Mind the Game Podcast - Episode 2

Hosts

• LeBron James
• JJ Redick

Overview

• Episode Title: "The Hardest Actions to Guard in the NBA"
• Focus: Discussing complex NBA strategies and terminologies, particularly around team defense.

Key Topics Covered

Introduction

• Thanking listeners for the positive response to Episode 1.

Primary Focus of Episode 2

• Discussing Golden State split screens and inverted pick and rolls.

Terminology Breakdown

Tilt and Fire

• Tilt: Double team from the baseline in a post-up situation.
• Fire: Double team from the nail in a post-up situation.

Hedge and Blitz

• Hedge: Screener defender jumps out to reroute the ball handler in pick and roll, then retreats.
• Blitz: Double team on a pick and roll.

Ghost Screen (Bluff Screen)

• Fake screen where the screener slips to create confusion.

Tag and 29

• Tag: Touching a cutter in the 3-second defensive area rule.
• 29: Staying in the paint for 2.9 seconds to avoid a violation.

Backside/Weak Side and Strong Side

• Strong Side: Side of the court with the ball.
• Weak Side: Opposite side of the court without the ball.
• Backside: Movement from the corner for a dribble handoff or pin down.

Verou Screen

• Named after Anderson Varejao, it involves flipping the angle of a screen.

Blind Pig

• A triangle offense concept to counter player denial by creating passing lanes.

Golden State Post Splits

• Involves players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in actions to create multiple scoring options.

America's Play & Inverted Pick and Roll

• America's Play/Pick-the-Picker: Common baseline out-of-bounds play for getting shooters open.
• Inverted Pick and Roll: Bigger player handles the ball with a smaller player setting the screen.

Strategy and Matchups

Importance of Basketball IQ

• Exploitation vs. Manipulation: Efficiently using matchups and creating situations to draw double teams.
• Teams need to create favorable matchups to exploit defensive weaknesses.

Defensive Adjustments

• Blitz Numbers: Top players who face blitzes and isolation doubles.
• Switching Defenders: Whether or not teams should switch defenders frequently.

Specific Teams and Players

• Atlanta Hawks: Example using Trae Young and hedge strategy.
• Golden State Warriors: Defense against their split actions, which involve high basketball IQ and physicality.

Pick and Roll Variations

• High IQ Teams: Difficult to beat such teams without high basketball IQ.
• Inverted Pick and Roll Defense: Strategies to counter different players like Giannis, Jokic, Embiid.

Practical Examples

• Mentioning specific game instances and player strategies (e.g., Philadelphia 76ers dynamics).
• Highlighting the importance of trust and communication in executing complex plays.

Coaching Perspectives

• Teaching Young Players: Importance of focusing on individual responsibilities and reading the game.
• Challenges in College Basketball: Complexity and differences compared to the NBA.

ts the building blocks for future player development.

Conclusion

• Wrapping up the episode with some final thoughts and lighter conversation.
• Encouragement for viewers to subscribe and follow the podcast.