Why Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel should be coach of the year

How Frank Vogel has maintained an elite defense for the Los Angeles Lakers:

Frank Vogel has compelled his guards to play ferocious on-ball defense. Even without Anthony Davis erasing any mistakes at the back end, the Lakers are tough to score on. They rank in the top 5 in opposing field goal percentage and three-pointers allowed per game.

Frank Vogel has made clear that defense is the pathway to minutes. His players have taken notice of Vogel’s demands and have bought in. Even without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have not changed their approach.

That is great coaching.

Analyzing the Lakers defensive scheme:

The Lakers run what is called the “ice” coverage on defense, which was first implemented by New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau in 2007 while he was an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. Most NBA teams adopted the scheme shortly afterward, including Frank Vogel while he was the head coach for the Indiana Pacers from 2011 to 2016.

How “Ice” coverage works:

The player defending the screener must drop back to the paint to cut off the ball-handler’s direct line to the basket. The three defenders not involved in the ball screen are supposed to deny their man the ball on the perimeter.

It takes a tremendous level of communication and footwork to execute this coverage. One false step by the big man or on-ball defender and the ball-handler has an uncontested layup. If any of the perimeter defenders step ever-so-slightly towards the ball, their man will be open for an in-rhythm three-pointer.

Yet the reward is worth it: if the defense is executed correctly, the ball-handler or the screener has to take a contested midrange shot, the worst shot in basketball judging by NBA analytics.

Hence why the “ice” coverage is a popular defensive coverage in the NBA.

Praising the Lakers defensive execution:

The Lakers put on a clinic on how to “ice” ball-screens against Drummond’s former team, the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers have this defensive coverage down to a science.

Remember, the speed of an NBA game is so fast that a millisecond can be the difference between an open layup or forcing a turnover.

Okay, the Cavaliers made an errant pass. Each Lakers player still executed the “ice” coverage to perfection, however:

• Wesley Matthews stayed parallel to the ball-handler
• Montrezl Harrell cut off the ball-handler’s driving lane to the basket
• Markeiff Morris was in the ideal position to deny the first pass away
• Talen Horton-Tucker cut off the skip pass to the left corner by not jumping at the pass
• Alex Caruso slid over to close out on the initial pass

RELATED: Los Angeles Lakers put on a defensive clinic beating the Cavaliers

Coach Vogel knows how to teach this scheme because he has done it for a long time. Vogel has stuck to what he knows best. It has led to the Lakers having the best defense in the NBA in a league increasingly defined by ridiculously overpowered offenses.

Why Frank Vogel is smart to keep his defense as is:
Coach Vogel has wisely resisted calls to adjust his defense to a more switch-heavy scheme. In theory, Anthony Davis would be the perfect anchor of a switch-everything defense. In reality, this would require AD to play center (which he does not want to do!!!).

Moreover, AD is an incredible help defender! He is much better as a drop man in ice coverage than switching on to opposing guards. Just because he can do it does not mean he always should do it.

Furthermore, Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol, and new acquisition Andre Drummond are much better suited to staying in the paint as opposed to switching on ball-handers. As were Javale McGee and Dwight Howard last season.

Again, Frank Vogel deserves credit for not changing his defensive scheme. Vogel could have taken advantage of the changes in personnel to springboard his way to a more switch-heavy defense. It would have helped the team short-term to switch all screens in order to keep opposing guards out of the paint. Harrell could have been a viable anchor on a switch-heavy scheme.

But long term, Vogel was smart to stick to his guns. The Lakers are still the league’s top-ranked defense with the NBA’s best defender missing half of the season.

The defense is good. But what about the offense?

How Frank Vogel is adjusting his offense without LeBron James and Anthony Davis.