The phrase taking the NBA by storm in recent seasons has been small ball. What does this hyper modernized philosophy mean and why are teams straying away from the traditional means of building a team? How will rebuilding teams use the small ball principles to assemble the best lineup possible?
What is Small Ball?
There seems to be common misconceptions of what the term small ball means and how teams use it. Small ball refers to the playstyle of the lineup put onto the court as opposed to the actual height. Versatility is the name of the game in this roster construction. Five players that can shoot and defend anywhere is the ideal creation of a small ball lineup.
Why Play Small Ball?
The ability to switch all over the court is your best chance at stopping the nearly impossible to stop superstar ball handers running the league. These players incredible handles combined with the space created by "unique" screens today make fighting through the pick and roll impossible except for the elite of the elite perimeter defenders. Switching has became the primary way of defending the heavily utilized pick and roll. If you cannot fight through screens why try to?
When playing teams using a more traditional roster construction how should teams go about countering the switch heavy pick and roll defense? It starts and ends with spacing. The ability for an elite offensive creator to take a slower player off the dribble without the threat of help defense is invaluable. You get your best player one on one with the person least able to keep up with them and you can win any game. This is where the term getting played off the court comes from. When a throwback rim protecting center has to guard on the perimeter and cannot use their strengths they become unplayable in playoff basketball.
The only chance teams have of stopping switch hunting offense when playing a poor perimeter defender is to have near perfect team defense and communication. The ability to rotate around the perimeter and trust your teammates to play off you and close out to the open shooters is necessary to have a chance of slowing down these offenses.
Small Ball in the NBA
Multiple NBA teams have used small ball to differing degrees and success. The one that instantly comes to mind is the Houston Rockets post Clint Capela trade. At the trade deadline Daryl Morey and Mike D'Antoni went all in on small ball when they traded away their rim running, pick and roll center for a versatile 3&D wing Robert Covington. They then proceeded to move P.J Tucker to center to form the first full time small ball roster.
Russell Westbrook's limitations are what ruined this teams playoff run. Enough can be said about how good of a player you see him as but one thing was for sure, he was not a good fit on this Rockets team. Despite him being around four shooters sounded like a seamless fit it did not work out. When James Harden had the ball in his hands Russ was hurting their team. His inability to shoot combined with teams willingness to get creative in abusing this led to their offense not being the elite offense that it should have been. When teams put their center on him and dared him to shoot while taking away Hardens driving lanes they crumbled and had no counter to it.
Another team that tried small ball principles was the Miami Heat with their star center Bam Adebayo being the perfect center for this philosophy. His ability to defend anyone on the court combined with his incredible vision for a center made them a nightmare to go up against.
His All NBA level defense opened up so many defensive options for this team. He can switch the pick and roll and guard the top in there deadly zone defense. While on offense his ability to set up lethal shooters such as Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro on hand offs and two man games gives Spoelstra and offensive dynamic no one else besides the Nuggets with Jokic really have.
How the Cavs Can Use Small Ball
What can the Cavaliers take away from small ball to help them rebuild into a title contender? A couple ideas come to mind, move Larry Nance Jr. to center and get rid of Andre Drummond when possible.
Larry Nance Jr. has the perfect skillset to become a great small ball center. His ability to be one of the best pick and roll screeners in the league is clear to see. His jump out the gym athleticism combined with his 35% from 3 on the year makes him the best off both worlds as a roller and a popper. He is also more than capable of being a quality defender as a small ball center. The Cavs got away with him as a SF for stretches last year he should have no problem switching onto wings in pick and roll defense.
Andre Drummond should not be a part of any long term plans. We have to be brutally honest when evaluating his future on the Cavs. What does he do on the court besides rebound? He has no offensive game, no real jumper and is overrated as a defender. It can be seen often of him not giving much effort on defense and ruining the teams defense as a whole. He cannot switch onto a guard and is a below average drop coverage defender.
Small ball is the inevitable future of the NBA, teams that adapt early and build around the mindset will reap the benefits and as soon as small ball wins a ring it will explode and be everywhere. If you cannot beat it, join it.
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