If we had a healthy Yao, I'd definitely choose the PnR. The ISO isn't a bad choice as we have Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks and they can both create for themselves. But towards the end of the game, there's going to be more defensive intensity, or a double team on whoever catches the ball. Could lead to an open shot for someone else if he can pass out of it, or it could lead to a turnover. I'd say run the offense. Get the ball to whoever is open and shoot it.
As a counterpoint, the Rockets could exploit their "full effort" by doing back cuts; take advantage of the defense's over-aggressiveness. There's really no reason why we shouldn't be able to run our offense (time permitting, as you said) when the game is on the line. The problem, as HMMMM pointed out, is that it doesn't guarantee us the last shot. But it might get us a lot higher % shot.
How about we play better during the first 3 quarters so we don't have to put the game on the line? Seriously. Good teams avoid last second possessions because they are blowing out the other team 90% of the time. If it comes down to a final possession, either our team is really sucking. Or the other team is getting lucky.
I disagree with your analysis. The fact that Scola was there calling for the ball is what made that play actually work. Scola was posting up and is a threat to score from that position, so when Martin cut off of Scola (the key here is that it wasn't a screen, but Martin just made a cut to the basket off of Scola) the guy guarding Scola couldn't leave Scola and pick up Martin, otherwise Scola would have gotten the ball and scooped it in. As a result, Martin was way ahead of his man and got a good pass (I say good because the pass would have been spot on had Martin's defender not been grabbing his arms holding him back) and a clear(ish) path to the basket. Martin definitely made a great play, but Scola was key to making that play possible.
Anything that Adelman does not draw up; his end of half, end of game, end of overtime plays have to be the worst in the league. I just hope that most of the time the players are not following his instruction to save him embarrassment. I mean really people, less than a second remaining, three points behind and the play is a two pointer?!!!! You know you have seen it.
LOL qft. One too many times unfortunately. Then we have the Adelman apologist reasoning that it was the only shot/choice they had because the other team closed off on the "intended" play. The whole point to call timout and "draw" a play is to execute what's intended. This team fails. No matter how you cut it, its a poor play. Expect going for a 2 down by three, going for a 3 down by 2, or a turnover.
This team sux so bad you wont even have the opportunity. The question should be: down by 12, who dribbles out the clock?
run away because we probably won't win. i am being such a negative nancy right now, but i can't help it. i can't tell you how many times i used the couch as a punching bag tonight. rage much?
Stan Van Gundy talks a little bit about Kobe being/not being clutch and why teams tend to iso and not run their system. (12:33-15:09) http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2011/02/12/021111svgm4v-1555279/index.html
Aaron Brooks. Wait, Aaron will dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, PASS! with one second left on the [shot] clock or turn it over. or down by 12, the opposing team dribbles out the clock
Feeding Scola in the post seemed to work well. It all depends on who we're playing. Like last night I liked the matchup of Martin on Stojakovic.
The best final possssion play we have with this current mix is to get Scola the ball back to the basket on the block and clear out. Let him dribble and move and make a decision, either force the double and ring up a bomb, or let him grind his defender down to the rim and get his little dipsy doo off.
The pick and roll and motion offense seems to be the best fit for this team, especially during those final critical moments. I believe we need to play like the Spurs / Pistons (2003-2007)/ Celtics... Despite what people say, those teams do not have a star type player because their so-called stars play a team game. We have those types of characters on this team and need to spread the wealth more often. Problem is we have unreliable scorers that are key players as well as unreliable defenders that are key players. While Boston, San Antonio, and Detroit have and had players that went both ways less Ben Wallace. But we are that type of team when said and done. Supreme Role Players that need to pick up on team continuity.
You can't just say "healthy" because Yao needs to be conditioned or we're looking at a sluggish player that ruins the team more than helps. "Healthy & Conditioned" is the key word here.
Obviously, it depends who we're playing, what defense they're running, and who's guarding who. But, my universal "go-to" play would be to isolate Martin on the wing. From there he would probably jab to the center of the floor and then drive baseline to the basket. Here, we have a wide range of options, the most likely ones would be: 1) Go all the way to the hoop for the lay-up/floater. 2) Step-back, take the mid-range, fade-away jumper. 3) Mid-range drifter! :grin: Very nice thread!
