Small ball (basketball)

Last updated

In basketball, small ball is a style of play that sacrifices height, physical strength and low post offense/defense in favor of a lineup of smaller players for speed, agility and increased scoring (often from the three-point line). [1] It is closely tied to the concepts of pace and space, which pushes the speed of the offense and spreads out the defense with extra shooters on the court. [2] Many small ball lineups feature a non-traditional center who offers skills that are not normally found from players at that position. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Teams often move a physically dominant player who would typically play the small forward position into the power forward position. Examples of players who have been used in this role include Kevin Durant, [8] Carmelo Anthony, [9] and LeBron James. That individual would play alongside either a traditional power forward (shifted into the center position), or alongside a center.

Contents

The advantage of using small ball is that the power forward position is occupied by a faster, more agile player who can outrun and outmaneuver the opposing power forward. In many cases the player may have a better three-point shooting percentage than a traditional power forward, which (as well as increasing points from three-point plays) can help spread the opposition defense. The opposing defender will come out to mark the player on the perimeter of the three point line, allowing space for teammates to run in and score around the basket. A player occupying this position, with a high three-point shot success percentage, is coined a "stretch four". [10] Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra employed this style of play starting in 2011–12, labeling it as "pace and space". [11] [12] Early in the playoffs, small forward LeBron James filled in at power forward after the Heat lost starter Chris Bosh to injury. James remained at that position for the remainder of the playoffs, as Bosh was moved to center when he returned. [13] [14]

While the style of play does have advantages, there are several disadvantages. The addition of speed and agility comes at the cost of strength and height; the lack of traditional "big men" can make it more difficult to guard the space under the basket while on defense and can also prevent the team from having a low-post offensive threat when attacking. Rebounding is often sacrificed; for example, in the 2012–13 season, the Miami Heat, playing small ball, had the most wins during the season, but were the worst team in the NBA in rebounding. [15] The biggest exposure of the shortcomings of a small and short team surely was on display in the Western Conference finals of 2018, where Houston Rockets, 1st seed of both the West and best team of the season, led by MVP James Harden with Chris Paul had a 3-2 lead over eventual & reigning champions, Golden State Warriors but were pushed into Game 7. The Rockets led the 1st half by double digits, yet their greatest strength also became their achilles heel where they spectacularly missed a record breaking 27 consecutive 3s, [16] they lost by only 9pts, exposing just how over reliant their small ball system was on making 3s. A more balanced/traditionally sized team would have been better placed for scoring by other means than long ranged shots after such a drought of failed shots.

The Golden State Warriors in 2014–15 used small ball to a greater extent in the NBA Finals than any prior champion, swapping out big man Andrew Bogut from the starting lineup for Andre Iguodala, who would eventually be named the Finals MVP. [17] The Warriors' small lineup came to be known as the Death Lineup. [18] The Warriors attained a historic level of success, winning three NBA titles and setting the NBA wins record during the period from 2014 to 2017. The success of the Warriors' small ball lineups has caused some analysts to consider small ball to be the future of basketball, eschewing traditional lineups in favor of a brand of "positionless" basketball that allows teams to play small. [19] [20] [21] [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeBron James</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

LeBron Raymone James Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in history and is often compared to Michael Jordan in debates over the greatest basketball player of all time. James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and ranks fourth in career assists. He has won four NBA championships, and has competed in 10 NBA Finals. He has four Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, four Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He has been named an All-Star 19 times, selected to the All-NBA Team 19 times and the All-Defensive Team six times, and was a runner-up for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power forward (basketball)</span> Position in the sport of basketball

The power forward (PF), also known as the four or strong forward, is a position in basketball. Power forwards play a role similar to centers. When on offense, they typically play with their backs towards the basket. When on defense, they typically position themselves under the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man defense. The power forward position entails a variety of responsibilities, one of which is rebounding. Many power forwards are noted for their mid-range jump-shot, and several players have become very accurate from 12 to 18 feet. Earlier, these skills were more typically exhibited in the European style of play. Some power forwards known as stretch fours, have since extended their shooting range to three-point field goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottie Pippen</span> American basketball player (born 1965)

Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr., usually spelled Scottie Pippen, is an American former professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Considered one of the greatest small forwards of all time, Pippen, along with Michael Jordan, played an important role in transforming the Bulls into a championship team and popularizing the NBA around the world during the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Bosh</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

Christopher Wesson Bosh is an American former professional basketball player. A Texas Mr. Basketball in high school, he played one season of college basketball for Georgia Tech before declaring for the 2003 NBA draft. Bosh was selected fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center (basketball)</span> Position in basketball

The center (C), or the centre, also known as the five or the pivot, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well. In the NBA, the center is typically close to 7 feet (2.13 m) tall. They traditionally play close to the basket in the low post. The tallest players to play the position in NBA history are Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan, both of whom stood at 7 feet and 7 inches tall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point forward</span> Basketball position

Point forward is a nontraditional position in basketball, with a small forward—or sometimes a power forward or combo forward—adding the responsibilities of point guard to their play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Miller (basketball, born 1980)</span> American basketball player (born 1980)

Michael Lloyd Miller is an American basketball coach, former professional player who is the boys' basketball head coach at Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee, as well as being a sports agent. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) after being selected by the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft with the fifth overall pick. Miller was named the NBA Rookie of the Year with the Magic in 2001 and was voted NBA Sixth Man of the Year with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2006. He won two consecutive NBA championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketball positions</span> Positions played in basketball

In basketball, there are five players that play per team, each assigned to positions. Historically, these players have been assigned to positions defined by the role they play on the court, from a strategic point of view. The three main positions are guard, forward, and center, with the standard team featuring two guards, two forwards, and a center. Over time, as more specialized roles developed, each of the guards and forwards came to be differentiated, and today each of the five positions is known by a unique name and number: point guard (PG) or 1, the shooting guard (SG) or 2, the small forward (SF) or 3, the power forward (PF) or 4, and the center (C) or 5.

The All-NBA Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. The voting is conducted by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The team has been selected in every season of the league's existence, dating back to its inaugural season in 1946. The All-NBA Team originally had two teams, but since 1988 it is typically composed of three five-man lineups—a first, second, and third team.

Nellie Ball is an offensive strategy in basketball developed by NBA head coach Don "Nellie" Nelson. It is a fast-paced run-and-gun offense relying on smaller, more athletic players who can create mismatches by outrunning their opponents. A true center is usually not needed to run this type of offense. A large volume of three-point attempts is also a feature of Nellie Ball. This offense is most effective against teams that do not have the athleticism or shooting ability to keep up with the fast pace.

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. In the years following their 1998 first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Cavaliers dropped to the bottom of the league and became a perennial entrant in the annual NBA Draft Lottery. The franchise's freefall bottomed out during the 2002–03 season, as the Cavs fell to a 17–65 record, tied with the Denver Nuggets for the league's worst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Wear</span> American professional basketball player (born 1990)

Travis James Wear is an American former professional basketball player. He began his pro career with the New York Knicks after going undrafted in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Anderson (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Kyle Forman Anderson is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. After earning All-American honors as a sophomore in 2013–14, he declared for the 2014 NBA draft and was selected in the first round with the 30th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs.

The 2014 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2013–14 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs, played from June 5 to June 15, 2014. It was contested between two-time defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat and the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. In a rematch, the Spurs defeated the Heat 4–1 for their 5th title overall. Kawhi Leonard was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), receiving 10 out of 11 votes.

The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2016–17 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers four games to one. This Finals was the first time in NBA history the same two teams had met for a third consecutive year. The Cavaliers sought to repeat as champions after winning the championship in 2016, while the Warriors won their first meeting in 2015. Golden State earned home court advantage with a 2016–17 regular season record of 67–15, the best record in the NBA, while Cleveland finished the regular season with a 51–31 record. The Warriors entered the 2017 Finals after becoming the first team in NBA playoff history to start 12–0, while the Cavaliers entered the 2017 Finals with a 12–1 record during the first three rounds of the postseason. The Warriors' 15–0 start in the playoffs is the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history and their 16–1 record is the best winning percentage (.941) in NBA playoff history. Golden State's Kevin Durant was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Durant won the Finals MVP award unanimously, receiving all 11 Finals MVP votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Block (basketball)</span>

The Block was a defensive basketball play that occurred in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, played between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors on June 19, 2016, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. With less than two minutes remaining in the deciding game of the championship series, Cavaliers forward LeBron James chased down Warriors forward Andre Iguodala and blocked his layup attempt, ensuring the game remained tied. It is considered to be one of James's greatest clutch moments, and his performance across the series—the only time in which a single player has led both teams in points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks—is considered to be one of the best in NBA Finals history.

