AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US‘Screening’ their calls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With no basketball practice Thursday, and the fact the Yellow Jackets don’t practice until later Friday afternoon or play until Sunday, it’s time to ruminate. I’m going to write something for the Sunday paper about the art of setting - and using - screens.
Tech’s had tremendous problems with this recently, where some solid picks could’ve helped in many situations in the half-court offense, and most obviously on inbounds plays. There have been huge differences between Tech on the road in the last two games (they were pretty good offensively at Clemson) and at home.
In speaking with coach Paul Hewitt about this, he made the observation - which will be in the paper Sunday - that his team is much, much, much better setting screens at home, although he’s a bit baffled as to why the difference is so great. The Jackets looked like a totally different team, night and day, against North Carolina and Maryland than against Duke at home.
It may have something to do with the fact Tech plays with so much more intensity, passion, energy, whatever you want to call it, at home. They’re more committed to everything they do, and setting screens takes commitment.
My opinion is that a really good screen, or several of them, can change the emotional flow of a game, although there’s more to winning than simply setting a few good picks. They have to be well used, obviously, but good screens not only increase scoring (or inbounding) chances, but reduce turnovers. How many of Tech’s turnovers in the past two games came because the ball-handler was running out of time and forced a pass into a stationary, and often covered, target only to have it picked or batted away? A lot. Some of those plays came because somebody set, or used a screen too early, getting open before the passer was ready to pass. Still, too often that player will stand and call for the ball, and it leads to something bad.
Whether a good shot or a bad shot comes after a screen, at least it’s a shot, a chance for a score, an offensive rebound, or to draw a foul. Turn it over, and you have no chance for something good to happen.
So, is setting a pick about mind set? Skill set? Surely, some of both, but it doesn’t matter if the guy the pick is for doesn’t use it, either, and if the timing is off, as Hewitt explained, the pick might not matter even if it’s brilliant.
There are several areas in which Tech needs to improve to beat a pretty good Virginia Tech team Sunday, but playing harder (much harder in many instances) and setting solid screens would be two huge steps in the right direction.
Comments
By BUZZ
January 26, 2007 04:09 PM | Link to this
I think playing harder would be a huge step in the right direction. Guys, show some pride in those old gold & white uniforms. GIVE ‘EM HELL TECH!
By GT
January 26, 2007 04:34 PM | Link to this
Saw Tech play live in Chapel Hill Saturday night. It was like going to a funeral where everybody hates you but they feel so sorry for you they are polite. There is absolutely no offensive movement. It was the defense that was looking for a place to hide now it’s the offense. We can do one of the two but don’t expect us to do both. Not only are they not screening they are not blocking out on the offensive boards, not coming to the ball, it looks something like last year all over again. Carolina on the other hand slung the ball around at a rate that gave you a headache. They would screen and break like Mosaic had composed the offense. There was low angle bounce passes that seem to skid on the wood polished floors and rebound just in time to end up in the hands of the breaking lay-up artist that had broke off a screen. Tech has talent just to stay in a game like this, but like a out of tuned engine was not hitting on half its cylinders. A lot of the same against Maryland. Anybody that thinks this is an off year for the ACC is in for big surprises come March.
By Steve
January 26, 2007 04:49 PM | Link to this
Matt, I agree with you 100% about our lack of effectively using screens. To be honest, I didn’t think we played that great in the Duke game either. We had too many turn overs, and Duke is not the team it was last year. In addition to making better use of screens, the players need to come toward the ball more aggressively in “crunch” time. Watching them, you get the impression that no one really wants the ball in their hands for fear of turning it over. That includes JCrit.
By Ga_Tech_92
January 26, 2007 05:16 PM | Link to this
OK, we have a lot of young guys. So does UNC…what’s the problem here? Why is this like last year all over again?
