Steve Clifford NBA Charlotte Hornets Slob Play 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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Basketball Plays | Sideline out of bounds

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July 18, 2014

Steve Clifford NBA Charlotte Hornets Slob Play by John Zall

Charlotte Hornets Play Description
Say whatever you want about the Eastern Conference last year but playoff seeding was highly competitive as the season drew to a close. While the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks were battling for playoff seeding they played a late-season classic that would come down to the last shot.

Al Jefferson had been one of the most productive offensive players in the NBA all season and on this play Coach Steve Clifford used him as a decoy in a misdirection in hopes of freeing up one of his teammates.

The NBA Charlotte Hornets play starts off in a box set with Jefferson occupying the ball side elbow, sharp shooting Luke Ridnour on the ball side block, Chris Douglas Roberts(CDR) is about a step above the weak side elbow and another great shooter Gary Neal is at the weak side block. With .9 seconds left on the clock, Josh McRoberts is the inbounder.

The Charlotte Hornets set starts with Jefferson setting a down screen for Ridnour who cuts over the top towards the weak side corner. Simultaneously, Neal sets a back screen for CDR who ends up at the weak side block. There is no backside help to prevent against the lob to CDR but Atlanta does a good job jamming the screen to prevent it.

As Ridnour is cutting over the top, Neal who just the back screen, gets a cross screen from Jefferson at the ball side elbow and heads to the ball side corner. This Charlotte Hornets action basically rubs Ridnour and Neal off of each other in hopes of confusing the Atlanta defenders into a miscommunication and an open shot. Both defenders however did a good job trailing and stay attached. Mike Scott, who is guarding the inbounder, does a good job stunting towards Neal going to the ball side corner.

Jefferson then turns again and sets a down screen a couple steps below the free throw line for CDR who has been occupying the weak side block. With Neal and Ridnour in each corner, the floor is spaced and their defenders cannot pinch in. Jefferson sets a great screen on Louis Williams who is trailing the play and bumps him off ever so slightly. The defender guarding Jefferson, Mike Muscala, does not come up high enough the help against a curl leaving CDR open for a the catch. Mike Scott, who stunted off the inbounder towards the ball side corner is late to recover. McRoberts delivered a perfect pass for the shot.

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.