uh oh, calling all play-call fanactics, Rudy is going to unveil some PF, high-post passing plays. Oh, I have been waiting so long for this. We only see this stuff in pre-season it seems. This is going to be a fun last month. Thank you RUDY!! To date, the only high post play we've seen using a PF as the passer is the criss-crossing cutters going around Kenny for a hand-off. I'm assuming Rudy is talking about something different, read this: OK, I don't usually speculate, but this stuff gives me goose bumps. Anyone want to guess what "set off the high post" Rudy has wanted to use all season that utilizes passing big men within the limitations of the team's talent. Let's assume you own Pat Riley's legendary playbook of a gizzilion plays that he never uses. Which one would you choose for a team with 3 PFs (including Mo') who all show flashes of court vision and smarts, 2 veteran SFs, a center in Cato who definitely can't contribute to a Passing Game (don't start, just let that pass), and 2 stellar guards with marginal to poor passing instincts but who can damn sure shoot and finish at the rim.
From the Rudy quote, it looks to me like: 1) They are planning on having Eddie Griffin as the PF on the high post, so it'd be a play that uses his strengths (whatever those may be) plus his "poise." 2) Other key figures in the play have been out with injuries for awhile and their skills will also be employes as key components. I think this must mean Walt Williams (and whatever strengths he has).
This is indeed great news. But, it does remind me that we hear quotes like this often. The ones of the type "we haven't been able to do it thus far because of injuries," etc. SHould Rockets preseason start sooner just so that they can learn some plays then?
Crispee, have not seen your posts in a long time. Missed them. I noted that point from Rudy when I first read it. But Crispee, could you go into more detail as to what exactly is the high post set likely to do. I do not have the Riley book. Jayz, good question.
JuanV, What about his direct mention of Kenny? Further, Kenny is the only PF I recall in two years who has run a high post passing play. When I read that quote I was thinking that he was referring to plays designed well before Griffin had been tested at all. I thought he was merely mentioning Griffin to say he'll get him in the mix, too. I know what you're saying about Rudy quotes, but I think it is extraordinarily rare when Rudy gets <b>detailed</b> about specific play calling. Plus, we have seen attempts at high post plays in preseason. Simply put? . . . to expose the basket to backdoor cuts. Placing a big man with the ball out front who can hit that high post shot helps expose the basket area. From there, guards can use him as a screen to attack the basket without the ball. The Francis Alley-oop play . . . anyone. You can also have Cat in the corner and Cato set a baseline screen for him and the High Post Passer nails him for a backdoor coming around Cato, or nails Cato if they overplay the backdoor. You can also have double high post with Griffin perhaps and try that backdoor cut with a guard as mentioned, but this time continue through with the plan to receive a downscreen from Griffin who then takes up low post position (this is a Zipper Pick). The guard who received the downscreen from Griffin now should be open at the elbow as 2nd Option for Kenny . . . Mobley at the elbow anyone? This stuff often results in several immediate open shots and dunks when you catch the defense overplaying passing lanes or getting shielded while fighting through the zipper picks. And all along, KT is free to just dive into the lane if all the backdoor stuff shuffled the defense too much, and they forget about the Raging Bull move. ...drool... This is all a matter of timing, repetitions, and chemistry . . . plus some pure talent out of the PF to see where the defense is screwing up. To me, this is a nice compromise to pure tanking . . . where the Langhi annual-highlight-reel-dunk Watch keeps us on the edge of our keyboards in chat awaiting the "Langhi Needs More PT" thread, to leaving us on the edge of our seats at games with refreshing "I'm going for another beer, want one?" observations . . . versus tanking with a purpose where we try to decide if that was a Kenny ISO from the high post or a KT high post play with 3 bobbleheaded guards bouncing around clapping for the ball resulting in a busted zipper play with KT rolling his big eyes and Bulling his way to the basket afterall. To Tank with Langhi or to Tank with Difficult Plays . . . that is the question.
