Memphis Grizzlies Game Winning SLOB by John Zall

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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November 19, 2014

Memphis Grizzlies Game Winning SLOB by John Zall

In a mild surprise best record in the NBA through the first 3 weeks belongs to the Memphis Grizzlies. Although the Grizzlies have been a regular in the playoffs, highlighted by their trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2013, many thought that the Memphis Grizzlies were due to take a step backward. Zach Randolph, Vince Carter and Tayshaun Prince are aging stars and with a 50-32 record last season they only earned the 7th seed in the playoffs. On top of that, the Western Conference boasts many young contenders who are on the verge of breaking through to the playoffs. One of those teams on the cusp are the Sacramento Kings, and Thursday night in Memphis the two squared off in what has been the best game of the season thus far.

The Memphis Grizzlies came into the game at a record of 7-1 and have been led per usual by their stifling defense that ranks 4th in the league in efficiency at 97.3 points-per-possession allowed. The Kings jumped out to an early lead of as many as 26 points but the Grizzlies stormed back and the final 3 minutes were a see-saw battle. After a missed free-throw Memphis Grizzlies called timeout with .4 seconds on the clock and were set to inbound on the sideline nearest their basket.

Vince Carter was the in bounder and had Mike Conley Jr. and Zach Randolph positioned on the opposite wings. Marc Gasol was stationed a the free throw line and Courtney Lee lined up right at the lane line near the first hash on the opposite side of the court. The play starts with Gasol and Lee setting cross-screens for Conley Jr. and Randolph as they flash to the ball on the wing. Their defenders are trailing close behind which leaves both Gasol and Lee alone in the lane. The ability of each Conley Jr. and Randolph to shoot the ball doesn’t allow an opportunity to help. Lee steps up to set a back screen for Gasol but his defender, Jason Thompson, does a good job staying attached and fighting through it. You can see Rudy Gay, Courtney Lee’s defender, clearly calling out the screen and making sure Gasol does not roll free to the rim.

As soon as Lee loses contact with Thompson he curls off of Gasol and towards the rim. Gay is denying Lee out to the perimeter because with .4 seconds left there is still enough time for a catch-and-shoot attempt. Once Lee curls Gasol steps up and sets a back screen on Gay. The second screen happens almost simultaneously after the first one and Thompson is late to call it and react once Gay is screened. Thompson doesn’t switch and Lee is all alone at the rim.

The pass from Vince Carter is not on the money and tails to the near side of the rim but Lee makes a great adjustment in the air the lay it in. On the final play of regulation of Game 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals Courtney Lee got open on a back screen and go a perfect pass and was not able to convert on the game-winning basketball that would of knotted the series at 1 game apiece.

A little over 5 years later, although it isn’t the NBA Finals, Lee got another chance to win the game and delivered.

John Zall BIO

Coach John Zall just completed his first season as an Assistant Coach at Division II Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. This past season Franklin Pierce University won 20 games and advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Zall arrived at Franklin Pierce after spending the past 3 seasons as the Associate Head Coach/Head JV Coach at O’Bryant High school in Roxbury, MA. During his tenure at O’Bryant the program improved from 4 wins to 12 wins and qualified for the MIAA State Tournament twice.

Coach Zall also has experience as an AAU Head Coach for the Boston Warriors. As Head Coach for the Warriors his team won the 2011 16U State Title and twice competed in AAU Nationals down in Orlando, FL. On top of being a student at Northeastern University, Zall was named Head Coach of the Men’s Club Basketball team for the 2012-13 season. During his lone season as Head Coach, Northeastern finished second in the Northeast Regional Tournament featuring colleges from throughout the East Coast. Coach Zall has also spent time as a Head Coach in the Bay State Games where his team won the Bronze Medal in 2012 and at various camps including: Five Star, Boston Celtics, NIKE, Franklin Pierce University, Hoop Group and The Elite 75.

Memphis Grizzlies