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Kushner Q&A with Gentry

Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:19 am
Posted by NOFOX
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2014
9946 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:19 am
Kushner - Gentry Q&A
Finally got around to reading through some of the Kushner Q&A's with Gentry published a couple days ago. Lots of interesting stuff in the articles, but several things I particularly noticed about the offense and incorporation of Finch:
quote:

Does that mean you’ll be running your offense out of the high post more often than the pick-and-roll now, since that was Finch’s philosophy with the Nuggets?

I think you have to be a pick-and-roll team.

The thing we have is two big guys who can play out on the floor and we are lucky for that. And you’ll even see some pick-and-roll with those guys as ballhandlers, because I think they are those kind of players.

I think you’ll see us do a lot more and we’re going keep trying to open up the floor, and I think you’re going to see us be a lot more efficient in the halfcourt because of some of the things we are going to change and do.


Gentry really likes Finch and was impressed with his ideas for the offense which are outside of what they have been doing the past couple of years. He noted we won't just adopt the Denver high post offense, but we will see elements of it with point Boogie and we will see more 5/4 PNR's.

On that front, I think we are going to start seeing 4/5 PNR's as well with AD as the ball handler. Kushner asked if AD was working on his 3 pt shot again this offseason after the dip last year in his %, Gentry responded:
quote:

I think he’s very much trying to get that back. I think the big thing he’s trying to work on, and he’s doing it almost three hours per day, is ballhandling and shooting off the dribble.


So we are still going to be a PNR team, but we will be adding a LOT to the offense.

This post was edited on 6/28/17 at 10:21 am
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115901 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:23 am to
quote:

I think the big thing he’s trying to work on, and he’s doing it almost three hours per day, is ballhandling and shooting off the dribble.


I like this.
Posted by BallHawk
Orlando
Member since Jul 2011
5737 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:25 am to
This is what I have been trying to say in other threads. We aren't going full "point-Boogie". I'd imagine it'll be a few sets where we do but primarily still running the pick-and-roll.

For the board:

Knowing this does this change your outlook on who we should have at point guard?
Posted by Solo
Member since Aug 2008
8245 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:30 am to
AD needs to work on his post-up game. Everyone is going small, and he should be KILLING it in the post. Not only would an efficient post game be huge for the Pels, it would have the added benefit of drawing fouls/getting into the bonus. Also, AD is a fantastic FT shooter.
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115901 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:34 am to
quote:

AD needs to work on his post-up game.


People have been saying it for years and he never really does.

I think, at this point, we have to acknowledge that that isn't really what he wants to do, and it isn't who the team wants him to be at this point.

I'm sure Demarcus will get more post opportunities.
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
61511 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:41 am to
quote:

Knowing this does this change your outlook on who we should have at point guard?


Not really. Of the realistic options Bledsoe is my first choice, although his injury history scares me, and I think Jrue works fine at the right price. I like Rubio but you can't pair him with Hill unless Hill becomes a threat on offense. IMO you need at lest 2 offensive threats on the court with AD/DC or the other team will just double team both and pack the paint. Hill limits who you can pair with AD/DC as much as AD/DC or the scheme.
Posted by NOFOX
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2014
9946 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:42 am to
quote:

Knowing this does this change your outlook on who we should have at point guard?



A different Q&A sheds light on that topic

quote:

By trading point guard Tim Frazier for the No. 52 pick, which was sold to Indiana, does it say this offense doesn’t need a traditional point guard, or can it be run with a series of combo guards like Holiday and Jackson? I think most of the guards are capable of being on the ball or off the ball. You look at Golden State — Steph Curry can play on the ball or off the ball. John Wall is ball-dominant, but he can play off of the ball. You look at all of these other guys who are capable of doing it. Our league is so trendy, and right now the trend is to have guys who can play on the ball and off the ball. Obviously Jrue can do that, and I think this kid (Jackson) has the ability to do it also.


quote:

If you’re able to keep Jrue Holiday, would you prefer to pair him with someone who is a primary ballhandler and allow him to play at a mostly off-ball spot? No. I want to pair him with someone who can handle the ball some and then Jrue can handle the ball some. I just don’t want to put all of the ballhandling stuff on Jrue because I think when we do, it takes away some of the best stuff that he does. It takes away some of his aggression. I want him to be able to be Jrue, if we are lucky enough to be able to get him back, and I think he’s a guy who will handle the ball and make plays. But if he’s partnered with someone who can handle the ball, it takes some of that pressure off of him.


So it seems like they still think Jrue pairs best with another combo guy/ballhandler, but someone smarter than Reke.

quote:

What’s your communication with Holiday been like the past few weeks, since he’s been working out at the team’s Metairie facility? We don’t say a lot to him. I think he totally understands how we feel about him and that we want him back. I think the guys have even expressed that. AD has expressed it, and Cousins has, too. A lot of the other guys have expressed it also.


Looks like they really want Jrue back. They will be looking to add knockdown shooters also to help space the floor and stop double teams.

Posted by NOFOX
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2014
9946 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:46 am to
quote:

AD needs to work on his post-up game. Everyone is going small, and he should be KILLING it in the post. Not only would an efficient post game be huge for the Pels, it would have the added benefit of drawing fouls/getting into the bonus. Also, AD is a fantastic FT shooter.



