“And The Old Cowhide Globe Hits Home”

Posted by J R Stewart on February 02, 2009

I can just hear ‘Hots’ screaming, “with a gentle push, a mild ark and the old cowhide globe hits home.” Or, Dan Roberts yelling, “Money”, after Memo drains a 3.

The Jazz don’t attempt or make as many 3’s as the average NBA team. However, the 3-pointer has become an integral part of any offense, even Jerry’s. Jerry just likes to take them wide open and late in the clock, with rebounders in position.

The best 3 point opportunities usually come from the point guard penetrating and kicking it out to the 3 point line, for a feet set, extra time, clear look facing the basket. The other most popular way is a low post presence demanding a double team, with a pass out of the double team, for a wide open, undefended 3-point attempt.

Just watch the Spurs Parker, penetrate and kick, or Duncan, set up in the low post and pass out of the double team.

Then watch the Jazz.

Deron is seldom able to penetrate and kick. Even when Boozer gets back, he plays mostly at the high post, elbow, not usually the low post.

So, it’s not just the playbook, it’s the personnel too.

The pick and roll dictates a switch, or usually help, to avoid a lay-up, which also opens the 3 point line, but not as much as the low post double or the penetrate and kick. The pick and pop is where the Jazz get the most of their 3-point opportunities, because of the personnel involved. These 3-pointers are just not as open as the pass out of a double or a drive and kick.

The Jazz has good 3-point shooters. They just don’t have a penetrating guard or a low post threat to enable those 3-point shooters. Watch the difference in the quality of the 3-point attempts for a team like the Spurs vs the Jazz. There’s a big difference in positioning, the amount of time to get set and the way the ball is delivered.

How about 3-point defense?

If you watch, a lot of other NBA teams give up wide open 3-pointers too. 3-pointers are a high reward shot, but a lay-up is an EXTREMELY high percentage shot, frequently turning into a 3 point play, not reflected in scoring efficiency stats, which value the 3-pointer at 150%.

The Jazz doesn’t have highly motivated 3-point defenders. Watch how many times there is a lack of anticipation and effort getting back out to the 3-point line. I love Deron, but watch for his lack of 3-point defensive effort. How many times a game does he just give up, watching the shot, without raising a hand? Then pay attention to a player like Shane Battier on his 3-point defense.

It’s fun to just watch one player for a few plays, to see what he does on offense/defense off the ball.

Millsap is undersized for a dominate low post game. Could Kosta and Fes develop a low post game? Could the Jazz set better picks, so Deron could drive and kick more? Could more plays be run for Boozer, when he gets back, on the low block?

The solution would be for one of the other teams to feel sorry for the Jazz and give them a “Pau”, a la the Lakers, for free, or maybe throw in a “Devin Harris” for the expiring contract of Collins.

Hummmmm…

Jazzaholic

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