I am not a basketball expert, but having watched last night's game, I observed a (what I think) significant problem that has carried over from last year. That is, none of our guards can accurately play the pick and roll. My understanding is that the purpose of the pick and roll is one of three: 1) Player A sets pick for Player B. Player B's defender is cut off by the pick and Player A has either an open shot or open path to the basket. 2) Player A sets pick for Player B. Player A's defender switches over in order to cut off Player B, thus creating a mismatch (more than likely in favor of Player A, as the player setting the pick is usually a forward or center and thus would be much larger than the Player B's original defender, who is probably a guard). 3) Player A sets pick for Player B. Both Player A and Player B's defenders attempt to double team Player B. Player B quickly passes to Player A who is wide open. The problem I'm seeing with the Rockets is that they never take advantage of options 2 and 3. What makes this more devastating is that opposing teams are recognizing this and are using it against the Rockets. Thus, when one of the frontcourt players sets a pick for Steve, Cuttino or Moochie, both defenders double down on them. Rather than make a quick pass out of this situation and creating either an open shot or defensive mismatch, the guard simply dribbles farther outside in order to avoid getting trapped. The player setting the pick never sees the ball quickly enough to have an easy shot. As a result, the play breaks down and shot clock time is wasted. I saw this happen several times last night, including one time when Boki was ridiculously wide open. Granted, Boki's shooting touch doesn't inspire alot of confidence, but neither does an off-balance shot with a second left on the shot clock. So how should this be corrected? I'm not really sure our guards can be taught court vision at this stage in their career. None of them seem to have it naturally, and all of them seem to fall back on playground basketball tricks when under pressure. Perhaps the Rockets should simply avoid using the pick and roll, as it only wastes shot clock time and doesn't accomplish anything. Thoughts?
If they took out the PnR, they'd be the only team in the NBA not using it. Among other things, PnR is about timing, establishing a solid pick and learning how fake the PnR and "slip" to the basket prematurely to keep the defense off balance. Getting good at the PnR has the added difficulty in that it can not be practiced alone...others are needed. Considering that Yao is brand new, Cato has never been forced to perfect offense as part of his game, EGriffin spent a large portion of time at the 3 point line, MoT was (most recently) out for a whole season and needed a major portion of another to rehab and JJ, Pike, AG and Meech are brand new...you know the saw..."practice makes perfect".
Last year one of my pet peeves with the Rockets was their inability to come hard off a pick whether it be a PnR or a downscreen. Two things you have got to do in order to maximize a pick is: 1) Set your man up by walking him down to the block, and 2)You have got to come shoulder to shoulder with the man setting the pick... Last year the Rockets rarely did either of these. I am hoping that will change under JVG since Alan Houston used picks just as good as anybody in the league. I remember the few times Cat actually set his man up for a pick and came HARD off of it, he was WIDE open and nailed the jump shot... I was like, "was that sooo hard guys!" Give them some time... they have only had a week to learn a new system. We'll be alright.
I agree with you 100%. Steve and Cat were never patient enough with the pic last year, and didn't rub their man off. They'd get close to the pic but not close enough and then take off for the bucket. It was easy for the defender to get by the pick or switch off. I think JVG will fix it.
It's really sad that NBA players who have been playing several years together cannot execute a play some 7 yr. old girls could do. This is basic stuff and it's ridiculous. I want to see a game, but I know what you all are talking about from last year.
To run an effective pick and roll, the player with the ball has to have patience and allow the player that's setting the pick to get position. The problem with Francis, Mobley, and Mooch is that they are always running around the pick before it is set and they have to make sure that it's a "tight" pick and roll. "Tight" meaning coming off your teammates rear and not allowing the defender to stay in front and defend the pick and roll. Once the Rockets can perfect that then they can start showing and the roll to the basket for easy layups.
