Offensive identity

#30
#30
Strictly speaking half-court man offense, they run decent stuff on paper. However, most teams use a lot of the same actions, but with various wrinkles based on philosophy and personnel. There's very few coaches who revolutionize the game in any sport. The good one's teach and emphasize the little things that are necessary regardless of what they do schematically, and their team's play with great attention to detail and maximum effort. Tennessee doesn't do those things consistently on both ends of the floor. One of the biggest reasons they struggle offensively, outside of attacking the glass, is they rarely get anything easy. They constantly play five on five, and even teams with great execution offensively will go through droughts playing that way. Conversely, it's easy for fans and players to suggest they play at a quicker pace, but that's not a change that can be made overnight. It takes a commitment from the coaching staff and the players, and it's a mindset that is developed in practice from day one. A team's tempo in practice greatly affects their eventual tempo in games. Florida is a perfect example, Billy Donovan uses a four second count in practice, and if the offense hasn't gotten the ball into the frontcourt in four seconds or less it's an automatic turnover. Things like that develop a commitment to sprinting the floor from all five players, and sets the tempo they're going to play at. As long as Martin's at Tennessee they're never going to be a team that plays 94ft. for 40 minutes, but they've got to find other ways to get easy looks. One way they can steal points is getting better opportunities off of baseline out-of-bounds sets. Also, they need to make teams pay for doubling Stokes. He has to become a better passer out of a double, and it doesn't have to be the pass that leads directly to a bucket. When teams double the post they rotate and cover down in an attempt to not give up an easy interior pass, or a quick pass to the closest players on the perimeter. Early in games the coaching staff and Stokes need to recognize if teams are automatically sending a double on the catch, and where it's coming from. Whoever they're leaving needs to get in a window, or in Stokes' vision, so he can anticipate the double coming, face-up on the catch, and find him. Now you've got the defense in a scramble, and you can keep them in a scramble by creating multiple closeouts off of dribble penetration and ball reversal. In my opinion, Tennessee's inconsistency offensively stems from their lack of easy opportunities to score. If they don't find a way to manufacture a few more easy looks then they will continue to lean on how well they shoot the ball on a game-by-game basis, and shooting is one of the most fickle things in any sport.
 
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#31
#31
Chris has made a few great posts with numbers to back it up, but we are very reliant on hitting outside shots. Not to over simplify, but that really is what it seems.

If we don't hit outside shots teams sag in and make it impossible for jordan to drive, or Jarnell and Jeronne to have any room to work.

The difference is 3pt% in wins/losses is astronomical, and is a direct correlation to win or lose it seems. We don't have a plan B it seems for when shots aren't falling, we just get down on ourselves and keep throwing it up from 30 ft.
 
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#32
#32
zjcvols said:
It's an inside outside game with some high post mixed in. It works well when Tennessee hits outside and can be pretty. If they don't there isn't a counter other that McRae save us. We also don't move well enough without ball.
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It has been my experience that people who continuously move without the ball only to never get the ball - generally quit moving. We had good movement and distribution for a week and a half or so.
 
#33
#33
bleedingTNorange said:
Chris has made a few great posts with numbers to back it up, but we are very reliant on hitting outside shots. Not to over simplify, but that really is what it seems.

If we don't hit outside shots teams sag in and make it impossible for jordan to drive, or Jarnell and Jeronne to have any room to work.

The difference is 3pt% in wins/losses is astronomical, and is a direct correlation to win or lose it seems. We don't have a plan B it seems for when shots aren't falling, we just get down on ourselves and keep throwing it up from 30 ft.
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Besides Jordan, who on the team can be counted on to hit an outside shot? Sure, Barton and Josh have their moments, but can also disappear for long stretches. DT is a non factor when it comes to scoring.

In defense of CM, I'm sure he was counting on Hubbs to do some damage from outside. Don't know if his injury was to blame, but his shooting was horrible.
 
#34
#34
Freak said:
So do we get mostly open outside looks from this offense or no, IYO?
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No, No is the response you are looking for here. Our ball movement, people movement and distribution for the most part is poor for a middle school team.

Watch a good team - watch us against LSU and Virginia.

Now go back and watch the shots McRae took against Florida.

There is not a team in America that wouldn't like for McRae to take those same 13 shots when they play Tennessee. Just text book - "when do you not take a shot". It surely isn't just me that sees this is it?
 
#35
#35
vols 30 said:
Besides Jordan, who on the team can be counted on to hit an outside shot? Sure, Barton and Josh have their moments, but can also disappear for long stretches. DT is a non factor when it comes to scoring.

In defense of CM, I'm sure he was counting on Hubbs to do some damage from outside. Don't know if his injury was to blame, but his shooting was horrible.
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Barton and Richardson were both shooting plus 40%, that's a really good number. The issue is they're streaky, they may go 8-10 for 2 games and then 0-10 the next 2. That averages to 40%, but you need consistency from them.
 
#37
#37
pass it to stokes on the block with his back to the basket where the double team is easy and have 4 guys standing around hoping he kicks it out so they can shoot a 3 with a hand in their face.
Great spacing though on pick and rolls. Don't know why you guys think that's a problem Guys do a great job running their man into the pick and attacking the basket because there is usually not another defender or teammate standing in the way.
 
#38
#38
Freak said:
Serious question. How would you describe Tennessee's identity on offense this season? And as a follow up, how would you describe Tennessee's offensive identity against Florida?
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Our identity is offensive rebounding I guess. Philosophy? That seems to change with the wind. Our offensive phiosophy is inconsistency. We don't have a "go-to" offensive plan.

Versus Florida, the plan seemed to be to get back on the bus ASAP. At least it seemed that way. The team looked very disinterested.
 
#39
#39
Freak said:
Serious question. How would you describe Tennessee's identity on offense this season? And as a follow up, how would you describe Tennessee's offensive identity against Florida?
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I'm just trying to identify if we have an offense! When J-Mac is off then we don't have one!

:ermm:

Tennesseeduke
 
#41
#41
This is just strictly on how I have been evaluating our players.

What TN wants to be: a 3-pt guard team
What TN needs to be : an inside/paint team

What TN wants to be: a slower half-court team
What TN needs to be: a faster/NBA style team

What TN wants to be: a defensive/half court team
What TN needs to be: a full on-press defensive squad

What TN wants to be: let the offense play out
What TN needs to be: have more set offensive plays (especially in-bound plays)
 
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