Buzz' offense

[MUCrisco]

I posted this on the other board, but I was able to see the video here, so I wanted to post it on here too.  Thanks TallTitan.  I appreciate the video.

I've been sick, so my sleeping hours are screwed up.  I wasn't able to sleep, so I decided to check out some basketball stuff.  I came across the video of the scrimmage from midnight madness, which made me happy.  I've broken down the offense.  I'm sure I don't have a total grasp of it yet, since I've only watched a little of it and once I see more scrimmages and games, I'll have more to add, but this is what I have so far.

This offense appears to be a high/low motion offense. similar to what Kansas runs.  It isn't a true motion offense, since there are some restrictions and rules, but a lot of freedom is given to the players.  A lot of things happen depending on where a ball is passed, if you are able to make that pass, etc.  However, you get a lot of motion offense action, such as last leg screens.  I'm sure there are some screen the screener actions also but I did not see that from what I saw in the scrimmage.

During a dead ball situation, the team always starts out in a box set.  With the point guard bringing the ball down, the two bigs are at the elbow and the wings are on the blocks.

1) If the ball is initially passed to a big at the elbow, the point guard receives a back screen from the weakside big.  The weakside wing will cut baseline to the strongside corner.  The point guard makes a read.  If his man is trailing him, he makes a basket cut and receives the pass for a layup.  If his man goes below the screen, the point guard can use the screen by fading to the weakside wing and receive a pass for a 3 pt shot attempt.

2)  Otherwise, the bigs will downscreen for the wings, who pop up to the ft line extended.  After screening, the bigs will come back up to the elbows.  If the ball is entered to a big, then the action from 1) is performed.  If the ball goes to the wing, then the pt guard makes a basket cut and has the option of ending up in the strongside corner or the weakside corner.  Let's say this time, he goes strongside.  Then, the strongside post screens for the other post who cuts to the low block.  The screener then will cut to the top near the 3 pt line or ft line, depending on the player.  However, he is on the weakside, to keep good spacing.  Here, they look to get the ball inside.  If they can't get it inside, the ball is reversed through the high post.

Once the high post receives the ball, he immediately looks for the high low pass into the post.  If the ball is reversed to the weakside wing, then the post on the block can come over to post on the block.  The high post who reversed the ball probably also has the option to post.  However, with the talent that we have, I'm sure that the weakside post is most likely the one who will want to post.  Then a last leg screen is set up.

A last leg screen is simply a single/single staggered screen on the weakside.  The person that you want to set the second screen is always the big.  The reason for this is that if a team is switching on screens and they do that on the second screen, then a mismatch is created with a big on a small and vice versa.  So, to sum that up, a two man game is going on in the strong side, and a last leg screen is being set up for the point guard who was in the corner.  When the pt guard cuts up to the top of the key, he can receive a pass for a 3 pt attempt.

Two man stuff is all based upon reads too.   Obviously, one option is for the big to post up on the block.  However, if he isn't receiving the ball, and the wing is stuck, the big can come up and set a ballscreen also.  There, they can perform pick and roll, pick and pop action.

3)Let's say instead of the pt guard cutting to the strong side corner, he cuts to the weakside.  Now, the two man game is being played initially on the strong side.  After the wing receives the ball, the post sets the screen for the other big at the elbow who cuts to the block and the pt goes to the corner on the weakside.  Then, the screener cuts up so he can reverse the ball again.  If the ball is reversed to the post, once again he looks high low.  Now, at this point in the offense, a lot of reads can happen again.  Let's say that since the defense was sagging on the help side, the ball was immediately reversed through the high post and to the weakside wing.  Then they just run the offense starting from 2).

Let's say the weakside wing was denied the ball.  He can cut backdoor and the pt guard in the corner cuts up and receives the ball.  The backdoor cutter then posts.  Here, someone like Wes Matthews has an opportunity to get the ball on the block.  The high post then can set a downscreen for the weakside wing.

Or, instead of cutting backdoor, the weakside wing who was denied the ball can just set a simple downscreen for the pt guard.  The pt guard receives the ball, the wing then becomes the corner man.  The high post then screens for the weakside guard who can receive a reversal pass.  If he does, then that high post, once again has the option of cutting to the block and posting.  If he does, then the weakside post cuts up and becomes the high post so he can reverse the ball.

