Our Offense is Garbage

[illmatic99]

Why does almost every single one of our plays result in an outside jumper? Utah could stop us with either a simple double-team or trap, and we couldn't do a damn thing about it. Our offense might be efficient (because we rarely run and take chances that could lead to turnovers), but it sure looks ugly, and is hardly effective against teams that can play any semblance of defense.

Here are the three plays I saw tonight:

1. High pick and "roll" with either Brandon or Blake and Greg. Except, Greg NEVER gets the ball off the pick, and the ball is swung to the wings for a three pointer.

2. "Post up" of Aldridge about 10 feet from the hoop. Now, one of two things happen. He either gets doubled and loses possession, or he kicks it out for another three point shot.

3. Brandon gets a clear out at the top of the key, and everyone watches him.

4. Sergio gets the ball up top, and drives crazily in late in shot clock and either gets stripped or makes a short, low percentage shot.

How about some creativity with back cuts and back picks? How about some movement? How about actually passing Greg the ball when he has a fucking 6" height advantage and great position down low? Or how about a simple lob pass to Greg when he's practically begging for the ball off a pick? And one more thing, if the opponent figures out your one single offensive attack for the night, how about a decent adjustment?

God damn. This was a winnable game that we lost because our offense has as much ingenuity as a high school team.

 

[Shooter]

How about some creativity with back cuts and back picks? How about some movement? How about actually passing Greg the ball when he has a fucking 6" height advantage and great position down low? Or how about a simple lob pass to Greg when he's practically begging for the ball off a pick? And one more thing, if the opponent figures out your one single offensive attack for the night, how about a decent adjustment?

God damn. This was a winnable game that we lost because our offense has as much ingenuity as a high school team.

You are so right. I've loved Utah's offense for many years. I think it's a thing of beauty. I just wish the Blazers could run a system that sophisticated and efficient. Instead, we rely on jumpshots all night long. And tonight we died with jumpshots all night long.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Why does almost every single one of our plays result in an outside jumper? Utah could stop us with either a simple double-team or trap, and we couldn't do a damn thing about it. Our offense might be efficient (because we rarely run and take chances that could lead to turnovers), but it sure looks ugly, and is hardly effective against teams that can play any semblance of defense.

Here are the three plays I saw tonight:

1. High pick and "roll" with either Brandon or Blake and Greg. Except, Greg NEVER gets the ball off the pick, and the ball is swung to the wings for a three pointer.

2. "Post up" of Aldridge about 10 feet from the hoop. Now, one of two things happen. He either gets doubled and loses possession, or he kicks it out for another three point shot.

3. Brandon gets a clear out at the top of the key, and everyone watches him.

4. Sergio gets the ball up top, and drives crazily in late in shot clock and either gets stripped or makes a short, low percentage shot.

How about some creativity with back cuts and back picks? How about some movement? How about actually passing Greg the ball when he has a fucking 6" height advantage and great position down low? Or how about a simple lob pass to Greg when he's practically begging for the ball off a pick? And one more thing, if the opponent figures out your one single offensive attack for the night, how about a decent adjustment?

God damn. This was a winnable game that we lost because our offense has as much ingenuity as a high school team.

Shrug. Our offense can be frustrating, but tonight it got us an enormous number of open 3s. We just missed
them.

 

[Shooter]

Shrug. Our offense can be frustrating, but tonight it got us an enormous number of open 3s. We just missed.

The point is, our offense should be about more than just shooting 3-pointers. The pick and roll is one of the most fundamental plays in basketball, and yet we almost never run it. Why?

 

[illmatic99]

Shrug. Our offense can be frustrating, but tonight it got us an enormous number of open 3s. We just missed
them.

Which is exactly my point. That is the principle way of getting points in Nate's offense. We look awesome when the shots are falling, but when they aren't, we look like shit. We can't rely on jump shots to get ~75% of our field goals in the playoffs. There's gonna be a lot more defensive pressure on the outside, and even more fatigued legs. There has to be another way to score, especially given the types of talents we have on our team.

 

[bodyman5001]

I like open threes. No, I love them. I just don't like them as our bread and butter. The team is tired and I can't really blame them for taking the open three but come on people, you saw what a well coached team looks like. You know, Utah!

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Nate's offense is very predictable and he hasn't made a lot (if any) of changes to it in his time here. I really wish he'd put in more movement: cuts down the middle, backdoor cutters, double-screens. It's basically the Roy iso at the top of the key or a pick and roll where the roller hardly ever gets the ball.

Greg is a good passer off the block when he's being double teamed and I feel we waste a lot of easy bucket opportunities when no one cuts down the middle for him to pass off too. Like it was said before this stagnant offense will not work in the playoffs.

 

[andalusian]

Which is exactly my point. That is the principle way of getting points in Nate's offense. We look awesome when the shots are falling, but when they aren't, we look like shit. We can't rely on jump shots to get ~75% of our field goals in the playoffs. There's gonna be a lot more defensive pressure on the outside, and even more fatigued legs. There has to be another way to score, especially given the types of talents we have on our team.

Well, we do not use the talent properly. We still run Sergio because he can "assist" - but he still can't shoot and the teams allow him to shoot - Sergio should never shoot more than 3 attempts a game - or at least, when he hits his 3rd brick - take him out. It means the other team knows to let him over-dribble and shoot at will.

Rudy needs to shoot some closer shots when his 3s are not falling.

We need someone else, other than Brandon, to attack the rim from the dribble.

Release Bayless.

