Why Don't We Run More Pick and Roll?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I saw this in a Coby interview about his NBA experience so far.

Q: What do you think NBA teams will learn about you in that process that they don’t already know now?

Coby: My reads on the court in like pick and roll – because at Carolina we didn’t run too much stuff like that. So I’ll get to show that.

So . . . is that correct? And, if so, why don't we? Should we?

 

[Tom79]

We are working on the roll and pick, once we got that down we progress to the pick and roll?
Seriously, we do run it.

 

[Mistercvr4]

We are working on the roll and pick, once we got that down we progress to the pick and roll?
Seriously, we do run it.

I thought on a few occasions they ran the pick and roll. Kenny and Cam did it alot, Garrison too. Maye, three. I recall some players say Coach Williams offense is very free flowing. He mainly allows them to run the set which is why playing PG at UNC is so critical.

 

[jeans15]

We ran it a lot when we had Jawad Williams and Luke Maye at the 4

 

[acarter0277]

With a lot of teams, that's ALL they run. It's a Pick N Roll Continuity. We have some options for Pick N Roll and Pick N Pop in some of our secondary sets, but we're not exclusive to it. We also get to some Pick N Roll opportunities within Freelance offense, but again, we do so much more than that. You'll also see us go to a high ball screen at the end of a shot clock too.

 

[gary-7]

With a lot of teams, that's ALL they run. It's a Pick N Roll Continuity. We have some options for Pick N Roll and Pick N Pop in some of our secondary sets, but we're not exclusive to it. We also get to some Pick N Roll opportunities within Freelance offense, but again, we do so much more than that. You'll also see us go to a high ball screen at the end of a shot clock too.

...and that depends on personnel. As you said Coach, pretty much the only PnR we ran last season was in called plays (and mostly the secondary options) --- and PicknPop was much more prevelant than PnR on the called half-court stuff. Of course PnP made sense in that our three Seniors were very effective at spot-up 3s.

That being said, in years past we'd see PnR more often in Freelance, particularly in late shot-clock situations. Truth be known, in those years we had the right ingredients --- trigger-men who knew how to create angles, set up defenders off screens, and deliver the rock on time and in the right spot. And on the other end of that, you had guys who could finish the "Roll" part. For example when guys like Meeks/Hicks/Brice/Tony were here we saw several sweet PnRs (often at crucial moments), delivered by JB or Marcus (orTheo). Unfortunately, once our normal cadre of Bigs was not present that option was not as attractive.

I can tell you ahead if time we'll see a return to more PnR within Freelance this season.

 

[MJUNC]

...and that depends on personnel. As you said Coach, pretty much the only PnR we ran last season was in called plays (and mostly the secondary options) --- and PicknPop was much more prevelant than PnR on the called half-court stuff. Of course PnP made sense in that our three Seniors were very effective at spot-up 3s.

That being said, in years past we'd see PnR more often in Freelance, particularly in late shot-clock situations. Truth be known, in those years we had the right ingredients --- trigger-men who knew how to create angles, set up defenders off screens, and deliver the rock on time and in the right spot. And on the other end of that, you had guys who could finish the "Roll" part. For example when guys like Meeks/Hicks/Brice/Tony were here we saw several sweet PnRs (often at crucial moments), delivered by JB or Marcus (orTheo). Unfortunately, once our normal cadre of Bigs was not present that option was not as attractive.

I can tell you ahead if time we'll see a return to more PnR within Freelance this season.

Yep I seen Bacot and Cole run some sweet looking PnR I believe in the Jordan Brand Classic game!! I am excited about that opportunity this coming year

 

[gary-7]

Yep I seen Bacot and Cole run some sweet looking PnR I believe in the Jordan Brand Classic game!! I am excited about that opportunity this coming year

Indeed. And with the maturation of Brooks and Manley there should be some options amongst the rollers.

 

[gauchoheel]

A couple reasons. Roy just doesn't use that spread pick and roll scheme that some other coaches (including dook...) do. As Gary said we also had no roll guys the last two years, as Maye is not a dunk threat nor a great passer out of the short roll. It's definitely a scheme that NBA teams use more than college in general, but we also don't run it a lot for a college team. We like inside touches (which works when you have dominant bigs like we usually do) and motion offense.

 

[JimmyinVA]

....... Unfortunately, once our normal cadre of Bigs was not present that option was not as attractive.....

bottom line. basically, on the pick and roll the guy setting the pick has to be an offensive threat -- which we didn't have.

 

[gary-7]

bottom line. basically, on the pick and roll the guy setting the pick has to be an offensive threat -- which we didn't have.

Well... to be fair I wouldn't characterize it quite that way. It's just that the last 2 seasons we mostly played "stretch" guys who were more adept as "poppers" than as "rollers".

Traditionally, at UNC you'll see PnR action as either called or improvised options in the Secondary Break (e.g., "Slip") or in certain set plays in the half-court. Also, as gaucho said, our bread-and-butter offense does not depend on high ball-screens or dribble-drive --- they are just aspects of our Freelance "motion" continuity (Passing Game). Thus, beyond the called stuff, it's up to the players to create de facto "2-man game" ball-screen situations within Freelance to utilize PnR or PnP.

Jimmy, to your point, the stark contrast (with a control factor) is between the 16-17 and 17-18 teams. During the former I can remember several key late-shot-clock PnRs that were difference-makers --- Meeks or Hicks would step up and set a ball-screen and roll. If the screener's man bit, the roll was there for a lay-up --- if he stayed home then JB had an almost automatic pull-up around the FT line. Contrast that to the next season with the veteran Bigs gone, now the screens from Luke or Cam were coming from higher and their action was almost always "pop".

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

This is great stuff, guys. Thanks.

 

[JimmyinVA]

the "roll" part of pick and roll means taking it strong to the hoop after setting the pick. when i said the guy setting the pick needs to be an offensive threat that's what i was referring to.