4) Now, let's say the point guard, dribbling down can't make an entry pass anywhere.  The guys set up in their box set and downscreen.  The wings pop to the ft line extened but are denied.  The pt also can not make an entry pass to the post at the wings.  Then the offense is stuck.  When this happens, the pt guard has the option to dribble out a wing.  He'll dribble towards a wing.  That wing will cut to the corner like a pole is pushing him form the pt guard.  Then he cuts to the block, receives a downscreen from the post and cuts to the wing.  There, then, they just get right into the offense.

5)Here is another situation.  Let's say the offense is initiated.  The pt guard passed it to a wing, the post screened for the other post who cut to the block and the post came up to the high post to reverse the ball.  The problem is that the pt guard is being guarded in the corner, an entry pass cannot be made to the low block, and the reversal pass to the post is being denied.  Once again, the offense is stuck.  When this happens, the high post comes to set a ball screen for the wing.  The wing gets the screen and dribbles into the paint.  Here, he has options.  He can shoot, if he draws the post defender, it's an easy dump off, or if he draws the weakside defender, it's a kick.  This is a dribble reverse.

Those are all the rules that I've picked up so far.  I am very happy with this offense.  Even though I'm a 4 out 1 in motion guy and I would've been happier with that, I am excited to watch this team more than what Coach Crean liked to run.  I have to disagree with Murf.  This offense is very pt guard friendly.  It's player friendly.  The reason why the point guard had the ball so much under Crean is because we had to wait to get people in the right spots before we could start a play.  Under Crean, we would run a set play.  If that didn't work, then we would run another set play, specific to the shot clock running down.  Now, the pt guard has a lot more freedom.  He is able to react to how the defense is playing him.  Plus, you will notice that this offense has great driving lanes for penetration.  When the action is going on, it is a 4 out 1 in offense, except initially.

Initially, it's really a 1-4 set.  During the scrimmage, the always started out in the box set, but they end up in a 1-4 set, which is the part how you describe it.  That box set might change throughout the season.  They might start everyone in a stack on the blocks.  They might stack everyone on the elbows.  They might start 1-4 low, or even just start 1-4 high.  However, they start it, it always will end up with the guards cutting to the wings and the bigs cutting to the elbows.  So, in a 1-4 start, and no one posting up, the lanes are there for initial penetration.  After that, it will usually be a 4 out 1 in offense.  What you will never see, is a guy on the strongside block and a guy on the weakside block for a long period of time.  Lanes are there for penetration.

Another thing that I like is that this is an equal opportunity offense.  Guys will share the basketball.  It's always moving and the offense react according to where the ball is passed.  It's not constricted like a set play where there are only a couple of passes that can be made.  Really, this is a no mistake offense.  That's not to say a mistake can't be made.  It just means that when it is made, guys can adjust.  A new play doesn't have to be run.  So, there is a lot of freedom in this offense.

I was a point guard all throughout my career.  I couldn't stand running those set plays.  I felt that I didn't have as much control over what was happening.  Really, it was in the coaches hands.  In an offense such as this one,  now I can control who got the ball, what spot that got it, and what part of the game they got it.  I felt like I had total control of the action going on.  It was up to me to set the tempo and to distribute the shots.

Also, this offense is balanced between the guards and the posts.  Unlike in yrs past, we don't just use our bigs to set screens and then hide them in the alley behind the basket.  Here, they actually have equal opportunity to get the ball and score.  Some people don't like equal opportunity offenses like this.  They want their best player to get as many shots as possible, and the 2nd best to take the 2nd most etc.  However, it has been my experience that this is what ends up happening anyway.  In contrast, in an equal opportunity offense, guys feel like they are part of the offense.  That gives them more energy to rebound and defend.

So, I'm sure there is a lot more to this offense, and I'll post more when I get a chance to see more of it.  But, from my initial read of about 10 mins of the scrmmage, this is what I have so far.  I know it might be confusing to some.  It would be better if I had my clipboard and I could just diagram it.  Feel free to ask questions.

[4everwarriors]

I've dissected it also and I'm pretty certain it boils down to being a winning offense.

