Kings offense is one directional

Not to be confused by one dimensional, one directional refers to the idea that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.    The ball to the post up player or the ball to the basket would be two examples.

In the Toronto game we had Tyreke in the left corner with his man fronting him and Spencer left wing extended trying to pass him the ball, but the pass was too difficult and Spencer threw it past Evans and out of bounds for a turnover.   In another game, the opponents switched when Sergio & Spencer ran a screen at the left elbow.   Spencer moved to the low block with the much quicker PG (mouse) fronting him.   Sergio had Spencer’s man fronting him with his hands up making a lob pass impossible, and with the mouse fronting Spencer a bounce pass was sure to be picked off.   So, after wasting valuable seconds trying to make an impossible pass, Sergio had to beat his man and drive into the lane as the clock ran down.   The help defense was waiting, and he missed a contested jumper. 

In both cases, the weak side players did nothing and contributed nothing to the play.  So, the defense had the advantage.   They knew where the ball was and where the Kings wanted it to go, so they positioned 2 players along that line and dared the Kings to make a play.   And, because the 3 Kings players on the weak side of the court weren’t involved the King didn’t have a second option.

Here’s an example of what I call a 2 directional offense.   In the mouse in the house example where Spence is in the low block with a PG fronting him and Sergio is at the left elbow extended, the defense has the advantage.   They have 2 defenders on the line in which the Kings want to move the ball.   So, the Kings need to take that advantage away from them by moving the ball to the weak side via the pass and creating a new line of attack.

Here’s one example: The weak side guard moves out to the top of the arc half way between the side line and the right side of the lane, as if he’s about to receive a pass and put up a 3pt shot and he draws his defender with him.    At the same time the PF moves toward the player defending the SF who has set up in the corner.   As the PF sets a pick on the SF’s defender the SF curls out of the corner and to the right elbow.   Now, Sergio has a 2nd passing lane, so he passes the ball to the SF.  And, now the 2 defenders who blocked the original passing lane between Sergio & Spencer are completely out of position.

Now, we have created and entire new set of problems for the defense.   The SF who now has the ball at the opposite elbow is open for a shot, he has a new passing lane to Spencer in the blocks or he can continue down the lane toward the rim.   Or, if the man covering the PF switches and moves out to defend the SF, the PF releases and goes to the basket, giving the SF a 2nd big to whom he can pass.   It’s something you hear JR say almost every telecast, “move the ball from side to side”.

So, if it’s that easy why don’t they do it?   Well, I don’t have a good answer, other than they’re young and the offense is still developing.   Or, it could be a side affect of the “ISO” or “1-4 Flat” that the Kings use so much.   The weak side players must move as far as possible from the lane to draw their defenders with them, that there really isn’t any room to move.   Or need to move for that matter.   Plus, my example does call for at least 2 of the 3 weak side players to recognize and initiate an off the ball screen or pick.

In every great military battle, we hear how the line of defense was breached at several points, or how the defense was out flanked, or my favorite was that they used a Pincers Movement.   Well the Kings are the Red Coats in the War of Independence, marching in a straight line, beating their drums, and saying here we come try and stop us.   And, or opponents are the Minutemen hiding behind a tree shooting the British Solders and saying “Look at those idiots marching straight into our defense”.

I know there will be people that will say our offense scores enough points already, just let Tyreke & Martin get the ball and create.   But, there needs to be a balance, a 2nd option for those games when the long shot isn’t going down and the defense is waiting in the woods for the Kings to go straight at the rim.   The other players on the floor need something more challenging to do besides standing around waiting for someone to pass them the ball.   And, the defense needs to have something more to worry about then sending 3 or 4 guys to stop Tyreke every time he handles the ball.

Since Kevin’s return from injury, I’ve seen him use weak side screens to get free and he’s making cuts and going back door.   But, a lot of it is just Martin, and the back cuts are just Kevin reversing direction quicker than his defender and getting open at the rim.   Well, most of the team isn’t as quick as Kevin, and they can’t do it on their own.   The team needs to work on off the ball screens & picks, to free players up for passes, open shots and to create lanes to the rim.   And, I still haven’t seen a PG pick off any of our bigs defenders, freeing them up to roll to the rim for a pass and easy basket.

The season is more than half over, and we’ve seen what the players can do individually.   Now, it’s time to start working together and show us what you can do as a team.   Hopefully, it will be multi directional.