David Thorpe explains that, in some sense, a half-court defensive possession is really a two-part exercise. "Most offenses run their primary action -- maybe a pick-and-roll," Thorpe says. "Everyone knows exactly where to be on that initial action. At the end of that, the pieces are in place on the chess board. Now you go and play. The second attack is much more about playing basketball -- and the same thing applies to the defense. A good defense knows how to defend that first action. It's that second option where instincts kick in, and that takes time to become fluent, whether you're on offense or on defense."

Utah and Boston feature offenses that almost assume defenses will stop that first option, which is why sets are designed with triggers to ignite second, third, sometimes even fourth options. Defend that high pick-and-roll? Fine, see what you can do on the subsequent misdirection and back screen.

By and large, the Heat have been doing fine on stopping the first half-court option. But they've been carved up later in the shot clock, after these refined offenses reverse the ball and go into their second action.

With about three minutes remaining in the third quarter of their upset over the Heat, Utah brings the ball upcourt trailing by 14. Paul Millsap has scored 14 points in the period, so it's no surprise Deron Williams calls his number. Millsap steps out to the right side just inside the 3-point line to give Williams a screen. The Heat defend this well. Bosh jumps out onto Williams' left shoulder while Wade traps Williams on his right side while still shading Millsap. When Millsap rolls, Zydrunas Ilgauskas promptly sticks his body on the Jazz forward. This coverage triggers the Jazz's next set of options, one of which is Al Jefferson flashing to the foul line. Big Al has his claws up ready to receive the pass, but LeBron James moves off Andrei Kirilenko, who is set up in the weak side corner, to pick up Jefferson. Option No. 2 extinguished. But almost in complete concert with the Heat's rotation, Kirilenko makes a hard cut to the basket along the baseline -- and there's a gift-wrapped lob pass waiting for AK-47 when he gets there.

Utah has made timing an art, whereas the Heat have made it a project.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/1228/whats-not-working-after-10-games

European teams seem to feature offenses that are constantly setting screens everywhere.
MDA was a point guard..in Europe.
He's supposed to be an offensive genius.

The next game I watch (skipping Denver I think but watching Sacramento) I'd like to see what exactly our offense is if the intial PnR doesn't work.

Anyone know how to get Knicks games form DVR to hard drive?