After watching the team play some truly inspired basketball the past couple of nights and the past month in general, I've realized a couple of things. 1) This team looks soooo much better when they push the tempo just a little bit ... not SSOL fast, but when guys are cutting, screening hard, constantly moving they just look that much more fluid and I think the quickened pace translates over to their overall energy level on the defensive end of the court. I think there will still be a place for Roy isoed late in games and at the end of quarters and I don't think they even need to play "fast," but there just can't be the constant "standing around in the corners watching the ball handler operate" crap. 2) Offensively, If Greg, Roy and LMA are going to truly fit together as a supposed "Big Three," Greg has to develop a consistent jumper that extends to at least fifteen feet. We will still need him to become a post presence, but in order for all three players to have enough space to operate on offense and get high percentage looks, that means LMA needs time on the block and can't be relegated to just being a pick and pop or perimeter guy and Brandon needs driving lanes that aren't clogged by Greg. After seeing Pendergraph, Howard and Cunningham take turns at "center" and each having range on their jumper out to a minimum of 12 feet or so, it's apparent that this threat frees up a ton of room for Aldridge and Roy.
That's a really good point. I'd love to see Bayno work with him again this summer on that exact thing..........a semi-mid-range jumper.
I fully believe that a 15' jumper is completely within reach for Oden. His free throws and shooting in practice have shown that he has the mechanics to make that shot. It will just take a little time to work that into game play. If Oden had not had two long term injuries, my guess is that he would already have that shot squared away. Also, it takes Nate asking Greg to leave his comfort zone of 6 feet out. But it should be obtainable.
Martell, especially benefits from player and ball movement. As nice as his jumper looks, he's NOT a good standstill shooter with his feet set (like Blake). It's like the longer he has to think about it, the less likely he is to make the shot. He shoots much better when he's active, coming off screens, getting good lift when shooting his jumper. With teams playing more and more zone defense, there is often an opening in most zones just inside the FT line at either elbow. This is sort of no mans land between the guards on the top of the zone and the forwards and centers down low. If you have a center who can knock down this shot, it's easy money. Either you're wide open, or you have a much smaller player "contesting" your shot. This is the shot I'd have Greg working on in the off season - step into the open area in front of either elbow, catch, turn and shoot. He's a good enough FT shooter that all he really needs to work on is the fluid catch, turn and shoot mechanics. BNM
Yep. He's not a pure shooter, per se, as much as he is a motion shooter. That said, Miller has been getting better and better at delivering Martell the ball when/where he wants it.
Also, when Martell knows he's going to get the ball he's MUCH more active, running off screens, trying to shake his man, etc. I know too much gets made of his 24-point 3rd quarter against Utah a couple years ago, but go back and watch the replays on youtube. Roy told Martell at halftime he couldn't go and needed Marty to pick up the scoring. He KNEW he was going to be getting the shots, and he came out active and determined. While he hasn't had any more 24-point quarters, he's been playing with that same determination to get open lately. He's been very active on both ends of the court, and when he's active and moving on offense, he's a much better player. And, as you said, Miller does a good job delivery the ball to him at the right place and time. BNM
I agree both on the need for, and likelihood of Oden developing a jumper. I've mentioned it before, but I think the center that Oden needs to watch tape of is actually Patrick Ewing. Both were very awkward early, but Ewing, while never having the grace and fluidity of an Olajuwon or Robinson, managed to develop a very solid offensive game built largely on jumpers. And he always had bad knees... And Roy is just a tad better than John Starks.
This is what I had been hoping for when we acquired Miller. Better ball movement and player movement. I can't stand the iso/stand around and watch Brandon Roy offense.
How much better have we looked with Miller out there instead of Blake too? Roy's had the highest percentage of his career the last couple of weeks and real high scoring numbers too, we'll be fine if we keep the rotation short and have ACTIVE players out there. This means Blake and Outlaw HAVE to go.
Sadly, I don't think Roy will allow the team to play uptempo. This isn't a knock on him, it's just not his style of play or his mindset. I forget which game it was a couple weeks back, but a player (Aldridge, I think) kicked the outlet to Roy and raced up court, only to have Roy hit the brakes (for no reason, I might add; the D wasn't back) as he went by and end any chance of a fast break. Roy is great at what he does, but pushing the tempo isn't one of those things.
You misunderstand, I'm not talking about offense that gets pushed early in the clock, I'm talking about offense that utilizes a lot of screening, cutting, motion and passing. With ball-handlers like Miller, Roy, Bayless each able to get dribble penetration or post up (Bayless not yet) and find cutting shooters there's an opportunity here to put to death once and for all, the plays where Roy holds on to the ball for 18 seconds, drives into a set defense and each of his teammates waits along the baseline or on the wing waiting to receive a possible pass. Brandon can certainly learn to play in this kind of offense and doesn't have to "run, run, run" to be effective, it just means the whole team needs to commit ceasing the pointless standing around that they do too often.
No, we're talking about pretty much the same thing... Roy slows it down to the point that it's an iso play or nothing due to the shot clock situation.
A very good point. Roy has stated that he's not a runner type of player. That's why he always walks the ball up the court. Roy doesn't seem to get the fact that the proper tempo benefits the team more so than his gritty one-on-one stuff, and his all too often late 4th quarter turnovers when he tries to go 1 on 4 hurt. He needs an attitude adjustment.
Greg already has a semi-decent jumper. I think extending his range is just a matter of some time with a shooting coach, and regular shooting practice.
