khandor’s sports blog

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.

In general, Kevin Arnovitz does a solid job breaking down the different “actions” involved in a NBA game.

In this instance, however, he has incorrectly pointed an accusing finger in the direction of Rashard Lewis for Orlando’s apparent failure to box out Josh Smith on the last second follow-up dunk which was the difference in last night’s victory for Atlanta.

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The Incredible Finish in Atlanta

Just over a minute later, Vince Carter deadens the crowd when he nails an off-balanced, contested bomb from beyond the arc.

Game tied.

The Hawks must race the ball up the length of the court with no timeouts and 9.9 seconds left on the clock: 

Watch the play again. How does Josh Smith get free for the follow?

Ask Rashard Lewis.

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If you take a closer look at what transpired during this sequence, you should be able to see is that: 

the Orlando player who was most responsible for allowing Josh Smith to go unchecked during the rebounding phase of this defensive possession was actually Dwight Howard.

i.e. When Joe Johnson stopped his drive towards the basket and, instead, pulled up for his running jump-shot, from the Left Short Corner, it was Dwight Howard’s responsibility to:

I. Recover back to the weak side of the floor [i.e. where the majority of rebounds are directed];

and,

II. Box out, either:

A. Josh Smith [which would have alllowed Rashard Lewis to concentrate on boxing out Mario West, exclusively];

or,

B. Mario West [which would have allowed Rashard Lewis to concentrate on boxing out Josh Smith, exclusively];

… instead of trying, in vein, to box out both Josh Smith and Mario West.

Unfortunately for Orlando, Dwight Howard did neither of these 2 things.

Holding specific basketball players accountable for their individual failures at the defensive end of the floor, or in terms of executing their defensive rebounding assignments properly, can be tricky business, even for the very best of bloggers.

For the benefit of those who happen to think Orlando’s $110.0 Million Dollar Man cannot succeed while playing at the #3/Small Forward position against the other elite level teams in the NBA:

Box Score, Play-By-Play & Recap

Perhaps, you need to think again!

Related:

Fixing what is actually wrong with the Orlando Magic [Jan 20, 2010]

Although plenty of other NBA observers have expressed their concerns regarding the current performance of the Orlando Magic …

A Quantitative Look at the Orlando Magic’s Four All-Stars

Orlando Magic News for January 19th: Sobering Assessments of Orlando’s Season Abound at the Halfway Mark

much of what’s been said to-date misses the mark completely, when it comes to diagnosing accurately:

#1. What’s been going on with Orlando in the last month [or so]?

and,

#2. What specific remedies the Magic will need to implement, in order to make their problems disappear for the balance of this season? 

There are five simple [inter-related] player personnel moves which Stan Van Gundy needs to implement that will cure what is ailing the Orlando Magic at the moment:

1. Replace Jason Williams with Anthony Johnson as the exclusive primary Back-up Point Guard to Jameer Nelson.

2. Remove Matt Barnes from the regular rotation.

3. Shift Rashard Lewis into the Starting Small Forward position.

4. Shift Ryan Anderson into the Starting Power Forward position.

5. Use Brandon Bass in the Back-up Power Forward position.

What these five specific changes would do, in effect, is create a regular rotation which features the following Start Five:

Jameer Nelson, PG
Vince Carter, OG
Rashard Lewis, SF
Ryan Anderson, PF
Dwight Howard, C

in conjunction with the following set of Key Subs off the bench:

Anthony Johnson, PG
JJ Redick, OG
Mickael Pietrus, SF
Brandon Bass, PF 
Marcin Gortat, C

and the following list of Reserves/Extras/Outs:

Jason Williams, PG
Matt Barnes, SF
Adonal Foyle, C

Move #1
With a healthy Jameer Nelson [PG] in their everyday line-up, an erratic player like Jason Williams [PG] is not the right fit with their team, in a primary back-up role, in comparison with a more consistent player like Anthony Johnson [who is a much better defender and rebounder than J-Wil, at this stage of their respective careers].

Game Log for Anthony Johnson in Orlando’s Last 13 Games

Game Log for Anthony Johnson when playing +10:00

Move #2
Although Matt Barnes [6-7, 226] has proved to be an energetic player over the course of his NBA career, right now he is not a “good fit” with the Magic, given his specific skill-set [i.e. 3FG%=28.6; Ast:TO=1.0] and considering the other guards and forwards on their roster.

Move #3
Using a player like Rashard Lewis [6-10, 230] at the Starting SF position makes the Magic bigger at this spot … i.e. compared with Matt Barnes [6-7, 226] … while still retaining their collective ability to shoot the ball effectively from the perimeter [i.e. 3FG%=39.5] and make good decisions [i.e. Ast:TO=1.0] around a center-piece like Dwight Howard.

This move would then allow Mickael Pietrus to flourish, by providing Orlando with a much better scorer and defender coming off the bench, at this key swing position, instead of Matt Barnes.

Move #4
Ryan Anderson is a solid low-maintenance perimeter shooting Big Man who can stretch defense around D-12 and defend adequately: [i] on the perimeter against smaller players, and [ii] in the post against non-behemoth Power Forwards and Centers.

Move #5
Brandon Bass is an under-sized Power Forward who, on offense, works well in the mid-range area [i.e. FG%=53.1] and is able to hold his ground, defensively, and in terms of rebounding, against any Back-up PF. Unfortunately, to this point in the season, he is being wasted on the Magic’s bench with a series of DNPs.

