Signs that Žalgiris has a long night ahead: The secret of Shara’s defense in Barcelona | Euroleague

The statistics for the entire season speak for themselves: other teams score the fewest points against Barcelona (average of 74 points), as well as the worst attacks in the game (42.5%) and from long distances (33.7 %). There are many reasons for this, but the most obvious of course, Shar’s defense system, the ability to demand detail from his players, and his athletic potential. After another 62-point performance by Kaunas against the Catalans, it’s time to take a closer look at the best defense in the Euroleague with examples from 24-round matches.

Exception to the rule

Perhaps the Spanish needed to wake up in the first 10 minutes after celebrating the sound title. However, the first signs that Žalgiris was facing a hard and long night were immediately visible: flying throws in the final seconds of the attack, the defenders were pushed out of position and the combinations stopped. Up to 4 hits of 5 triples contributed significantly to the 24 points. But not all were obtained in typical situations: Thalk. Throwing after a rarely visible dribble with the ball and stepbacko back. The following also contributed to a few more points Boats The balls were taken away for lack of concentration in the attack, of which “Žalgiris” caught up to 15, but converted them into only 9 second-chance points.

The perfect defense

It would not be enough to discuss in depth the defense system of a team with 3 articles, much less Barcelona. So let’s try to analyze the key aspects of Shar’s defense tactics.

It all starts with the energy of the defenders. Aware that in most teams most of the game is created by the little ones, Jasikevičius wants to tease them as much as possible during all matches. As a result, he orders N. Calathes, C. Higgins or A. Hang to pressure their direct opponents over the entire court area. This is also one of the main tasks of L. Bolmar’s episodic interpretation. In addition to the decreasing energy of the opponents, the time remaining for their attack is also reduced, which in my opinion is a very underrated factor. This press is sometimes joined by the Barça midfielder, who comes to bend the player in an attempt to cause a rare error. This is exactly what he saw in the second half, when Walkup ditched the ball, passing it to Milakni, and Milakni moved to the middle line. In a match where “Žalgiris” did not have L.Lekavičius, and Th.Walkupas played only after the mess, all this pressure paid off even more for the players.

• Top-Lock and not position

Let’s move on to the pressure from all the other players fighting for positions on the field and trying to take the ball. Here, the coaching staff provides great help to the players, perfectly presenting the opponents’ combinations. For example, A. Abrines, covering M. Grigonis, performed in all combinations intended for the Lithuanians. Top-Lock an action to avoid the use of barriers and rise from the corners of the site to the middle of the site. As a result, Grigonis, Milaknis or other Žalgiris players were forced to seek unusual paths in their combinations and had great problems receiving the ball. Perhaps he finally managed to take the ball, but a few meters from the desired place and burned a few more seconds of attack.

Imagine that the combination continues and your other option is a 2v2 game. And okay, that’s exactly the most “Žalgiris” thing in the game. After the success in the second half of the first match, Shar began using this tactic from the beginning of the match. When rivals switch, they usually fail to gain an advantage two or two years ago, but Oriola or Davies stay ahead of Walkup or Grigon, and Lauvergne or Rubit, N. Calalathes or C. Higgins. At this stage of the attack, you have to choose: how will you try to punish your opponents for such a change?

In the match played at the “Žalgiris” stadium, M.Schiller was especially confident in the possibilities of his defenders on the perimeter against P.Oriola and B.Davies, but he bounced off the wall. Barcelona felt an attempt to further balance this attack, but attempts to attack 1 on 1 from the three-point line were not lacking yet.

Unfortunately, we have once again seen an impressive performance by the tall Catalans in the perimeter defense. Orriola looked like the best defensive tall man in the Euroleague, and Davies just proved his unyielding once again. Where are the secrets of your success?

Without long arms, they don’t stop moving, constantly moving in small steps, which makes their reaction to the movements of the people of Žalgiris even better. They also did not allow free throws to be taken from a distance, always holding a hand close to Grigonis or Walkup’s face, blocking the view of the shot. But they dare not be so close to Kaunas without the help of their companions.

If the defenders of the defenders decide to play individually in case of change, Boat the closest defenders, standing on a single pass, begin to jump further towards the ball, sowing doubt in the mind of the player holding the ball. This closes the breakout lines and burns time again. Each player must also stand with raised hands, in case of pass or break, trying to touch the ball or change its trajectory.

• Rules in the penalty area

We saw even more flaws when “Žalgiris” decided to try to attack closer to the basket through J. Lauvergne or A. Rubit. It was just a nice wish that was not well prepared. Transfers without much logic around the three-point attempt to find a better angle did not produce the desired results and did not pose major problems for the Barça defense.

In such situations, the Barcelona defenders, of course, slipped from the front, thus allowing only one high pass. Due to the excellent concentration of people who are on the weak side, the constant protection of others and the pressure on the player with the ball, more than 24 seconds can pass to make such a transfer against the Catalans. And where else are all the seconds devoured from previous moments of attack?

In such situations, the residents of Kaunas, however, managed to send cross transfers to the corners of the site several times, thus creating closeouto situations. A few free triples would have improved the situation, however Boat He knew perfectly well what to risk. Rubit (0/3 Thursday) has surprised only one team this season, and Hayes still looks like a shaky pitcher. Therefore, the Catalans to them closeoutai they weren’t as sharp – leaving some distances, they stopped several of Hayes’ advances.

On the corner of A. Milaknis? Sprinting with raised hands towards him, whose minimum objective is to force Mila to hit the ball to the ground, the maximum is to be able to stop it with a chest or foul until the bonus in case of break. Knowing what kind of player awaits you in the corner again requires great concentration throughout the match. But that’s exactly how they manage to stop opponents by up to 62 points.

Summary

Here is the key to how impressive Boats aspects of defense handles. And this system works only because it is ideal for the characteristics of the available players, their understanding of basketball. Both coaches and players have fully trusted him, whose energy and focus play a key role in this scheme.