We should emulate the Suns with Shaq

[Nowak008]

Last year our offense was extremely potent last year even with sub optimal offensive players getting major mins last year. (Skinner 23, Noel 12, Ersan 15) We could run an up tempo offense and still utilize Bogut like the Suns plan on using Shaq. Get out in transition and when it isn't working in transition dump the ball into Bogut and let him go to work.

We don't have the athletes Golden State or the Suns have, but we do have some. Yi and Bogut are above average athletes for big men and Mo, Redd, Bell, Mason thrive in an uptempo systems.

This team stills needs help because we don't have the talent to contend, however I would like to see these guys playing an a uptempo offense.

[smacks1]

Last year our offense was extremely potent last year even with sub optimal offensive players getting major mins last year. (Skinner 23, Noel 12, Ersan 15) We could run an up tempo offense and still utilize Bogut like the Suns plan on using Shaq. Get out in transition and when it isn't working in transition dump the ball into Bogut and let him go to work.

We don't have the athletes Golden State or the Suns have, but we do have some. Yi and Bogut are above average athletes for big men and Mo, Redd, Bell, Mason thrive in an uptempo systems.

This team stills needs help because we don't have the talent to contend, however I would like to see these guys playing an a uptempo offense.

Redd and Mo thrive in an up tempo offense only because they would chuck up more shots. Neither runs the floor very well, much less like Nash, Amare, or (Marion used to). Mo & Redd are good jumpshooters, and neither bring much more to the table.

[paulpressey25]

When a caller last night asked Wayne Larrivee the question of whether the Bucks should go back to up-tempo, he laughed and said no. The team doesn't have the personnel to do it.

I'm just not in the camp of bring back the Stotts offense. I think Mo plays too out of control and makes bad decisions whether going slow or playing fast. Redd isn't athletic enough to fly down the court. And Bogut hasn't shown me that he's capable of consistently making the outlet pass to push things. Plus Bogut's rebounding is good but not elite and if we are going to have guys leak out we need a dominant rebounder to remain and clean up defensive boards.

Add in the fact Dez can't finish dunks anymore and Bobby can't walk and we've got issues. Interestingly part of last year's push game was predicated on Ruben since he did hustle and could push the ball and finish. But as we all know, he's gone now.

We just don't have the talent for either an up-tempo or half-court game IMO.....so if we are going to actually rebuild with a new GM, I'd lean half-court since that wins in the playoffs.

[europa]

When a caller last night asked Wayne Larrivee the question of whether the Bucks should go back to up-tempo, he laughed and said no. The team doesn't have the personnel to do it.

I'll repeat what I posted in the Larrivee thread: I don't think the Bucks have the personnel to push tempo consistently. They have to be one of the league's worst teams when it comes to athletic ability and while Mo can push the ball up the court, his decision making in transition often leaves a lot to be desired. You don't have to have five gazelles running up and down the court to be a good transition team (the Celtics of the 80s certainly proved that) but if you lack athleticism you need to have smart decision makers with the ball. The Bucks are sorely lacking in the Basketball IQ department. So they aren't athletic and they tend to have a lot of dumb players. That's hardly a good combination for a running team.

[xTitan]

There is a big difference between letting your man repeatedly beat you to the basket, then cherry picking and running fastbreak basketball. Good running teams run off there defense with athletes that finish hard...the Bucks are very athletically (and height) challenged at the 1,2, and 3 spots.

[Sigra]

It is not about runing. The main diferense between Stotts' offense and Krystko's offense is what big guys do. For Stotts big guys set screens and play high post. For Krystko big guys play inside. If we want to be more precise the main diference is what Bogut does.

Bogut was screen maker and pick and roll player for Stotts. That way we use our scoring guards the best way. That's why we have so much sucess with that strategy because our best shoters and best scorers (Mo and Redd) get open and can shot after dribble (very important for them as they are both rhytm shoters). That's how we played under Stotts, that's how we played during 5 game wining streak this year and that's how we played against Hornets

[Fort Minor]

It is not about runing. The main diferense between Stotts' offense and Krystko's offense is what big guys do. For Stotts big guys set screens and play high post. For Krystko big guys play inside. If we want to be more precise the main diference is what Bogut does.

Bogut was screen maker and pick and roll player for Stotts. That way we use our scoring guards the best way. That's why we have so much sucess with that strategy because our best shoters and best scorers (Mo and Redd) get open and can shot after dribble (very important for them as they are both rhytm shoters). That's how we played under Stotts, that's how we played during 5 game wining streak this year and that's how we played against Hornets

I agree with everyone that has replied, but I think this point is particular is spot on.

I don't have the epi-like statistics, but at least from my observations, last years offense was more about shooting earlier into the shot clock than actually running more often. Our guys just aren't athletic enough to run. Mo Williams isn't all that good running the break. We don't have much business emulating the Suns. Not to mention that we still haven't really seen yet how Shaq will operate within the Suns offense.

[Nowak008]

I don't have the epi-like statistics, but at least from my observations, last years offense was more about shooting earlier into the shot clock than actually running more often.

I would agree with that. Whats wrong with that though? We spend too much time fiddling with the ball and wasting the shot clock. There are too many times where we have to jack up a terrible shot when the clock is about to expire.

As far as basketball IQ, we had worse basketball IQ last year and we still had a very efficient offense pushing the tempo so I'm not sure if I buy that.

We don't have to play at the Suns pace (96 pos), but the current pace we are playing at is far too slow. (91)

Even when we get a defensive stop we aren't pushing the ball in transition. Everything on offense is a struggle, getting out on the break will help us get easier looks.

Plus Bogut's rebounding is good but not elite and if we are going to have guys leak out we need a dominant rebounder to remain and clean up defensive boards.

Good point. Denver has Camby, Orlando has D-12, Suns had Marion/ Amare. That probably is the biggest crux into playing a more uptempo style. At least with Bogut we have a good low post defender, unlike some uptempo teams: Suns b4 shaq, Golden State

Interestingly part of last year's push game was predicated on Ruben since he did hustle and could push the ball and finish. But as we all know, he's gone now.

You know I agree with that. He may have been dumb as a brick, but he was damn productive. 55FG% (8th in NBA) 18.5 PER at SF 22.5 PER at PF and our 3rd leading scorer.

We just don't have the talent for either an up-tempo or half-court game IMO.....so if we are going to actually rebuild with a new GM, I'd lean half-court since that wins in the playoffs.

Sadly that is the case. I'm surprised I didn't get the uptempo teams can't win, but I agree it boils down to talent.

Having said that I still like this team to play more uptempo while still giving Bogut touches.