Improving our Half-Court Offense

#1
LawVol13

LawVol13

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#1
Obviously, the halfcourt offense still leaves a quite a bit to be desired, but here are a few things that I think we should concentrate on to be more efficient.

1) More isolation plays for Chism and Smith: I noticed in the CC game that we isolated Smith on a wing and allowed him to work one-on-one and score and create for others. I also noticed, in the limited time Chism got to play, that we were able to iso him on the block and he was effective. Hopefully there will be more of this.

2) More Screen & Roll With Hopson: I would love to see Pearl get to play a little two man game with Hopson. Hopson struggles creating for himself, but I think he would be more effective with Chism Screen and rolling or Screening and flaring for the three.

3) QUIT RUNNING THE FLEX FOR 25 seconds before we get into the play call--- get the play call in with at least 20 seconds to go, so we're not left heaving a BS shot at the buzzer.

I, like many of you, don't care for the flex, but I think with more isos and pick and rolls with our best players, it could be much more effective. I don't know if we'll see it, but I think it would work much better than some of the crap we are doing now. What do you guys think?
 
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#2
#2
I don't know about letting Hopson handle the ball much. He doesn't dribble very well, especially in traffic. I think we need to have him run Lofton plays, get him coming off screens and double screens to get open three looks ans some back-doors. Once he works on his ball handling, then let him start trying to run screens and create on his own.

I would love to see more inside game overall. I hate seeing our post players pass the ball with our PGs 30 feet from the basket. Not many teams will be able to stop Chism down low this year, and Pearl needs to take advantage of that.
 
#3
#3
#1ArencibiaFan said:
I don't know about letting Hopson handle the ball much. He doesn't dribble very well, especially in traffic. I think we need to have him run Lofton plays, get him coming off screens and double screens to get open three looks ans some back-doors. Once he works on his ball handling, then let him start trying to run screens and create on his own.

I would love to see more inside game overall. I hate seeing our post players pass the ball with our PGs 30 feet from the basket. Not many teams will be able to stop Chism down low this year, and Pearl needs to take advantage of that.
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By utilizing Hopson with the pick and roll, he doesn't have to create for himself. He simply has to attack the rack, shoot off the screen, or hit Chism on a roll or a flare.
 
#4
#4
I don't know, I'm not comfortable with Hopson handling the ball at all. His decision making isn't exactly great either. I think with time and practice, this would be a good game plan, but I don't know about right now. He seems much better as a spot-up shooter and slasher right now.
 
#5
#5
#1ArencibiaFan said:
I don't know, I'm not comfortable with Hopson handling the ball at all. His decision making isn't exactly great either. I think with time and practice, this would be a good game plan, but I don't know about right now. He seems much better as a spot-up shooter and slasher right now.
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I agree. I think he would be much better slashing coming off a ball screen than having to create for himself. Coming off a ball screen does not require unusually high basketball IQ; it is one of the simplest plays in basketball. Also, it just makes lots more sense to run your half-court offense through your best players. That would be Hopson, Smith, and Chism.
 
#6
#6
I think ball handling is the only thing that will keep Hopson in Knoxville another year. He's quick enough to come off of a screen to either shoot a jumper or go the rim. Chism has been a force inside so far and it's correct to say not many will be able to handle him in the paint. I can't wait to see Hall develop a bit more because I hate when Chsim goes out of a game for Williams or Hall coming in.
 
#7
#7
I agree with Kiffin13. We need to use Chism inside much more. Smith is most effective driving to the basket and scoring or setting up someone else. I also fully agree that running 20 seconds going through a flex rotation without a play makes no sense and puts us in situations where we are lucky to get off any kind of decent shot. If we can improve our half-court game, this team will go far this season.
 
#8
#8
BasketvolsFan said:
I agree with Kiffin13. We need to use Chism inside much more. Smith is most effective driving to the basket and scoring or setting up someone else. I also fully agree that running 20 seconds going through a flex rotation without a play makes no sense and puts us in situations where we are lucky to get off any kind of decent shot. If we can improve our half-court game, this team will go far this season.
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I agree with your last sentence. However, there has been nothing over the course of Pearl's tenure to suggest that the halfcourt game will ever improve.
 
#9
#9
Agreed. You would think at this high of a level of competition the staff could come up with a competent half court offense...
 
