SF,SA, CM as starters why it won't work yet

Well, seems we have one question answered. If the Rockets do start a 3 guard offense next year, Shandon is the man at the 3. (Note though, Outlaw was a mismatch for him.)

Who else likes this starting line-up for April as experimentation (albeit, tanking)? I know Walt doesn't.

Troublesome little stat:

6 A 6 TO Francis
5 A 5 TO Anderson
4 A 4 TO Mobley

15 for 15 for our 3 starting guards. OK...before we say the 3 guard offense has a terrible A to TO ratio...let's think about why.........OK I'm done thinking. It's because the frontline poses little threat, and we aren't really running a 3 guard offense, yet. No way SA and Mobley should be starting this many plays. We have a PG for godsakes.

If there is nothing else we should do in April, it is learn to hurt the trapping defense on Francis. Our failure as a team in this dept. is one of the main reasons Mobley ends up shooting like he is jealous of the Brickhouse treatment Hughes is now allowed at GS.

1. Obvious solution #1 is to pass out of the trap and flex Francis along the baseline back to the other side to lose his double team and restart at the other wing. That should only eat 3-4 seconds off the clock to get Francis on the wing to start some plays.

2. With the same idea in mind, let Mobley bring the ball up court while Francis runs along the baseline to a wing entry position. Thus, starting Francis on the wing by totally avoiding the trap. The advantage of this is not as many seconds will expire as #1.

3. Do a non-dribbling pick-n-roll. This requires a smart, good passing PF/C. Francis brings it up without a picker...thus they won't double him as much. Entry to the wing to a PF/C...now SF runs by ball-handler to free himself up. 2 on 2 with a big man holding the ball should prevent trapping if SF can get free by running around him. If he can't, he can again flex to the other wing through some picks and get free on that wing. That's probably too many seconds, so the big man must be able to do something with the ball himself, or you must have some weak side plays for Mobes, or SA ready as option 2.

4. The Isiah offense...foresake the wing and dribble up straight to the top of the key. Have plays prepared for both sides of the court. SF now can't be trapped in the middle with no picks. Rocks run plays for SA, Mobes or Walt to free them coming around picks, with another option that Francis simply dribbles to a picker at the high post, and can start a weave pick play there.

Anyhow, long winded. But what other reasons we got to play for in April. I say, play the damn 3 guard offense. But that offense must first settle the problem of the Francis trap. Otherwise, we have a long month of Mobes playing like he aspires to be StackHughes and SA learning how to turn the ball over as excellently as Caturnover.

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The farther the Rockets move down the standings, the farther I move down the bleachers.

 

Post schmost. ugh...that's not experimenting.

Do some freaking plays that we did in January during the win streak. There is a play 76ers use for Iverson that I think is excellent. It is called the Zipper play. SF is in the low post and has Mobley with him on the wing KT on the high post...for a classic triangle entry position. Play starts with Mobley with the ball.

1. KT drops to pick for SF.
2. SF comes around towards the high post (essentially trading places with KT)

Option 1
Mobley can pass to a free SF at high post
Option 2
If the defense does a switch, Mobley passes to KT who is now on the low post against a guard...ouch!!

3. Francis get pass

Option 3
If Francis's man couldn't get aroung the pick, SF goes straight to the rim...ouch!!

4. SA comes from weakside to give SF the second "zipper" pick. The primary objective of this is to get SF to the FT-line a step ahead of his man....ouch!!

Disadvantages: timing is crucial for when SA comes over to pick. That's why you have SA (our smartest player, aside from Bullard) do the zipper pick.

Mobley has to want to pass it being no real option other than a 3-point threat

Defending it:
1. SF's man can play on top of him preventing him from coming to the high post. This really shouldn't stop the play, but can clog things up and make it slow to develop. ne answer is KT could not pick and leave SF alone in the low post with a man now out of position,,,and mobes can attack baseline with SF providing a screen on the baseline. Or Mobes tries a dump into SF, for the post-up that Crisco wants.

2. Mobes defender steps back to prevent pass to SF. Mobes can then take the Rudy-sanctioned 3-pointer. SF and KT can clear out for the now very vulnerable Rudy-sanctioned Mobley ISO. Or SF can clear out for a Rudy-unheard-of Mobley triangle attack to the rim using a baseline screen from KT. The last is a classic Kukoc play from Bulls triangle days. Anyhow, the defensive option of stepping back from essentially a triangle set...is a mistake, if Mobes has it in him to run the play.

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The farther the Rockets move down the standings, the farther I move down the bleachers.

[This message has been edited by heypartner (edited March 25, 2000).]