Black Mage wrote:76ciology wrote:After rewatching the Grizzlies game, it seems like Embiid sets screens more to get the ball back in a favorable position rather than to free up the shooter—especially when paired with McCain. This approach is noticeably different from how screeners like Kevon Looney or Draymond Green operate, where their screens are primarily focused on creating space for teammates. That said, I can understand Embiid’s perspective—he’s a generational scorer, and it might align with the game plan to prioritize getting him his rhythm, making him a happy camper or exploiting the mismatch tonight he had with Clarke.
On another note, I also noticed during tonight’s game that we ran some of those weave actions. However, when Embiid got the ball, he used the motion to throw his defender off balance, then attacked the rim instead of completing the handoff. Honestly, I’d prefer that approach rather than relying on Caleb Martin or Kelly Oubre to create offense. The issue arises when we run the same sets with Drummond—those plays often result in a Caleb or Oubre drive or even a Drummond isolation, which are less effective.
Joel has historically been a bad screen setter for this reason. Watch any other season and he'll set a screen and before the screened defender is truly on him he's slipping with his hands up to get the ball back.
I'm his defense, he's been one of the just feared offensive players most of his career. Him giving the defenses more to think about than just defending the ball handler and being a threat to score out of any screen is likely by design. I've seen Joel screens even for Harden or Maxey lead to open lanes for because it's expected the play is for Joel.