[jce]

From your description this sounds a lot like the high post offense that Dana Altman runs at Creighton.  The bigs have to pass well with this offense...

[🏀]

From your description this sounds a lot like the high post offense that Dana Altman runs at Creighton.  The bigs have to pass well with this offense...

I got done reading it, and thought similarly. Buzz would need bigs with hands, not stone statues out there. Chris Grimms of the world need not apply.

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

I've dissected it also and I'm pretty certain it boils down to being a winning offense.

hahahaha

Awesome.

[jficke13]

I'm a basketball fan, not a basketball student, so in depth analysis of offenses is not really my strong-suit. However, if what I read means that you need athletic bigs with strong hands/passing ability, then this should play right into McMorrow's strengths. He is a big guy with strong lateral movement abilities (hockey/lacrosse background) and likely good hands for the same reason. He should fit nicely in that scheme next year.

[Cooby Snacks]

I got done reading it, and thought similarly. Buzz would need bigs with hands, not stone statues out there. Chris Grimms of the world need not apply.

"He's bankrupt on oh-fense" (c) Rick Majerus, MU vs. Memphis 1/13/05

[Murffieus]

Conceptually I really like Buzz's offense----but we don't have the right people to run it right now-----to run that offense you need a very strong postup game----in addition it takes a lot of game away from DJ and McNeal------DJ isn't a pure PG in that offense and McNeal will have trouble finishing in the land of the BE giants because the defensive center is lurking near to disrupt-----in TC's attack offense the defensive center was lured away from around the hoop as Barro was planted behind the backboard----in Buzz's offense the center and in particular his defender inhibit attacting the hoop effectively.

I hope Buzz adds some guard friendly sets/options off that offense.

[77ncaachamps]

Conceptually I really like Buzz's offense----but we don't have the right people to run it right now-----to run that offense you need a very strong postup game----in addition it takes a lot of game away from DJ and McNeal------DJ isn't a pure PG in that offense and McNeal will have trouble finishing in the land of the BE giants because the defensive center is lurking near to disrupt-----in TC's attack offense the defensive center was lured away from around the hoop as Barro was planted behind the backboard----in Buzz's offense the center and in particular his defender inhibit attacting the hoop effectively.

I hope Buzz adds some guard friendly sets/options off that offense.

Then that would also support what Buzz is preparing for: Maymon and Roseboro, bigs who can pass and shoot and present a viable post-up game.

[jce]

Then that would also support what Buzz is preparing for: Maymon and Roseboro, bigs who can pass and shoot and present a viable post-up game.

First of all, this offense if I understand it right, does *not* hinge on bigs to post up.  In fact, the bigs can pop out and hit a short jump shot or even put it on the ground.

Second, you don't need to "prepare" a basketball team with an offense for people that aren't going to be there for a year.  Any basketball player worth his scholarship can be placed into any viable offense, and with practice, perform to their abilities. 

[Murffieus]

The bigs are the anchor to this offense-----unlike TC's offense it is very potentially postup friendlly-----reason I use "potentially" is that you have to have talent there for this offense to work to expectation.

I assume that Buzz will be adding some guard stuff------I know one play in particular for the guards that blends with this offense-----the weakside pinch play at the elbow which Helped Butch Lee and Meminger get good shots/finishes inside the arc----M Jordan as well with the Bulls.

[MUCrisco]

The bigs are the anchor to this offense-----unlike TC's offense it is very potentially postup friendlly-----reason I use "potentially" is that you have to have talent there for this offense to work to expectation.

I assume that Buzz will be adding some guard stuff------I know one play in particular for the guards that blends with this offense-----the weakside pinch play at the elbow which Helped Butch Lee and Meminger get good shots/finishes inside the arc----M Jordan as well with the Bulls.

Murf,
People now call that a flare screen.  I'd be surprised if that wasn't already in the offense.  That's just weakside 2 man stuff.  Other options are backscreens, down screens, which results in pops, fades, or curls, 2 pass backdoors, or simple L cuts.  This offense is very guard friendly, not post dominated.

[Murffieus]

I beg to differ with you on the offense being guard friendly----from what I saw on Saturday anything the guards got they had to get by climbing a wall. No picks for them, no alleys, no nothing.

Hopefully help is on the way!