We have known for years that Jazz trademark is pick n roll, or in a broad sense, screen n roll. That's their bread and butter. In my short history (12 years) of watching the college basketball (mainly the OSU Cowboys) and the pro basketball, screen to basketball is like salt to cooking. It looks simple and feels simple. It's taken for granted. Yet it's still so effective and useful. The only books or materials I read w.r.t. basketball were about Tripple Post or UCLA. I probably can say that UCLA offense was built on screen sets. To be honorest, I like watching Jazz ball. For many years, I have been amazed by the simplicity, effectiveness and longivity of their system. Between their PnR system vs Malone and Stockton duo, I am not sure what makes the other look great. Take yesterday's game as an example. Jazz shot about 80% in Q1. They got so many open shots and they all looked easy. And most of them came off screens. Many of their shots were not directly off PnR, just some down screens off their big men or some cross screens. I know it was not as easy as it looked. But their execution was to some extent around screen set plays. Then we had a totally different style in the Rockets. Low post isolation. Penetration and distribution. The high post PnR was effectively a gimick for Steve's penetration. The only noticeable jumpshot off a screen was Cat pulled up off Yao Ming near the key. Swoosh! It was beautiful. Consider that Steve, Cat, MoT, Moochie, TMo all have a decent jump shot. Heck, even Yao Ming can pull up around elbows. EG is not too bad a jump shooter at low blocks. Even if there is a small dose of screen set plays for jump shots, I think it can become very effective in addition to our predictive offensive scheme. I once considered screens as gimicks. But now, I often use screen in my pickup games at rec centers. It may not look good to pull up off a screen, but it just scores that much easier than playing like a "real" man With lip services paid to Yao Ming as a "great wall", how can the Rockets add a dose of screens to make their games a little easier? I know as a fact that in team sports like soccer, some mundune skills can be lethal under many circumstances. I am interested in your opinions about if and how the Rockets can use screen to improve their offensive game.
The most beautiful thing about Utah's use of screens is efficiency. Utah expends less energy than any other team I have seen play (and that includes the energy expended flopping and flailing). The cross screen example is the best one in my mind. With Utah, the post player doesn't have to expend much energy because at least two other players are usually setting back picks on the defender(s) allowing the post player into easily cut across the lane into prime position. Malone and Cheaney both did this several times with success. With the Rockets, the post player usually runs to his favorite spot using strength to fight and move the defender to improve position. Getting position appears to be the sole responsibility of the post player. I'd like to see the Rockets use screens more to establish the post. It adds variety to the post offense as well as conserves our big men's energy. We can all agree that Shaq is a brute able to get position on almost anyone he wants. Yet, still, the Lakers will rely on cross screens and ball reversals to help Shaq get position without wasting energy. If LA will do it for Shaq--the most dominant post player in the league, the Rockets should do it for Yao, Taylor and Griffin (and Rice).
I agree that a good offense should utilize screens BUT when you play a ISO style of ball (like we do), you can not screen. So before we even use screens, we must initiate a movement type offense (non-iso). Pass and screen away Rox!!! Pass and screen away!!!
I think we can use screens. Every NBA offense includes some form of ISO ball. We just need to set the post ISO off screens and the ball handler needs to correctly use screens when his teammates set picks for him. Too often our ball handler goes too high over the screen or simply doesn't user the pick at all. Right now Francis is very difficult to defend. But he is virtually impossible to defend when he plays efficiently and utilizes his picks well. In Francis' defense, I will say that quite a few times it looks as if his teammates are confused as to what play to run leaving Francis to just create something off a busted play.
JeffB, I totally agree with your takes. Specifically, I like your takes on energy and post establishment. Definitely, Yao Ming spent a lot of energy to fight for his low post position. It certainly has consequencies late in the game. Energy conservation is a very interesting subject in Team sports. Take soccer for example. Brazile is famous for their artful show of skills. But energy conservation is one of critical advantages in their style. The opposite example is English soccer. I remembered after England vs Belgium (3:0?) in 82 World Cup, everage weight loss of English players was around 5 pounds. Back to the topic, energy conservation will certainly be a positive result for the Rockets. In a broad sense, energy determines how far a team can go deep into the playoffs. IMHO, it was Dirk's and Steve's exausted gas tank that caused Mavs collapse in the series against the Kings last year. Interesting. And wonder what if the Rockets can do something about "screen".
