“Positionless Basketball”

[tennmike]

Unless he is cutting to the basket, he is usually facing the other way. Same with Reed. It's almost embarrassing how open these guys are at the foul line. Probably has zero value in hurley's scheme of things.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Not really - it’s 5 free flowing players not confined to a position, that are expected to be able to dribble and shoot. Samson and Reed play the 5 role, squarely, and don’t dribble or shoot beyond near the rim.

I wouldn't call that positionless, I would call that small ball. Until someone can show how shorter is better in basketball, I would say that is just a really bad idea.

A lot of biases in life are effectively just availability heuristics, and that is even more true in basketball. 3 pointers are remembered disproportionately to their frequency or their impact on winning, while things like rebounds and putbacks are under-remembered because they are not as emotionally striking. Being shorter is not an advantage in basketball, no matter how many short people tell you it is.

 

[RuffRuff]

I wouldn't call that positionless, I would call that small ball. Until someone can show how shorter is better in basketball, I would say that is just a really bad idea.

A lot of biases in life are effectively just availability heuristics, and that is even more true in basketball. 3 pointers are remembered disproportionately to their frequency or their impact on winning, while things like rebounds and putbacks are under-remembered because they are not as emotionally striking. Being shorter is not an advantage in basketball, no matter how many short people tell you it is.

Call it what you will, by pure definition when we play Samson or Reed, they are firmly 5s playing it in the traditional sense. They are not stretching the floor, not a perimeter threat on any level. So then you can say we are playing position-less 1-4.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Call it what you will, by pure definition when we play Samson or Reed, they are firmly 5s playing it in the traditional sense. They are not stretching the floor, not a perimeter threat on any level. So then you can say we are playing position-less 1-4.

Position-less does not mean more short 3 point shooters. It is not about stretching the floor so the 4th or 5th mediocre option can jack a contested 3. It is about playing people around the floor to create attractive matchups. Houston is as close to positionless as any major conference team, and they post up a lot.

Some dorks on blogs have convinced coaches that a 6'2 player trying to jack a 22 footer over a defender that is 5 inches taller is a better shot than a 6'11 player turning to go off the bank from 4 feet out over a defender that is 5 inches shorter.

 

[TheShot1990]

In regard to Alex. How many small forwards say they “neutralized” the best center in college. Twice? Not that he licked them down but he held his down vs a sucker Kalk and an exhausted Edey.

I assume you meant "locked them down" because i don't think we want our forwards licking opposing players. Unless of course that is some cool new strategy that Danny came up with.

 

[homunculus]

I assume you meant "locked them down" because i don't think we want our forwards licking opposing players. Unless of course that is some cool new strategy that Danny came up with.

If so, does Brad Marchand have any eligibility?

 

[jibsey]

Maybe position less for Hurley is going to be point guard less but Samson and Reed will be thrown in because they can do good things, like in Reed’s case get 15 rebounds.
And if he needs more shooters he can go for periods without the centers. Both Liam and Alex are smart defenders even if they are giving up inches.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Are you kidding? Reed and Johnson didn't get the ball against Creighton, but they have both had multiple big games.

And real position-less basketball doesn't mean you play 5 2-guards. It means you play your 5 best players more, which will always include Reed and/or Johnson.

I was half kidding yes.

I think it depends on how you define “position-less basketball”. To me, that would mean all players are interchangeable and can play any role and have a versatile skillset.

By that definition, no lineup that has Johnson/Reed is “position-less”.

By your definition, I would agree that they would be part of the lineup.

 

[Mr. French]

I was half kidding yes.

I think it depends on how you define “position-less basketball”. To me, that would mean all players are interchangeable and can play any role and have a versatile skillset.

By that definition, no lineup that has Johnson/Reed is “position-less”.

By your definition, I would agree that they would be part of the lineup.

I mean, at this stage there are teams I’d love to see your 5 play against - having all 2-4 who can switch and shoot sounds fun.

