The Raptors intend to run this season. I hate this. Not because I don't like it, it's because every coach the Raptors have ever had, said the same thing at the beginning of the season. Even when the Raptors used the 16th slowest pace in NBA history, Kevin O'Neill preached to the media hordes in training camp that the team will run. It's such a cliché, it's not funny anymore.
But what are the ingredients for running a fast-paced offense? Usually, there are 3 main areas:
1. Defensive rebounding: When your team can secure a high percentage of available defensive rebounds, you have more chances of outleting the ball for a fastbreak opportunity. For that, you need capable rebounders, especially from the bigs. Unfortunately for the Raptors, even with good rebounders lile Chris Bosh, Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans, they were ranked 23rd in the league in defensive rebounding, securing only 72.9% of all available defensive rebounds. Bargnani was the main culprit on that end, as other centers muscled rebounds away from him and kept extra possessions.
If a coach is confident that his Center and his Power Forward are going to get the ball, he can then ask his wings to leak out, which can lead to easy scores when the defense is napping.
However, there's a counter-argument to this. Golden State led the league in fastbreak points (23.8 ppg) and pace (100.4) last season, despite managing to coral only 68.5% of available defensive rebounds, the worst mark in the league. However, to do that, the Warriors used the 2 remaining ingredients of fast-paced offense.
2. Forcing turnovers: The Warriors led the league in forcing turnovers on 15.1% of the opponent's possessions. With such a high turnover rate, you can basically run at will. Obviously, such a high rate comes with a caveat. The Warriors gamble a lot on steals, and when you miss forcing a turnover, you end up with a DRTG of 108.1, the 29th worst defence, just ahead of the Raptors.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, again, they were ranked 29th in the league in forcing turnover, with a wretched mark of 11.8% (on a side note, how can you play it safe, yet still end up with one of the worst defences in NBA history?). The reason is simple, the Raptors' guards (Calderon 1.3%, DeRozan 1.3%, Jack 1.4%, and Wright 1.1%) weren't much of a threat to steal the ball. No steals, no turnovers, no running game.
3. If all else fails, you need quick guards that can take the ball and run, even off of made baskets. But again, the Raptors lack that quick ball handler that can weave through defenses. Calderon is a half-court distributor, there's no denying that. Jack is a bull in a china shop, but he's no waterbug. On other occasions, Hedo handled the ball, and we know that wasn't going to be a fastbreak. So, asking your PG to run isn't easy if you don't have the right personnel.
In summer league action, the Raptors broke the 100 pace, but they had a quick guard, quick wings, and good rebounders. And in a short tournament with no training camp or elaborate game plans, defenses aren't geared to stopping you.
The Raptors enter the 2010-2011 with the same slow guards, same lack of rebounding from their bigs and still no steal machine. If you hear Triano say we're going to run, just laugh. Or not.
But what are the ingredients for running a fast-paced offense? Usually, there are 3 main areas:
1. Defensive rebounding: When your team can secure a high percentage of available defensive rebounds, you have more chances of outleting the ball for a fastbreak opportunity. For that, you need capable rebounders, especially from the bigs. Unfortunately for the Raptors, even with good rebounders lile Chris Bosh, Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans, they were ranked 23rd in the league in defensive rebounding, securing only 72.9% of all available defensive rebounds. Bargnani was the main culprit on that end, as other centers muscled rebounds away from him and kept extra possessions.
If a coach is confident that his Center and his Power Forward are going to get the ball, he can then ask his wings to leak out, which can lead to easy scores when the defense is napping.
However, there's a counter-argument to this. Golden State led the league in fastbreak points (23.8 ppg) and pace (100.4) last season, despite managing to coral only 68.5% of available defensive rebounds, the worst mark in the league. However, to do that, the Warriors used the 2 remaining ingredients of fast-paced offense.
2. Forcing turnovers: The Warriors led the league in forcing turnovers on 15.1% of the opponent's possessions. With such a high turnover rate, you can basically run at will. Obviously, such a high rate comes with a caveat. The Warriors gamble a lot on steals, and when you miss forcing a turnover, you end up with a DRTG of 108.1, the 29th worst defence, just ahead of the Raptors.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, again, they were ranked 29th in the league in forcing turnover, with a wretched mark of 11.8% (on a side note, how can you play it safe, yet still end up with one of the worst defences in NBA history?). The reason is simple, the Raptors' guards (Calderon 1.3%, DeRozan 1.3%, Jack 1.4%, and Wright 1.1%) weren't much of a threat to steal the ball. No steals, no turnovers, no running game.
3. If all else fails, you need quick guards that can take the ball and run, even off of made baskets. But again, the Raptors lack that quick ball handler that can weave through defenses. Calderon is a half-court distributor, there's no denying that. Jack is a bull in a china shop, but he's no waterbug. On other occasions, Hedo handled the ball, and we know that wasn't going to be a fastbreak. So, asking your PG to run isn't easy if you don't have the right personnel.
In summer league action, the Raptors broke the 100 pace, but they had a quick guard, quick wings, and good rebounders. And in a short tournament with no training camp or elaborate game plans, defenses aren't geared to stopping you.
The Raptors enter the 2010-2011 with the same slow guards, same lack of rebounding from their bigs and still no steal machine. If you hear Triano say we're going to run, just laugh. Or not.
I wonder who they could bring to work with these guys on forcing turnovers? Got to think that area will be slightly better with PJ over Iavaroni. Though, Like you say it would be better to just play some good defence and get on the boards.
ReplyDeleteAlex, you either have it in you or you don't. You can't train someone on forcing turnovers. At least, I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteTo an extent you can train it ... I'm just talking about trapping, full-court press, knowing your opponent's sets so well you what they're going to do, etc. Things the raptors don't do.
ReplyDelete