Perfunctory Pistons game thread.

[Pradamaster]

There's also a weird dynamic between Arenas and Butler I have noticed. Washington played a set that had Caron set a screen on the top of the key, then shade to the right. Not on one single occasion did Arenas drop the ball to Butler on the wing, the ball always ended up being swung to the left side where there was some off ball action to free the SG.

With all the action on the left side of the court this seemed like the perfect setup to get a two man game going between Butler and Arenas. Why that never happened I have no idea.

I don't think this is exclusively a problem between Arenas and Butler. I think it's partially a problem with Flip. Let me explain.

Flip's offense is initiated in two ways. First, the shooting guard rubs off a backscreen by the four man and then curls out to the other side, where he runs off a double screen by the three and the five. Then, after the four man sets the backpick on the two man, he runs and sets a pick for the one man, who has the ball. It's a pick and roll, but it's often designed to distract the defense from the two man curling out from the other side.

Normally, the guy setting those screens is Blatche. However, ever since Butler struggled in the early games, Flip has altered the offense so that Butler is the one setting the backscreen and then the screen on the point guard. I think Flip's logic (haven't asked him yet, and if I did, I doubt he'd explain it in detail unless it was a one-on-one OTR) is that it puts Butler closer to the baseline, where he is most effective (at least previously, that's where he caught it a lot in the Princeton). And Gilbert can always break the play and give Butler the ball for an open shot if Butler slips the screen (and contrary to you, hermitkid, I did see this happen a lot, though not in the fourth quarter).

(I wish I could diagram this better, but go back and watch the games to see this. I imagine we'll see this come to an end with the return of Jamison).

Now, as you've probably guessed, I'm not a fan of this adjustment. To me, Butler needs to be the nominal shooting guard in this offense, not the four man. He's been so poor driving to the basket off his own dribble this year that I think anything that limits the number of dribbles he makes is a good thing. If he's curling out to the weakside, then he either shoots it or passes it. The former is good because he needs to shoot quicker, and the latter is fine because Butler can pass -- it's just that it's hard to get assists when you catch the ball on the baseline because no sane defensive scheme is going to double-team you there. (Insert joke about Eddie Jordan here). I think that's why Butler has so few assists this year. He's certainly looking to score at times when he shouldn't, but I think the biggest reasons has to do with where he's catching the ball in the halfcourt.

Basically, I think the whole "Arenas and Butler have no chemistry" thing is a bit overblown. I just don't know if I like where they're being deployed.

[NoVaO]

Does anybody else think the screens set by the big men are often weak and do little to free up the ball handler or the free up the wing player playing off the ball?

I feel like I routinely see Blatche missing the defender when he's setting the screen for the player on the wing or Haywood/Blatche rolling early when they make their screen on the ball. Therefore, they never actually set the screen. I find Blatche doing this especially.

Whereas our opponents routinely free up their players with screens that we have a lot of trouble getting through, like we're running into a wall.

That may be a reason why we're often taking contested jump shots or why players are having trouble shaking players, getting separation on offense. It's not the biggest thing in the world, but little things like that matter.

[queridiculo]

I think what we're seeing is our bigs being hesitant to set hard screens in fear of picking up the cheap foul. Ironically it's that lack of commitment that's gotten them called on moving screens.

What has me more concerned though is that our pick and roll defense has deteriorated considerably. Blatche is about the only guy that consistently shows strong and hustles to recover, Haywood on the other hand either shows too weak, or is too slow on the recovery.

With the Pistons quick one-two combo this became extremely apparent. Haywood was consistently slow in his decision making and his lack of hustle gave up the corner on more than one occasion.

I hope Saunders starts making this a point of emphasis, no reason to slip into EJ era pick and roll defense.

[dobrojim]

Haywood's been a good pick/screen setter historically.

Doing this effectively requires proper execution by both parties.

re Arenas/Caron - Gil hit him with a beautiful pass on a fast break
during our 3rd Q run. I think everybody is just frustrated right now.
We need a W. Bad.