Are you gonna wait for a sign? A miracle?

by Vasherized on Nov 17, 2010 12:49 PM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

The waiting is over. THIS IS IT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lE70C21ZA&feature=related

If this is the extent of your knowledge of the Utah Jazz offense and you're wondering why Rick Barnes wants to replicate something that produced some ridiculous stats sustained over a 20 year period but never brought home an NBA title, then you've come to the right place.

Thanks to Scipio's inside connections to the UT basketball program via Denton Cooley Pavilion's janitorial staff, we learned quite a bit yesterday about the team's new identity. Mainly the fact that it now has one, or at least aspires to.

These days the Mailman can be found driving 18-wheelers somewhere out west and fathering kids like a Mormon in exile, while uber Dad John Stockton breaks down film of his kids' hockey games. So what kind of offense does the Utah Jazz run in 2010? It's actually not that different from 1984: motion screens, pick & roll, and the freestyling talents of the latter day, genetically improved Stockton, otherwise known as Deron Williams.

Don't let their difference in size, color, speed, handles, or creativity fool you! Jerry Sloan is still up to all his old tricks.

For the past few days Trips has been cranking out prescient previews at MarchtoMarch and will soon be breaking down the Longhorn's Thursday night tilt with Williams' alma mater, the Fightin Illini. So we'll leave it to Coach Nick to show you what I shall call Jazz in Motion. I would patent that, but Sailor Ripley probably already has.

Never mind the corny intro with the production values of a Yacht Rock episode, just stick with it until you hear the words "1-4, UCLA cut, double screen" and see helpful red arrows flash across your monitor. I found it amusing that Coach Nick used film from a game where the Jazz were down 20 points to illustrate their offensive efficiency, but box score aside you can see what Sloan's still looks pretty much the same -- push the ball at every chance and set a shitload of screens until Deron Williams finds a wide open dude or a lane to the hoop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRoDi2ECVtw&feature=player_embedded

The obvious problem for Texas is we don't have a 6'3 210 Lb PG with no known weaknesses. We have a Jazz Lite Ensemble, featuring Cory Joseph on percussion, Dogus Balbay on Trombone, J'Covan Brown on Purple Drank, and Jai Lucas on wind flute. We'd obviously prefer a one man band but until they can perfect the Jazz offense in two short months, Barnes needs to channel Miles Davis and play the spaces in between the notes. Sometimes it will look great and sometimes it will look like shit. Expect the latter against Illinois, UNC, and MSU, but conference play could be a lot of fun. Pretty much the opposite of last season.

This new offense requires selfless execution from all five guys, as opposed to say four standing around while Damion James iso's with 7 seconds left on the shot clock. Or Jordan Hamilton jacks up a trey five seconds into the shot clock. While it seems most of our guys have bought in, J'Covan Brown still appears to be doing a solo act. Once he realizes this system is perfectly designed to get get guards open looks (Stockton shot 50% from the field for his career), maybe he'll think twice about throwing temper tantrums when things don't go his way. This squad lacks an internal enforcer of team discipline but Hamilton could turn out to that guy, ironically enough.

Perhaps Stockton would be willing to adopt J'Covan? Or Karl Malone can father another child for Brown to look up to?

The waiting is over, JB. Grow up and stay smoove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLFrzkTHP18

H/T GoBigRoy @BON

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Comments

Is Barnes bringing in a offensive-minded assistant to install and run the scheme? Easy to talk about it in November, but coaches tend to revert to what they know by March. See: Greg Davis’ “power-running scheme”.

by tjarks on Nov 17, 2010 1:07 PM CST reply actions

No. And it’s a completely different implementation than a football offense, which can obviously take decades to implement.

It’s much easier to switch up systems in hoops. You’re just defining certain fundamentals as priorities. Coach K did it mid-season last year and ended up cutting down the nets.

Does spending six weeks with the Jazz and having a heart-to-heart with Bobby Knight suddenly turn Barnes into an offensive wizard? No. But this staff is capable of teaching guys how to set picks and screens, look for cutters, and push the ball up the court. The early (albeit limited) results bear that out.

We’ll find out a lot more after tomorrow how far they’ve come. I’m certainly not expecting a win.

by Vasherized on Nov 17, 2010 1:20 PM CST reply actions

I like this post. You can already see the difference in movement when compared to last season. Damion James doing his one man iso with 10 left on the shot clock brings back memories,though. Bad ones. So thanks for that.

The good news is that I doubt we’ll see that out of this club this year since Barnes has always been a check your ego at the door type coach. At least this year he’s got a plan to fall back on when the opposition checks our offense at the half court.

by Kevin Berger on Nov 17, 2010 3:13 PM CST reply actions

I remember watching Bob Knight reality show 3 or 4 years ago, Knight School, where they selected one walk-on for the Red Raider b-ball team. It was a fascinating look at a no-bull shit, straight up approach to coaching and working drills. Reason I brought it up is there was one episode where Knight was teaching how to set a pick. A rather funny tit for tat ensued regarding protecting your manhood. I hope Barnes is including this in his teaching…..

BTW, found this jewel on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7KijRfU-c

Coach Brown should be playing this in repeat mode on Coach Davis’ iPod. I’m just sayin’.

by TXStampede on Nov 17, 2010 4:01 PM CST reply actions

BK is what I imagine WM will look like with grey/white hair after 10 years as HC. :-)

by Don Gato on Nov 17, 2010 4:18 PM CST reply actions

“There’s an old man sitting on the side of the pier
He’s got his cross, and his candle, and his bottle of beer.
He just sits all day, and all through the night,
Waiting for a vision, or a heavenly sight.
Because he’s willing to wait for the miracle,
He’s willing to wait it through.
He’s willing to wait for the miracle.
What else is he gonna do?”

I have nothing to contribute to this thread; it’s just that the title reminded me of some Marc Cohn lyrics.

Oh, and the fact that Longhorn basketball will (hopefully) give me some merciful relief from the abomination in the sight of God and man that our football team has become.

by Orange Marrow on Nov 17, 2010 8:28 PM CST reply actions

fuck you Cetera

by Mrs. V on Nov 17, 2010 9:45 PM CST reply actions

After easy highway cruising it’s first two trips, our new car gets to fight downtown traffic tonight. If things will be ugly they’ll be ugly early and against a veteran big team like Illinois. Biggest thing I’m looking for tonight, even moreso than whether we win or lose, is how we react to adversity on the offensive end. It’s an early measuring stick and should serve as a guide for identifying weakness.

by Reno Hightower on Nov 18, 2010 7:39 AM CST reply actions

i like clubber but drago was to strong..drago in 3

by Clubber Lang on Nov 18, 2010 9:26 AM CST reply actions

Clubber would have put Apollo down and out just like he did Rocky. Besides Apollo lost his eye of the Tiger.

by Clubber Lang on Nov 18, 2010 9:28 AM CST reply actions

OMG !!! Don’t tell me they are doing ANOTHER one of those movies !!! Are they all gonna be beating each other up with their canes this time ?

by Clubber Lang on Nov 18, 2010 9:30 AM CST reply actions

We need to play fast and loose on the offensive end tonight. If we get caught up in a halfcourt affair, they’re going to cut us up in little pieces. I suggest our kids all rub their cheek before each foul shot Jeff Hornacek style, and elbow screeners in the junk in honor of John Stockton. I’m sure Jerry Sloan already mentioned that to Rick.

by Trips Right on Nov 18, 2010 11:32 AM CST reply actions