UCLA Cut vs Princeton

Bingo. Hibbert (Georgetown) for example should be getting the ball on the low block 8-12 more times a game... Princeton allows wing players easy baskets but detracts from potentially dominant centers. Yao is the most dominant center in basketball. Hibbert the 2nd most dominant in his conference, but it didnt show.

If the quick baskets aren't there Yao will have to pass out and repost deep with very little time on the shot clock because he cant make any moves off the dribble from 15ft out.

We really need a PF who can run this offense. Yao may potentially be a good passer, but the most dominant center in basketball needs to spend his time on the low block. If we can't sign Webber or get a Diaw type guy this thing isn't going to be effective.

 

Personally I would like to see Yao in the high post a little more.

What does it matter if Yao still scores 25 pts a night with a F/G% of around 50% if a few more of his shots are taken from the free throw line? If it causes him to up his assists to about 5 a game while getting more of his teammates involved with easier baskets then I'm all for it.

I know that the byproduct of pulling him out of the low post some also means fewer trips to the free throw line, but it also means less punishment on Yao's body.

Also, were you an advacate of running the offense through Yao when we first drafted him because he was 7'6" and could see the entire floor as well as pass?

 

I think a lot of people are making the mistake of assuming that adelman will implement the Princeton offense because thats the offensive system he used last. The reason why it was used extensively in Sacramento was because the kings GM played the Princeton offense in college and brought the coach over as an assistant. The only thing Adelman has said was that there will be a motion offense, but he will implement a system that fits our players.

 

I agree with everything you said. Yao struggled with Utah when he was forced a mere 10ft out, he couldn't even shoot 50%. Let the most dominant player dominate, why move him back? We need to have him in the high post SOME of the time to reduce predictability and make things easier. But Yao's impact lies in the deep post.

You mentioned Robinson being moved out. That is what the Rockets need. Someone to move out while Yao stays deep. Yao getting 5 apg is cute, but come on. There is a reason why Dirk is sitting at home, why Brad Miller and Chris Webber don't have rings. They had little impact where they needed to, on the low block.

 

Don't you idiots know that dumping the ball in to Yao is too boring? Who cares if posting a dominant offensive post player has won championships for the past 20 years? The way to win now is to play like the Suns and the Warriors, but even that is secondary to making sure the team runs the ball up and down the floor and consistently scores over 105 ppg. The people have spoken and the time of Jaff Van Giant Douche is over. Quit living in the past you dinosaurs, or go lick JVG's nuts since you think he ever did anything positive.

 

Maybe Yao is smart enough to get a scholarship from both.

When Tracy has the ball, Yao is not playing the Hakeem/Rudy offense. I don't have any stats. But I would guess that's probably about half of the time?

When the defense swarms Yao with double teams without the ball, or triple team with the ball, he can't play low post. The sad thing is not about Yao, it's about the way they are allowed to defend him.

Yao is a big boy now. I know it's hard. This is a stage every parent goes through. But you got to let go. He's a smart guy and a hard worker. He can learn.

 

LOL That is so true.

 

I just wish Yao could make a good outlet pass to start a break. Seeing him do it on occasion would be a pleasant surprise.

 

But the system did not have guards leaking out for a break.

The system had all 5 players rebounding the ball on defense and then going....

If they had SOMEON leaking out, they would not have finished dead last in transition and fast break points.

IMO.

DD

 

So you're saying Yao could do it in a different system? We'll see this coming season, won't we!

(and I hope you're right... not saying you are, but time will tell)

 

Having Yao at high post passing like Brad Miller will be a mistake. And Adelman will soon find out once the season starts. Fourtunately, Yao has strong post moves to go back to and Rick isnt stubbon. Sac ball wont work in Houston, period.

 

Yeah there are too many misconceptions about Adelman.

First, he never ran a pure princeton offense in Sacramento. He ran ISO and Triangle plays as well. In addition, he ran the offense out of the low block at times as well.

Before that, (when Jason Williams was running the point), they ran a run-and-gun type offense with some motion but also emphasizing speed like the Suns. He also ran something similar in Portland with Clyde Drexler.

Adelman is very very flexible in his offensive philosophy. Expect more motion offense implemented but this isn't Pete Carril's princeton offense we're talking about. It will be a hybrid that emphasizes Yao in the low block while occasionally moving him out to find cutters. Also, the offense can be run through other guys like Battier or McGrady. Anyone can hang out in the high post and look for cutters. And one can look for cutters from the low block as well, Webber did that every now and then in Sacramento. j

The point is that we need an offense that isn't so uber-predictable. That's what Adelman will change. We'll have a diversity of plays, some involving pure ISO sets like we had before, and some involving varying amounts of movement and cuts.

Adelman is the opposite of Van Gundy when it comes to offense. He is VERY FLEXIBLE unlike JVG who stuck with the same ISO sets year in and year out.

 

I'm with you! Have been since the draft UCLA cut is perfect for Yao. He can swing high/low - it's in Wooden's book here :

<a href=http://books.google.com/books?id=kgqZ8d-UDngC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=ucla+cut&source=web&ots=CuubEXV8qM&sig=Scz6xxyRD-6b7Rmh85mCB72HLjk>John Wooden's UCLA Offense</a>


Hey - isn't that cool! Google books rocks.

Look at the different chapters, guys. There's the dominant low post attack, the high/low, UCLA cut, and the high post. They are different attacks!

Y'all would all do well to read a little about how Wooden won championship after championship with very different types of centers, and he helped all of them look great, develop as men, be great.

So, back on point, I really like Yao setting the massive screen for guard to guard to forward (Tmac!). Tmac should rock and roll on that! Easy scoring opportunities, not him heaving over 2 guys 20 ft out.

I also really like Yao in the high/low. Getting him good catches, less strips is only a good thing. Then, he can move the ball and go low. No need for him to fight so much for position. Move off the ball, not with it.

I would believe, too, that Yao can do touch passing, like his hero, Sabonis - 7'3 300 lbs. Rick Adelman coached an older and slower Sabo pretty well. He can get a lot more from Yao.

Our goal is not to be ideologically pure. It's to get more, easier.

 

Solid Thread
Thanks HeyP

Rocket River
Learning ever more about basketball

 

2 points is 2 points. I could care less how he gets it as long as he is as effecient and he opens things up for other players. I rather our role players make wide open layups than miss open threes.

 

I'm not following some of this. When the opponent...say the Suns which have a habit of doing so...double Yao before he has the ball...moving him further up the paint opens up the area immediately in front of the rim. There are driving lanes galore especially from the weak side even if Yao never touches the ball. It is ultimately TEAM basketball, no?

 

excellent point.

you can't double yao before he gets the ball when he's at the FT line. you would be playing 4-on-3 with an open basket. i'd bet on the offense scoring in that situation everytime.

i think an important part of this offense will be the PF. while yao will sometimes go to the high post, he will most likely be in the low post for most of the game. it will be up to the PF on the high post to make a lot of decisions/passes.

 

I'm not an expert, but my team ran the UCLA cut at one point in high school. Based on my memory, it strikes me as more of a college offense in that there is quite a bit of motion upfront before even the most opportunistic shot develops, and you would almost always be a good 10-15 seconds into the shot clock before the first opportunity to get the ball into the post.

Perhaps my memory is faulty or there are NBA variations that would make it work. But from what I remember it would take too long for the offense to develop when using a 24 second shot clock. I appreciate the idea of motion, but I also think you should have potential opportunities early in the 24 second clock.