Article examining offensive issues

#2
#2
Has anyone visited the idea that we really don't have many players who are good offensively? I mean, we basically have no ody to creat their own shot if zz can't get to the rack at 5'8" or JP can't get pushed around as a youth. We don't push for easy transition points too much. And our bigs are flat out head scratchers most of the time. Our shooters are set shooters or too small or slow to create open looks.

Not trashing our team. I love this team, but it's like a very deep and even group of role players who only excel if they find their niche during a game. Just an observation when we start talking @ what needs to change w the scheme.
 
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#3
#3
If you look at Kentucky --how they played early in the season and then how they've found their legs and became a team that is hard to beat. I don't see that same progression in the Vols. They get rattled easy, they get taken out of their game and seem confused playing a tough defense. And they can't hit shots consistently. They seem hell bent on getting the ball inside running the same set play over and over until the clock forces them to shoot from the perimeter which they can't make. Rinse and repeat.
 
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#4
#4
Ehh I wouldn't say he is forcing the grant role on Nkam.. I think he had an expectation

It's all good though.. just wait

Soph TOBE is gonna be a load in the paint
 
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#5
#5
RockyTopTexas said:
Ehh I wouldn't say he is forcing the grant role on Nkam.. I think he had an expectation

It's all good though.. just wait

Soph TOBE is gonna be a load in the paint
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I do think we try to rely on NK too much. He’s a role player who will occasionally go off for a big game, he’s just not consistently going to be a go to guy. One thing is for sure, if we don’t change something and just hope the guys shoot better then it will be a short postseason. Our team has far too many possessions where no one is moving and the ball isn’t moving. Those usually end up as one of those late and/or contested 3s he mentions. I’m surprised nearly 40% of our shots are 3s. That’s too high for this team.
 
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#6
#6
Thank you for posting the article, jaguinn5.

Interesting that the "feast or famine" shooting from game-to-game isn't just a fan perception.

From what I hear from Coach Barnes, Nkamhoua IS fulfilling that Grant role in practice, and his only struggle is to bring that consistently to game time. He brings different matchup problems than Grant did, but conceptually that offense should work just the same.

I'm still intrigued by this pattern of poor shooting nights being team wide. Normal distribution would leave two, or at least one, player shooting well on any given night. So why do these Vols suffer from mass shooting psychosis?

If it was simply that none of them are good shooters, then our "good" nights would only have one or two players hitting at a high percentage. But that isn't what happens. When we're on, everyone's on--or everyone's off, even with uncontested shots.

More analysis needed. Does this pattern show with other teams? Is it a phenomena more likely to occur with "unselfish" teams? There's a good Masters thesis waiting to be explored here...
 
#9
#9
volfeeva said:
If you look at Kentucky --how they played early in the season and then how they've found their legs and became a team that is hard to beat. I don't see that same progression in the Vols. They get rattled easy, they get taken out of their game and seem confused playing a tough defense. And they can't hit shots consistently. They seem hell bent on getting the ball inside running the same set play over and over until the clock forces them to shoot from the perimeter which they can't make. Rinse and repeat.
Click to expand...

They just lost @ home to Arkansas.
 
#10
#10
hUTch2002 said:
I do think we try to rely on NK too much. He’s a role player who will occasionally go off for a big game, he’s just not consistently going to be a go to guy. One thing is for sure, if we don’t change something and just hope the guys shoot better then it will be a short postseason. Our team has far too many possessions where no one is moving and the ball isn’t moving. Those usually end up as one of those late and/or contested 3s he mentions. I’m surprised nearly 40% of our shots are 3s. That’s too high for this team.
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Don't resemble Fulky's game but the way Fulky would almost unexplainedly go off for 20+ ORN does the same then is a no show on offense. Seen Fulky do that through the years up & down.
 
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#11
#11
livefaith said:
Has anyone visited the idea that we really don't have many players who are good offensively? I mean, we basically have no ody to creat their own shot if zz can't get to the rack at 5'8" or JP can't get pushed around as a youth. We don't push for easy transition points too much. And our bigs are flat out head scratchers most of the time. Our shooters are set shooters or too small or slow to create open looks.

Not trashing our team. I love this team, but it's like a very deep and even group of role players who only excel if they find their niche during a game. Just an observation when we start talking @ what needs to change w the scheme.
Click to expand...


