The offense is flawed

[bryan colangelo]

Nothing fundamental has changed. We're still deferring to Demar hero-ball and long 2s. My vision is fine.

The horns offense is Nurse's offense, and he joined the team last year.

[golden]

The horns offense is Nurse's offense, and he joined the team last year.

I remember when this video came out last year. Great stuff. Thx BC for re-posting. The one thing that sticks out is how many times you see catch & shoots for Ross as a primary option - running around screens a la Richard Hamilton. We hardly ever see that anymore. It seems like now we see a lot more of Ross sitting and waiting in the corner a lot more, and then gets the ball like a hot potato, when the driver is cutoff. Would like to see more of this - it would get Ross more engaged in the game, and also act as a better decoy to the Lowry/DD dribble drive.

[Hotshot]

I think this team flaws will be very exposed against Memphis, expect another bad shooting night with DD (Allen still holding a grudge) Lowry trying to bail the Raptors out with his 1-on-1 hero ball (goes for 25 + points with only 4 assists) and JV being forced to the bench after early fouls against Marc Gasol/Z'bo and Casey scratching his head sending 'brough and Hayes out there with no avail then rolls out small ball lineup in the fourth.

I hope JJ is well enough to play because he is very familiar with his former team and will find ways to exploit them.

I really don't see us winning this one.

[bryan colangelo]

I remember when this video came out last year. Great stuff. Thx BC for re-posting. The one thing that sticks out is how many times you see catch & shoots for Ross as a primary option - running around screens a la Richard Hamilton. We hardly ever see that anymore. It seems like now we see a lot more of Ross sitting and waiting in the corner a lot more, and then gets the ball like a hot potato, when the driver is cutoff. Would like to see more of this - it would get Ross more engaged in the game, and also act as a better decoy to the Lowry/DD dribble drive.

Ross and Patterson have been getting open looks from the corner, but they have just been struggling with their shot in the first 10 games.

DeRozan is still turning the corner into the lane, and usually getting calls. But against a defense that packs the paint (like the Bulls), DeRozan has been forcing the issue and hoping to be bailed by calls, or missing mid-range shots he normally makes. He needs to have more patience and trust his teammates. Easier said than done when the team collectively is shooting worse than usual.

I guess detractors of this offense will point us not utilizing JV more in post-ups, but that is a much bigger change than people realize. You're basically asking for the entire team to ignore an offense that, although ugly at times, is still top ten in the league, and trade it in for four guys standing around the perimeter and hoping JV can back down his man, draw doubles and make the right decision with the ball.

I hope JV can become that dominant offensively one day but that's a lot of responsibility and he's just not there yet. If we had less options on the perimeter than I can see why you'd want to run your offense through him, but if that were the case we'd have to have a worse and less balanced team overall.

[bryan colangelo]

I think this team flaws will be very exposed against Memphis, expect another bad shooting night with DD (Allen still holding a grudge) Lowry trying to bail the Raptors out with his 1-on-1 hero ball (goes for 25 + points with only 4 assists) and JV being forced to the bench after early fouls against Marc Gasol/Z'bo and Casey scratching his head sending 'brough and Hayes out there with no avail then rolls out small ball lineup in the fourth.

I hope JJ is well enough to play because he is very familiar with his former team and will find ways to exploit them.

I really don't see us winning this one.

I see us losing as well, but Memphis has the best defense in the league. I'm just hoping that over the course of the season the Raptors can figure out how to crack these elite teams and make the leap.

If we're still getting knocked around by teams like Memphis and Chicago by the end of the year then I'll be depressed. Until then I'm just chalking it up to the team learning on the job.

[mcHAPPY]

Ross and Patterson have been getting open looks from the corner, but they have just been struggling with their shot in the first 10 games.

DeRozan is still turning the corner into the lane, and usually getting calls. But against a defense that packs the paint (like the Bulls), DeRozan has been forcing the issue and hoping to be bailed by calls, or missing mid-range shots he normally makes. He needs to have more patience and trust his teammates. Easier said than done when the team collectively is shooting worse than usual.

I guess detractors of this offense will point us not utilizing JV more in post-ups, but that is a much bigger change than people realize. You're basically asking for the entire team to ignore an offense that, although ugly at times, is still top ten in the league, and trade it in for four guys standing around the perimeter and hoping JV can back down his man, draw doubles and make the right decision with the ball.

I hope JV can become that dominant offensively one day but that's a lot of responsibility and he's just not there yet. If we had less options on the perimeter than I can see why you'd want to run your offense through him, but if that were the case we'd have to have a worse and less balanced team overall.

It is not an either or situation

You don't have to pick one

It is about balance and keeping the opposition honest

Also kick it inside and have four guys stand around is just bad basketball. Unfortunately right now we see a lot of one guy dribbling on perimeter and four guys standing and that is not good either.

[bryan colangelo]

It is not an either or situation

You don't have to pick one

It is about balance and keeping the opposition honest

Also kick it inside and have four guys stand around is just bad basketball. Unfortunately right now we see a lot of one guy dribbling on perimeter and four guys standing and that is not good either.

Don't disagree at all. GV, Lou and Demar are all guilty of over-dribbling and not making good decisions right now. But I don't buy into the conspiracy that this is "a coaching problem". The offense is fine when players actually demonstrate patience, trust their teammates and run it. That and players are simply missing shots they were hitting last year.