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Magic Remedy, Part 1

If Stan Van Gundy makes these specific personnel adjustments Orlando will finish in 1 of the top 4 positions in the Eastern Conference, once again, and advance to the East Finals, against Boston or Cleveland or Atlanta or Miami, with a solid shot at returning to the NBA Finals this season. 

Magic Remedy, Part II

What Stan Van Gundy also needs to do, however, is return to being the curmudgeon he has always been, not the giant “teddy bear” he has morphed into recently, in the aftermath of Dwight Howard’s request to “lighten up” on his routinely harsh criticism of his own team/players.

If Stan chooses to continue on his current path, then, Orlando will have very little chance of besting Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta or Miami in the playoffs this season.

This is not the sort of team that Stan Van Gundy can afford to “go soft on”.

This evening’s game between Toronto [11-16/.407, 2nd Atlantic] and Orlando [18-6/.750, 1st Southeast] marks the first occasion for the “Turkish Michael Jordan” to make a return visit to his old haunt in the Magic Kingdom.

As the former “go-to, clutch time” performer for last season’s squad in Orlando, which played its way to the NBA Finals …

What did it really say about Hedo Turkoglu [at 30 years of age] that he was actually willing to forego the opportunity to win a NBA championship with the Magic this season, in order to sign a $50.0 M contract to play the next 5 seasons for the Toronto Raptors?

Perhaps, that he really does care more about being content and comfortable in his own personal life than he cares about doing what’s necessary to win a NBA championship.

Doing what’s necessary to win a NBA championship?

For example:

* Getting back in defensive transition to prevent easy opposition baskets.

* Defending one’s individual check with consistent tenacity.

* Defending, in a half-court team context, with thorough responsibility.

* Rebounding with an absolute commitment to recover the ball.

* Discriminating readily between an open and a contested shot attempt.

* Physically standing up for a fallen/vulnerable teammate, when need be.

* A willingness to play within an assigned role for the good of the team.

* A willingness to sacrifice oneself [i.e. the physical body, as well as, personal wants and desires] for the benefit of the team.

In their 16 losses this year, Bryan Colangelo’s Raptors have succumbed by margins of:

Considering that the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu/SF:

Career Stats, Hedo Turkoglu

was one of the two major personnel moves made by the Raptors this past summer …

along with the $50.0 M, 5-yr extension of the ‘rookie contract’ for former No. 1 [overall] Draft Pick, Andrea Bargnani/C:

Career Stats, Andrea Bargnani

it should be of little wonder to the Raptors faithful that Toronto is mired in the lower half of the Eastern Conference, in a quest for the last playoff position.

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Shame on those who actually thought that Otis Smith [GM, Orlando Magic] may not have known exactly what he was talking about …

Orlando Magic GM dissing Hedo Turkoglu?

in his alleged conversations with Kevin Pritchard [GM, Portland Trail Blazers], in the aftermath of Mr. Turkoglu’s decision to sign on with the Raptors, and that Hedo Turkoglu’s priorities might actually include winning a NBA title. 

Caveat Emptor!

Which team[s] made out the best from the 4-team trade … between Toronto, Dallas, Memphis and Orlando … this past summer?

Rick Kamla gets it right.

Toronto Raptors 91
UTAH JAZZ 104
Wed Nov 18 2009 – Game Scoreboard

At the 9:20 mark of the 4th quarter this was a 2 possession game with the Jazz leading, 83-79. 

If you look at the Full-Play-By-Play for the next 5 minutes and 20 seconds, what you should be able to see during this sequence is that:

Toronto had 14 offensive possessions.
Utah had 11 offensive possessions.

Toronto committed 3 Turnovers.
Utah commited just 1 Turnover.

Toronto took 9 shots outside of the lane [and made only 1].
Utah took 0 shots outside of the lane.

Toronto scored just 3 points [1/3FG].
Utah scored 12 points [4 FTs; 4/2FGs].

If you then watch the game-tape closely … specifically … this is how each of the offensive possessions for the Raptors and Jazz actually broke down:

What you should then be able to see is:

A. Just how ineffective the Raptors were with their ”High Middle/High Wing/Wing Pick” Series;

vs

B. Just how effective the Jazz were using their “UCLA Cut” Series and ”Transition Attack”;

in terms of generating high percentage shot attempts, in the lane, or from the free throw line … none of which should come as much of a surprise, at least, to those of you who paid attention to what was first written here on Sep 18 2009:

Thumb-down 35 special … for the Raptors

The fact is …

Not only is the Raptors’ defense performing in a poor way, thus far this season, but … when crunch time arrives in important games vs a Quality Opponent [.500+], or in last night’s case, vs an opponent that is particularly well-schooled in its own highly potent offensive and defensive [i.e. with designated helps and specific rotations] systems … so, too, is their offense, which is based primarily on the 3-5 Pick & Roll/Pop action.

Executing well, offensively, in the NBA isn’t just about “making the open shots your players happen to get” but, also … and, more importantly … “getting the specific type of open shots which your players can make on a consistent basis.” 

There’s a big difference between these two types of shot attempts.

Orlando Magic 125
TORONTO RAPTORS 116
[Sun Nov 01 2009]

Box Score Info

Crucial Sequence, Play-By-Play