Kick-A** Offense

[TheSportsAce]

Not sure if you noticed, but in multiple possessions in the last two minutes last night our bigs (Trevor and Ralph) did nothing but stand still on the wings, outside the paint. They weren't setting screens. They weren't in any sort of position to rebound. They weren't touching the ball, and no one was trying to get them the ball. They were just standing around, while our guards tried to take their defenders and create something 1 on 1.

Can someone explain why they would run this kind of offense late in the game? Seems to me like we'd want to try to pound the ball inside, use our power and at least get a decent shot or a trip to the line out of it. Instead, we're relying on Blake, Chip and Hollins to create something on the perimeter, and we all know how well that's been working lately. What's the strategy here, and why did it win out over going to our strength? Or did our guys (and our coach) just freeze up?

I just don't get it. I've seen a fair amount of criticism of Tubby as not the greatest offensive mind over the last few weeks and months, and I've given him the benefit of the doubt for the most part. But I think this is pretty compelling evidence in support of all the criticism. We needed to assert ourselves in the last few minutes last night, and that means sticking to your guns and playing to your strengths...not doing what we did.

 

[bga1]

Not sure if you noticed, but in multiple possessions in the last two minutes last night our bigs (Trevor and Ralph) did nothing but stand still on the wings, outside the paint. They weren't setting screens. They weren't in any sort of position to rebound. They weren't touching the ball, and no one was trying to get them the ball. They were just standing around, while our guards tried to take their defenders and create something 1 on 1.

Can someone explain why they would run this kind of offense late in the game? Seems to me like we'd want to try to pound the ball inside, use our power and at least get a decent shot or a trip to the line out of it. Instead, we're relying on Blake, Chip and Hollins to create something on the perimeter, and we all know how well that's been working lately. What's the strategy here, and why did it win out over going to our strength? Or did our guys (and our coach) just freeze up?

I just don't get it. I've seen a fair amount of criticism of Tubby as not the greatest offensive mind over the last few weeks and months, and I've given him the benefit of the doubt for the most part. But I think this is pretty compelling evidence in support of all the criticism. We needed to assert ourselves in the last few minutes last night, and that means sticking to your guns and playing to your strengths...not doing what we did.

Tubby's offense was that way even with Nolen and Joseph around. Tubby loves to play guys out on the wing and at forward that are bit - shall we say- thoughtful about their roles in his offense. I assume they don't move and are tentative with the ball because they are thinking about what to do instead of instinctive reacting and playing agressively. These same guys are long and fit well in his defensive scheme. It's defense first for him - so he has played them consistently. Whatever his scheme is there is not a sense that the players on confident in it- that's for sure. The one play they are sure that they are supposed to make is the high low lob. It works but it is also turnover prone. Things get even worse in the closing minutes of a close game with the Tubby scheme for whatever reason. Just no movement. This was true earlier in the year also, but Nolen would bail us out by just making a drive toward the basket hoping to get fouled. How many times did we see Nolen dribbling in place during the last 5 minutes of the game and everybody just standing there? LOts.

 

[DontHassleTheHoff]

The High-Low action would be so much MORE effective if we had some guards who could shoot the ball from the perimeter. Everyone is able to sink and collapse into the lane because of this lack of outside threat. Honestly, I don't really understand why Tubby doesn't do more of a 2 man game with Trevor and Blake. Run some high ball screens and let your best 2 players get the majority of the shots.