The 2017–18 NBA season was the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 17, 2017, earlier than previous seasons to reduce the number of "back-to-back" games teams were scheduled to play, with the 2017 Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The 2018 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 18, 2018, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. The regular season ended on April 11, 2018. The playoffs began on April 14, 2018 and ended on June 8 with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.

The 2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 48th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers entered the season as runners-up in the 2017 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in four games. This was the Cavaliers' first season without Kyrie Irving since the 2010–2011 season, as he was traded to the Boston Celtics during the offseason per his request. This trade ended the superteam era of the Cavaliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Lineup</span> Group of Golden State Warriors basketball players from 2015 to 2019

The Death Lineup was a lineup of basketball players on the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2014 to 2019. Developed under head coach Steve Kerr, it began during their 2014–15 run that led to an NBA championship. Unlike typical small-ball units, this group of Warriors was versatile enough to defend larger opponents, while also aiming to create mismatches on offense with their shooting and playmaking skills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 NBA Finals</span> 2020 edition of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat

The 2020 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2019–20 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff series, the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, 4–2, winning their first NBA championship in ten years. It was the franchise's 17th title overall, tying the Boston Celtics for the most in league history. The Lakers' LeBron James was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the fourth time in his career. He became the first player in league history to be named Finals MVP with three different franchises and along with teammate Danny Green, jointly the third players to win the NBA Finals with three different teams. Lakers president Jeanie Buss became the first female controlling owner to guide her team to an NBA title.

References

  1. sportingcharts.com Definition: What is Small Ball?. Accessed 31 October 2013
  2. Levy, Ian (12 October 2015). "How the Warriors evolved small ball and, in the process, the NBA". Sports Illustrated.
  3. DuPree, David (30 October 2006). "NBA teams making it big with small ball". USA Today. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  4. More and More Teams Are Switching to ‘Smallball' - November 3, 2006 - The New York Sun
  5. ESPN – Small ball allows Mavs to stand tall – NBA
  6. ESPN - Kings can't match up to small-ball - NBA
  7. DuPree, David (13 April 2007). "West notebook: Warriors' fate rests on small ball". USA Today. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  8. Aschburner, Steve. NBA.com, hangtime blog. "DURANT PLAYS BIG WHEN OKC GOES SMALL" Accessed 31 October 2013
  9. Favale, Dan, bleacherreport.com - "Why New York Knicks Can't Afford to Abandon Small Ball Around Carmelo Anthony". Accessed 31 October 2013
  10. Martin, Josh. bleacherreport.com. "Why Small Ball Is Taking Over the NBA". Accessed 31 October 2013
  11. Haberstroh, Tom (24 January 2014). "Introducing Miami's 'pace or space' offense". ESPN.com.
  12. Moorhead, Cooper. nba.com. "Heat News: The Spread Offense Experiment". Accessed 31 October 2013
  13. Windhorst, Brian (29 September 2012). "LeBron eyeing 'point power forward' role?". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018.
  14. Vardon, Joe (5 March 2016). "LeBron James is embracing playing power forward for the Cavaliers like never before". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017.
  15. ESPN - "Regular Season Stats - 2012/2013: Rebounds". Accessed 31 October 2013
  16. "Warriors Race Past Rockets in Game 7". NBA.com .
  17. Lowe, Zach (24 November 2015). "How the small-ball virus has infected the NBA". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015.
  18. Arnovitz, Kevin (14 October 2015). "How the Warriors discovered the cheat code to basketball in the 2015 NBA Finals". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017.
  19. "Lowe: How the small-ball virus has infected NBA". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  20. "The Epitome Of Positionless Basketball - RealGM Articles". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  21. "The Orlando Magic are embracing positionless basketball". Orlando Magic Daily. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  22. "Positionless basketball defines NBA's copycat nature". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

Further reading