('tis the season when I'm jonesin' to talk Xs-and-Os, so with y'all's kind indulgence...)
Dean Smith tinkered with ways of meshing the Carolina transition game seamlessly into half-court offenses, especially after the introduction of the shot clock. As we're gonna see today, that has continued into the Roy Williams era.
Now with the 30 second clock, expect more zones, trying to force offenses to work harder to get good shots.
One way to combat that is to impose transition principles. Here is yet another example of Carolina's Secondary Break being the trigger mechanism for --- and in one case superseding --- our standard Zone Offense.
In the frame shot below, although Fairfield has retreated into their 2-3 zone off a made basket, we are nonetheless attacking. Note the alignment of our players in standard Secondary Break formation. The first Big has made it to the paint (James) and the ballhandler (Berry) is attacking at a slight angle with the wings (Britt, Williams) surrounding. The trailing Big (Hicks) will soon be in position for the backside swing pass.
(Note the time on the shot clock)
Watch what quickly transpires in the video clip below. Berry reverses the ball per usual to Hicks who then passes to Williams on the backside. This triggers the Point/Wing interchange motion of our Zone Offense, as Britt shows to the paint and then on to the top as Berry seeks the soon-to-be open wing gap. This happens so quickly that before Hicks even gets to his high post flash point at the FT line, the ball has come back to Britt and as the defense reacts to that pass (and Hicks) it's now an easy matter for Berry to slip into the sweet spot for an open 3. Again, note the shot clock at the make. This all happened so fast the Fairfield zone didn't know what hit 'em. This is a seamless mesh of the Secondary Break and half-court offense. The successful shot actually came off a Secondary Break swing pass. The beauty of it was if the shot wasn't there the Zone Offense is already cooking. No wasted time --- no wasted motion.
Splash!
Now, on to the second half.
Again, following a made basket Carolina comes right back at em in Secondary Break formation. This time the Fairfield zone is just forming up and their ball-side guard commits the cardinal transition-defense sin of failing to stop the ball. Now, this is a place where penetration without a purpose is a no-no... but no worries, JB has a plan: Knowing Brice Johnson is headed to his assigned spot (ball-side block) in the Secondary Break, Berry blows by the erring Fairfield guard to draw their Center, and one sick pass later, bingo-bango-bongo we have a Sports Center highlight. Once again, check the shot clock.
Booyah!
And that, folks, is how ya hang 92 on a zone team (crappy FT shooting notwithstanding).
Dean Smith tinkered with ways of meshing the Carolina transition game seamlessly into half-court offenses, especially after the introduction of the shot clock. As we're gonna see today, that has continued into the Roy Williams era.
Now with the 30 second clock, expect more zones, trying to force offenses to work harder to get good shots.
One way to combat that is to impose transition principles. Here is yet another example of Carolina's Secondary Break being the trigger mechanism for --- and in one case superseding --- our standard Zone Offense.
In the frame shot below, although Fairfield has retreated into their 2-3 zone off a made basket, we are nonetheless attacking. Note the alignment of our players in standard Secondary Break formation. The first Big has made it to the paint (James) and the ballhandler (Berry) is attacking at a slight angle with the wings (Britt, Williams) surrounding. The trailing Big (Hicks) will soon be in position for the backside swing pass.
(Note the time on the shot clock)
Watch what quickly transpires in the video clip below. Berry reverses the ball per usual to Hicks who then passes to Williams on the backside. This triggers the Point/Wing interchange motion of our Zone Offense, as Britt shows to the paint and then on to the top as Berry seeks the soon-to-be open wing gap. This happens so quickly that before Hicks even gets to his high post flash point at the FT line, the ball has come back to Britt and as the defense reacts to that pass (and Hicks) it's now an easy matter for Berry to slip into the sweet spot for an open 3. Again, note the shot clock at the make. This all happened so fast the Fairfield zone didn't know what hit 'em. This is a seamless mesh of the Secondary Break and half-court offense. The successful shot actually came off a Secondary Break swing pass. The beauty of it was if the shot wasn't there the Zone Offense is already cooking. No wasted time --- no wasted motion.
Splash!
Now, on to the second half.
Again, following a made basket Carolina comes right back at em in Secondary Break formation. This time the Fairfield zone is just forming up and their ball-side guard commits the cardinal transition-defense sin of failing to stop the ball. Now, this is a place where penetration without a purpose is a no-no... but no worries, JB has a plan: Knowing Brice Johnson is headed to his assigned spot (ball-side block) in the Secondary Break, Berry blows by the erring Fairfield guard to draw their Center, and one sick pass later, bingo-bango-bongo we have a Sports Center highlight. Once again, check the shot clock.
Booyah!
And that, folks, is how ya hang 92 on a zone team (crappy FT shooting notwithstanding).