[Hotshot]

I see us losing as well, but Memphis has the best defense in the league. I'm just hoping that over the course of the season the Raptors can figure out how to crack these elite teams and make the leap.

If we're still getting knocked around by teams like Memphis and Chicago by the end of the year then I'll be depressed. Until then I'm just chalking it up to the team learning on the job.

Unless there is a fundamental shift in coaching philosophy and a major upgrade with our forward/bigs, this will be another tough first round playoffs match-up with the Raptors hoping to win by trading baskets against a team that can exploit's the Raptors weaknesses.

Seriously if hypothetically speaking the Raptors end up finishing at the 2-4 spot in the overall playoffs picture, their opponents in the first round would probably be either: Brooklyn, Washington, Atlanta, Miami and Charlotte. It will still be a tough 6 or 7 games series no matter who they face, so again the prospects for advancing to the next round is still around 50-50 which are not great odds if you finish much higher in the standings then your opponent.

[MixxAOR]

aren't we also shooting 29% on uncontested shots according to sportsvu? Roster is part of the problem

[Mindlessness]

I don't agree that this is all a coaching problem. I think the offense can work nicely if we develop more counters. But, I don't think Casey is a head coach, in the sense that he doesn't have everything a head coach should have, he has most things though.

I think Casey fits an asst. coach role better, have him focus completely on the defensive side of the ball, developing systems, game-to-game plans, just all on defense. He's best used there.

I think we should look to upgrade as soon as we can on Casey, maybe demoting Casey in role but heightening his pay? As a defensive specialist? And if we do, I'm kinda looking at Budenholzer, with the entire Atlanta ownership change and all, he might get fired for the ownership's own option.

[OldSkoolCool]

Should be a great game for Val. If we go small and Casey argues we had "to match them" he is full of BS...

Using Val to get Gasol + ZBo in foul trouble is our best mode of attack IMO

[octothorp]

I remember when this video came out last year. Great stuff. Thx BC for re-posting. The one thing that sticks out is how many times you see catch & shoots for Ross as a primary option - running around screens a la Richard Hamilton. We hardly ever see that anymore. It seems like now we see a lot more of Ross sitting and waiting in the corner a lot more, and then gets the ball like a hot potato, when the driver is cutoff. Would like to see more of this - it would get Ross more engaged in the game, and also act as a better decoy to the Lowry/DD dribble drive.

Definitely would like to see more of that. However, I believe in the Chicago game, we saw a version of this a couple times where Ross went around the screen, but instead of going all the way out to the three-point line, he just swung around the second screener, caught the ball, and immediately curled around the screen back into the lane for an easy bucket. It was a nice little variation that was very effective.

[JawsGT]

Should be a great game for Val. If we go small and Casey argues we had "to match them" he is full of BS...

Using Val to get Gasol + ZBo in foul trouble is our best mode of attack IMO

I'd be pleasantly surprised if JV can get those guys in foul trouble. More than likely it will be the other way around. But there were some positives in the Utah game with a balanced attack that involved Jonas. Alot of postups may not be the solution, but getting JV the ball off the PnR may force Gasol and/or Z'Bo to provide help and hopefully pick up some fouls that way. An aggressive attack from Lowry and Demar would also help. I know many aren't too pleased with our dribble/drive offence, but that's better than looking for jump shots all night, and may prove more effective than JV postups in drawing fouls.

[golden]

Another great X & O breakdown on the Raps offense. We're getting a lot of attention these days. A perfect counterpoint to the first post (by a poster who shall remain nameless.... lol.)

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/11/...ns-aggressive/

The bottom-line:

These plays aren’t glamorous or SportsCenter-worthy, but they demonstrate exceptional intelligence, coordination and awareness of how to succeed within an NBA offense. Every time an 80 percent free throw shooter gets to the line for two shots, that’s a theoretical 160 points per 100 possessions, and the Raptors are putting up a hell of a lot of 160s to skew their season averages. This matters.

So is this sustainable? Are the Raptors for real? I see no reason to argue otherwise. It’s only been 10 games, but the progress the team has demonstrated already this season is tangible and meaningful. If Toronto maintains its respectable defense, efficient shooting and incredibly prolific free throw shooting, you’re looking at a serious threat to win the East. Even if you’re naturally the bearish type in November, this is a team that’s earned a closer look.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Another great X & O breakdown on the Raps offense. We're getting a lot of attention these days. A perfect counterpoint to the first post (by a poster who shall remain nameless.... lol.)

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/11/...ns-aggressive/

The bottom-line:

I think the article you quoted also helps explain some of the frustration that has surfaced around here during/after particular games:

1. If you can't make your free throws, this approach fails and puts a lot more pressure on the team to generate offense in a way it isn't accustomed to having to rely on (ie: Heat game).

2. If the team isn't getting the calls (due to tight whistle and/or effective interior defense), this approach fails and puts a lot more pressure on the team to generate offense in a way it isn't accustomed to having to rely on (ie: Bulls game on both counts).

3. It seems to be that the Raptors are promoting an ISO-or-else offense, where they live (make shots and make the free throws that the ISOs result in) or die (per #1 & #2 above) with the ISO game.

4. Players can still be aggressive individually (ie: to draw fouls) when employing a more team-oriented approach, which should also result in higher % shot attempts overall. It all becomes a matter of players doing a better job of picking their spots to utilize ISOs, as opposed to relying on them so heavily (at times nearly exclusively, it seems).