With the current variations of Thibs zone, post play is not as efficient as it used to be. People think post is dead because players don't want to bang low, but the fact is that you can double the post while still being able to cover the strong side and so you can create turnovers by recovering on the wekside unless the offensive big is a great passer like Jokic. AD is not a good passer out of the post and we don't have deadeye shooters, so we cannot really take advantage of the double teams.
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
61511 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 10:50 am to
Yeah but AD has a little 6 - 10 foot hook shot that's always looked like it could be automatic if he worked on it and would be a go to move when he got in the paint but couldn't get to the basket. It's basically the big man's floater. I don't want him banging away in the post 20 times a game, I just want him to be able to score efficiently from anywhere on the court.
This post was edited on 6/28/17 at 10:50 am
Posted by NOFOX
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2014
9946 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 11:05 am to
quote:

Yeah but AD has a little 6 - 10 foot hook shot that's always looked like it could be automatic if he worked on it and would be a go to move when he got in the paint


AD with a legit crossover and pull up jumper would do so much more to open up the offense. Big complaint is always that he cant initiate. Watch this video:

AD Working on Handle


This was from May. If he has spent 3 hours a day for the past month, I am excited to see where he can get to:
Posted by Melman8621
Alexandria
Member since Apr 2012
75 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 12:12 pm to
Would the 5/4 pick and roll be effective if the other team can just switch every time? It wouldn't create any mismatch.
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
61511 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 12:19 pm to
quote:

Would the 5/4 pick and roll be effective if the other team can just switch every time? It wouldn't create any mismatch.


If either AD/DC get their defender on his heels one on one in the lane chances are high they'll score. The 5/4 PnRs that worked at the end of last season usually involved the screener (AD) getting lost in the shuffle of 2 defenders trying to stop Cousins while attacking the basket.

Like NOFOX is talking about, if AD can get as good as Cousins or better at attacking with his dribble, teams are going to be in trouble. The only thing that can stop an AD/DC attack is bad shooting from the outside. Demps has to get that taken care of this offseason.
This post was edited on 6/28/17 at 12:19 pm
Posted by corndeaux
Member since Sep 2009
9634 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 12:24 pm to
quote:

full "point-Boogie"


i dont think anyone believes Cousins is bringing the ball up the court on a regular basis. or that he's going to be pounding the ball waiting for a screen or driving for kick outs.

it's more about putting him at the top of the key or FT line (extended) or the post or wherever and running actions around that to where he is making (quick) decisions to pass or attack based on what the defense is doing. and then flowing into the next set of actions (whether that is a PnR or a post up or whatever)

quote:

Knowing this does this change your outlook on who we should have at point guard?



no. as detailed below by NOFOX, they need guys who bring some versatility on and off ball. the idea being, move players and the ball around, which hopefully scrambles defenders so that a guy with lesser off ball skills can take advantage of cracks in the defense.

having one guy hold the ball and dictate is death unless you have a LeBron, Durant, Harden, Russ, Kyrie, etc type ISO creator

Posted by corndeaux
Member since Sep 2009
9634 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 12:26 pm to
the help coming over is also likely not going to bother Davis or Cousins on the roll since the bigs are doing PnR duty.

the best way to stop that is to just go way under those screens and give up a Cousins or Davis off the bounce jumper, which im sure defenses will start to do. Pels could just start those actions closer to FT line extended to counteract that
Posted by corndeaux
Member since Sep 2009
9634 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 12:42 pm to
right.

Davis will never be Durant. but the best part of his offense is his face up game. his jumper, length, speed, and soft touch make him nearly unguardable from about 15-18 feet in.

he needs some post moves, but his bread and butter needs to be that face up game.

another thing to add to this- it's not natural for him to back guys down. even with a smaller defender on him, he just doesn't look comfortable doing that.

he will continue to develop a post game, but it's going to take years of work, not just a couple of summers. for example, on roughly the same 4 post ups per game, his PPP jumped from .78 to .90 from 15/16 to 16/17. that .90 number still isn't good, but that improvement is worth watching.
Posted by NOFOX
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2014
9946 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 1:17 pm to
quote:


Would the 5/4 pick and roll be effective if the other team can just switch every time? It wouldn't create any mismatch.



It's not going to be a primary setup, but it will be incorporated and cause defenses to think about it and look for it. It was effective this year when utilized and should be more so with time to practice it. They can switch, but teams just are not used to a 5-4 PNR and it creates havoc. It also allows for 3 shooters on the perimeter to space.

Cousins to Davis

Mavs

Against Nuggets - Double Pick
Posted by DeionDeion
New Orleans, LA
Member since Apr 2010
6110 posts
Posted on 6/28/17 at 1:34 pm to
quote:

No. I want to pair him with someone who can handle the ball some and then Jrue can handle the ball some. I just don’t want to put all of the ballhandling stuff on Jrue because I think when we do, it takes away some of the best stuff that he does. It takes away some of his aggression. I want him to be able to be Jrue, if we are lucky enough to be able to get him back, and I think he’s a guy who will handle the ball and make plays. But if he’s partnered with someone who can handle the ball, it takes some of that pressure off of him.


well this other guard isn't on our roster currently. I know who the board has in mind but I wonder who fits that mold in Gentry's mind
This post was edited on 6/28/17 at 1:35 pm
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