To prompt some discussion, here's some of what I've seen/found:
1) Boals does seem to run and prefer an unstructured offensive scheme with limited set plays. Here's a link (
https://basketballimmersion.com/the-basketball-podcast-ep... /) to a podcast where he talks a bit about it:
Some key quotes:
“When you run a lot of sets, teams are starting to switch everything more and make you play basketball. They’ll guard ball screens a certain way, not not let you come off and keep you on one side of the floor . . I think if you just teach some concepts of playing basketball, it’s going to take away all the switching.”
If you do something like that [play a more unstructured offense], sometimes it allows you to play your five best players. Find a way to get your best five guys on the floor . . and let them figure it out . . there’s got to be a trust involved and there’s got to be some teaching concepts involved.
2) This year it feels like a disproportionate percentage of our half-court possessions rely really heavily on the same action: Clayton flashes to the top of the key beyond the three point line and either a) Sets a pick and rolls, b) Sets a pick and fades to create a three point attempt.
That's clearly the spot where Boals/Clayton feel like he's most effective. But as an action, it feels pretty limited for a few reasons:
-- It feels like it's actually pretty rare that Clayton's getting the ball when he rolls to the basket. Last night, he didn't even seem to be committing to the cut in a way that suggested he wanted the ball. I feel like I can count on one hand the number of times that he's scored off of a roll, but I may just be failing to remember.
-- The pick and pop is really effective. Clayton's got a quick, high release so he doesn't need a ton of space to get a three up. But when teams manage to take that away -- and Akron did a very good job of that by going over the screen and basically daring Clayton to beat them rolling to the basket -- possessions fall apart very fast. When Clayton has the ball at the top of the key and doesn't have an open look, nothing happens. He never beats his man off the dribble and creates, and basically 100% of the time the next action is a dribble handoff to one of the guys on the wings.
-- Because Clayton doesn't finish much as the roll man, that cut basically has no gravitational pull. If our number one offensive option's cutting to the basket and not bringing multiple defenders with him -- or at least causing a help defenders to take a step or two towards the paint to help -- it means less space for the wings.
3) That main half-court option doesn't create enough good looks against competent defensive teams, but because we don't run a lot of set plays, we go long stretches where we're only getting so-so looks.
4) It seems like Clayton is the only guy we work hard to get specific types of shots. Others are way better at seeing the game than I am, but it looks like we don't run sets to create space for AJB and Reef, both of whom are shooting +40% from three.
Ultimately, it feels like Boals' leans in hard on position-less basketball, simple motion principles, and the idea that with the right level of talent guys will figure it out. That worked with a ton of versatile offensive players like Preston, BVP, Mark Sears, and a big who demanded actual attention in Dwight Wilson.
Since then, it's felt very stagnant for long stretches. It's hard not to worry that Boals' can't actually recruit the level of guy he needs to make his scheme work consistently.