Redick scheme How teams are destabilizing
Redick scheme How teams are destabilizing: Did you watch the Kings vs. the Nuggets last night? Nikola Jokic was there, and it wasn’t his best performance. The three-time MVP had one of his worst games of the season, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven turnovers, and a -7. While those numbers may seem solid to most players, they don’t quite measure up to Jokic’s usual dominance. Since the All-Star break, he’s struggled, at least by his own standards. The reason? The defensive scheme pioneered by Lakers coach J.J. Redick has now been adopted by many teams.
Redick’s defensive strategy is unusual, even extreme. The entire story revolves around preventing Jokic from touching the ball, sacrificing all other defensive principles to achieve this goal. It goes against the grain of modern defensive principles, but it works.
In practice, this means that defenders will focus exclusively on blocking Jokic, even if it means leaving other Nuggets players completely undetected. Against the Kings, Jake Laravia’s only job was to prevent Jokic from getting the ball. Meanwhile, defenders like Markelle Fultz and DeMar DeRozan have taken their time out of their assignments, giving them plenty of space but being ready to attack Jokic the moment he touches the ball. This strategy allows the Nuggets’ role players to beat the defense without allowing Jokic to run the offense.
Redick scheme How teams are destabilizing
When Jokic does get the ball, opposing defenses immediately collapse around him. Teams are packing the paint, setting up double and triple screens, and refusing to give him easy shots. They are challenging the Nuggets to rely on 3-pointers, eliminating their signature flip shots and inside passes.
This approach is effective because the Nuggets take the fewest three-point attempts per game in the league, yet are among the best in terms of percentage. Jokic likes to create high percentage shots around the rim, so by completely disrupting that aspect of Denver’s offense, teams are putting them in uncomfortable situations.
The Lakers first showcased this strategy in a surprise blowout win over Denver two weeks ago. Redick agreed, treating the game like a playoff game. Jokic was limited to just 2 of 7 shots, a testament to how disruptive the plan was.
Boston continued its own version of the scheme, holding Jokic to 20 points and zero free throw attempts. On Wednesday night, the Kings were able to use the same strategy to thwart Denver’s attack without key players. Sacramento held the lead for most of the game and faltered late. However, the fact that even a short-handed team could hurt Jokic highlighted how effective the approach can be.
Redick scheme How teams are destabilizing
Initially, Denver may have thought that this strategy would only be a concern against elite teams. However, Sacramento’s win suggests that any NBA team can adopt it and cause problems for Jokic. This poses a major problem as the Nuggets prepare for the playoffs. If they don’t find an answer soon, their postseason run could be in jeopardy.
As effective as this strategy is, it has one glaring flaw: It leaves a lot of space open for Denver’s other players. The Nuggets’ offense revolves around Jokic, and they have yet to prove that they can effectively adjust and exploit these defensive gaps.
Denver’s top shooters, such as Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray, should have ample opportunities. If they can capitalize on these shots, the strategy could backfire on opposing teams. Additionally, Denver could tweak its offense by moving Jokic away from the paint and implementing more traditional pick-and-roll plays to move the ball.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has largely responded to this problem by prioritizing defense. He believes that if Denver can get more stops, it can avoid playing against set defenses that suffocate Jokic. This approach may work in the regular season, but it’s unlikely to be a sustainable solution in the playoffs when teams game-plan specifically for Jokic.
To effectively counter Redick’s scheme, Denver will have to be willing to adjust its offensive strategy. The team has the shooting talent to take advantage of the opportunities they are given, but they need to accept that fact.
J.J. Redick’s defensive strategy has hurt the Nuggets’ offense, proving that even the most dominant player in the league can be neutralized with the right approach. However, Denver has the personnel and offensive ammunition to counter this strategy if it is to be prepared. With the playoffs approaching, the Nuggets will need to use the remaining regular-season games to refine their adjustments. Otherwise, they risk being exposed by every elite defense they face in the postseason.