crispee, you're description of that offense does indeed make one want to drool. but, do you think the current crop of players will be able to perform in that drool producing manner. take the simple pick and role. it is, by all regards, their only truly consistent play. Yet I still don't think they have come close to perfecting it. the player with the ball generally moves too early or late, the picker often doesn't get set, or doesn't set a proper, nice, wide pick. And, in reality, it is a relatively simple concept. The pick and roll is the basic basketball play. It should be practiced rigidly and too perfection, so that thye qucikly scan the defense, see their options and make a move. Then add their natural abilities that we currently see and it woudl be very effective. But if they still haven't improved much there in months of action, I don't forsee this high post offense being effective this season. I just feel the second it doesn't work, Mobley/Francis will resum one on one. Hence my question about a longer preseason possibly being needed, to really drill a better offense / defense into these guys. I think the other interesting thing about the quote is that it shows us that Rudy is trying to get them to pass more . make quicker, better decisions, etc.
nice to see you as always crispee, but before I can get all excited about new plays, I would much rather them start implementing some better defense. The team defense has been absolutely horrid. Last night I thought Bill was going to lose it on the air. My list in order of things to do. 1. start playing defense ( at least raise your hands above your waste when someones in your face ) 2. ball movement ( stop dribbling the ball at the top of the key untill the shot clock runs out, and if I see Francis dribble the ball one more time to the sidelines only to be mobbed by the other teams players, I think I might lose it.) 3. turnovers (see above) 4. Go Eddie!
"I think Kenny (Thomas) has a different way of passing," Tomjanovich said. "He can pass on the move like a smaller guy from the power position and do some of that stuff too. We are going to put in a set off the high post we haven't done because of all the injuries. Eddie (Griffin) has that kind of poise." I'm just going on what Rudy said. He began talking about Sac's smooth-passing big men, then compared them to Kenny, saying Kenny isn't the same sort of passer. I understand the next sentence to be going in a different direction. And then he mentions Griffin because he's related to this play he's talking about. Especially because he mentions 'that kind of poise'. What kind of poise is that? The kind of poise that is required to run a high-post play. I suppose we'll know when the Rocks play their next game. But, Crispee, you'll have to post it because I won't notice it and I can't trust any of the other goons here to tell me about it.
Thanks Crispee, just what I needed. I do get the impression that Kenny may not be in this loop. When I was reading your discription of the play be Kenny, I had two thougths. 1. I do not remember Kenny being a good passer to be the one to do it, while EG has shown it. 2. On the other hand, KT has the proven jump shot from that range (more so that EG who is better further out) to keep defenses honest, plus of course the raging bull drive.
This is a good idea. ISO's are the ultimate chemistry-buster. An idea to start running some plays (which, by the way, were invented to land some easy looks), is probably the best thing I've heard this entire disgusting season. I just hope the Rocket players take the initiative to practice some of these plays over the summer when they get Steve healthy and Mo and Rice back.
Did anyone notice in the Rox-Clipps game that Brand and Kandi both stayed around the lane on offense? Both just kind of worked both sides of the lane thus keeping them in offensive rebounding positioning. Duncan and Robinson always work ft line high post area together. I've never thought to get good spacing you had to have your big man at the 3pt line taking him out of a threatnig scoring position.
crispee-Do you think your bolded point implies Mo-ie, Rudy was planning on using Mo as a key in readin the defense? Cool to see we're going to start running some of the offense from inside the 3-point line. As for Cato-I could care less if he can pass. I'm just happy when he's catching passes and finishing like he has lately. His intensity has been way up.
Crispee, I gotta question for you: The last two years, and now perhaps this year, it seems like the Rockets offense has suddenly turned far more dynamic in the last month of the season. Much of this can be attributed to the offense "meshing," I suppose... ...but it also seems like Rudy might be a conservative-style coach who only takes chances once the team is already doomed, or close to it. Now, perhaps this isn't the case; perhaps our personnel really isn't ready to be interesting until the season is almost done. What do you think? Do you think that Rudy is risk-adverse, or that injuries and the like have prevented a more creative offense from emerging earlier in the seaosn?
