Y13 [EN]: Chapter 246

00246 2011-2012 Regular Season
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The game opened with a clean three-pointer from Shawn Marion, and Atlanta quickly established a smooth offensive rhythm, energized by the cheers of their home crowd.

[Kirk Hinrich passes to Joe Johnson at the top of the key.]

Joe Johnson received the ball on the left wing. Jason Collins set a screen on Shawn Marion, aiming to create an open look for Johnson.

“Tch!”

But Shawn Marion, a stellar defender, evaded Collins’ screen and swiftly closed in on Joe Johnson. Johnson, poised to shoot, saw Marion’s quicker-than-expected recovery, disrupting his posture, and opted to drive towards the basket.

[Joe Johnson versus Shawn Marion! Both veterans showcasing their skills as their team’s ace and defensive stopper!]

[Marion’s ability to navigate the screen and Johnson’s decision to forgo a contested shot are fascinating. Johnson drives to the baseline! Marion cuts off his left, while Tyson Chandler converges to block his path!]

Their defensive rotations were well-coordinated. Players with high awareness and defensive acumen knew precisely where to move in every situation. Marion and Chandler exemplified this.

[Joe Johnson retreats.]

[No need to force a shot. Plenty of time remains on the shot clock.]

Joe Johnson, back at the high post, circled and frowned as Shawn Marion shadowed him. Johnson, who considered an entry pass to Collins in the paint if Tyson Chandler committed, noticed Marion playing him loosely and decided to take a jump shot.

“?!”

Shawn Marion, caught off guard, leaped forward, extending his hand, but Johnson’s fluid motion from dribble to release was too quick, even for Marion’s athleticism.

Swish-

[BANG!!! JOE JOHNSON!!!]

[Joe Johnson earns his “big shot” reputation with makes like that!]

Marion, failing to contest the shot, shook his head in disappointment. Tyson Chandler offered a reassuring hand, and Marion acknowledged it, momentarily dismissing his frustration.

Dallas and Atlanta shared similar play styles, both employing motion offense predicated on pick-and-rolls. Dallas favored a higher three-point attempt rate and a more structured system, while Atlanta leaned towards mid-range shots, often incorporating free-flowing movements, typical of a young team.

[Dirk Nowitzki, 2 points from the high post!]

Thud!

Nowitzki, elevating for a jumper, lost his balance due to contact from Josh Smith just before the release, resulting in an errant shot.

Thump, thump-

[Ah! The ball clangs off the rim and drops!]

[Early in the second quarter, but Nowitzki’s jumper is off. Smith’s athleticism is giving him trouble! He’s struggling to create space on the post-up, and his shot selection is questionable!]

The ball descended, and Jason Collins and Tyson Chandler leaped for the rebound. Collins lost the box-out battle, granting Chandler superior positioning.

Whack!!

[Tyson Chandler! He gains a slight edge in the rebound battle after boxing out Jason Collins! He doesn’t secure the catch, but tips it out with his fingertips, right?]

[That’s a Chandler specialty. When a clean catch is unlikely, he taps the ball out to a teammate rather than forcing a contested rebound.]

The ball landed near the high post, where Youngjae, darting in, snagged it.

[Kirk Hinrich hustles to catch up with Youngjae Yoon. But Hinrich’s speed barely seems sufficient?]

Youngjae dribbled smoothly to the top of the key. Hinrich had only about 2 seconds to react, but Youngjae’s snakelike dribbling was mesmerizing.

“…”

Youngjae dribbled at the top for a moment, then drifted to the right. Parsons was positioned on the wing, guarded by Marvin Williams, necessitating space creation.

[Chandler Parsons receives the ball from Youngjae Yoon, who’s moving towards the wing, and Youngjae cuts to the side.]

Youngjae delivered an overhead pass to Parsons, clearing Hinrich’s outstretched hand. Hinrich leaped to intercept, but the ball sailed over him. Youngjae began his cut the instant Hinrich jumped.

Whoosh!!!

[Chandler Parsons! Fires the ball immediately upon receiving it!]

[Wow! Chandler Parsons with the awareness!]

Youngjae had already begun sprinting from the right-side three-point line, and Parsons, recognizing that Hinrich, who should have been guarding Youngjae, was out of position due to an ill-advised steal attempt, fired a sharp bounce pass ahead of Marvin Williams.

