How many of you identify as "the baseball crowd"?

[VObserver]

Well stated. However, 1) if we recruited so well and have two NBA players on our team (which Long may not play in the NBA, at least for a while) why can't we win more than 17 games? 2) if you have two NBA players on your team, how can you not recruit better players around them while having 2-3 walk out the door every year?

How can you not design an offense which fits the talents of the players you have, rather than the players you thought you had?

I don't know anything about coaching basketball at a high level; but if I had been coaching the Cajuns, with Long and Peyton, we would never have finished as low as the #4 seed in the conference tournament; furthermore, we would have attempted less than half as many 3's the last two years, focusing instead on spreading the court and attacking the rim with Long, Washington, Stove, Walker and Hedgeman off of the pick and roll at around 15' from the goal.

[Ragin4U]

How can you not design an offense which fits the talents of the players you have, rather than the players you thought you had?

I don't know anything about coaching basketball at a high level; but if I had been coaching the Cajuns, with Long and Peyton, we would never have finished as low as the #4 seed in the conference tournament; furthermore, we would have attempted less than half as many 3's the last two years, focusing instead on spreading the court and attacking the rim with Long, Washington, Stove, Walker and Hedgeman off of the pick and roll at around 15' from the goal.

I am in agreement with parts of this but a coach can rarely make wholesale changes to his system. Its his system because that is what he knows and can teach and adjust. Usually you get players that can fit your system not the other way. Best example of doing wrong has been LSU FB offense the past couple of years. They get dual threat qbs and run a Big 8 offense.

[VObserver]

I am in agreement with parts of this but a coach can rarely make wholesale changes to his system. Its his system because that is what he knows and can teach and adjust. Usually you get players that can fit your system not the other way. Best example of doing wrong has been LSU FB offense the past couple of years. They get dual threat qbs and run a Big 8 offense.

Well, Bob didn't do this; but he did recruit some nice inside players and slashers. Basketball ain't football. There are only 5 guys on the court for you at a time. ALL of them can perform the same basic basketball acts; just each of them is better at a different set of those skills. Every basketball coach from Dr. Naismith to the 18 year old kid coaching his little brother's biddy team knows the three or four base offenses that have been developed since the baskets still had bottoms. Every GOOD coach plays to the strength of his team, whether because he recruited to his preferred system or because he failed to do that and the players he has are better in another system.

[Ragin4U]

I'm not commenting on what Marlin did or didnt do. I am just saying that coaches usually are comfortable with a certain system. Calling for a pick and roll offense is great but you need a 1 who can press the basket and make good decisions. You need a big who doesnt just roll but can pop on the pick and pop and you need a consistent outside threat to keep the d honest. Otherwise they will pack the lane and the roll will never be open. You cant just wish your team to be the Spurs.

I am partial to a dribble-drive or motion offense where you dont need a dedicated 1 or 5. Many more 2,3, and 4s out there.

[VObserver]

I'm not commenting on what Marlin did or didnt do. I am just saying that coaches usually are comfortable with a certain system. Calling for a pick and roll offense is great but you need a 1 who can press the basket and make good decisions. You need a big who doesnt just roll but can pop on the pick and pop and you need a consistent outside threat to keep the d honest. Otherwise they will pack the lane and the roll will never be open. You cant just wish your team to be the Spurs.

I am partial to a dribble-drive or motion offense where you dont need a dedicated 1 or 5. Many more 2,3, and 4s out there.

You mean like Little Rock killed us with, running a motion offense that featured the pick and roll at the T, which led to numerous uncontested layups? If we had run that offense this year, Long would have averaged 25 and Washington 20, as both are immeasurably better than the guys who played the comparable positions at Little Rock. I don't need a 1 to run the pick and roll; I need a couple of good 4's [Long, Washington, Walker] and a 3 or two with a decent handle [Stove, Hedge] and a couple of 1's or 2's who can hit an uncontested 3 when it is available [Wright, Wronk, Shep].

Just because the most famous pick and roll offense involved John Stockton and Karl Malone doesn't mean that is the only way you can do it.

[Ragin4U]

You mean like Little Rock killed us with, running a motion offense that featured the pick and roll at the T, which led to numerous uncontested layups? If we had run that offense this year, Long would have averaged 25 and Washington 20, as both are immeasurably better than the guys who played the comparable positions at Little Rock. I don't need a 1 to run the pick and roll; I need a couple of good 4's [Long, Washington, Walker] and a 3 or two with a decent handle [Stove, Hedge] and a couple of 1's or 2's who can hit an uncontested 3 when it is available [Wright, Wronk, Shep].

Just because the most famous pick and roll offense involved John Stockton and Karl Malone doesn't mean that is the only way you can do it.

I think your 1 has to be a good decision maker otherwise the pick and roll turns into a turnover fest. I can teach anyone to set his feet and then roll to the rim. The 1 has to set up his defender, sell the drive and be a threat to drive and then make the decision to pass, drive, shoot. If your big can shoot a little, the pick and pop is a nice change but it is all predicated on the 1.

[ManAboutTown]

I think your 1 has to be a good decision maker otherwise the pick and roll turns into a turnover fest. I can teach anyone to set his feet and then roll to the rim. The 1 has to set up his defender, sell the drive and be a threat to drive and then make the decision to pass, drive, shoot. If your big can shoot a little, the pick and pop is a nice change but it is all predicated on the 1.

This has been our biggest problem at the guard position. It all comes down to decision making.

[Ragin4U]

This has been our biggest problem at the guard position. It all comes down to decision making.

And I dont think you can teach it. Basketball IQ and instincts just are.

[VObserver]

I think your 1 has to be a good decision maker otherwise the pick and roll turns into a turnover fest. I can teach anyone to set his feet and then roll to the rim. The 1 has to set up his defender, sell the drive and be a threat to drive and then make the decision to pass, drive, shoot. If your big can shoot a little, the pick and pop is a nice change but it is all predicated on the 1.

Run the pick n roll with your 3-4 combination.

[Boomer]

Run the pick n roll with your 3-4 combination.

---Well part of my St Louis HS offense---run the point through to the opposite side and it sets up an unbalanced number to the ball side with the other wing coming out if his man sags---

[Ragin4U]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/spo...ame/?tid=sm_tw

[CajunEXPRESS]

The three point line has really taken the game away from the traditional big man domination of the past. Having players who are really good in both areas really mean a lot.

We saw a non NBA kid win the NCAA for the Wildcats this year from beyond the three point line, and the extraordinary defense Villanova had.