UConn's Half-court Execution

[DogMania]

I noticed something last night that I didn't notice before. When UConn runs it's half-court sets their secondary and tertiary movements are either late or nonexistent. I watched it closely last night and noticed this over and over again.

To explain this let me give you an example of what we're seeing far too often:

The PG, let's use Bazz, dribbles the ball at the top while Lamb runs through a a pair of baseline screen from the right side to the left. Bazz dribbles over to the left and delivers the ball to Jeremy. When that happens the other 4 players are simply standing around. One or two might come over to set another screen for Lamb who tries to create, but when he can't, he kicks it back out to Bazz who either tries to beat his man or simply pounds the ball and resets for another run of a similar play.

What we aren't seeing is something like the following: (Note that the following half-court motion sequence is not necessarily one that the staff has deployed this season, but is something similar to what we've seen in the past.)

Using the same scenario above, even before Lamb receives the ball from Bazz at the left elbow just outside the arc, one of the other 3 players is in motion setting a screen for the secondary recipient. Let's say Alex, who just set the 2nd screen to the left of the basket to spring Lamb, quickly slides over to screen Andre's man. Andre tries rubs his defender off that screen to get open just to the left of the basket and is there to receive the secondary pass from Lamb who just received it at the left elbow.

Let's continue this to the tertiary movement and pass, where Lamb delivers the ball to AD a couple feet outside the paint. Now either the two bigs defending Alex and Andre either switched or are scrambling to get back into solid post defensive position. The wing or guard that was trying to cover Lamb likely has his momentum moving toward Jeremy if the screens were able to create a little separation. Just after Jeremy delivers the ball to Andre, either Lamb could quickly cut back toward the paint to receive the pass from Andre (give and go type action) or the play could be designed for either Napier or Boatright to cut into the paint to receive the pass from Andre. Let's say in this instance, after passing the ball to Drummond, Lamb flairs out from just outside the elbow toward the side line (say middle of the visitors bench). Andre could fake a hard kick out to Lamb to draw Lambs defender to close out on him if he didn't already go out there (most likely Lamb's man is going to go out there knowing Jeremy is UConn's primary deep shooter). While this is happening, Bazz slides over to where Lamb was just outside the elbow either drawing his man over to the top of the key or shaded to that left side. All this motion should create a slight overload to that left side.

Picture Drummond's big now tighly guarding between him and the basket. The other Big positioned between those two and Alex who's camped just to the right of the basket unless he came over to double AD, which would create even a greater overload to that left side. In this scenario, the only likely defender to pull off his man and slide toward the paint would be Bazz's man, but if the two passes are executed quickly, there should be some space in the paint behind that player. Just as AD fakes the kick out to Lamb (or to Bazz), Boatright has already begun his angular cut into the paint from the right side. Depending on where his defender is, Boat can either try to cut around him on AD's side or behind that defender to receive the next pass coming from AD. If the defense doubles AD with both bigs he might not be able to hit the cutter, in which he should either kick it out to either Bazz or Lamb or swing a baseline pass to Alex who should be wide open. There would be no wing on that side since that defender followed Lamb. It would be unlikely that Boatright's man would drop that anywhere near the baseline where Alex would be camped out on the right side.

Now depending on how the two perimeter guards are playing Bazz and Boat, an alternative could be Boat flairing out to a similar spot as Lamb for either a skip pass from AD if Boats defender sags into the paint, but if that movement pulls Ryan's man further to the right, it would create space for Bazz to cut into the paint to receive the pass, instead of Boatright.

There are a whole host of player movements and passing options that can take place that won't be there if all we see is one guy moving while 4 stand around, watching that one teammate catch the ball, try to create, kick it back out and reset the same type of play. I can't figure out why this team has been unable to learn or the coaching staff has not been able to teach this type of motion offense we've seen at UConn in the past. They have 3 players who can all hit the flair out 3 or cut w/out the ball, catch and either hit the midrange J or floater, drive it right to the basket and create contact or dump it down to the bigs who might be open if their defenders step up to stop the drive...not to mention, kicking it back out for a catch and shoot J. IMO, this team has the personnel to execute this type of offense. Conversely no team can execute the one player motioned, catch and create while the other 4 stand around and see what happens. Hasn't the staff figured out that teams know that's all they are running and have figured out how to defend it most of the time.

Who's fault is this? The coaching staff or the players or both. You can't play the youth card any longer. It's not like they have 3 freshman on the floor at the same time very often. At most, they have 2, and it's not like they're the only ones just standing around who expecting the guy with the ball will miraculously shoot the gaps time after time.

 

[freescooter]

I've seen exactly what you describe all year. Even when we are playing reasonably well, movement is limited. And when you compare it with other teams, it is really almost frightening how little our guys move without the ball. One thing I'll say, though, is that this isn't a problem unique to this team. I noticed a very similar thing with the 2010 team and early in the season during 2008-09 we stood around a whole lot too. I have come to the conclusion that it is a downside of Calhoun's offense. Not exaclty sure if it is a case of players not quite getting it or what, but it has happened before.

