Several of us have agreed that the Rockets are quickly implementing a 2-man game using a high pick-n-roll for Mobley and Stevie. (Rudy calls this 24-High.) I've been vocal in the past month and a half that Mobley is running a better pnr than Stevie, saying that Stevie waves off the pick or shoots over it, while Mobley gets into the middle using the pick more often. I've now got more information on the difference between how the two run 24-high. Defenses are heavily trapping 24-High Defenses seem to have all started guarding 24-High the same. With aggressive traps, they are blocking access to the middle of the court, while baiting the picker to roll too early for a ineffective pass. Our picker is instructed to stick with the pick, and let the guard choose to: (1) run away from it baseline (as Francis does), (2) shoot over it (as Francis does), or (3) hesitate until the trap "dissolves" and he can dribble into the middle (ala Mobley). Why Passing to the Roller is not Automatic I'll tell yeah, I have never seen such overcommitted trapping of a pick, and the entire league has picked up on it. The pass to the roller is not as open as it might look. There is a rotation man ready for that, watch the Knicks tape. They seemed to beg for the pass to the roller. Plus, an early roll serves to give the defense what they want--the ball out of the guard's hands. Francis is being instructed to shoot over the pick We've known for awhile that Francis has the green light to wave off the pick and go ISO. I have recently found out that the coaches are now instructing him to shoot the 3 over the pick, as a when-in-doubt automatic decision. I do not have confirmation concerning the reasons for this, but I am pretty confident it is because Francis has shown more difficulty getting around the overcommitted traps than Mobley does. The strategy is Francis can stop the trapping defense around the league by burning it with 3 ptrs. I suspect Francis's increasing 3 pt percentage is due to this strategy. Can anyone confirm for me that Francis is practicing 3 ptrs at a higher clip? If he continues shooting lights out behind the pick, they will have to stop trapping him....and then....and them....Francis can get into the middle at a higher clip. This league is at his mercy. Keep it up STEVIE!!!
Wow! nice work, hp...I'll have to keep an eye on that in the Orlando game ------------------ "I think the people who believed the world was flat were pretty stupid. You would think at least those living near mountains would know better." - P. Mesku
I don't know if you can call it jacking if he keeps hitting over 50% from behind the arc. He's having a heck of a month so far, his FGA, 3PA, FG% and 3Pt% are all up. His rebounding is down from the 7rbs he was hauling down in Dec and Jan, courtesy of Olajuwon. Go Stevie, Go. ------------------ The Rockets will be the NBA champions. Believe.
The Rocks had 28 fast break points last game, right? Is that a season high? Hopefully, they'll continue that trend if Olajuwon can continue doing what he's doing, or Mo Taylor steps up his defensive rebounding. I don't know if HP addressed this in his post or not, but how have Steve, Mooch, and whoever brings the ball up the court occasionally been handling the traps that were hurting the Rocks so bad earlier? I remember HP talking about the wrinkle in the way Rudy T. was having them bring up the ball. Has anyone noticed anything about that since then? I'm afraid I don't have much of an eye for these details, but I love hearing about them. ------------------
heypartner, If the defense has a rotation man coming to pick up the roller if he gets a pass, is there a quick cut from the weakside that is open? Along the same vein, haven't the Rockets been using a give-n-go variant in which the guard gets a return pass back immediately from the roller? Mango ------------------ Spring Cleaning!!! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited February 16, 2001).] [This message has been edited by Mango (edited February 16, 2001).]
I don't know if the trap break twist is working, but I think it has been aparent that the rocks are not getting trapped as much of late or it has worked after all. Heypartner, great post as usual, but I was wondering if you have any influence over the rocks' playcalling at all? If you do, how about the 24high with a pass to the rolling 4 who quickly lobs it to a 3 cutting to the hoop using a back pick by the 5. The 5 could be in position to crash the glass, plus the fact that the D should be out of position with the trap and the rotation to the rolling 4. You think this can work? ------------------ When I die, I want to be reincarnated as that chair in the Britney Spears video.
