Jackson/Drummond PnR

[Blkbrd671]

our offense doesn't work and it is RJ's fault. we have won because of defense.

yet we scored more than 100 points in 4 of our last 7 and are 5-2. You can hold a team to 50 points, but if you score 49 you don't win. Our offense, as explained in the article, is developing and this duo is the main reason for it. Looking at a assist stat, and saying, "it doesn't work" is elementary 7 games into a season with a huge roster TO.

[Blkbrd671]

I read the threat of the Jackson/Drummond PnR opens things up for everyone else. Does it create an open lane for RJ to drive? Yes. But it also opens shots for Illy, Morris, and KC3 on the perimeter. Teams are so afraid of the threat of Drummond bringing down the house with his thunderous dunks that they crowd him and leave everything else available.

This is not disappointing at all.

if you watch film, teams seem to be trying to defend the pistons by letting RJ have his and covering up Dre and the shooters. If you watch they actually rotate the strong side of the defense to RJ's "Bailout" pass if the PnR is defended and leave a man on the other side of the court wide open, so that RJ has no passing lane and if a swing pass were to happen they could recover at least in time enough to maybe contest a shot. If they defend RJ that leaves dre for a efficient put back or 5 foot shot, or one of our good shooters open for a 3 which is essentially at 36%, is like a 2 pointer at 53% efficiency. So defenses are playing the numbers. Let RJ to the rim and hope he struggles or is bothered enough by the bodies it effects his shot

[Cowology]

Eh, I kinda agree that we're probably missing a few lob opportunities when Reggie get's in the paint. You don't get much higher percentage shots than throwing it up to Dre at the rim.

That said I'm not freaking out over it. It took Reggie a while to find his groove last season and this was his first full training camp under SVG with a completely different roster makeup. If 6 weeks from now we're still seeing the same thing then I'll be slightly more perturbed, but I expect Reggie to up his assist numbers as our chemistry improves and we get more practice time in.

well considering Dre and RJ had phenomenal chemistry in 27 games last season, i am quite surprised that they haven't been connecting as often. But when you watch teams, they literally defend Dre above all cost as RJ making a layup is less of a threat than Dre put back. RJ needs to force teams to respect him, which i think he's slowly doing. We'd just like to see it more consistently rather than a quarter or 2 a game.

I haven't done extensive film review, but i have done some. It seems teams aren't giving RJ any option other than go to the rim or floater. They tend to be willing to give the lane, and cover the shooters and DRe limiting RJ's options. If you notice once RJ starts scoring, everything begins to open up for our other players, as teams start getting stuck between checking RJ and covering their man.

Also if you watch the games, our players on the perimeter get stuck watching the ball which is a product of RJ's high usage but also not a excuse not to fill the lane or get into a passing lane. There are 2 many times a game, RJ gets a TO, simply because his teammate remained stationary next to his defender rather than seeing the back door cut or moving a foot or two over to generate a open shot. Its real simple things that familiarity will fix as season progresses.

I get that... but c'mon, you throw it up there and he'll go get it. If he's proven anything at all this year, it's that. I don't care how they are defending Dre/Reggie; my money would still be on Dre to finish that play about 95% of the time.

Again, not stressing over it and I'm very happy with what Reggie is doing... but this is a fair criticism. They should be connecting more.

[Blkbrd671]

I get that... but c'mon, you throw it up there and he'll go get it. If he's proven anything at all this year, it's that. I don't care how they are defending Dre/Reggie; my money would still be on Dre to finish that play about 95% of the time.

Again, not stressing over it and I'm very happy with what Reggie is doing... but this is a fair criticism. They should be connecting more.

Doesn't matter how much of a beast Dre is, he can't catch lobs if a defender is on him. That's a torn ankle(undercut) and TO waiting to happen. What i do advocate is that RJ any time he gets in the key, just toss the f* ball at the rim. There's a high % chance it either goes in or Dre gets the rebound. I hate it when he circles out or picks up the ball. Another product of lack of assist is Dre seems to rolling late or not even picking off the defender. That is a product of both players poor technique.

Whats encouragin is that we aren't running the PnR flawlessly and it still making impacts.

I'd also like to add, RJ seems to be holding the ball more , rather than pushing the ball up to our other guards, like GS did. Which i think is a prodcut of decrease in assist numbers from last year. Idk if that's coaching or just RJ.

[El Chivo]

Dre sets inadequate picks

[pistontr]

another 16 team assists game and it is RJ's fault. don't fool yourself.

[pistontr]

without offensive rebounding, our offense would be all time worst.

