Talk 'n Text's Most Uncomplicated Clutch Defense in The Finals

Coach Chot Reyes must have read in his fortune cookie this morning that Powerade's three-man bombs will volt-in and turn into one in the clutch-stretch of the game.

If you're Coach Chot, you don't have to be scared with it. In fact, you have to love it.

It didn't matter if Gary David, Marcio Lassiter, and JVee Casio each drop 30 every game while they still have a slim lead entering the last minute or two of the game. Powerade are easy to defend in those cases (unless one of them makes the same Alex Cabagnot mistake that Ryan Reyes did, you'll be in trouble).

There you have are three guards (Marcio is a guard). Those three are all in the floor. You have taller guards that could defend those three (put Ryan, Jared Dillinger and Jason Castro) wherever they are. Whoever their two bigs are, it doesn't matter because they're all the same. You just put Ranidel De Ocampo and Kelly Williams to defend the shaded lane. You're up by two possessions with three possessions remaining in the game. Here's what will happen.

They'll look for a three. The two bigs will just serve as screens to protect Gary and Marcio that will be coming from the weak side and the baseline. Cover the screen at the weak side! On the baseline, switch! Just be sure to cover Casio again. Don't worry about the mismatch! The bigs won't shoot. If you cover them, they won't get a chance to shoot a three. Believe me! They'll go for a three. Just keep them covered. If JVee, Marcio, and Gary screens each other, then much better! Just switch defenders. And keep it tight! Go guys!

The bottom line is that Powerade's offense was so predictable coming down on those last 40 seconds or so of the game. Talk 'n Text (and everybody else) was so sure that a three is coming so they had the luxury of defending the perimeter without the worries of mismatch whenever a switch happens (unless they thought Romel Adducul will launch a three). A simple defensive pattern down the stretch, yet so phenomenal. 2-0 Talk 'n Text!


I bet once Bill Simmons see Jimmy Alapag's Aurora-Blvd. three pointers, he'll call them "Jimmy Alapag Eff-You Threes."