Denver Nuggets split cut: simple and practical killing moves

split cut is a very common tactic for the Denver Nuggets. Mr. Guan Weijia translated it as "split tactic":

This tactic is initiated by one person as the axis, and the other two players use cross cover (lower cover, back cover, horizontal cover, and upper cover). Generally, one person cuts into the inside line and one person goes out (two cross covers can run at the same time or run one after another) to ensure that the defense line is torn. The camera feeds one of the balls, or scores by using the torn defense line.

PS: I suggest translated as "split tactic", this running position is indeed very similar to split.

Below is a common tactical diagram of split cut

This trick is simple and practical, including both inside and outside attacks. This move has many changes in the subsequent process, and can be accompanied by pick-and-roll or hand-handed follow-ups.

The Denver Nuggets have Jokic, the center magician, and their teammates also have good ball-free ability and can play very beautiful split cut tactics.

According to the position of the ball axis, it can be divided into post split (low split), elbow /horns split (elbow split/bullock horn split) high split (high split, including three-point line).

Golden State Warriors pass and cut off attacks, with three types of launches, while high split accounts for a large proportion; Denver Nuggets pass and cut off attacks are mainly low posts or elbow areas.

This is because the Golden State Warriors have top three-pointers like Curry and Clay, which have strong running ability and require a wider running space, so they will play a lot of high splits.

In comparison, Nuggets teammates are not as good as the Warriors in three-pointers, and their physical fitness is not as good as the Splash Brothers in running positions. They are relatively larger in size and are suitable for short-distance killing, so the Nuggets' split is more inward.

When the Nuggets play post or elbow, it is usually on one side of Jokic and the other side of the cover, but there are exceptions. In some cases, the coverer may also be on the same side.

The following is the most basic, typical and common split tactics:

Jokic is the axis, and Brown and Jeff Green cross the weak side, Brown goes out, Jeff Green goes inward; Brown then hand-handed Jokic, and scores in the mid-range shot.

The following picture is interesting: the cross cover position is not on the other side, but at the top of the arc, after Murray and KCP crossed, KCP cut in, Murray and Jokic handed the ball in hand and broke into the ball, and passed the teammates to score.

The picture below is the cross cover position on the same side as Jokic. Although the space is blocked, the opponent caught off guard, and Millsap scored easily.

The following figure is obviously different from the previous figures. The starting position of the ball-holding axis is low, not the elbow position (the horn position), which also has a flex offense (the smell of flex attack).

The picture below is a trick that has no effect when split takes over. Originally, Davis and Jokic were against Murray, Prince was against Murray, Reeves against Porter, after Porter and Murray crossed, Murray handed over Jokic. At this time, Davis and Prince used ice defense against Murray, and Davis contracted the inside. At this time, Jokic defender changed to make up for defense. Murray passed back to Jokic, and Jokic used the torn defense line to single Reeves to score easily.

In short, in addition to passing the ball axis to the three-point line and the empty cutter can easily score, split cut can also hand over the hand or pick-and-roll, and use to tear the defense line to score, with many subsequent moves.

split has something in common with the flex offense I mentioned earlier. horns/post/high split can be horns/post/high flex.

Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. The two teams have a top pass and cut system, high team spirit and good tacit understanding, but the Nuggets play more concisely, because the team has Jokic!