I have three words for you - Stockton to Malone Here is the solution... Grab Stevo, Cat and Mooch......take them to a remote secure location set up with a large screen video projector. Tie them each to a chair, tape their eyelids open and force them to watch every single pick-n-roll that Stockton and Malone ever ran. Set the video to repeat and continue this until they have sufficiently been reconditioned from their current street ball mentality to a more fundamental style of basektball... Hey, it worked for the guy in A Clockwork Orange.....should work for them
But the problem I see isn't that Steve (and Cat and Moochie) isn't using the pick correctly. Instead, the problem is that they ALWAYS hold on to the ball once they go by the pick. Other teams have seen this too, and that's why you see BOTH defenders double team the guard. In order to avoid the trap, the guard is forced to dribble even farther away from the basket. That gives the frontcourt defender time to get back to his man. As a result, there's no mismatch and no easy shot. I don't see how going by the pick more tightly will improve this problem. If there's no double team, then I agree that it will give the guard an easier shot. But teams have recognized that the guards aren't going to pass and so they automatically double team. Thus, no easy, open shot.
Odds you are new but I recommended that for Steve the summer of '02. The homework also included video on magic and kidd for help with running a fast break.
Excellent thread. Several problems have already been identified, but another one is angles, as it relates to intent. If you have ever run a lot of PnR's yourself, you'll know that the handler is the one establishing the potential passing lane by virtue of the angle, and tightness, with which he comes around the pick. If your priority is strongly towards wanting to keep the ball, that will be evident in your body's position as it relates to the pick setter when coming around, as it is with most Rockets' guards, and you will come off the pick 'flat', ie trying to establish as much space between you and the pick setter/dfenders, thereby allowing you as much of an individual opportunity as possible, while making it easier for defenders to cut foo the passing lane. Conversely, if you are a timid shooter, and are looking to pass that will be evident as you will come off too tight, body and ball angled almost towards the scrum, and this, too, can be detected by defenders. As much as it hurts to say this, if you want to watch perfect form on PnR's, watch Malone/Stockton. Stockton comes off tight but squared towards the basket, both keeping his shot/drive option open, and leaving the passing lane available. If, as Rockets' players tend to do, you go into the PnR with a preconception of what you want to do coming out of it, you defeat entirely the point of the play, which is to put the defenders on the horns of a dilema, and being prepared to take advantage of whichever opening they opt to leave you.
No kidding. The P&R should be money with Steve/Cat and Taylor. We need Mo back, or a new guy. Eddie doesn't have the skills. Yao should be on the opposite side as a post option. It's hard to stop that. It's a problem when your guards can't run plays, and your forwards can't run plays. Iso!
I agree with this. Kenny Smith and Otis played this to perfection when Dream went down during the "eye" injury... and today's ROX should be looking at those tapes... DAMN... now I feel like a real ARM-CHAIR coach
Please tell me you all saw the same picks that I saw Cornell setting?! That was awesome. That fool is a rock!! PLEASE SIGN HIM. He sets a pick as strong as malone and that is saying something. Everyone else on the team does a tap pick and acts terrifide of setting an illegal or moving pick. The other rockets barely even slow the defender down. I also agree that steve and cat don't get close enough to the pick but I think they do that on purpose for two reasons: One: They know that no one on the team sets good, strong, and long picks so the only use a pick to set up a different formation for a different way to score. Two: They do it on purpose to get the defender on the other side of the pick on purpose and then cut back a second time really strong which leaves them completely open and is very effective. Learn how to establish an extremely strong pick like Cornell does and then, after that, tweek it with a pick-n-roll or pick-n-pop.. ect... but you have to sell the opposing team on the fact that they can't run through our picks... they are going to have to deal with them. anybody agree?
Wow! Excellent analysis! I see what you are talking about! It's almost like the guards don't worry about the "act of the pick." They worry about just "the act of shooting." I think they see the *act of the pick* as "If it works, good! If it doesn't, oh well! At least I can still try and shoot." That's the "preconception" you talk about. They've already made their minds up before the play has started. Their priorities are are off. And they end up limiting themselves to just one option. No patience! Sigh...
The problems start before court vision and execution comes into play. How many times last year did Steve see a pick and dribble in the opposite direction?
To be fair that is a legitimate tactic too, if you lean towards the pick & then take your defender away. Of course it's predicated on your defender buying the fake pick.