[Vladimir Radmanovic is the lone defender near the rim! Youngjae Yoon is sprinting towards the basket at full speed!]

[A bit reckless?! Radmanovic’s positioning is better than expected!]

[Even if his lateral movement is slow, he’s positioned himself well! If he continues on this path…]

To onlookers, Youngjae’s play appeared reckless, destined for a collision with Radmanovic’s chest and a subsequent fall. But just before impact, Youngjae swiftly planted his pivot foot and stepped back.

“Ugh!!”

Radmanovic recognized the impressive step-back but continued to contest the shot. His relentless effort on every play exemplified a veteran’s mentality.

However, effort alone wasn’t enough.

Whoosh!

[Youngjae Yoon! A lightning-fast spin move!! As Radmanovic reached, Youngjae spun clockwise, using his left foot as a pivot! Now the paint is clear!]

[Youngjae Yoon soars!!!]

Thwack!!!

[GORGEOUS! A SPECTACULAR ONE-HANDED SLAM!!!]

[Youngjae Yoon doesn’t often dunk, but this time he throws down a simple one-hander, right? A fantastic four-part sequence: drive – step-back – spin move – one-handed dunk! An attack that flows like water!]

Youngjae extended his right arm and cleanly slammed the ball through the hoop. Some might call it a bland, powerless dunk, too simple to warrant much attention, but Youngjae appreciated its efficiency. He lacked the physique and athleticism for flashy dunks.

“I always feel this way, but your dunks are so simple. Don’t you ever want to do something cool?”

“Of course. But how cool would it look with my athletic ability? I’d rather make flashy plays with dribbling or footwork.”

Parsons agreed with Youngjae, offering a high-five as they retreated. The game was unfolding favorably.

[Dallas Mavericks regain a one-point lead, 41-42! Youngjae Yoon now has 9 points.]

[A heated battle between Dallas’s experience and Atlanta’s energy! Both teams are delivering a great performance, befitting conference contenders. The game loses its appeal if it becomes one-sided.]

[As the Dallas players’ performance improves, Youngjae Yoon’s individual stats have gradually decreased. But the team’s overall performance is improving. This coincides with a reduction in his playing time and role. In the long run, it’s a positive sign. A team that wins even when its star’s stats decline is a formidable team. It proves the strength of the supporting cast.]

Youngjae’s playing time had decreased compared to the first quarter. While he carried a significant scoring and playmaking load early on, Nowitzki and Kidd’s resurgence allowed him to share the burden. He received ample support from them in the early second quarter.

The game remained a seesaw battle. Dallas repeatedly failed to pull away, while Atlanta struggled to take the lead due to defensive lapses. The back-and-forth nature of the game frustrated both coaches.

‘How should we defend? Smith is containing Nowitzki, but our pick-and-roll defense remains problematic. Chandler and Wright’s pick-and-rolls are particularly difficult to handle. Teague and Hinrich are effective offensively, but this game highlights our defensive limitations.’

Coach Larry Drew was troubled by the pick-and-roll defense. They were containing Nowitzki and Kidd’s, and Terry’s pick-and-pop plays, but struggling against Youngjae and Barea’s, and Chandler and Wright’s pick-and-rolls. This stemmed from the lack of size inside and the absence of their starting center. Chandler and Wright’s timing was impeccable, and they were receiving Youngjae and Barea’s passes with ease. Furthermore, they struggled to defend their floaters and layups after drives.

‘We’ve contained the jumpers, but now the paint is a problem. I anticipated interior struggles without Horford, but… Should I assign Joe Johnson to Yoon? We can’t seem to contain the screener. The only option is to pressure the ball handler more aggressively.’

He considered switching Joe Johnson onto Youngjae, replacing Shawn Marion, whose shooting was off (1/5 from the field, excluding an early three-pointer). He also contemplated increasing Marvin Williams’ playing time, but Williams was prone to inconsistency, making extended minutes a potential liability. Moreover, while Joe Johnson was a strong man-to-man defender, his pick-and-roll defense wasn’t significantly better than Hinrich’s.

‘Let’s observe a bit longer. The game remains close.’

