What Stan Van Gundy needs to do in order to generate open shots for Rashard Lewis
In the aftermath of Game 2 …
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Stan Van Gundy will try to get Rashard Lewis more involved offensively
Rashard Lewis Needs to Improve Offensively if the Orlando Magic Want to Challenge the Boston Celtics
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This is now a central topic for discussion, on the part of Magic fans and other NBA observers.
In reality …
The answer is very simple.
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Orlando MUST:
1. Stop posting up Dwight Howard on the block.
2. Start using Dwight Howard in repeated ”2/3-5, High Middle, Pick and Roll” situations …
i. With the following players on the court:
Off Guard/#2 – Vince Carter
Center/#5 – Dwight Howard
Point Guard/#1 – Jameer Nelson
Small Forward/#3 – Mickael Pietrus
Power Forward/#4 – Rashard Lewis
ii. Located in the following positions on the court:
Off Guard/#2-Small Forward/#3, as The Ball-handler
Center/#5, as The Pick and Roller
Point Guard/#1, in The Original Ball Side Corner
Small Forward/#3-Off Guard/#2, at The Original Ball Side Free Throw Line Extended
Power Forward/#4 – in The Original Weak Side Corner
3. Demand that their #2-3′s attack the Hedging Pick Defender, by going around him toward the Original Weak Side of the floor and, then, looking for one of the following options:
a. His own drive to the basket;
b. A lob pass to D-12, for a dunk opportunity;
c. A kickout pass to Rashard Lewis for an uncontested 3PT shot from the corner;
d. A throwback pass to Mickael Pietrus for an uncontested 3PT shot, as he re-locates to the Top Of The Key position [following Howard's roll to the basket];
e. A cross-court skip pass to Jameer Nelson for an uncontested 3PT shot, as he re-locates to the New Weak Side Free Throw Line Extended position.
If Orlando runs this simple set play … this exact way … it will generate, either:
I. Open shots galore for Rashard Lewis;
or,
II. A career night for one of Vincent Lamar Carter, or Mickael Pietrus, as their primary ball-handler.
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PS. Hopefully, Stan Van Gundy is paying close attention to what’s written here. 
Tags: Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Mickael Pietrus, Orlando Magic, Rashard Lewis, Stan Van Gundy, Vince Carter
May 21st, 2010 at 10:04 am
At some point, Rashard Lewis needs to step up and contribute in this series, regardless of any play SVG decides to run for him imho
May 21st, 2010 at 11:28 am
Sam,
In general, individuals who play “off the bounce” have no legitimate reason to not be engaged offensively.
Rashard Lewis doesn’t have this sort of game, however.
Lewis’ performance, offensively, is dependent on at least 2 factors which are beyond his immediate control:
1. The strategy & tactics implemented by his coach;
and,
2. The decision-making skills of his teammates … who have the ball in their hands.
As long as Orlando/SVG continues to fail to make the proper adjustments to what, specifically, Boston/Doc Rivers is doing in this series, then, what Rashard Lewis “wants to do” will be rendered immaterial.
One of a coach’s jobs is to put his players in the proper/best positions possible to succeed.
[PLEASE NOTE: If/when you are playing against an opponent which only has an average-to-poor coach, this aspect of the game becomes a non-factor. It's if/when your opponent happens to have an elite level coach, however, that this aspect of the game becomes absolutely monumental.]
Unfortunately for Rashard Lewis and the rest of the Magic players, thus far, SVG has failed to do this properly.
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PS. For example:
i. Running post ups for D-12
ii. Running 1-5 Pick and Roll/Pops
iii. Running 1-4 Pick and Roll/Pops
iv. Running 2/3-4 Pick and Roll/Pops
v. Giving extended minutes to Matt Barnes
vi. Giving extednded minutes to JJ Redick
vii. Keeping Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson on the bench
plays directly into the C’s hands, and is a giant waste of time.
Orlando is a vastly superior team to Boston … except for the FACT that SVG is being out-coached by Doc Rivers, by a country mile, thus far.
PPS. If “The chessmaster” does a poor job of shifting his pieces around the board, it doesn’t matter one bit if his team also happens to have the superior Queen, Bishops, Knights and Castles. In the end, his King is going to be the one to fall. Period.