When the Nuggets have a defense problem — which is often — they have a way of searching for solutions at the offensive end of the floor.
It’s a natural consequence of their roster strengths and weaknesses. Their focus last season was on reducing turnovers to enable themselves to get set on defense. Their turnover rate improved from 14th to second in the NBA. Their defensive rating nonetheless remained 21st for a second consecutive season.
More of their possessions ended with a shot attempt. They were second-best in the league at making those shots, too. They were still terrible at retreating to play organized defense anyway.
Onward to a new training camp emphasis, then. A shift in offensive rebounding philosophy.
“These guys are used to just getting back,” second-year coach David Adelman said. “And for us, that was not successful. So we have to do something different.”
The conventional wisdom in basketball has always been that rebounding and transition are principles at odds, that prioritizing one means sacrificing the other. Leaking out after an opponent’s shot attempt risks a higher chance of giving up second-chance points. Sending more players to crash the glass prevents playing with pace. It’s basic math — the two baskets are in opposite directions, and you can only choose one to run toward.
But in recent years, teams have found a way to choose offensive rebounding and transition defense at the same time. Denver is following the trend this preseason. When a shot goes up, a predetermined number of offensive players are assigned to crash the glass, but they pick up an opposing defensive rebounder and get on his back — the high side — instead of aimlessly running to the basket. It gives them a chance to compete for the rebound if it bounces their way, and if they don’t secure it, they’re in prime defending position to slow down the opponent’s first dribble or outlet pass. The concept is known as “tagging up” around the sport, not to be mistaken for baseball’s definition.
“I don’t know that terminology, but we are definitely crashing,” Jamal Murray said, laughing. “We’re sending guys, sending bodies. And the shooter’s obviously going to get back.”
“It’s something that the European teams have been doing forever,” Adelman said. “Which makes sense in Europe because they’re so physical on the ball. I think in the NBA, it’s more about just stopping the first advance pass. Making the first dribble go east to west. And now you can get back and get yourself set. Because we know what the league is now. … There are so many guys in our league now who, if the ball gets advanced up the sideline, they are winning that battle. So just giving yourself a chance to get back, actually communicate, play team defense. With a team like ours, it helps.”
Translation on “a team like ours:” A team that needs to try anything and everything that might help its defense escape the bottom 10.
The Nuggets’ half-court defense has its own problems, but Adelman has always felt they have more of a fighting chance to get stops when organized, after forcing the opponent to play at their speed.
“I’ve seen it work before,” Cam Johnson said. “… You know how the D-back jams the wide receiver at the line of scrimmage? When you create that contact, it’s kind of like that. Don’t let him get behind you, in a sense, where you’re keeping everything in front. Even if the ball-handler wasn’t touched and he gets a little bit ahead, he’s kind of caught in more of a wash. So I’ve seen it work. As long as we commit to it — I think that’s a big thing about any scheme you do. You have to commit. If you’re half in, half out, it’s not going to be anywhere near as effective as it could.”
The number of players crashing will depend on the situation or personnel, Adelman said. So will the aggressiveness of the defender after giving up a rebound. Some players might have more liberty than others to swipe at the ball or press for all 90 feet.
“Me personally, I would get my (butt) back after I stopped the ball,” the 45-year-old coach joked.
“I think as we go right now, we’re telling the guys, go ahead and pick up full-court. Put your hands on people. It’s training camp. As we go through it, I think we’ll get a better feel. If Ja Morant gets a rebound and I’m standing in front of him, I’m probably gonna turn and sprint back.”
It can be a tedious concept to commit to memory and instinct. Years of basketball reflexes will have taught certain players to turn around, run to the other end and get in defensive position. Or to go to the open space when crashing the offensive glass, instead of matching up with someone who’s trying to box you out.
That’s why training camp exists, though.
“The guys have to get used to the fact that it’s the opposite feeling,” Adelman said. “We want them to go to the rim to guard. It slows transition down. Julian Strawther had an incredible example we were looking at where he took the high side, crashed for the offensive rebound. He picked up the (player with the) ball. His four teammates got back; they got set, they got loaded. Then he got his (butt) back. … You’ve gotta be consistent with it. We’ve gotta stop practice a lot.”
The Nuggets took it easy on Thursday, catching their breath after an intense first two days of camp and preparing for a scrimmage on Friday.
Tagging up will be expected.
“When teams score, I’m already being denied on the inbound, you know?” Murray said. “So we’re trying to have that same kind of concept for other teams.”