Coach Larry Drew, opting to wait, crossed his arms and watched the game intently. On the opposite sideline, coach Rick Carlisle also sensed the need for a change. While not known for improvisation, he meticulously considered various scenarios and began formulating a new plan.

‘Our jumpers are being heavily contested. Flow offense [an offensive style emphasizing ball movement and player movement to create open shots] isn’t working effectively, so we must rely on dribble-drive offense [an offensive style emphasizing driving to the basket]. Barea’s playing time will increase today.’

If Kidd, Terry, and Boboar formed the backcourt without Youngjae or Barea, Atlanta’s defense would continue to stifle them. Boboa needed to be more aggressive with his drives, but he hesitated between receiving a pick and driving, and passing or shooting after creating space.

‘Boboa is ineffective today. I can’t afford to play someone with poor synergy in this tight situation.’

The current lineup consisted of Youngjae, Terry, Brewer, Wright, and Mahinmi. Wright’s limited shooting range made it difficult to pair him with Haywood, so he was primarily used alongside Mahinmi.

============================ Author’s words ============================

★Thank you to those who gave advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

★Thank you for sionica’s sponsorship coupon!!

＠I couldn’t write yesterday because I went to my relatives’ house. I’m sorry.

＠Gols [Golden State Warriors] is rewriting history. I think they will win everything until the Utah Jazz expedition. In other words, I think they will make it to 18 consecutive wins. Even though Thompson is messing up, the other team members are doing so well. It’s similar to how San Antonio is doing well even though Green is making a big mistake.

Just in case, I’ll write down the difference between pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop again.

※Pick and Roll: After screening, the screener rushes to the basket. The screener running to the basket is called rolling. The degree of completion varies depending on the timing of the screener and ball handler’s movements.

※Pick and Pop: After screening, move out of the perimeter or to another location in the mid-range to pull the matchup big man out. Only big men who can shoot mid- to long-range shots can use it.

※Flow and dribble drive offense are difficult to explain simply, so they are replaced with simple explanations in the text.

Yabes/// Thank you for your opinion. Whiteside is also a player I considered in the beginning. But his mentality is so bad and the timing of his explosion is too late. He only exploded last year. In addition, his screen ability and assist ability are the worst, so he doesn’t seem to fit this team well. And he doesn’t seem to work hard if he is used as a starter and doesn’t get many scoring chances. In other words, Chandler must be gone for Whiteside to grow. And Youngjae may become like Dragic this season. He is definitely a good player, but I personally don’t think he fits well with a motion offense-oriented team.

And Lebron has such a fraudulent body and the team composition is such that Lebron has to do everything, so he has no choice but to triple-double like eating. Teams like San Antonio, Atlanta, and Dallas have a low ball possession rate (USG%) for one player. It means that the dependence on one player is low. On the other hand, players like Westbrook, Lebron, Harden, and Paul have very high ball possession rates and the team’s performance depends on that player’s performance. Of course, it is certain that these players are good players. However, even these players will have their personal stats drop quite a bit if they go to San Antonio or Atlanta.

And Chris Paul has 2.5 steals, so Youngjae is chasing hard.

Black Moon Flower, Financia, Vanishing Soul, Lee Dong-seok, Omarion/// Thank you for your comments!!

Inking2/// LOL The opposing players are monsters…

Ultra 10/// This team won 60 games last year, but the impact is weak. The most impactful thing seems to be Kover lol. When he hits a fast break or a super long-range 3-pointer, that catharsis… Of course, Curry has become too fraudulent this season. There was a time when I called Kover’s 3-pointer a layup last year…

goimosp/// It’s not just the absence of an ace, but the inside height seems too low. Milsap and Horford are both small for power forwards and centers, and their rebounding ability is poor, so they allow a lot of offensive rebounds. They were getting 탈탈털리던데 [completely dominated] in rebounds in the last playoffs ㅠ.ㅠ

h0h/// That’s right. That’s why Miami’s ticket prices and broadcasting rights skyrocketed after the Big 3 joined. But there are many club owners who don’t use it even if they have a lot of money;;; The club owner’s passion seems more important. Of course, there may be passion but no money;;

-DarkANGEL-/// Haha, I’m glad you found that part fun.