James and Phillips are the two most likely candidates to be able to go inside and get their own shot on a consistent basis.

Vescovi should be taking a few more mid range jumpers when his three point shot is not falling.

Key can get Tennessee 14-20 points a game.

Seigler can score but his main focus should be assists and defense.

I think Awaka gets more minutes after his performance against Vanderbilt and Robbins.
 
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#12
#12
KTrain said:
Don't resemble Fulky's game but the way Fulky would almost unexplainedly go off for 20+ ORN does the same then is a no show on offense. Seen Fulky do that through the years up & down.
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I remember when Fulky played as a freshman he looked like he would be better than Grant but then the injuries started so while Grant got better and better Fulky sat on the sidelines. To his credit he turned out to be a pretty good player. I can understand your comparison. I think Fulky was probably more consistent overall but both could drop 25 and then next game score 2.
 
#14
#14
Barnes has some projects on offense which have greatly improved during their time here at Tennessee, they are good players, role model student athletes, however they are not able to fully compete day in and day out with the truly talented and fluid basketball players that roll up on our conference schedule this year, exposing many of the talent shortcomings on our team, despite their improvement.

Watching this year's team without Kennedy Chandler, you realize how smooth, refined and well honed his basketball skill set really was.
 
#15
#15
livefaith said:
Has anyone visited the idea that we really don't have many players who are good offensively? I mean, we basically have no ody to creat their own shot if zz can't get to the rack at 5'8" or JP can't get pushed around as a youth. We don't push for easy transition points too much. And our bigs are flat out head scratchers most of the time. Our shooters are set shooters or too small or slow to create open looks.

Not trashing our team. I love this team, but it's like a very deep and even group of role players who only excel if they find their niche during a game. Just an observation when we start talking @ what needs to change w the scheme.
Click to expand...
Then that is Barnes’ fault. Santi came in as an offensive player. Not many coaches have the luxury of having an upper class like James, Vescovi and Santi. Key has been an offensive weapon his whole career. Interesting that his only speed bump was his one year, playing here. Phillips?? This guy was supposed to be a one and done type player. Not even close.
 
#17
#17
livefaith said:
Has anyone visited the idea that we really don't have many players who are good offensively? I mean, we basically have no ody to creat their own shot if zz can't get to the rack at 5'8" or JP can't get pushed around as a youth. We don't push for easy transition points too much. And our bigs are flat out head scratchers most of the time. Our shooters are set shooters or too small or slow to create open looks.

Not trashing our team. I love this team, but it's like a very deep and even group of role players who only excel if they find their niche during a game. Just an observation when we start talking @ what needs to change w the scheme.
Click to expand...
Team chemistry and assists will take you deeper than a player or two who can create their own shots. But I see your point
 
#18
#18
WaywardVol said:
Then that is Barnes’ fault. Santi came in as an offensive player. Not many coaches have the luxury of having an upper class like James, Vescovi and Santi. Key has been an offensive weapon his whole career. Interesting that his only speed bump was his one year, playing here. Phillips?? This guy was supposed to be a one and done type player. Not even close.
Click to expand...

Well, I mean everything rises and falls on a head coaches shoulders. (Except maybe something as dumb as Hambone's Pearl interview). So, yeah. But I'm not talking about a HC rating.
All I'm saying is that we keep talking about coaching, offensive scheming, going cold etc. And, I'm sure we can get better at all. BUT ... as I'm looking through this deep roster, I'm really not seeing any scoring machines here. We came into this season around 25th rank. The reason is probably this and that may end up being a proper rank.
For the offensive skill level and the injury situation this year, our scheme and O performance has probably been good. We just don't have offensive stars like a Grant, Admiral, Lofton,Juaun, Tobias, Hubbs, Punter Hopson etc.

So, I think our hope is to run the heck out of our motion offense, push for a few more easy transition scores, find a way to get JP, and JJJ more 2 point opportunities. We need a 6 game win streak to end the NCAAT. Tall order but somebody is gonna do it. Our D can probably keep us in every one and give us a chance.
 
#21
#21
The problem is pretty evident. The bigs have a tough time scoring, they turn the ball over, and their defense is nor very good.
 
#22
#22
Just think what kind of team we would have if we had at least one really good big. The best one is probably Awaka
 
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#23
#23
I can not believe this has happened 2 times in a row. However, I was really impressed with the second half come back.
 
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