1.   It worked because the Nets, overly conscious of Pierce, were caught between sending help defense and staying with Pierce.

2.   Kemp, who is a terror on help defense, has to stay home to handle Barkley.

3.   That presents a potential problem with help defense in the post, where larger opponents may be able to shoot easily over the Knicks.

4.   The problem is that the constant attention paid to Duncan with the help defense opens up everyone else.

5.   With so many NBA-wise guys, their polished interpretation of help defense goosed the Clippers into an evening of rim shots.