Battle of Two Great Coaches: Best Plays from the NBA Finals Contenders

• By Justin Tran

Erik Spoelstra and Michael Malone, two excellent basketball minds, are prepared to lead their teams, the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets, in an epic battle for the championship title.

Spoelstra has proved his strategic brilliance and ability to harness the talents of his players as the Heat's head coach. Malone, on the other hand, has expertly managed the Nuggets with his tactical brilliance and excellent leadership. 

This blog post delves into the coaching theories and techniques of these two coaching masters, examining their impact on the success of their individual teams as well as their impact on the game of basketball.

Pick and Roll Offense

The Denver Nuggets are renowned for their dynamic and highly effective pick and roll offense, which has become a characteristic of their playing style. With Nikola Jokić, their skilled center, at the heart of the action, the Nuggets execute the pick and roll with precision and finesse. 

In this scenario, Nikola Jokić fakes a screen to the ball handler, then receives the ball and Aaron Gordon becomes the screen setter, Jokić as the ball handler finds the roller Aaron Gordon for the easy bucket. 

The pick and roll sets used by the Heat generate opportunities for scoring and playmaking. Adebayo, a skillful big man with outstanding ball-handling abilities and court vision, is frequently the center of attention. The flexibility of Adebayo to roll to the basket or pop out for mid-range jumpers provides an element of surprise to the Heat's offense. 

In this scenario, Adebayo is used as a decoy as part of a double screen to clog the middle and create space for Jimmy Butler to make a run at the rim. Adebayo brings the ball up to half-court, then passes it to Butler on the opposite side, then immediately sets a screen along with Duncan Robinson to allow an open lane on the right wing for Butler to cut to the rim. Check out more of the best set plays from the NBA Season here!

In this well-executed inbounds play, Duncan Robinson plays a pivotal role. As the ball is inbounded, Robinson delivers a perfectly placed lob pass to Bam Adebayo, who is already establishing a strong post position against his defender.

Simultaneously, Robinson quickly transitions into a pick, setting a screen on Adebayo's defender. This strategic move creates a momentary advantage for Adebayo, allowing him to aggressively attack the baseline with a clear path to the rim.

Taking full advantage of the well-designed play, Adebayo emphatically finishes with a powerful dunk, showcasing the Miami Heat's ability to create high-percentage scoring opportunities through effective screening and intelligent positioning. Check out more of the best set plays from the NBA Season here!

Dribble Hand- Offs

Jokić, known for his exceptional passing ability and court vision, serves as the primary facilitator in the dribble hand-off plays. This creates a multitude of options for the Nuggets' offense. Jokić's basketball IQ and passing ability enable him to make split-second decisions, whether it's a quick drive to the basket, a kick-out to an open shooter, or a lob pass to a cutting teammate.

In this offensive sequence, Nikola Jokić takes control of the ball and dribbles it down the court. He executes a well-timed dribble handoff to Aaron Gordon, who receives the ball on the left wing.

As the ball is swung to the right wing, Jokić showcases his exceptional basketball IQ by maneuvering along the baseline to the right corner. With keen positioning, he sets himself up for a post-up against Draymond Green.

Taking advantage of the favorable matchup, Jokić confidently rises for an effortless mid-range jumper, converting the shot with ease. This strategic utilization of the dribble handoff and Jokić's smart positioning highlight the Denver Nuggets' ability to create scoring opportunities and exploit favorable matchups.

Dribble hand-offs are used by Erik Spoelstra to create scoring opportunities and to expose the defense. This play often involves the dynamic duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo but in this case it was Butler and Gabe Vincent.

In this strategic play, Jimmy Butler initiates the action by driving from the left wing towards the right side of the court. A crucial element of the play is Gabe Vincent's movement as he overlaps Butler on the perimeter to receive the pass.

This creates a diversion for both Vincent's defender and Butler's defender, shifting their attention away from Butler. Seizing the opportunity, Butler exploits the distracted defense and slips through for an easy alley-oop slam.

The precise timing and execution of Vincent's reception on the perimeter create the perfect opening for Butler to capitalize on. This well-designed play by the Miami Heat demonstrates their ability to create scoring opportunities through strategic positioning and intelligent movement. Check out more plays from the NBA Playoffs here!

Screening the Screener

In this dynamic offensive sequence, the Denver Nuggets excel at utilizing off-ball movement to create scoring opportunities. The play begins with Jamal Murray making a quick pass and immediately transitioning into a screening role.

His primary objective is to impede the progress of Michael Porter's defender, allowing Porter to maneuver more freely. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokić actively screens Murray's defender, opening up space for Murray to relocate to the top of the key.

Capitalizing on this well-coordinated play, Murray then makes a decisive drive towards the paint, drawing the attention of the defense. With exceptional court vision, Murray spots Jokić's positioning and swiftly delivers a precise pass, resulting in a wide-open mid-range jump shot. Check out more of the best set plays throughout the whole NBA here!

Conclusion

Erik Spoelstra and Michael Malone, two brilliant basketball minds, respectfully lead their teams to the NBA Finals. This blog post delves into the coaching theories and techniques of these two coaching masters, examining their impact on the success of their individual teams as well as their impact on the game of basketball. From the Denver Nuggets' renowned pick and roll offense, featuring Nikola Jokić's exceptional skills, to the Miami Heat's strategic utilization of dribble hand-offs and effective screening actions, this post explores the complexity of these teams' offensive strategies. Join us as we dissect the X's and O's behind these exciting NBA teams' gameplay and unlock the secrets to their success.