By MoWreck
January 26, 2007 05:33 PM | Link to this
I think the difference in this year is that we aren’t running and gunning like years past … we use to push the ball all the time when coach Hewitt first came to Tech, the way he did at Siena now it seems like we after a rebound we go down slowly and try to set up an offense. I also think one of the trouble we have is passing. Should I call names, ok, Morrow and Faye. I realize they haven’t worked that much on passing and you have to do that when you don’t have the shot. No one bounce passes anymore they try to lob over the head or passed an outstretched hand which is normally a turnover. Also my MAN, Smith is playing wayyyyyy too timid lately. He worked out the off season and got LEAN and MEAN (supposely). I just know you guys are gonna come together before the season is over. Hang in there and play TOUGH.
By Bobby Cremmins
January 26, 2007 05:48 PM | Link to this
I may be JAFO, but it’s the COACHING, man. Anyone can see Hewitt has lost the fire he had when he came to Tech. Then he looked like he’d landed his Dream Job…Now he looks like he’s interviewing on the weekends like his Football counterpart.
Roy Williams has his team drill and train and practice and drill and train and practice until they make other teams look like they’re standing still. He demands that intensity out of his players or he beats em with a big stick…
Hewitt could learn a thing or three from watching other ACC Coaches, instead of just their players on game films. Most of the time during games, Hewitt looks like JAFO instead of a coach that expects his kids to play hard and WIN.
By WillGT
January 27, 2007 04:18 PM | Link to this
lol, ruminate…Matt, I think you should use the word delineate in your next column.
By 85jacket
January 28, 2007 08:39 AM | Link to this
Roy Williams and Paul Hewitt could trade teams and Williams would still kick our asses. Looks like in Hewitt we have another great recruiter who can’t get the most of his players once they’re on campus.
By ND
January 28, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Did anyone see the passion Tom Izzo showed last night? His team was down 20 at Ohio St and nearly came back and won the thing. The whole time Izzo is all over the sideline cheering his guys on. Hweitt would have had his face resting on his hands.
By JohnGTfan
January 28, 2007 05:08 PM | Link to this
This is pathetic!!!! Worse team in the ACC. I think we’re worse than Miami. Absolutely no concept of defense!! Hewitt may be in his last year down here. I’ve always been a big supporter of his…but maybe we were all just blinded by all the talent from the 2004 team!
By Ron Canada
January 28, 2007 05:13 PM | Link to this
I’m watching the VT game it’s now 56/47 VT.heres’ the thing Tech looks to be coached at a high school level. I live in Western Carolina about 15 miles from where Roy Williams was raised.Give Williams this group of players and five months to coach them they win 25 games, Hewett is a midiocre coach at best.
By Ron Canada
January 28, 2007 05:23 PM | Link to this
I’d like to point out the one team Hewett had that played with poise,passion,and brains had transfers at key positions.
By Zi
January 28, 2007 05:36 PM | Link to this
I think you stupid quebs need to shut yout mouths. You have no clue what hoops is about!
1) Critten 2) Morrow 3) Young 4) MUHA 5) Dickey
Bring in Peacock for Dickey and West for Young and move Morrow to 3.
Work off that. Hewett has to go. He has no idea how to coach at this level. We get hammered ny average guards every game. This is pathetic
By Pappa Bee Boy
January 28, 2007 05:42 PM | Link to this
I am disgusted at how Hewitt has no passion towards his players!! They make crucial mistakes and he seems to let it go. My hiney is crawling some behind. I could win 20+ games with these guys, but he can’t see the forest for the trees. VT is average and they kicked out cans. I lost all respect for Hewitt today. Can’t balem the kids, they have no direction. We will get outcoached by skip Prosser next game and hit an all time low.
By Ron Canada
January 28, 2007 07:00 PM | Link to this
Zi - Educate us please,what is a queb and what does yout mean ?
By MS
January 29, 2007 03:08 PM | Link to this
They keep talking about how Tech wants to run, only everyone else seems to do it faster and better than we do. We seem to display no grasp of any offensive game plan, and dont fill the gaps on defense. Either this group isnt as good as touted or the coaching is totally lacking.
By Pappa Bee Boy
January 31, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Yep, exactly what I thought. We have no guard play man! Critten is good and all but not fast enought to keep up with smaller guards. We need another guy like Bynum to compliment him and that would change alot!