2+2=5

Fri Feb 2 13:25:35 CST 2007

This is somewhat true, but not wholly true. If you look at the wide body of
offensive work from day one to whatever day today is in this NBA season
you'll see pretty plainly that much of our offensive plays have changed. We
had three basic plays we ran in the first few weeks in the halfcourt set:

1.  PG passes to the high post big, then sets a screen away for the wing
player (Pierce or Wally) and then retreats to the opposite corner for the
"swing the ball" three point shot. The other big does one of three things -
either gains position for the inbound to the post, moves to the opposite
side of the lane for the clearout, or sets a screen for the wing player.

2. PG passes to the Wing, then cuts down the lane and over to the far corner
three point line. The SF runs the baseline after the PG cut, first for the
overpass to the weak side then to the strong side for position on the low
block.  Both the C and the PF are on the opposite side at the elbow and low
block (it's usually Perk that set the screen for Wally).  

3.  The PG and both wing players perform a three man weave at the top of the
arc (usually to the left side of the court first). The PF and C are on both
sides of the lane low or setting weak side screens for the weave then
cutting low. The weave is an attempt to create a penetration lane for either
a drive and dish to a big or finish at the hoop.

Those were the three basics with some variations on each. Once the first
part of the play was run the wing player had the ability improvise (2 man
game or 1 on 1) or dump the ball into the block and run through to clear his
man. There may have been a couple others I missed, but those were the ones
we ran most often. 

Now we still run #1 a lot, but now instead of clearing for the wing player,
this set is to get the ball in to Jefferson. Other then that and the old
"Mercer" play for Gerald Green (double screen low, Gerald comes from the
opposite side past the low screen, then around a high screen on the elbow by
Gomes - jump shot) this team is actually simply playing two man game on the
strong side a lot and with great success. We no longer run through those set
plays as much and instead DO IN FACT do the basics - pick & roll, give n go,
and pick & pop are all done pretty consistently (albeit with A LOT of
turnovers).  The "one man creator" system has been basically scrapped and
all the players can either shoot or pass out of their 2 man game which has
allowed much MORE offensive freedom and in my mind flow that didn't exist
before (downside as I said the increased turnovers).

So Egg, if you simply said they haven't learned the offensive sets you'd
have an argument because they don't run them as much, but your second
assertion that they don't do the 2 man game is incorrect - they've actually
gone to more two man game.  The issue you could then make the most hay with
is the turnovers because instead of Pierce being the creator, all five
players are shouldering the creator role WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK of the two man
game.

Secondly, if you'd stayed with criticism of their defensive shortcomings
you'd also have a stronger argument - defending the two man game and
rotational man to man defense is still terrible, but that can be said for
almost every rookie through third year guy in the NBA these days.

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Our perennially young just don't seem to comprehend the basics - 
rotations, pick & roll, pick & pop, how to make their teammates 
better, how to spread the court, how to play help defense,
how to win games, etc.   Unfortunately (and I'm sure I'll hear 
about this), the word "dunces" still comes to mind when judging
most of our young ath-a-letes.   Not all young NBA players 
keep forgetting what they have been taught over and over again. 
Nor do most seem quite as slow in catching on after two, three, 

or even four NBA seasons.   