It seems that our default play for end of quarters and end of games is the Aaron Brooks isolation play from midcourt. If anyone's done the stats on these plays, I would be extremely surprised if the efficiency of these plays is above 30%. This play has got to stop and they have to go to something else. The reason why it doesn't work is as follows; 1. AB is not as strong as any of the guards that defend him, therefore he is much more easily affected by handchecks and hipchecks. He is also average at drawing fouls and he is not a "star", so he doesn't get bailed out as much. 2. At the end of games in crunch time, refs are much more likely to swallow their whistles and opposing defenders know this, so they are going to hand check and hip check AB, Brooks is just not strong enough to play against this kind of defense. 3. When he gets trapped, he panics and doesn't really know how to break a trap. So we need different plays because the brooks ISO DOES not work. Alternatives include; 1. Scola postup on the right box, he can usually get a turnaround hook off the glass, and can pass well enough out of a double. 2. Landry faceup on the left box, can hit the jump shot with tight defense or jump hook in the lane. Just don't drive or will get a charge. But this will be better at crunch time since refs will tend to swallow their whistles more. 3. Kyle Lowry pick and drive, Lowry can actually have a decent chance to make the close shot since he can take contact
Obviously the most strategic thing to do would be to bring in the Cookie Monster off the bench and give him the rock. Cookie Monster 6th Man of the Year
It works some games, doesn't work others......that is the nature of needing a basket late. Nothing works every time. And they should not screen for him, just let him go one on one and surround the floor with shooters... DD
When Landry came on late in the game they went to him and got a key bucket. I thought they should have gone back to him at the end there. He would have overpowered Odom again and at least got a decent look. Ah well...
The Lakers as a team had 9 turn overs. Brooks alone had 7. The Rockets as a team had 19. We iso'd Brooks and went for it. I think the Lakers did a good job of sealing him off both times. The first time with the foul by Odom and the second time Fisher putting a body on him. Brooks just has to learn, get stronger. Brooks is 5'11, 160LBS while Fisher is 6'1, 210LBS. There is just no way that Brooks can get past Fisher if Fisher is allowed to body up on him which at the end of games refs allow. I've read a lot about not setting screens for Brooks but I think if the guard has 50LBS on him, you may need to. I dont know...
No way, Brooks needs to learn how to get that foul called on Fisher.....maybe be a little dramatic.... And Adelman needs to be on the refs about hand checking...Fisher can not stay with Brooks......within the rules.... They will figure it out. DD
I agree, I think forget the screen, brooks is a lot faster than fisher. He can dribble by him any day, and if lakers then decide to double, AB should be able to kick out to the open shot. Also after I keep watching the replays that shoulda been a shooting foul...
This isn't just the Rockets. It's seems almost all NBA teams go to ISO plays at the end of quarters, and I agree it's a low percentage shot. I don't understand why teams worry more about getting the last shot than making sure they get a high percentage shot. Most teams have one guy dribble until there is 5 seconds left, and then he ends up with a low percentage shot. Wouldn't running a play starting at about 10 seconds be a better play?
they need to adjust on the fly...having a set alternative may not always work, just like having that aset iso may not always work. LA trapped him right before that and screwed up the play. Lowry should have been point and Aaron the SG.
I think the Rockets played somewhat into the Lakers hand by playing the pick and roll so much. It clogged up the offense at the initial point of attack, putting tow defenders out high on AB. I would think you'd be better off, spacing the court and giving Brooks more free space to create. He could then pass out or go to the hoop, depending on whether and where the defense collapsed. Battier and Ariza both commented on the overuse of the pick and roll after the game, and getting away from attacking the basket. Both AB and Lowry have the speed to go to the hole, hopefully they will figure this out as the season progresses.
Very Steve Francis-esque play by Brooks last game. Lots of dribbling, holding the ball, not enough movement. I believe our last few plays consisted of Brooks dribbling the ball up top for 10 secs then waiting for a pick. Not very good execution.
dfish has reputation. those types of defenders will RARELY get calls down the stretch against them. it's similar how superstars get calls for them down the stretch. reputation is a big thing in this league. tracy couldn't even get calls when dfish hand checked him the entire series. you expect aaron brooks to get calls? dfish has hand checked for his entire career. his reputation is not going to change. what we need to do is when refs dont' call it, we need to adjust. we can't just be forcing the issue and force the refs to make a call. PS - down the stretch, and against popular belief, it's very hard to penetrate all the way to the basket. AB didn't use his midrange game AT ALL if i saw correctly yesterday.
Thats not the point. The point is he can't get past Fisher when Fisher is allowed to body him up hard which he was allowed to last night and most likely will have this problem late in games when bigger guards are allowed to be more physical. If the refs are going to allow a guy to be up in your face and hand checking, no matter how quick you are you need a way to get separation. It doesn't matter how fast brooks is if Fisher can just put his forearm and chest into Brooks not letting him go by.
The problem was the pick was set too close to the side line. Giving him no angle for a pass and a sideline for the trap. The pick (If any) needs to be in the middle of the court, better angle for a pass and more room to penetrate. Adelman and his staff will look at the film and poin it out to Aaron. I'll chalk this one up to inexperience, we'll get better at the end of games as the season goes on.
Well obviously late in games doesn't fall into the category of "within the rules" since Fisher is allowed to be pretty physical. Chris Paul is fast, Deron Williams is fast. There is nothing wrong with mixing your game up using screens, pick and roll and getting clear for a shot. It also gives you an opportunity to free up a team mate once you get past your man. Iso'ing a player for the very last play, especially one as inexperienced as Brooks I think has a much lower % of success. <Shrug> But you're right, they'll figure it out. It's hard because we all want Ariza to play within the confines of what hes capable of, but in reality I think he's still figuring out himself what hes capable of. Prior to joining the Lakers, his ceiling was the end of a bench 2nd rounder. Now hes a starting SG. He's growing as a player and will figure out what hes capable of I think.