 

[GlastonTim]

Eric Riebe fits the position less player profile going forward.

 

[RuffRuff]

Eric Riebe fits the position less player profile going forward

Not a lot of them to be had at the college level because if they’re any good they’re in the draft. Danny Wolf, but he’s playing more of a 5b in that system. Alabama will go with stretches of Grant Nelson at the 5, but he’s been pretty bad from 3. Ben Gold tries to be one, but he plays more like Beaker from the Muppets.

 

[GlastonTim]

I think Wolf would make this team a lot better. Going forward think that will be the kind of big man we get.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Everyone assumes that Hurley is going to hit the portal hard to bring in at least 1 PG. I wouldn't be surprised if he looks at what C's become available. With his ability to spread the floor, I wonder if Riebe could get a few minutes at PF against a not-so-athletic PF and Reed having foul issues himself at times.

 

[superjohn]

Everyone assumes that Hurley is going to hit the portal hard to bring in at least 1 PG. I wouldn't be surprised if he looks at what C's become available. With his ability to spread the floor, I wonder if Riebe could get a few minutes at PF against a not-so-athletic PF and Reed having foul issues himself at times.

We're not going to bring in a big time center with Tarris and Reibe on the team. We desperately need a proven portal point guard for next season.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I think Wolf would make this team a lot better. Going forward think that will be the kind of big man we get.

I heard he's at Michigan.

 

[RuffRuff]

We're not going to bring in a big time center with Tarris and Reibe on the team. We desperately need a proven portal point guard for next season.

We need Bennett Stirtz! Make it happen Superjohn. Dip into those deep NIL pockets of yours and bring our baby home.

 

[superjohn]

We need Bennett Stirtz! Make it happen Superjohn. Dip into those deep NIL pockets of yours and bring our baby home.

Haha, I wish I had those deep NIL pockets.

 

[RuffRuff]

Oh and BTW, Houston is nothing close to a position-less team. Like not.even.close. Kelvin Sampson has never run a position-less system, nor likely ever will.

Position-less is a “5 out” setup.

They have two power forwards who camp in the paint, a PG, and then two shooters.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Oh and BTW, Houston is nothing close to a position-less team. Like not.even.close. Kelvin Sampson has never run a position-less system, nor likely ever will.

Position-less is a “5 out” setup.

They have two power forwards who camp in the paint, a PG, and then two shooters.

You keep describing small ball and calling it positionless basketball.

 

[freshler40]

Interchangeable terms. Just more difficult to guard and game plan with five offensive weapons. The more confusing Hurley can make opposing coaches plan, the better were off. Our comeback against our last opponent was a good example of that.

 

[pj]

Oh and BTW, Houston is nothing close to a position-less team. Like not.even.close. Kelvin Sampson has never run a position-less system, nor likely ever will.

Position-less is a “5 out” setup.

They have two power forwards who camp in the paint, a PG, and then two shooters.

Positionless basketball doesn't mean every player is a guard, it means no player's role can be limited to a single one of the traditional "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" roles. A guard can shift between being an initiator/distributor to being a scorer; a big can play facing the basket and back to the basket; etc. Players can swap roles on the court, helping to confuse the opponent.

 

[RuffRuff]

Positionless basketball doesn't mean every player is a guard, it means no player's role can be limited to a single one of the traditional "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" roles. A guard can shift between being an initiator/distributor to being a scorer; a big can play facing the basket and back to the basket; etc. Players can swap roles on the court, helping to confuse the opponent.

Yes! At no point are we that with our bigs in, and at no point is Houston that.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

I maybe crazy but why can‘t Samson take a couple shots from around the free throw line? He‘s shoot 78% from there on free throws.

Not entirely crazy that we might hope for a center to take and hit the occasional 12-15 foot jump shot. It would really help the offense by preventing the opposing center from gumming up the driving lanes.

Now, the question is, can they do it? And if not, why not?