I agree with using more screen. It's not about ISO or not. We rely too much on creating off the dribble. Why we never set some screen to free our shooters (especially Mobley) up ala Reggie Miller? Mobley's a good catch and shooter and should move well without the ball.
I don't think Cat is a good catch-and-shoot player like Reggie Miller. Consequently, setting screens for Cat is not a big plus. Glen Rice may benefit more from a few good screens.
Rox is running some double high post picks mostly by Yao and others. But the timing of that one is TERRIBLE! My observation: Most of the time Yao just rolls in too fast that the pick is virtually non-exist. The opponent can easily get around that so-called pick to guard SF, which force SF to do bad pass sometimes. In that double screen, SF can makes a pass to Yao when Yao rolls in. But, I doubt Yao is looking for that kind of pass or SF just wouldnt pass it. Does it happen? The other option that Yao roll out to settle for a jumper. Hmm... I think it's never in the game plan. Anybody think it is effective?? Well, it's all basic bball skill that Rox coaches should know much better than us. See how the team develop is fun IMO. KH
Mobley can be a good catch and shooter. He's quick enough to fight off people to get open. But we hardly run that kind of play for him (we usually let him go iso). Glen Rice is a spot-up shooter. He doesn't move well without the ball.
I can agree with this assessment, since I haven't seen Cat doing much catch-and-shoot. Sometimes, when he received the ball with an open look, I actually saw he hesitated and dribbled/passed away. However, I have seen quite a few times when Cat was dribbling and then pulling up off a screen with an open look. And many of them were good and smooth. This is how I came to the conclusion that as good a shooter as Mobley is, he will do wonder if he is set to jump-shoot off a screen. A typical example is that famous last second saver by Steve and Yao. Cat doesn't have to do it every time. Just mix it up with his game. It will make his game a little easier and look better.
IMHO, that double high post PnR was not designed primarily for the purpose of a "typical" PnR. From what we have observed so far, there is not much spacing for the roller. Unless the two pickers start to pop and shoot long jumpers, the defenders will just clog the paint. With a zone defense, it's even harder to roll and catch. From observing the results so far, there seems to be two purposes for it. One is to create path for Steve's penetration. The other is to create an entry pass to Yao in front of the basket. I didn't say this high PnR is a bad design. It is just not a typical PnR, IMHO. I agree it is an interesting idea for Yao to pop and shoot a long jumper. But they can try it if the picks are set at the elbows rather than the top, which is too far to pop and shoot. You are right that the coaches have their good reasons in this play. What I said w.r.t. this high PnR are just my observations as a fan. I hope they can add more juice to it.
I agree with what you said in spirit. The main reason that the Jazz use the screen so much is because Stockton, Malone and Sloan understand how it works. Not all players can do what they do. But, in concept, I agree with you. What the Rockets gain in speed and quickness, they lack in the cerebral game. And the Jazz play a "thinking mans'" game. If we could ever learn to master the cerebral game with the athletic game, we'd be unstoppable! We'd have the best of both worlds.
the rockets should run more pick-n-roll with yao and francis. who could stop 7'5" yao when he rolls to the basket and the opponent's center is guarding francis? to run the pick-n-roll effectively, francis needs to know how to use the screen. he should draw his man to yao, who should be standing still like the Great Wall, instead of yao moving to pick francis' man. about the jazz, i think they play dirty ball, too much grabbing and pushing. watch dirty stockton sticking out his forearm when dribbling or malone kicking his man when shooting the fadeaway.
Possible or not, that's exactly what I have been thinking. You said it better. I watched second 3-peat of the ole bulls very closely. I think the Rockets must "master the cerebral game" in order to build "The Franchise of The Ming Dynasty" we are hoping. It will take a long roller-coaster journey toward that goal. But, the Rockets organization shall recognize it and execute in that direction.
