SLAM DUNK
SLAM DUNK TEAM OUTLOOK
Our win over Slam Dunk was a very good one, as we recovered from a frantic start and settled down for a 42-18 victory. Of course, we're not scheduled to play this team again, but a meeting in the playoffs is not out of the question. Our best look at this team comes from the inside out. Some of their offensive and defensive strengths and weakenesses were highlighted in our victory.
SLAM DUNK TEAM OFFENSE
In their loss to us, Slam Dunk registered only 18 points, 12 of them coming in the second half. Their lack of scoring was a direct result of our rebounding and ability to block shots. Slam Dunk did not hit very many threes, nor did they find one consistent weapon to lash out against us. Most of their scoring occurred on uncontested layups or simple jumpshots. They're a deep team, as they proved they could sub in and out regularly. Most of their team has the ability to take the ball and either drive it in or put up a decent shot. They have some talent but consistency is a weakness.
How to stop their offense
Holding them to 18 points was a very good achievement for our team. And we were able to shut them down by denying them second chance points. Thanks to a team effort, we crashed the boards well on the defensive end, diminishing their chances for easy layups. Toughening up inside was they key to dismantling their offensive system. Without an eye-opening shooter, Slam Dunk was not able to set up a dominant offensive set. As a result, their offense relied on the battle in the paint, and thanks to our rebounding and blocking, their offense lost the battle.
SLAM DUNK TEAM DEFENSE
We were only able to score 12 points in the first half in our game against Slam Dunk. A combination of factors led to such a shortage, and we bounced back nicely in the second half to put the game away. But the Slam Dunk defense was a force to be reckoned with as well. When we pushed the pace in the first half, they responded with several takeaways and effective defensive coverage. In short, they do have an opportunistic defense, and can play smart enough to capitalize on mistakes. They also collapse inside effectively once the ball is passed down low. The team itself is of decent height and strength, making the paint game a difficult one.
How to break their defense
What did we do in the second half? Slowing down the pace of the game worked. Their defense could not handle the one-on-one matchups as well as they handled the transition game. Thus in the second half we had more open looks and better control of the basketball. Once we spread out their defense with our offensive positioning, we were granted some more second chances and easy layups. While they may have a decent team in terms of size and overall basketball acumen, they can be outschemed and confused with different offensive tactics. Patience on offense is the key here.
FINAL ANALYSIS
True, we defeated them in our inaugural game, running away in the second half. But you can bet if we meet them in the playoffs, Slam Dunk will bring some more offensive scoring ability and a better overall feel for the game. But patience and mental strength can produce another victory over this team. It's important to pressure them when they have the ball and crash the boards just like the first game. And of course on offense, the key will lie in slowing down the pace and running our motion offense to near perfection.