Quote:
Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED
 He should try to teach his team those plays at some point then. This offense is one of the most pathetic offenses I've seen in my life |
That's more because the offensive talent outside Clarkson, Brown and Ross is atrocious than anything else. And even of those 3, Brown is the only complete offensive player. Clarkson and Ross both have some big holes in their offensive skillset. In my opinion.
A lot of times, they just run a high pick and roll, with screening action on the baseline/in the paint. That offense is incredibly effective if you have a PG who can dive and dish. Clarkson hasn't been as consistent with that as Pressey was, obviously. It's a simple but extremely effective offense, that's good enough for most teams at the highest level (NBA) and has been highly successful for many college teams (including Kentucky, notably).
It's also more difficult to run good pick and roll offense when the opposing team doesn't respect the screen setter at all. It's pretty clear there isn't a single Missouri big that opposing teams are going to respect on the pick and roll, which makes it easier to close off driving lanes and overplay kickout passing lanes to the side the ball handler takes the ball.
Teams have been forcing the ball to the screener at the high post when Missouri runs the high single pick and roll, which shuts the whole thing down (unless you have a pinpoint passer with great vision available).
The adjustment I've been advocating for to anyone I talk to about Missouri hoops is that in single pick and roll sets, they should use Ross or Brown as the high screener, so the roll man is someone defenses have to respect. This would require playing small and using Ross at the 4, but that would be fine.
But that's not the only adjustment available. We've seen Haith and co. call more different sets. More use of the double-high pick, which is a really good set. It not only creates different looks for the against the ballhandler, but also sets up good trail/double-screen action for off guards trailing behind the play. Also, they've done some nice things - especially against Alabama in the second half - in getting J3 the ball at the high post off of that double screen where he can turn over his right shoulder and drive down an open lane. This should be the primary offensive approach, IMO.
When you have a team that has no interior scoring threat - at all - with his back to the basket, your options for offensive system design are somewhat limited. Last year, with Oriakhi, we saw them dump the ball into the post more often, but for the most part in Haith's tenure, he has had guard-oriented teams. The pick-and-roll heavy offense they've run is a smart fit for guard-oriented teams.
It ultimately comes down to talent. There's a big hole on this team inside. Haith is starting to fill it with guys like Williams and Jakeenan Gant and even Torren Jones, who has a lot of upside (i was impressed by his defense of Johnny O'Bryant III on Tuesday... he did not get pushed around or overwhelmed physically by one of the strongest upperclassmen in the SEC. Kid is going to be a player!).
Haith's biggest failing for this year is not in the Xs and Os that are being employed. It's in the Jimmies and Joes he's putting out there.