It is often said that judo is the art of using the strength of the opponent against him. Sometimes it is also the case in basketball and Erik Spoelstra made a very interesting demonstration against Chicago.
The Bulls are thus extremely aggressive on the throw-in, not defending on the one who must put the ball in play and preferring to cut the pass solutions. Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are very good at that, especially when Chicago has to come back on the scoreboard, with opposing teams struggling to stand out 4-on-5.
In the last minute of the match between Miami and Chicago, last night, we saw the two players again attempting this strategy in order to quickly steal the ball to attempt the hold-up.
Except that on the next throw-in, Erik Spoelstra had prepared a little surprise for the Bulls. Kyle Lowry will thus make the throw-in, and Jimmy Butler rushes towards his own camp to attract his defender, Zach LaVine, but also Lonzo Ball, who is still looking to cut the first pass option. Except that this is what the Florida coach was counting on, while he had also left two players in his half of the field.
Results ? DeMar DeRozan finds himself alone against Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry, who only have to play the pass and go to register a layup that finally seals the final victory of the Heat.
A small demonstration, decisive, of how to use the force, and the aggressiveness of his opponent against him.
