[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5QhW-I5N0c[/youtube]
What strikes me here is that 75+% of these sets are designed with the pick and roll as the PRIMARY option, and almost all offball motion is designed to create spacing for the pg instead of generate an open shot. What that says to me is that Russ having the ball and dictating the flow of the game is not a Westbrook 'problem', it's the design of Billy's offense. That actually makes me feel a bit better because A) Russ is a great enough offensive player to take on that challenge and B) it means the system we're seeing isn't Russ bailing Donovan out, it's what Donovan wants to happen. On the other hand, it concerns me because there are very few options in the playbook that aren't point guard dependent. When Russ is out we don't have a secondary ball-handler that can run the pick and roll, especially since Donovan has been keeping KD off the ball's so much as possible (this seemed to be changing until the hamstring strain however). DJ or Cam have to step up in order for the bench offense to improve, that's all there is to it.
There are a few plays that aren't designed specifically for the P&R so I thought I'd break them down for anyone who doesn't want to sit through a 13 minute video with annoying music. I'm doing this from memory right now since I have a crappy iPad so the details may be slightly off, but the gist should lie correct. If anybody feels they have some corrections to make go ahead.
Thumbs up- basically it's set up to look like we're going P&R, but instead the wing gets a back-screen from a big and cuts to the basket. It's designed to create space for a lob to the rim. I know we've ran it a couple of times with Robes, the problem is that it really only works once or twice per game. Still, it's a really nice counter to keep teams from overplaying the wings.
Basic over under- what you'll see here is the guards starting on the wings and switching sides, one below the bigs and one above (over under
). It's designed for the wing going under to get a screen from the big and get an open three in the corner. I can't speak for sure since I missed the game, but Slick mentioned a play where Ibaka got an open corner three off of a screen, I'd be willing to bet it was a variation of this play with Robes interchanged with Serge.Curl- off ball movement where one wing comes off a double screen and curls hard into the middle, receiving a pass at the free throw line. Singler hit a jumper off of this last game.
Rip- I LOVE this play. It's so laughably simple that it's almost impossible to screw up. A wing starts cutting across the lane with both post players on the block receiving a light screen from the near side PF, making it seem like he is cutting across a double screen to try and free him, instead he is going to backscreen the C's defender (who should be in help position trying to hedge) allowing the Center to roll across the lane unimpeded. The end result should be A) a layup when the defenders get caught cheating to guard the wing B) a deep post catch as the defender catches up to the play or C) a switch that leaves a center posting up a wing. I don't specifically remember us running this but I'm certain we do, it should be a Kanter special whenever the second unit is in.
Horns elevator- ah, good Ol Horns. Generally horns is going to be a PG choice pick and roll. this play uses that by having the pg drift to the wing, as the SG/SF cuts towards the basket he is going to turn his cut up court and receive a double screen from the two bigs (as he passes between them they step together like an elevator! door closing). It should free him for an open 3 from the top of the arc. I believe A-Mo knocked one down against the Pels out of this.
I will say that this offense is nothing like what I was expecting when we heard 'new NBA.' I was expecting something much more similar to the Spurs, which is also P&R based. The difference is that the pick and roll is almost always the last option within their system. Here's a nice video that shows what they're doing:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aSechs8Vvw[/youtube]
None of this changes the fact that the bench can't defend or score, but it does ease my fears it about the X's and O's coaching of Donovan. We're still leaning heavily on Russ, but when you have a great point guard it isn't a bad thing to lean on him. Nobody complains that the Suns relied heavily on Nash. IMO Presti made a huge mistake with the Reggie trade by getting a pg that obviously doesn't fit the system he was considering bringing in. I don't see a way we fix that this season besides getting Cam as much time as possible and hoping he or DJ can settle into that role.
Anyway, this was just my take, if anybody with more experience breaking down offenses wants to give some input I'd love to hear it.