 

[MidTown Husky]

Just forwarded this to Calhoun's inbox

 

[Jaker]

There is no movement because our guards constantly hold onto the ball too much and always want to go one on one.

 

[baldinghusky]

Good post DM. I was noticing something similar -- we just don't look like we're in synch. For example, it looks like we set a screen and Lamb is running the baseline, and the guard turns away from the curl Lamb is making, bailing out before Lamb has even started his cut. The timing is bad and because of it, we frequently don't connect, don't get good opportunities, so we end up in 1-on-1 or a rushed 3 late in the shot clock.

 

[DogMania]

There is no movement because our guards constantly hold onto the ball too much and always want to go one on one.

Not that what you just said is not a problem, because it is, but that's a different one. I noticed that at times all three of our guards aren't picking up in time when one of their teammates get's open by design. Some players see the floor better than others. I thought Bazz showed good lead guard instincts last season and early this year, but over the past month, sometimes I wonder what the heck is he seeing out there. Lamb has never excelled in this area. He delivers a nice pass on occasion of the bounce, but doesn't seem to recognize the open teammate quickly when they are running their sets...which is strange since as I pointed out above, shouldn't be too hard since only one of the other 4 are moving at any one time.

As for Boatright, he's shown promise, but it seems like his other back-court mates, he's struggling under the must-win pressure lately. Sometimes I wonder if he and Bazz are the same two I saw earlier in the season. The same guy who nailed 3 FTs to get us to OT against FSU is the same guy who missed 2 critical FTs yesterday. Maybe he didn't know any better back then and didn't feel the world of expectation on him like he does now.

The evolution of this entire team this season simply befuddles me. Maybe it's perception, but they sure looked like a better team back in December than they do now. Maybe part of this has to do with Bazz being more banged up now than we realize. PG play and leadership is extremely important, but the decline in play or at least lack of improvement seems just about across the board.

 

[Jaker]

The offense has shown very little progress this entire season, I have yet to see it look really fluid. I think they would be better if they ran a motion style offense with AD and AO coming up the high post and making the triangle, or even getting some pic an roll action going. A lot of possessions our bigs don't even touch the ball and are not involved enough. So we have no inside-outside game.

 

[Chin Diesel]

One of the areas that makes our half court offense painful to watch is the lack of urgency with big men setting screens and the guards running their defenders hard in to the screens.

The players started setting good screens in the second half and not surprisingly the guards were getting better looks and the big men were getting cleaner lanes to the basket for offensive rebounds.

Last year in the BET and the NCAA we were running high level offensive sets that involved multiple players running through screens and clearing areas.

This year, not so much.

 

[RabidHusky]

I hate to bring this up because of Bazz making the heroic shot...but...if you look at the tape again you'll see that twice we had a 5 pt lead and Bazz single handedly pissed it away with bad shots and bad passes. What really frosted me was right after DD made a three he came down court several times and ignored a wide open man on his right, even turning his back on the play to get some fancy one and one dribblling in. His body language and facial expressions were anything but inspiring. Boat at least has his head up facing the action when he tries to penetrate.

 

[sledog]

They all stand around. Even my wife noticed that. Perhaps the PG should get his head out of his and look at the court. Then - perhaps - there may be some motion.

Other teams MUST know to expect this. The reliance on the athlete to zip by the defender is getting old.

 

[Excalibur]

Another element that's missing is the screen for the screener. When we try to run our baseline cuts, the second cutter (normally Lamb, whom the play is designed for, just stands on the baseline and waits for the first cutter to clear. We used to have that guy screen for the first cutter before making his own cut. Watch footage from 1999-04 and you see it all the time. In '99, Hamilton would even screen on the ball before picking up a back screen and flaring out to the three point line on the wing, such as in this clip.

Now, we run two baseline cuts or curls off of a double or staggered screen, and then everything stops. The offense looks altogether out of sync.

 

[champs99and04]

Good points DM. You wouldn't exactly compare our offense from last season to the 86 Celtics, but the kids seemed to grasp the basic fundamentals of offense a lot better than they do now. As good as Kemba was getting by his man, our offense was at its best last year with Shabazz running the point and Kemba and Lamb curling off screens away from the ball. This really helped open things up, because two guys were busting their asses to free themselves all night long.

For example, Roscoe would start by screening for Shabazz at the top of the key, then make his way to the baseline where he and Lamb would set a screen for Kemba. From there, Oriakhi would make his way over from the elbow, screen for Lamb, and Lamb would curl to the right wing where he would get the ball, assuming Kemba hadn't already put it up. The secondary screening and off ball screening helped free two of our best shooters in Lamb and Kemba, while making it easier to move the ball from side to side.

Defenses had a much tougher time defending this than the basic off ball screens for Lamb that we run now. If the defender was a step late you were toast because Lamb can get his shot off so quickly, and if you're a step behind on Kemba, he'll simply lift his eyebrows and go by you to the tin. Not only did this help free up our best two scorers, but it created opportunities for guys like Oriakhi and Roscoe, who would score a few buckets a game simply by rolling to the basket off the screens. This was able to happen because of the attention Kemba and Lamb created.

