I think most people agree our offensive coaching is improved, although we are certainly not setting the world on fire, so I say 'most people'
but what is our offense?
I've been crazy busy this season, so haven't been able to watch all games, and haven't been able to rewatch games like I've often done in prior seasons. In the past, I'd even watch parts of a reply in slow motion to break down a game and focus on an individual player
when I'm watching a game live, I often get into the drama and emotion of the game, so don't see what is really happening, especially off the ball.
The above is a big disclaimer to my breakdown of the Cal offense, and it can be very far off. I'd welcome others to chime in and add/correct...
when we have our starting five of Paris, Bradley, Kelly, Grant and South, we play a 4 out, 1 in motion offense. By motion offense, we don't play with a lot of set plays or sets, but rather move/pass/screen with certain concepts/principals.
We don't play a traditional heavy inside and outside and multiple screening, many plays/sets 'princeton' offense, nor do we play a traditional inside out offense, and we certainly don't play a run and gun fast break offense
Instead we spread out the floor, creating driving opportunities for our guards. It's not quite the dribble drive offense, but there are similarities. But our offense doesn't kick the ball out on drives either because it's a different offense, or we aren't very good at it. I've commented the only player who kicks the ball is Brown.
For us to run our preferred offense, Grant needs to be on the court, as a stretch 4. I think Kelly can also step out, and at least hit the mid range consistently, but apparently Fox doesn't want him in that role (he wants his 5 to be in the paint). Kelly is often in the 'dunkers position' to either get a pass for an inside shot or dunk, or to crash the offensive boards.
Of course, all college offensives are multiple, change based on personnel and combos on the floor. We sometimes do play inside out with Kelly where we clear out for him, get him the ball in the post and let him back his man down for a low post score. If a defender doubles down, he kicks out
With 4 out, we almost always run defenders through high ball screens, and depending on the screener, try a pick and pop (for Grant) or a pick and roll (for Kelly, or others). We haven't perfected either yet, although we don't have the perfect personnel for pick and rolls.
Regarding execution, our perimeter passing improved. I often see the extra pass. We also don't have any players whom the ball sticks in their hands too long, which kills almost all offenses. This was a major problem with recent past seasons
Yet, we don't have the perfect personnel for the above offense. Ideally we'd have a shooting guard who can both hit the 3, and drive and finish/pass on the drive. I think the difference between cal's offense being adequate/average to very good is our 2 (sorry, don't want to be too harsh on South). Basically we are one player away from a very good offense.
but what is our offense?
I've been crazy busy this season, so haven't been able to watch all games, and haven't been able to rewatch games like I've often done in prior seasons. In the past, I'd even watch parts of a reply in slow motion to break down a game and focus on an individual player
when I'm watching a game live, I often get into the drama and emotion of the game, so don't see what is really happening, especially off the ball.
The above is a big disclaimer to my breakdown of the Cal offense, and it can be very far off. I'd welcome others to chime in and add/correct...
when we have our starting five of Paris, Bradley, Kelly, Grant and South, we play a 4 out, 1 in motion offense. By motion offense, we don't play with a lot of set plays or sets, but rather move/pass/screen with certain concepts/principals.
We don't play a traditional heavy inside and outside and multiple screening, many plays/sets 'princeton' offense, nor do we play a traditional inside out offense, and we certainly don't play a run and gun fast break offense
Instead we spread out the floor, creating driving opportunities for our guards. It's not quite the dribble drive offense, but there are similarities. But our offense doesn't kick the ball out on drives either because it's a different offense, or we aren't very good at it. I've commented the only player who kicks the ball is Brown.
For us to run our preferred offense, Grant needs to be on the court, as a stretch 4. I think Kelly can also step out, and at least hit the mid range consistently, but apparently Fox doesn't want him in that role (he wants his 5 to be in the paint). Kelly is often in the 'dunkers position' to either get a pass for an inside shot or dunk, or to crash the offensive boards.
Of course, all college offensives are multiple, change based on personnel and combos on the floor. We sometimes do play inside out with Kelly where we clear out for him, get him the ball in the post and let him back his man down for a low post score. If a defender doubles down, he kicks out
With 4 out, we almost always run defenders through high ball screens, and depending on the screener, try a pick and pop (for Grant) or a pick and roll (for Kelly, or others). We haven't perfected either yet, although we don't have the perfect personnel for pick and rolls.
Regarding execution, our perimeter passing improved. I often see the extra pass. We also don't have any players whom the ball sticks in their hands too long, which kills almost all offenses. This was a major problem with recent past seasons
Yet, we don't have the perfect personnel for the above offense. Ideally we'd have a shooting guard who can both hit the 3, and drive and finish/pass on the drive. I think the difference between cal's offense being adequate/average to very good is our 2 (sorry, don't want to be too harsh on South). Basically we are one player away from a very good offense.