 

[illmatic99]

Well, we do not use the talent properly. We still run Sergio because he can "assist" - but he still can't shoot and the teams allow him to shoot - Sergio should never shoot more than 3 attempts a game - or at least, when he hits his 3rd brick - take him out. It means the other team knows to let him over-dribble and shoot at will.

I agree completely. Brevin Knight was leaving Sergio wide open and shadowing Lamarcus, so we couldn't even enter the ball into the post. Sergio either needs to take that shot, or Nate needs to take him out immediately after that happens.

As for Bayless, he would add a different facet to our attack, but I still don't think he's ready for action in meaningful games yet.

 

[andalusian]

I agree completely. Brevin Knight was leaving Sergio wide open and shadowing Lamarcus, so we couldn't even enter the ball into the post. Sergio either needs to take that shot, or Nate needs to take him out immediately after that happens.

As for Bayless, he would add a different facet to our attack, but I still don't think he's ready for action in meaningful games yet.

As we have seen in the Boston game - he might not be ready - but when he is in the game our bad-ass make something happen goes up 300% - if we are going to get brick/turn-over/brick/turn-over from Sergio - might as well get it from a rookie that can finish in the paint and shoot. He will get better.

 

[bigbailes]

you guys amaze me, all it takes is one or two games for this board to turn. obviously bayless isn't ready, at least in the coaches eyes. but feel free to start another thread and then hijack it with your free bayless rhetoric.

as i've said many times before, nate struggles with the offense and he will not be our head coach when we are challenging for titles.

 

[andalusian]

It is not just 2 games, however. We won against the Knicks and against the Wizards because Roy had to take over by himself. The same against Sacramento in the 2nd game against them and both Minny games. In all of these games the same problems discussed above were apparent.

Our offense is very efficient when Roy takes over, our offense is very efficient when the 3 ball is falling down. We can trust Roy to take over for stretched night in and night out - he is a stud - but it will not be worth a win against the better teams (as we have seen with Orlando and Utah and Phoenix).

It is clear that we are missing easy baskets in the paint. Oden might be able to help as time goes on - and LMA is getting better at this as well - but the reliance on the 3 ball is just absurd - as is the clear lack of paint penetration and scoring by a guard.

 

[repda503]

I don't think its the players' faults for the bad offense. All this stagnant offense starts with Nate. The iso roy isn't working anymore because roy just gets double teamed. Aldridge to the post is getting double teamed. Nate needs to design some plays to get roy and aldridge easy buckets. It seems like every one of roy's and aldridge's points have to be created by themselves. Where are the backdoor screens and cuts?
Also, im sorry but our perimeter defense is laughable. Its embarrasing how easy good gaurds can penetrate and dish.

 

[alex42083]

I agree that the Roy ISO up top is not going to work anymore. Teams are not going to let Roy pick them apart. I don't think the Lakers even do that with Kobe, or even the Cavs with LeBron. They at least run some kind of set down the stretch to get their star player open.

Although we did see Roy get the ball on the high post a bit more and post up, the 1 on 5 thing is not a good offensive strategy -- maybe for a last shot but not for the last 4 minutes of a game.
Teams have scouted us well and know what we're going to do. I just hope we see Nate and the staff find some way to counter it.

 

[MARIS61]

I don't think its the players' faults for the bad offense. All this stagnant offense starts with Nate. The iso roy isn't working anymore because roy just gets double teamed. Aldridge to the post is getting double teamed. Nate needs to design some plays to get roy and aldridge easy buckets. It seems like every one of roy's and aldridge's points have to be created by themselves. Where are the backdoor screens and cuts?
Also, im sorry but our perimeter defense is laughable. Its embarrasing how easy good gaurds can penetrate and dish.

Causing the opponent to double-team your player is the intended goal of most isolation plays. That part is working fine.

The iso'd player is then supposed to pass the rock to the OPEN MAN for an easy score. This is where we're breaking down. Either Roy refuses to give it up when double-teamed and forces a bad shot (usually), or other players don't move to where he can hit them with a pass (seldom).

 

[Mediocre Man]

Relying on 23+ foot jump shots is not the best way to win in the NBA. Missing open 3's is more probable than making them.

 

[MrJayremmie]

The iso'd player is then supposed to pass the rock to the OPEN MAN for an easy score. This is where we're breaking down. Either Roy refuses to give it up when double-teamed and forces a bad shot (usually), or other players don't move to where he can hit them with a pass (seldom).

I think it is opposite. I think almost EVERY TIME our players get double teamed, our guys stand around and watch them. We miss our on soo many easy baskets, and honestly, a lot of it has to do with our lack of movement on the offensive end. I don't blame Nate, because you learn this in high school, but I think Nate needs to emphasize movements. We have soo much potential on this team to be a phenominal offensive team, and even put Greg in a better position to succeed.

But also, this year Roy has been passing less. Even when someone has a better shot. IDK why he is doing this, but its most likely because he feels and was told that he needs to be the superstar on this team. I think overall Roy has been great, but i think he could make our team even better if he becomes a little more unselfish. Certain situations like the 4th quarter or when we are gettin' blasted or are in a drought are obviously exceptions though.

But I think that a concern is our defense as much as our offense, imo.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Our offense isn't garbage. It's been good for us. It has been adjusted and now it needs further adjusting.

A third player, capable of attacking the basket, in the starting unit is needed. That means either bye-bye to Batum or Blake. A short-term solution is bringing Rudy in at SG and moving Brandon to SF.