[Redeemed]

I read the threat of the Jackson/Drummond PnR opens things up for everyone else. Does it create an open lane for RJ to drive? Yes. But it also opens shots for Illy, Morris, and KC3 on the perimeter. Teams are so afraid of the threat of Drummond bringing down the house with his thunderous dunks that they crowd him and leave everything else available.

This is not disappointing at all.

if you watch film, teams seem to be trying to defend the pistons by letting RJ have his and covering up Dre and the shooters. If you watch they actually rotate the strong side of the defense to RJ's "Bailout" pass if the PnR is defended and leave a man on the other side of the court wide open, so that RJ has no passing lane and if a swing pass were to happen they could recover at least in time enough to maybe contest a shot. If they defend RJ that leaves dre for a efficient put back or 5 foot shot, or one of our good shooters open for a 3 which is essentially at 36%, is like a 2 pointer at 53% efficiency. So defenses are playing the numbers. Let RJ to the rim and hope he struggles or is bothered enough by the bodies it effects his shot

Great analysis! Our shooters are struggling so that approach has been effective. I think things will change as guys either regain touch or get their legs back. Until that time, there needs to be more motion and more passing, less of the Curly Neal routine. I agree when you say the passing lanes have cut down (on the bailout pass), but I think if we had more of the hockey assist approach our team would look more efficient on D.

RJ standing up top doing trick dribbles buys us nothing. RJ has to stay in attack mode making teams suffer for playing the numbers game against and he has to look to swing it around the perimeter.

[Blkbrd671]

Great analysis! Our shooters are struggling so that approach has been effective. I think things will change as guys either regain touch or get their legs back. Until that time, there needs to be more motion and more passing, less of the Curly Neal routine. I agree when you say the passing lanes have cut down (on the bailout pass), but I think if we had more of the hockey assist approach our team would look more efficient on D.

Its honestly on our shooters, they are forever planted in one spot and need create the passing lane for RJ when the defense rotates. If you watch the kings, they had consistent movement off the ball, exposing our defenders ball watching or too focus'd on the pick. That's why i say last nights lost is partially on SVG as he didn't prep them well enough for that. Even in the 2nd half kings were getting to their spots.

RJ standing up top doing trick dribbles buys us nothing. RJ has to stay in attack mode making teams suffer for playing the numbers game against and he has to look to swing it around the perimeter.

2 things

Our offense almost dictates he is the focal point of the attack, the problem is his decision making in the lane. Notice last game there was maybe 1 floater in the lane. RJ normally has at least 5-6 floater attempts, but i think Sacs length was bothersome. What RJ needs to do is when he gets in the lane, is put it up at all cost and count on Dre to clean up. when he picks up his dribble or tries to force a pass, thats normally when he's in trouble

RJ needs to focus on gettign his teammates going through passing. Once RJ passes the half court line, he needs to get the ball to KCP and let him run the PnR. That was the defense isn't used to the same type of person driving and their tendencies. Seeing another person with more length or more size forces the defense to think and react. The more we can get the defense to think, the better are chances of our offense succeeding.

[Blkbrd671]

Dre sets inadequate picks

he really does and is part of the problem. Its more so chemistry between the 2, but yesterday if you watch some of dre's picks, they were soft, or at a ineffective angle. This is caused by RJ's set up and Dre's effort. RJ's got to do a better job of setting up his defender and dre's got to put the effort into getting out and set.

[Liqourish]

I've noticed the last three games that we've sent Dre to go sent screens and guys aren't waiting for it and just jacking up long shots that leaves Dre outside and unable to grab boards and get extra possessions. I actually think trying to rush things and push tempo hinders us more than helps at this point. With this many new players to the team and having so many young guys, we should be slowing things down and letting the game come to them.

[pistontr]

reggie jackson is one trick pony. use center to drive. that's it.

[Blkbrd671]

I've noticed the last three games that we've sent Dre to go sent screens and guys aren't waiting for it and just jacking up long shots that leaves Dre outside and unable to grab boards and get extra possessions. I actually think trying to rush things and push tempo hinders us more than helps at this point. With this many new players to the team and having so many young guys, we should be slowing things down and letting the game come to them.

ya RJ got benched right after that play. Its one of those that the Defense is caught looking for the pick that leaves a shooter wide open. Problem with those plays is the shot didn't go it. They may have been right reads.

Tell you this, at the point that RJ took that shot, it was a horrible or "awful" decision. We needed a bucket, and shooting the ball while your pulling the only person on your team rebounding is not the play that a pg should run. unless your lillard as he'd make that