But it's good to see Old Man Pierce get back at a young'in with a crossover of his own, even if it's against Tyler Hansbrough.
Jordan Crawford on Blake Griffin
Date: 5/1/2014
Game: Clippers @ Warriors
Peak Jordan Crawford-ness here.
