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
Dwyane Wade on Kevin Garnett
Derrick Rose on Joel Anthony
Kyrie Irving on Dwight Howard
Joe Johnson on Chris Bosh
Joakim Noah on Zach Randolph
Kevin Durant on Kevin Garnett
Russell Westbrook on J.J. Hickson
Steph Curry on Serge Ibaka
Nate Robinson on Kris Humphries
Carmelo Anthony on Kris Humphries
J.R. Smith on Tristan Thompson
Deron Williams on Anthony Davis
Patrick Beverley on LeBron James
Kevin Durant on Darrell Arthur
Paul Pierce on Tyler Hansbrough
Jordan Crawford on Blake Griffin
