BB gurus, offense?

[caryhorn]

Last week you guys gave me (and other BB idiots like me) some great feedback on what RB might be able to do to turn the teams momentum.

After watching the Baylor game it became clear to me what you have been saying about screens to create an open shot. the Horns guards seem to position around the perimeter and occasionally slash to the hoops. I do not see GJ, or Wanamenge, or Ham or Balbay, or Brown screening for one another.

It seems like Ham is asked to create a shot with very little help. Same for JCB. When I watch highlights of other teams, they seem to screeen over and over until a shooter breaks free.

Am I imagining this? What am I missing? I get that I am ignorant. But many of you are not.

Thoughts?

 

[NorthernNJHorn]

I'd put myself in the same category as you, but I don't think you see too many screens against zone defense. Baylor used it most of the game. Screens are used against man to man defense in which each defender guards and chases his man. A screen can free up a particular player by impeding his defender.

 

[caryhorn]

Thank you. I see your point about zone vs. m to m.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

Agree with NJHorn.
Not as much screening against a zone so the key is to penetrate between the zone to force the defense to collapse on you. You can then kick it out to the open man.

Also, a good offense will make several passes to catch the zone out of position. Eventually you will get a good shot off with penetration and ball movement.
I slept at a Holiday Inn.

 

[Statalyzer]

Not very many players, even at high levels of play, really know how to set good screens against a zone defense.

 

[Bigtex112]

In reply to:

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[Rex Kramer]

I have no idea why we weren't running TT and even Ham out on the baseline. That is the most effective counter to a zone, and both of those guys can score at will from that location.

 

[caryhorn]

Rex, can you elaborate a bit on your post, i.e., TT and ham attacking the zone. You've got my attention.

 

[Horns11]

I think the "create your own shot" phenomenon has plagued us for the last couple seasons, and it's predicated on the obvious lack of PG. When you have a DJ or TJ (or hopefully MK next year), you don't have to "create" shots because the PG does the nasty work for you... drawing attention and then kicking it out.

The way we should have been working around this all year is by using more triangle. I know it's too simple and mostly useless when you don't have Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, but we have our Jordan Hamilton. Sure, he'd have games where he went 4-17 from the floor, but he has those anyhow right now with no offensive plan.

Get the ball around the paint to TT, and have him move it like Shaq (or just score himself). I think maybe the post ball movement was a little tricky for TT, as he rarely puts the ball down. Dex putting the ball down cost us at least a game last year, if not more. The bottom line is that Hamilton would be free to move anywhere in the half court if we used TT more.

I'm also very unsure about what the assistants are telling the guards to do. I think when we played Baylor the first time, our guards switched into a passive "don't mess up" mode, whereas before that game, Balbay and Brown used to drive more. If we don't have someone who can take on a "somewhat PG" role, then we're basically playing with 4 offensive players each set.

We could use a few more high screens, but I don't think those are the problem solving plays. We don't have a guard who knows how to work around the switches.