Of course, it helped that we had a guy in Kemba to bail the offense out when our off ball movement did not work, but I feel like by the end of last season we were making our way into the advanced stages of Calhoun's half court offense, while this year we have taken a couple steps back.

Earlier in the season, I had hoped that Lamb would take on the role of Kemba in this regard, and Deandre Daniels would take on the role of 2010-11 Lamb. Unfortunately, Daniels has not progressed quite as quickly as I had hoped, although he seems to be getting a little more comfortable out there lately.

What I would like to see more of, is Boatright at the point with Shabazz and Lamb curling off screens, much like last season. I think this could work because both are good shooters, Boatright has shown the ability to run an offense, and this would open up easy opportunities for Drummond and Oriakhi. I think if we were to run more of this action, the alley oops we saw earlier in the season would reappear simply because of the attention defenses would have to pay Shabazz and Lamb. Think of Drummond setting a screen for Lamb at the high post, then having Lamb curl off the screen for an easy jump shot. If executed properly, Drummond's man would have to either concede the jump shot to Lamb, or hedge higher than he wants to and leave the backdoor alley oop wide open.

While what you mentioned is a big problem, I think the biggest problem is the fact that the cutters and screeners are never in synch. I'm pretty sure somebody mentioned this on the game chat yesterday, and watching the tape, he was 100% right. Either the screener leaves to early, or the cutter becomes impatient and leaves before the screen arrives. The screen can only work properly if the screener and cutter have the timing down. Think of it as a receiver not understanding when to break out of his route because he has never played with a certain quarterback before. In order for the screen to work effectively, the cutter must take his man low, then cut off the screeners shoulder JUST as the screener is arriving. If this process is a split second early, the referee is likely to call a moving screen. If the process is a split second late, the cutters window to beat his man has already closed, and the defender recovers because there is no screen to prohibit that.

All in all, I guess it's unfair for us to expect them to have the offense mastered by this point, but you are right in saying they should be showing signs of progress, considering it's been over four months since the first practice.

One thing we know, is that the margin between being a good team and a great team isn't very big. If the kids can figure out the offense and figure out the rotations on defense, they will look a lot more mature by March.

 

[sparky]

agree with most of the posts. Thae 1/2 court offense is fine IF we would use the screens set. Too often we do banana cuts off the screen and that allowes the D to slip over the screen. The bigs need to set strong area screens and the wings need to run off their hip. Pick and Pop

 

[Palatine]

One of the areas that makes our half court offense painful to watch is the lack of urgency with big men setting screens and the guards running their defenders hard in to the screens.

The players started setting good screens in the second half and not surprisingly the guards were getting better looks and the big men were getting cleaner lanes to the basket for offensive rebounds.

Last year in the BET and the NCAA we were running high level offensive sets that involved multiple players running through screens and clearing areas.

This year, not so much.

This post is right on the money. Secondarily, the guards are suppose to screen for the bigs as they move through the lane. The half-screens and lack of attention to detail by the guards is the other side of the equation

 

[businesslawyer]

This post is right on the money. Secondarily, the guards are suppose to screen for the bigs as they move through the lane. The half-screens and lack of attention to detail by the guards is the other side of the equation

Yes. Honestly, this team is as bad at setting and utilizing simple screens as any college team I can remember.

 

[Dann]

DM greta post and i agree 100%. its been widely talked about here on how we aren't finishing sets, just starting them. it started when we came out hot this year vs occ teams. lamb couldn't miss. bazz looked great and even dd/to were hitting alot of shots. so we banked on that and stopped moving around. it hasn't been corrected and i fear it wont be.

during the nova game i decided to watch for something else. how many time we scored in the first half of the shot clock vs the 2nd half and when it was the 2nd half who it was...

we were way more sucessful scoring early before the D got a chance to set up and pack it in. i think this weekend we can't allow cuse to set up alot, we need to run and pull triggers early. it may be the way we can put a early run on them and get the crowd going/confidence up for our pups. when we scored late in the shotclock it was either a lamb shot/drive or a pg deep shot. i think our other players with the d packed in/set up are not good enough as a unit to get good shots and score late in the clock. several of ao's nice post moves latley have come early in the clock when he was 1-1 with a guy.

its my thing that i think we run run run. go with a 8 man and add gif as a 9th if needed(fouls/tired).
run with boat/lamb/scoe/ao/ad and bazz/dd/to off the bench. if you can't run or need to bring it back out them right away set up a post guy.

also ad didn't take crapy jump shots the last game. clearly the staff told him enough of that. those are like tunrovers. hes best 1-1 in the post early or on the O-boards. he runs the court very well. we we have run this year several times he has easily cleaned up misses from our guards/wings and thats becuase no one can play up where he is around the rim and the big guys for other teams if they can play with him up there, can't run the court like him. we need to use that as a advantage and not just sit back so much.