We are slowly changing the way we play offense.

[NJHusky]

I was referring to the starters... but, yup, add Hass in too as a competent decision-maker.

yup...knew that...just pointing out that we don't even have a competent backup PG...so we really had a choice of 4 guys capable..

 

[huskyharry]

Ball needs to get better at finishing at the rim since he is otherwise pretty good at getting there. He seems to lay it off the backboard too hard and it often bounces off without even hitting the rim. He need to figure out a softer release.

Or better yet he needs to stick to the 6-15 foot pull-up jumpers instead of trying to finish co tested shots at the rim

 

[nycscooby]

Ball needs to get better at finishing at the rim since he is otherwise pretty good at getting there. He seems to lay it off the backboard too hard and it often bounces off without even hitting the rim. He need to figure out a softer release.

He needs to work on his right (off) hand on the finishes. You will see he tries to finish with the left hand sometimes coming in from the right which is weaker and leaves the ball exposed for a block.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

He needs to work on his right (off) hand on the finishes. You will see he tries to finish with the left hand sometimes coming in from the right which is weaker and leaves the ball exposed for a block.

Another novel idea is Solo could just dunk it with aggression when he gets to the rim instead of trying to do cutesy finger rolls up and unders and bricky bank shots

 

[JustbrewitMan]

This team can't really execute the off balls screen offense the last two teams did. They don't have the facilitators or big bodied wings/guards that can set those screens. Cam, Newton and Castle all set screens last year. I don't think Ball has ever set a screen. As a result we rarely get the kind of open looks for shooters we did the last two years. It doesn't help that the Big East allows all the interference and holding of cutters.

So we really struggle to score after a made basket. Teams soft press us and we don't have time to run any offense. We're forced into ISO and we're just not good at it.

The solution is defense. We are good on the break and we can exploit teams before their defense sets up. Our offense now has to come from the defense, whether steals, blocks or just misses where we push the pace. This team has to speed up. Move faster. Move the ball faster. Make quicker decisions. Shoot when you get an open look.

Yea we have had a problem with setting “Frooty Picks” all season long…

 

[sledog]

I haven't noticed as much of Dan Hurley's constant motion offense as last year.

 

[RuffRuff]

If ever reason to support making shifts offensively. Experience even one of these in March and it could be game over. Need to manufacture ways to create offense that isn’t so laboring.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If ever reason to support making shifts offensively. Experience even one of these in March and it could be game over. Need to manufacture ways to create offense that isn’t so laboring.

If you notice, a lot of teams are on both lists.

 

[Gurleyman]

If ever reason to support making shifts offensively. Experience even one of these in March and it could be game over. Need to manufacture ways to create offense that isn’t so laboring.

Yeah. Sometimes you end droughts just by getting to the line, or crashing the glass, or creating a live ball turnover with your defense. Something where you aren’t dependent on intricate sets. We don’t do any of those things very well.

 

[SubbaBub]

The offense is still a 4 out offense. Hurley is trying to figure out what to do when shooters aren't shooting well enough. An age old problem really, I wish him the best.

 

[CL82]

This team can't really execute the off balls screen offense the last two teams did. They don't have the facilitators or big bodied wings/guards that can set those screens. Cam, Newton and Castle all set screens last year. I don't think Ball has ever set a screen. As a result we rarely get the kind of open looks for shooters we did the last two years. It doesn't help that the Big East allows all the interference and holding of cutters.

This succinctly states the problem with this year's offense. It is exacerbated by the fact that we don't have a go to guy who can take his defender at the end of the clock. That frequently leaves us with ugly looking and unproductive sets.

 

[RuffRuff]

If you notice, a lot of teams are on both lists.

Yah, some is just style. In our case not so much.

And yeah we are playing 4 out. When Reed is in we need to use our one in more often, as there are very few 5s that can defend him 1on1. If he gets going and they start to double, it leaves a shooter open.

The alternative is pushing pace to free up space, getting in front of defensive sets. Similar to how we looked against StJ in the first 10 minutes.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Ball is a shooting guard - he's the one who should benefit from another's screen, but his height means if the screened player switches to the screener and the screener's guy is on Solo, we cannot have a 6'5" defender on him...else he needs to drive. He won't get time to shoot over 2 or more inches.

I would rather see some flare cuts for Solo since that sets up 2 screens for him to wind through and trap defenders. These work great for the lesser-athlete shooters, so maybe Mahaney (who I would say is even slightly more athletic than the 'stache Doug Edert who ran those at St. Peters) to success, but would work for Solo.

 

[SubbaBub]

Yah, some is just style. In our case not so much.

And yeah we are playing 4 out. When Reed is in we need to use our one in more often, as there are very few 5s that can defend him 1on1. If he gets going and they start to double, it leaves a shooter open.

The alternative is pushing pace to free up space, getting in front of defensive sets. Similar to how we looked against StJ in the first 10 minutes.

That was the plan.

If guys were shooting better, we'd be doing this. Hurley is compensating by trying get guys closer looks. It clogs the lane, and the increased traffic is causing turnovers. Plus guys are still missing shots.

That really isn't the problem. Turnovers, the empty possessions are the problem combined with an improving but still way short of what's needed half court defense.

 

[mauconnfan]

He needs to take it stronger all the way to the basket. He avoids contact and is always trying to finesse it up there.

If he can’t finish I’d like to see more stop and pop as he seems solid from 10-12 feet too.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Ball needs to get better at finishing at the rim since he is otherwise pretty good at getting there. He seems to lay it off the backboard too hard and it often bounces off without even hitting the rim. He need to figure out a softer release.

Looking at some Kyrie finishing drills can fix that right up.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Looking at some Kyrie finishing drills can fix that right up.

Or watch teammate Liam as he is the only one getting to the free throw line 6-8 times or more a game. Some of his go in too!