While I can't really comment much on your detailed analysis (which is awesome, BTW - keep it coming), I get the feeling that Rudy must be chomping at the bit to utilize all of Francis' God-given ability to torture defenses. It takes time, though, to integrate each new option into the game plan. As you pointed out, if he keeps burning the D with 3s, they'll have to adjust and he'll be able to drive in for higher percentage shots or dishes under the basket. The longer he plays, the more unguardable he'll become. ------------------
The following are Francis' 3 pt attempts for the season. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong as I'm doing this kinda on the fly from work : November - 38 (2.533 per game) December - 34 (3.091 per game) January - 84 (5.250 per game) February - 37 (6.167 per game) Seems like he's more than doubled his "usual" 3 pt attempt numbers. Man, on second thought, are these numbers right? He's jacking up 5-6 3's a game now? Wow. ------------------ "Ive seen more class at a Pig Humpin Contest ." -- moestavern19 makes headlines again, and in the process leaves little doubt as to what Saturday nights in his hometown of Lompoc, California are like. [This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited February 15, 2001).]
Right. The rotation man leaves someone, BUT the trapping forward simply slides down into the lane. That is what NY did. Once Francis passes the ball to the roller, our offense is in the corner, and Francis isn't really even available for a pass back. Passing to the roller is not a great plan, unless he can get off a shot. My point is: the shot is not as open as it looks.
If a better ball handler(Dan?) was the picker/roller and he took the pass, would the defensive spacing/gaps allow him to make a move to the basket or still be limited to the outside shot? Does the defense always force the picker/roller to take the pass in the corner versus letting him go up high and the guard move toward the baseline/corner? Mango ------------------ Spring Cleaning!!! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited February 16, 2001).]
Well I have to admit. I do yell ISO, ISO, ISO incessantly from the stands, and that seems to have successfully sunk into Rudy's head...don't you think?! I still have not been able to get Rudy drunk at Kinneally's, yet. That's when I plan to plant the seed about the new Trapezoid Offense I've designed. These are good ideas. Actually I've seen similar things (not the lob, though). The timing to do that is not as simple to coordinate as you might think. Guys need to focus for the whole game for fancy play extensions to work. It is difficult for coaches to attain that focus. I mean, when does that pick happen, versus letting the roller drive. Another thing to consider when doing fun play extensions like you did, is that you are taking the ball out of Francis's hands. Much of Rudy's intent (and the reason you rarely see a Francis pnr hit a roller) is that Rudy wants Francis in the middle of the court. So, here's a challenge. Rather than suggesting what we can do when the roller gets the ball, try thinking of all the options that open up if Francis can get around the pick and into the free-throw line area. Now ... Now ... we have options! Francis is best burning these well-practiced traps by shooting over the pick, not passing unless the D misplays. The biggest weakness I see in this trap is that they are so worried about Francis and Mobley getting around the pick, they prevent that at the expense of not getting a hand in their face.
<b>Hopefully, this thread will put to rest the talk of a Hexagon or Octogon Offense</b> While the opening post is real and true, there is mention of the Trapezoid Offense here. is is an 18 month old joke making fun of the Triangle offense that TheRocketsGuy bit on in an article in April or thereabouts. I've expanded on it some more in more threads. harumph and DCkid, thanks for the search pulls about the trapezoid offense. I totally forgot about the remark about getting Rudy drunk. Man...I'm so glad Clutch has a faster server for searching now!!!
I know this thread is old and more discussion is not what heypartner intended by digging it up from the past but... I can't wait until the picker is 7'5", has hands to catch the pass, and skills to do something with it once he gets it. I've often thought the rockets problems with the P&R was the crappy picks set by the picker. From what I've seen Ming can set a nice pick which may be the first we've seen around here in a while.