#10
#10
Or you would think, by reading this thread, that we haven't led the league in offense or score 80+ points a game. There are some things I'd like to see on offense, but I'm not real concerned with scoring points.
 
#11
#11
Unimane said:
Or you would think, by reading this thread, that we haven't led the league in offense or score 80+ points a game. There are some things I'd like to see on offense, but I'm not real concerned with scoring points.
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It will be an issue when the real games matter in March.
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#12
#12
Unimane said:
Or you would think, by reading this thread, that we haven't led the league in offense or score 80+ points a game. There are some things I'd like to see on offense, but I'm not real concerned with scoring points.
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If you don't think we have half-court offense problems, then maybe you know even less about basketball than I originally thought.
 
#15
#15
Unimane said:
Or you would think, by reading this thread, that we haven't led the league in offense or score 80+ points a game. There are some things I'd like to see on offense, but I'm not real concerned with scoring points.
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Impressive response.
 
#16
#16
Lofton4Three said:
It will be an issue when the real games matter in March.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Hold up, you mean our average over the course of a season against a sorry SEC and very mild OOC schedule is a worthless measure? That's crazy talk. Kentucky hasn't just slowed us out of our minds for the past two seasons, even with poor guard play.
 
#17
#17
Good Lord this place is infested with the "Legion of the Miserable" types.

Like I said, there are some things I would like to see in the halfcourt, but I'm not concerned with scoring points. Now, I know that you have to talk down about the abilities of our coach and players here to have cred, or whatever, but that's an accurate statement I made about our offensive capabilities. Nowhere did I say we have no problems in our halfcourt because every team has issues.

Shockingly, I am pleased with our #11 ranking and 5-1 record. I am looking to do better, but I'm also not one to sit here and ***** about not looking like a Bobby Knight team from the 70's.
 
#19
#19
BigPapaVol said:
Hold up, you mean our average over the course of a season against a sorry SEC and very mild OOC schedule is a worthless measure? That's crazy talk. Kentucky hasn't just slowed us out of our minds for the past two seasons, even with poor guard play.
Click to expand...

Our offense is just fine against the UNCA's of the world, or any other team where BP just rolls out the basketballs and his biggest concern is whether or not the cute Blonde in Row 4 likes it when he takes his jacket off.

We dominate then.

It's those teams who have coaches who do more than lay in a tanning bed that give him fits.
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#20
#20
BigPapaVol said:
Hold up, you mean our average over the course of a season against a sorry SEC and very mild OOC schedule is a worthless measure? That's crazy talk. Kentucky hasn't just slowed us out of our minds for the past two seasons, even with poor guard play.
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BPV, you and Hat have to get together and figure out who's stealing who's line...........

"That's crazy talk". :)
 
#22
#22
BigPapaVol said:
battling with the legions of the ignorant. Nice side you picked.
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I didn't pick any side, I'm just pointing out the stupidity of being one of those who constantly finds faults or complains. Sorry, but it's pathetic to see this board full of whiny people complaining about a 5-1 team in the top 15 and passing it off as "realistic" or thinking it demonstrates some kind of basketball acumen to be negative.

Your "side" lacks the understanding that constantly ragging on something does not equal intelligence or knowledge of a subject.
 
#23
#23
Lofton4Three said:
Our offense is just fine against the UNCA's of the world, or any other team where BP just rolls out the basketballs and his biggest concern is whether or not the cute Blonde in Row 4 likes it when he takes his jacket off.

We dominate then.

It's those teams who have coaches who do more than lay in a tanning bed that give him fits.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...


Oh yeah, like Calipari. He gets dominated by him.....wait.

Oh yes, how about Donovan, he's got two NCs and dominates.......oh, nope.

Once again, I'll never understand the zeal of Tennessee fans to character assassinate their most successful coach......unless, of course, hat is now developing multiple personalities.
 
#24
#24
Unimane said:
Oh yeah, like Calipari. He gets dominated by him.....wait.

Oh yes, how about Donovan, he's got two NCs and dominates.......oh, nope.

Once again, I'll never understand the zeal of Tennessee fans to character assassinate their most successful coach......unless, of course, hat is now developing multiple personalities.
Click to expand...

Bruce Pearl does not need anyone on any message board to deface his character.

He does that to himself quite well.
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